2024 CSA Farm Update: Week 13
Hello Everyone and welcome to week 13 of the Katchkie Farm CSA. The nights and mornings have been a little chillier this past week and we have the share that reflects the weather perfectly. I feel that all the vegetables have gotten just a little sweeter with the cooler nights. Let me know if you agree!
For as long as I can remember, Labor Day weekend in Columbia County has been synonymous with the Columbia County Fair. County fairs of years gone past were primarily focused showcasing the bounty of the local farms. Which included vegetables, flowers, livestock, grains, fiber and wood. I would say that most of the county fairs I have attended were more entertainment focused, with the agricultural component in the background. As a way of bringing our agricultural involvement into the fair, we submitted some of our produce to the produce competitions this year. I am very pleased to say we won blue ribbons for our beets, okra, and cousa squash. We also won second place for our Adirondack Red potatoes! I have to say it was a nice experience to see our produce in the produce hall with some of the counties other growers. Next year my kids want to grow a giant pumpkin to enter the competition. They are already studying about how to milk feed pumpkins to get them to size up!
One experiment on the farm this year is planting flowering cover crops near our fall brassica crop in hopes of attracting beneficial insects that would help eat those insects that are problematic in our brassica crops. Namely caterpillars and aphids. The cover crop is a mix of wild cosmos and phacelia. My main questions are what insects make these two crops into their habitat, how many plants do I need to support a beneficial insect population, and how long will those plants bloom to attract beneficial insects? The phacelia and cosmos have just started to bloom this past week, so now I can start to answer some of these questions. I also imagine that I will answer some questions that I did not even know that I had!
Until next time,
Farmer Jon
WEEKLY HARVEST INCLUDES*
*We try our best to provide the most accurate CSA list in the newsletter! However, there’s always a chance of last minute substitutions in some bags if we don’t harvest enough of a vegetable.
FROM THE SYLVIA CENTER
Over the summer, participants from Albany Life Skills engaged with nature in our Learning Garden. Our Upstate Farm Manager guided them from planting seedlings to harvesting vegetables like asparagus, radish, and spinach. They then prepared a delicious whole grain pasta salad, brimming with everything that they picked right from the garden. Get the recipe here!
Organized through our partnership with Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany, Albany Life Skills provides services to students with disabilities working to develop the vocational and social skills necessary to maximize independence in work, home, and the community. We can't wait to welcome them back to our Learning Garden at Katchkie Farm!
Watch a recap of Albany Life Skills’ visit to our Learning Garden.
DELICIOUS RECIPES TO TRY
Rutabaga, Kale, and Potato Gratin
Ingredients:
1 lb rutabaga, peeled and sliced thin
1 lb Idaho potato, peeled and sliced thin
8 oz kale, shredded
2 oz shallots, brunoise
4 cloves garlic, confit
1 tbsp thyme
2 cups Gruyère cheese
3 oz butter
1 oz olive oil
2 cups heavy cream
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 lemon
1 sachet garni – cloves, cinnamon, star anise, rosemary stem & parsley stem
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Procedure:
Heat olive oil in sauté pan on medium heat. Add garlic confit and brunoise shallots and cook for 3 minutes. Add kale and sauté for 2 more minutes.
Season with salt, pepper and fresh lemon juice. Pull off heat and reserve.
In a pot, steep heavy cream seasoned with maple syrup and sachet, then reserve.
Butter bottom of baking tray, then layer rutabaga and potatoes on bottom. Between each set of layers add seasoned cream and grated cheese. Halfway through layer the kale.
When complete sprinkle cheese and thyme on top. Bake for 35 minutes at 3