Member Dick Sandhaus just launched his website, bettercheaperslower.com.   The site features a video of our farmers Deb and Pete Kavakos explaining why they have chosen to use the CSA model.

The goal of the site, in Dick’s own words:

Better, cheaper ways to eat, exercise and relax. Save your time, your money and your planet.

Whether you want to get your body or your budget back in shape, let me show you how and why what’s better is also cheaper. I’ll translate all that health-and-fitness theory to reality. From idea to practice – A New Way Every Day.

Unfortunately there was not enough interest across the CSA groups to justify deliveries from the River Garden so tomorrow’s flower share will be the only one for the season.  All payments will be refunded.  The River Garden will still sell bouquets at the Union Square Market on Saturdays.

This week’s newsletter includes recipes for escarole & bean soup and penne with mushrooms & sorrel.

Week 4 Newsletter

Dear CSA Member,

With summer also arrives one of the vegetables that you have been waiting for:  Sugar Snap Peas.  A member favorite, the Sugar Snap Peas make a one week appearance.

Sugar Snap peas are an edible pod pea.  Snap the string that starts at the stem and lines one side of the pod and eat the whole thing.  They are great raw and also wonderful cooked quickly so they are still bright green and crunchy. We love them sauteed quickly in olive oil with a few chopped  garlic scapes, mixed with pasta and topped with Parmesan cheese.  So good!   Enjoy them because they are here for such a very short time.

Many members over the years have expressed interest in the honey bee population at the farm.  Our honey bees and also natural pollinators have been doing very well.  I think it is probably our diverse cropping, no chemicals and natural habitat that surrounds the farm.  A member sent an e-mail with an  article that you may be interested in reading about honey bees.  Read about “Beauty and the Bees.”

Enjoy the Vegetables and Happy Summer.
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Full Share Quantities
Sugar Snap Peas – 1  1/2 pounds

Bright Lights Swiss Chard – 1 bunch

Summer Spinach – 1 bunch

Escarole – 1 head – Don’t confuse this with the lettuces.  The escarole leaves are all attached firmly at the base and the head is flatter and leaves heavier.  Great sauteed with garlic scapes and white beans.

Red Leaf Lettuce – 1 head

Green Solix Lettuce – 1 head.

Red Vein Sorrel – 1 bunch – This tends to be a bit bitter with a lemon flavor.  Use sparingly to add a lemon flavor to soups or with chicken.

Garlic Scapes – 8 – This will be the last week for garlic scapes.  They keep for a really long time in your refrigerator so don’t feel that there is a hurry to use them all up.  The fresh garlic bulbs won’t be ready until September.