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What’s in the Share – Week of 5/11

 CSA Farm Share, CSA/Farm Market, Get Educated, Local Food, Recipes  No Responses »
May 072017
 

Happy Cooking for this wonderful CSA share this week in Richmond, VA and Washington, DC.

13063115_10153923646585935_5214467713006134061_oVeg is looking like:

  • Bibb
  • Romaine
  • Asparagus – grill bacon wrapped asparagus . We also made asparagus kale soup last week. Here’s a vegan version.
  • Strawberries –  I posted info on how to freeze them to use later in the season in smoothies. You can also make fruit leather, dehydrate for snacks, or jam. Here is the boss small batch strawberry balsamic jam recipe I posted in the group that I made for Mother’s Day gifts last year. I cooked it in the slow cooker. this makes only 4 half pints, so refridgerate, eat on the biscuits, or give away. No need to process. But if you want to process, I used a saucepan, and a veggie steamer and it worked great. I used this on baked brie at mom’s for Easter.
  • Ramps or rhubarb – not sure yet
    • if Ramps: Treat them like you would garlic or onions, only better, and you’ll be ok. Here’s a great video on how to find, clean and pickle them. They are forest foraged, so still have soil on them. Clean them well, dirt can hide in them, like leeks. Use the leaves to make pesto, or chimmichurri – this recipe puts it on grilled polenta. If you aren’t going to get to them for a bit, cut off your leaves – use those quickly, and keep the bottoms in a bag in your fridge. I have actually had them stay in the fridge for a month or so.  They are great in biscuits. Put on pizza.
    • If Rhubarb – Here’s sweet recipes. Here’s savory recipes. Here’s my blog on rhubarb that includes my grandma’s rhubarb pie recipe, and then down in the comments my mom posts how to make rhubarb ice cream, and rhubarb sauce.
  • Arugula – good on pizza with the ramps. add it to asparagus soup, Make strawberry arugula salad. .
  • Swiss chard –  Swiss chard is delicious, versatile, and don’t forget to pickle the stems. It is hearty enough to stand in for pasta, say in a lasagna. The stems take longer to cook than leaves, so I usually put stems in first, then leaves. Here are some ideas.
  • Cilantro – use it in your ramp chimmichurri.
  • Red radishes – young radishes have a sweetness to them. Try roasted radishes with brown butter, radish tops, and lemon. You can also sautee the tops like any green.  Slice and add to salad. Pickle. Here are some recipes. There is a radish corn salad in here, that would be good with your corn if you haven’t used it yet.
  • Garlic – this goes in your pesto, or chimmichurri
  • Bok choy – bok choy with garlic
  • Chamomile — so many neat things you can do: fresh tea is amazing, but you can use it in ice cream – here’s a vegan salted caramel chamomile version, make simple syrup, put it in cocktails, add it to salads, crostini, chop fine and add to yogurt like you would with dill. bake a cake here’s ideas. Here’s some health and beauty things you can do.
  • Sugar Snap Peas – quinoa salad with sugar snap peas, Here’s a few more ways.
Fruit – Strawberries. Possibly rhubarb, if he finds some.

Meats-

Rappahannock River Oysters

Rappahannock River Oysters

Oysters and Clams –  how to shuck an oyster with Chef Pete at Merroir. How to prepare them raw 0 use your ramps, garlic, or green onions! Grill them. Here’s a few other methods of cooking like roasting, and steaming. Here’s how to steam clams. Here’s the Ultlimate Pasta with Clams – perfect if you still have your pasta from the other week! Clams with bacon, cilantro, ginger and galic (sub ramps!!) Make oyster shooters. You can use sake, tequila, vodka etc. Look them up. You’ll be in heaven.

Alt Meat – not sure yet. If you had alt meat last week — check with Mark to see what your selection is.

Cheese – Goat Feta from Peachy Family Farm – Snap pea salad with radish and feta. .

pea, feta and mint toasts (sub chamomile!) 

Bread – Prairie Grain

 

 Posted by Suzi Lilly at 9:48 pm  Tagged with: arugula, Capitol Hill, clams, community food systems, CSA, DC, Eastern Market, Farm Shares, Farm to Family, grass-fed dairy, grass-fed meats, local food, oysters, produce, recipes, Richmond, RVA, sustainable food, Virginia

What’s in the CSA- week of 5/1 – Oysters, Clams, Asparagus, Ramps, Strawberries!!!

 CSA Farm Share, CSA/Farm Market, Get Involved, Local Food, Recipes  No Responses »
Apr 302017
 

13130879_10154064264569360_4995498652799122823_oHi members, Hope you are all staying cool!

