In the CSA Share this Week:
- Fennel
- Shinseiki Asian Pears
- Poblano Peppers
- Carrots
- Italian Parsley
- Head Lettuce
- Yellow Onions
- Sweet Peppers
- Purple Daikon
- Sunshine Winter Squash
On Rotation:
- White Cauliflower
I don't have any photos of the CSA share this week because I wasn't here to take one! I just got home last night from a trip to Michigan where I was scoping out horses and exploring Amish country. I've been in search of a horse that I can add to my farm hitch, since Lily is dealing with navicular syndrome - a degenerative condition that can cause periodic lameness in her front limbs. It's been near impossible to find the kind of horse I'm looking for on the west coast so I had to head to the middle of the country where there are a lot more drafts and draft crosses working in harness thanks to the Amish. I found a sweet Friesian/Morgan cross mare that's trained to ride and drive and I'm pretty sure she'll be joining our team later this month if everything checks out. She's only three and a bit of a gangly giraffe at the moment, but will fill out quite a bit in the next year or two as she continues to mature. Most importantly, she has a gentle, steady, sweet-as-pie disposition - unphased by trucks roaring by and dogs running out at her heels, which are golden traits in a farm horse. There was still fall color in Michigan and 16 varieties of local apples at the Amish country store, so I was pretty much in heaven.
As for your veggies this week, purple daikon is probably the least-known thing you'll encounter. It's a fantastic storage crop that lets you choose your own adventure: leave the skin on for some spicy kick or peel it away if you want it sweet and mild. Either way, they're crunchy and delicious. I recommend cutting it in slices crosswise so you can marvel at the beautiful lavender starburst inside. The winter squash this week is a scarlet kabocha called Sunshine, one of our favorite but somewhat finnicky varieties. We haven't had enough of it to put in CSA shares the past couple years, so I was thrilled when we pulled enough out of the field this year to share with all of you. It has sweet, almost tropical flavor - great roasted, mashed or souped - and the skin is thin enough to eat if you're feeling too lazy to get out the peeler.
Stranded Strawberry Crowns - Anyone Going to Medford?
I'm trying to find someone who might be able to transport 5 boxes of bareroot strawberry crowns from the Medford area to the farm in the next week. Due to a shipping SNAFU half of our crowns got stranded in Central Point at the OSU Extension station. We need to get them here in the coming week in order to plant them before Thanksgiving so that we can have another great strawberry season in 2027! If you know of anyone headed that way who could help us out, have them email us at valleyflora@valleyflorafarm.com. More than happy to compensate for gas and time!
