Starting More New Crops

Starting More New Crops
Our stand at Western Fair Market last week
Farm Update
With no subscriptions to prepare for last week, we had some time to work on our winter cleaning.  On the farm, we don't usually have time for a spring cleaning, but weeks like last are perfect opportunities to get everything re-set before the season picks up.  Not a terribly exciting task for everyone, but our new shop vac has been broken in very nicely.  

The work in our seedling production space will pick up exponentially over the next 3 months.  Essentially every week in our plan will add a new type of vegetable and produce thousands of seedlings to manage as we move closer and closer to planting in the fields again.  From the seedling side, this is the calm before the storm. 
 
We will start a succession of transplanted beets this week, which are bound for Hoophouse 3.  These will yield a very early succession of bunched beets, which are always a welcome leafy addition to boxes and the market stand.  The storage beets we have on hand right now should be around for a while longer and possibly even right before this new succession is ready. 
Auto-renewals for Main-season 2025
 
 We are excited to be auto-renewing members for Main-Season 2025 soon!  Now is the time to make sure your auto-renew setting is correct.  If the Autorenew Subscription box is checked, you will be included in the Main-season subscription that begins in May. More information on this autorenewal will follow in the coming weeks.
CHECK AUTORENEW SETTING
Harvesting kohlrabi in the fall
 
Vegetable of the week: Kohlrabi!
 
Kohlrabi (kowl-RA-bee) is in the brassica family (sometimes called cabbage family).  Nutritious and sweet, it has a fantastic fresh taste that is welcome in the middle of the winter!  Raw, it is crunchy and juicy, with a flavour like sweet peas or broccoli.  We love eating it raw (just like you would with carrots sticks) or in salads and the sweetness makes this a hit for little kids!  Kohlrabi can also be boiled or roasted and used as you would potatoes.
To use: Trim off a small slice (maybe a centimeter or 1/2 inch) on the stem side and peel the rest.
 
Kohlrabi and Cabbage Coleslaw
 
1 kohlrabi, peeled and shredded or chopped
1/2 red cabbage, shredded or chopped
a few carrots, shredded or chopped
medium watermelon radish, shredded or chopped
 
Combine in a large bowl, then mix together:
 
6 tbsp Mat‛s cold-pressed, organic Sunflower or Hemp oil
2 tbsp vinegar (apple cider or red wine)
1 tbsp mustard (Dijon or grainy)
1 tbsp Wildflowers Farm Unpasteurized honey
Salt and pepper
½ tbsp caraway seeds

Dress with the vinaigrette and enjoy!
 
 
Carrots seconds come in all shapes and sizes
 
FARM STORE NOTES
 
Things to note from us:  A limited amount of arugula this week!
 
From the field and storage we have beets, carrots, parsnips, root parsley, cabbages, kale, turnips, kohlrabi, celeriac, radish.   From greenhouses and hoophouses: swiss chard, cilantro, flat or curly parsley, greens.
FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
 
NEW!​ Frozen vegan soups (made with our carrots and beets) from Tim Drew of Mâche Dining (Strathroy).
 
Mistyglen Creamery (Belmont) milk, yogurt, and cheese curds.
 
Great Lakes Farms (Port Stanley): Mutsu, Empire, Gala, Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, and Summerland Sunset apples.
 
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Potatoes, sweet potatoes and eggs. 
 
Pfenning's (New Hamburg): Potatoes (new blue/purple potatoes) and onions.
 
Through Pfenning's: Celery, mushrooms, ginger, turmeric and citrus.
 
Bakery: Seth/La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas) and Artisan Bakery (London) are both ON this week.
 
Pantry: Maple syrup from Aldred Maple (West Lorne).  Cold-pressed hemp and sunflower oil from Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville).  Fire Cider from Booch (London).

Weekly pickup / delivery schedule:

Pickup Instore: Farm pickup will be Friday 1-7pm. ​Western Fair is Saturday 8-3 pm, Kitchener Market 7-2 pm.

Delivery: Thursday or  Friday in London / St.Thomas.  We will send out the schedule Wednesday.  
link:
Note that if you you will no longer get reminders about your subscription!

Common Ground Farm 6986 Middle River Road St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3S9
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