We have a bang up share for you this week. Post pictures of what you are making on our facebook group page! Others love ideas and recipes. I also post other ideas and info. Thank you!

We will be having the option of oysters and clams again next week, so if you are getting a share with meat in it, and need to OPT OUT and get the ALTERNATE MEAT (I do not know what it will be), send me your OPT OUT email with no oysters clams in your subject. If you want them, do NOTHING – you will get 2 dozen each oysters and clams, or the quart of shucks (email if you want the shucks). If you want more, or a la carte oysters, clams by the dozen, or pints or quarts of shucks, please order via your dashboard under MEATS – Oysters Clams a la carte.  NEED ORDERS BY WED next week. thank you.

Happy eating. Suzi

Veg share so far, subject to changes:

  • Swiss chard – Swiss chard is delicious, versatile, and don’t forget to pickle the stems. It is hearty enough to stand in for pasta, say in a lasagna. The stems take longer to cook than leaves, so I usually put stems in first, then leaves. Here are some ideas.
  • Baby spinach – put on pizza with the ramps. or make a salad.
  • Green onions – these guys may get overshadowed by the ramps this week, but put them in your salad with bibb lettuce, baby spinach and strawberries and they will shine.
  • Ramps – boy we love these, and we have a family tradition of getting them every year. Ive posted some ramp info on our FB group. Don’t be intimidated by them. Treat them like you would garlic or onions, only better, and you’ll be ok. Here’s a great video on how to find, clean and pickle them. They are forest foraged, so still have soil on them. Clean them well, dirt can  hide in them, like leeks. Use the leaves to make pesto, or chimmichurri. If you aren’t going to get to them for a bit, cut off your leaves, and keep them in a bag in your fridge. I have actually had them stay in the fridge for a month or so.  They are great in biscuits, which we included below. Put on pizza.
  • Bibb – make lettuce wraps, use it as a bun for your burger.
  • Radishes – young radishes have a sweetness to them. Try roasted radishes with brown butter, radish tops, and lemon. You can also sautee the tops like any green.  Slice and add to salad. Pickle. Here are some recipes. There is a radish corn salad in here, that would be good with your corn if you haven’t used it yet.
  • Strawberries – I posted info on how to freeze them to use later in the season in smoothies. You can also make fruit leather, dehydrate for snacks, or jam. Here is the boss small batch strawberry balsamic jam recipe I posted in the group that I made for Mother’s Day gifts last year. I cooked it in the slow cooker. this makes only 4 half pints, so refridgerate, eat on the biscuits, or give away. No need to process. But if you want to process, I used a saucepan, and a veggie steamer and it worked great. I used this on baked brie at mom’s for Easter.
  • Asparagus – we are grilling bacon wrapped asparagus for dinner tonight. or put in salad.
  • Arugula – good on pizza with the ramps.
  • Cilantro (good with clams) – Clams with bacon, cilantro, ginger and galic (sub ramps!!)
  • Mushrooms – good on pizza with the ramps.
  • Golden biscuit mix from Wade’s Mill for strawberry shortcake and ramp biscuits. to make ramp biscuits: thinly slice the bulb and add it right in. Or you can use only the leaves. You can caramelize the bulbs in a little butter first. Cook as usual. Wade’s Mill is a circa 1750 water grist mill and we love their products. You will see them on the menu at fine restaurants.

Meat
Oysters and clams – how to shuck an oyster with Chef Pete at Merroir. How to prepare them raw 0 use your ramps, or green onions! Grill them. Here’s a few other methods of cooking like roasting, and steaming. Here’s how to steam clams. Here’s the Ultlimate Pasta with Clams – perfect if you still have your pasta from the other week! Make oyster shooters. You can use sake, tequila, vodka etc. Look them up. You’ll be in heaven.
If you opted out, looks like a picnic grill special:
Polyface hot dogs
ground beef
bison summer sausage – make a plate with the cheese from  your share. You can add in sliced radishes, and make a delicious sauce with a spoon of our lovely jam with some stone ground mustard.  You can slice it and add it to your salad. Or put it on the pizza!!!!

