The shares last week were small, but they've been extra big other times.  Our CSA is a true reflection of the seasons and we only give you guys veggies that are grown by us or the small group of farmers we work with.  Every season the CSA shares start a bit small and build up to be big and bountiful during the peak of the season which is January and February.  We are now three weeks away from the very last harvest so we are winding down to smaller shares.  Thank you for participating in our CSA and sharing the burdens and bounties that nature has to offer as we go with the flow of the seasons.

That said, we've got a pretty great share this week with a few highlights worth getting excited about.  French Farm is harvesting a bumper crop of pickling cucumbers to you and for the farmers market.  These small super crisp cukes are not necessarily for pickling, although if you're into that this particular variety makes a mean pickle.  If you've ever tried the pickles we sell at the market sometimes, we make them with these cucumbers.  You'll be getting fresh dill in the shares this week too which would be great for cucumber pickles or any type of cucumber salad. 

We're also getting a very crop of purple sweet potatoes from Worden Farm.  I wish I had a picture to show you the rich color of the inside of these things... it's almost unreal.  They are very sweet and silky smooth too.  This may be one of the most exciting CSA items of the year!  I would recommend a very simple preparation for these because they totally speak for themselves in every way, color, texture and flavor.  You can steam or roast them and serve cut open down the middle, or smashed into a pure with butter and salt.  Something like that...

French Farms is going to harvest a big batch of baby gem lettuces and each one of you gets to pick two heads.  These are really fun because they are all different varieties and they are the cutest things you've ever eaten.  They are small, but compact so they can be served as whole lettuce heads cut in half or you can cut out the core for a loose leaf salad like the mix you've been getting in the CSA other weeks.  I think the novelty of a small compact head cut lengthwise is too good to pass up.  You would drizzle your dressing over the halves on a plate and eat with a fork and knife instead of making a bowl of salad.

Small shares:
Gem lettuces from French Farm
Pickling cucumbers from French Farm
Shunkyo radishes from our fields
Bok choi from our fields
Choice of collard greens or kale from all of our farms
Beets from Worden Farm
Purple sweet potatoes from Worden Farm
Dill from Worden Farm

Large shares:
Gem lettuces from French Farm
Pickling cucumbers from French Farm
Shunkyo radishes from our fields
Bok choi from our fields
Choice of collard greens or kale from all of our farms
Beets from Worden Farm
Purple sweet potatoes from Worden Farm
Dill from Worden Farm
Extra bok choi
Kohlrabi from French Farm
Onions from French Farm