 

 Posted by Suzi Lilly at 5:33 pm  Tagged with: Capitol Hill, clams, community food systems, css, DC, Eastern Market, Farm Shares, Farm to Family, farmer's market, fruit, oysters, Polyface Farms, produce, rappahannock river oysters, Recipe, Richmond, RVA, strawberries, sustainable food, Washington DC

What’s in the Share – strawberries, asparagus, bison – week of 4/17

 CSA Farm Share, CSA/Farm Market, Get Involved, Local Food, Recipes  No Responses »
Apr 172017
 

 

11084032_10153185802240935_7942784199934615198_oHope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather and are settling into your CSA food. We have a lovely share coming your way this week. Keep in mind that these previews are what we think will be in the share, and may change due to a number of reasons. We ask you stay open minded when substitutions arise. Thank you!

Produce – so far:

  • bibb lettuce – Linda Bruce, Rain or Shine Greenhouse Gardens
  • mushrooms – Rob Woolfolk, Beaver Dam, VA
  • asparagus –  Sneads Aparagus Farm, Emmet Snead, Fredericksburg, VA. We made eggs benedict with asparagus and bacon for my mom for Easter Brunch.
  • strawberries – Anne + Chuck Geyer, Agriberry, Hanover, VA – We also made vegan strawberry shortcake with coconut whip for my mom. I’ve taken her off dairy and gluten for her eczema, which has been super helpful. I am planning a batch of strawberry balsamic jam, and going to try it in my Instant Pot. I made it last year as gifts for Mother’s Day and it is the best jam I’ve ever made. This recipe makes 4 jars.
  • spinach – Flores Farm, Northern Neck VA – Try my spinach strawberry salad with caramelized nuts(uses honey, but you can sub maple syrup to make vegan) – you can top with chèvre! The Agriberry vinegars are amazing in this.
  • leeks – Flores Farm, Northern Neck, VA – Mac and Cheese with braised leeks, asiago + park breadcrumbs.
  • red onions – Flores Farm, Northern Neck, VA  – spinach, mushroom, goat cheese pizza.
  • Chives or thyme – Flores Farm, Northern Neck, VA – Romanian gypsies are said to have used chives in their fortune-telling rites, and hung garlands of chives around their homes to ward off disease and evil spirits. I have them growing in my kitchen herb garden, and snip them into small bits, into eggs, potatoes, salads, vegetables. Here are thehealth benefits along with a fines herb omelet. Here are some other  ways to use them.
  • honey** – Hungry Hill Farm – Try strawberry honey butter. Steal a strawberry and some  yogurt away to make this face mask. Here is a strawberry honey smash cocktail perfect for porch sitting. **If you are vegan and home delivered, email me for a sub. Otherwise, check with Mark at pickup. 
  • Virginia Peanut Company – chocolate peanuts – lightly salted. These are ridiculous. Store in your refrigerator. Hide them from your children.

Meat

  • ground bison – Edmonds Farm, Lancaster, VA – we love to make burgers with these – go easy on toppings and condiments, they are so flavorful all you really need is salt and pepper. You can use the Bibb lettuce as a bun. However, you can make almost anything wth bison you would use ground beef in. Bison is super lean, so make sure to use coconut oil, butter, ghee, olive oil, bacon fat or another fat when frying. Cooking time is fast, temperature is lower.  Here are some cooking tips. We love Don and  Kim Edmonds and their 3 little girls. Their farm is a Dr. Dolittle kind of place – Don was a vet tech, and has a soft spot for rescues and odd creatures. He has a pet possum, emus, some other exotic birds I can’t remember, a tame bison named Ginger that grew up in the house alongside a fawn, lots of cats, dogs, ducks of many types, chickens, pigs and of course the majestic bison.
  • Bison Jerky – Edmonds Farm, Lancaster, VA – super good snack to keep you from going  hungry!
  • Smoked bacon – Edmonds Farm. This bacon is super tasty. Its got terrific smoked flavor, but not cured, so make sure to cook it up quickly after defrosting. Try roasted asparagus with mushrooms and bacon.Its amazing with greens,

Bread

  • Billy Bread– Leckers Baking Company, Richmond, VA – This bread is renowned in RVA and served in many of its best restaurants. It’s one of Mark’s favorites.  Its a crusty artisan multi-grain sourdough, and includes spelt rye and whole wheat berries.  It’s 100 percent hand-made and naturally leavened. Do not be dismayed by its hard exterior! it is best eaten quickly, but here are some tips to use it if you don’t.  Try goat cheese toasts with honey and thyme. Use it to sop up sauces and to convey goat cheese to mouth.  Eat spread with very good butter and very good preserves or the strawberry honey butter above.

Cheese

  • Peachy Family chèvre – We love the Peachys, an Amish farm family from Pennsylvania who we have gotten to know over the years, and we are happy to partner with them.  One of my favorite easy treats is plain chevre drizzled with honey with strawberries. Its great on pizza, in a salad, on a cracker or veggies. Top the asparagus with it.  Here’s 39 other ways to use goat cheese.

 

 Posted by Suzi Lilly at 2:28 pm  Tagged with: community food systems, CSA, DC, Eastern Market, Farm Shares, Farm to Family, grass-fed dairy, grass-fed meats, local food, produce, recipes, Richmond, RVA, sustainable food, Virginia, Washington DC

 Permalink  CSA Farm Share, CSA/Farm Market, Get Educated, Get Involved, Local Food  No Responses »
Feb 222017
 
News about BusFarm/Farm to Family + The FarmBus Mobile Markets
We proudly serve RVA and Washington, DC
Call us: 804-767-8570 or 804-397-7337
DC Markets: Tuesday @ Eastern Market
RVA Market Open:  By Appointment  804-397-7337
Veteran owned. Always honoring Veterans and Active Military – 10% discount

CSA-Day-Logo-3Farm to Family CSA in DC/RVA/Hanover Celebrates CSA Day
with Extended Discounts!

Farm to Family is celebrating National CSA Day, Friday, February 24, ALL WEEK!! and we are offering discounts for our DC,  Richmond and Hanover area members and new members along with free Home Delivery within our RVA delivery area.  We have extended the 5% CSA Day discount to begin now, thru Sunday2/26 – sign up now to get the best value on all shares, including payment plans.

10154035_10152105348736483_4621415552134914340_nYou will save 5% on all shares and payment plans using discount code CSA17 ALL WEEK! Share pickups in DC are at Eastern Market, 7th G, and 23rd Place and E st, NE. DC home delivery is $4/time.  Pickup for RVA members is at the Farm to Family Market at 2817 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond VA 23223 (not Mechanicsville).  Pickup location is adjacent to I-64, I-295, Church Hill, Downtown, Northside, Mechanicsville.  FREE RVA home delivery is available within 5 mi radius of the F2F market, with 2 drops in Hanover (Ash Creek and Bell Creek neighborhoods pending 10 members).

Additional savings are available with 10% discount code FULL17 for FULL share (combo produce, meat, dairy, bread) pd in full up front, and 10% discount for active military/veterans (email farmshares@thefarmbus.com for code).

The Spring season starts on Tuesday, 3/28 with weekly and biweekly shares, and runs for 24 weeks.  All drop locations start Wed, 4/8 (biweekly only). Shares include locally grown produce (veggies and fruit), fruit only (starts 4/23), grass-fed dairy and eggs, grass-fed/pastured meats, and combo full share that features produce, dairy, meat and bread. Add ons available.

Pampatike Organic Farms Delivery!

Pampatike Organic Farms Delivery!

We offer flexible payment plans and vacation holds.  Farmers and vendor partners include Polyface Farms,  Edmonds Bison Farm, Morning Glory Farm, Agriberry, Flores Family Farm, Farmstead Ferments, Bombolini, Twin Oaks, Rappahannock River Oysters, Local Food Hub, Trickling Springs Dairy, Old Church Creamery, Mt View Dairy and others.

To sign up, or for more info, visit http://thefarmbus.csaware.com/store/, email farmshares@thefarmbus.com or call 804-397-7339. For up to the moment info, recipes and more on our CSA, join our Facebook group.
If you believe in the value of the work our local farmers and small artisan vendors do and would like to help them be successful, sign up for a CSA this week. Your membership guarantees support for them for a 6 month season and is integral in the success of local farms and small business economy.  Use the hashtag #CSAday #farmtofamily or #RVA to share our offer, and join the online conversation. For more information on CSA day, visit www.csaday.info.

 

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 Posted by Suzi Lilly at 2:35 pm  Tagged with: Capitol Hill, community food systems, CSA, DC, Eastern Market, Farm Shares, Farm to Family, farmer's market, grass-fed dairy, grass-fed meats, local food, Polyface Farms, Richmond, RVA, sustainable food, vegetables, Virginia, Washington DC

What’s in the Share: fresh ginger, maple syrup, Wade’s Mill Corncake Pancakes, local hyrdoponic tomatoes and Last week for Patriots Plaza Market

 CSA Farm Share, CSA/Farm Market, Get Educated, Get Involved, Local Food, Recipes  No Responses »
Dec 102016
 

wreath-for-csawareHI Members —

We will have Christmas trees and wreaths this week – If you would like, please email me. Otherwise, it is luck of the draw!

Mark is looking to rent warehouse space in DC 500-1500 Sq feet. email him Mark@thefarmbus.com.

This week will be the last week of our Wednesday Patriot’s Plaza Market and CSA drop. The building has new owners, and we have unsuccessfully been trying to negotiate an affordable rent from them.  We hope to return in the Spring. We will miss all of you, and are so grateful for your support and patronage. Patriots Plaza people will be shifted to the Tuesday, Eastern Market drop, 4-7pm. If you are unable to make this, and have not yet let me know, please do this right away. Thank you for your continued membership and flexibility with this unavoidable situation.

I will be starting a new job this week, my first corporate job in 20 years, so a HUGE life change for me. This means I will be checking emails during breaks on CSA day, and blocking work. If you have an urgent situation on CSA day, please text Mark at 804-397-7337 as I will not be able to check my phone during work except breaks.

This is the last drop of the year for many of you, and we wish you very Happy Holidays. We are grateful for your membership and have loved getting to know you and your family this winter. Next week, 12/20  will be the last drop for most of our weekly folks (put shares on hold if you are traveling!) and then we are on holiday, returning January 3 for all of you.  Everyone is welcome to come next week and shop. If you want to order an extra share of anything, please email me so I can make sure to add you in the count.

Mark will have a truck load of maple syrup, apple butter, Wade’s Mill speciality mixes, honey, our Love + Gratitude jams and other pantry items that make great gifts.

Happy Cooking!

Suzi Lilly

Here’s what is in the share:

Produce

  • young local ginger – I grate this into everything, including salad. 
  • broccoli
  • apples
  • hydroponic local tomatoes (treat!)
  • bibb lettuce
  • sunflower microgreens (treat!) – add them to a salad or sandwich, or just eat them as a snack.
  • Wade’s Mill corncake pancake mix – These are so good! Wade’s Mill, located in Raphine, VA, is 270 years old and was recently sold. We are so glad the new owners are carrying on the stone ground grains and are glad to be able to work with them. Here’s a news story on the new owners with pictures of the Mill. It is a super cool place, and has a neat store, so visit if you are in that area. 
  • Maple Syrup – Southernmost Maple (Mike Puffenberger and family) are in Bolar, VA and also do apple butter, maple sausage and that crazy good BBQ we send you. Mike and his family have been friends with Mark’s family for over 30 years and was one of our first farmers on board the Farm Bus when we started. We are grateful that they saw Mark’s vision and we LOVE what they do. 
  • Onions
  • cabbage
  • potatoes
MEAT
  • Edmonds Farm bison chuck roast – this is a treat. Cook it like you would a beef pot roast. This secret is to thoroughly brown the meat on all sides when you start your prep so it has a nice crust on it – that ensures your meat will be tender, juicy and flavorful.  Here is a beer braised version, with fresh rosemary and thyme.  Chuck roast, whether beef or bison, are one of the most economical cuts of meat, and super delicious. You can modify any beef recipe for your bison. I love to make bison bourgognone also!!! Good luck and enjoy! 
 Posted by Suzi Lilly at 3:38 pm  Tagged with: apples, Capitol Hill, community food systems, CSA, DC, Eastern Market, Farm Shares, Farm to Family, farmer's market, food revolution, grass-fed dairy, grass-fed meats, local food, Patriot's Plaza, produce, sustainable food, Washington DC
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  • Comment on Southside Outpost to Close Sunday, June 9 by James Shelton
    I wish there was a way to keep it open.
    James Shelton
  • Comment on Southside Outpost to Close Sunday, June 9 by Nancy
    So very sorry to hear of the closing!!! Take care, you two - especially Suzi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Nancy
  • Comment on Pan-Fried Fennel by Nancy
    I just saw The CBN broadcast that reported on the wonderful work you're doing in Virginia! I would like to know if there's an opportunity to make a donation towards the work you're doing. Please let me know as well as many others, as I'm sure there are others out there that would love to […]
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  • Comment on 2013 Spring / Summer CSA Farm Shares – Richmond, VA, and Washington, DC by Caroline
    Are you still doing Eastern Market on Tuesday evenings? I was looking for the truck on April 9th and 16th and didn't see anyone or anything that appeared to be affiliated with the CSA.
    Caroline
  • Comment on TEDxMANHATTAN — Challenge Finalists! Help Mark get on stage to talk about food! by Suzi Lilly
    Hi There -- We don't do a drop in Arlington yet, but we do have many people who live there who come to one of our drops in DC -- We do Eastern Market on Capitol Hill, and NW at the Maret School. Let me know if you have questions and concerns and thanks for […]
    Suzi Lilly
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