Welcome, new members — Spring CSA has begun! The season is just getting underway, and we’re excited to share it with you.
According to Farmer Josh, July 27 is the date to mark — the best corn in the Valley will be ready!
This past week has been full of planting. The fields are filling up, and while I don’t have the full list, I know peas and radishes are already tucked into the soil.
Note about Stinging Nettle
There are nettles in your veggie and combo share this week. They grow wild all over TapRoot Farms and are one of the most nourishing greens of the season.
A quick heads up — nettles do sting when fresh. Please don’t handle them with bare hands. Use gloves or a bag over your hand when unpacking and preparing. The sting is temporary but can be uncomfortable.
Once cooked or dried, the sting disappears completely. Nettles can be used anywhere you might use spinach — in soups, pasta, or frittatas. A quick blanch, steam, or sauté is all it takes. What remains is a tender green with a flavour somewhere between spinach and cucumber.
Josh’s favourite way to enjoy them is simple: boiled and strained, then finished with butter, vinegar, and pepper. The cooking water makes a deeply nourishing tea — don’t pour it down the drain.
Recipes to try:
Nettle soup, nettle pesto, sautéed nettles, or a spring frittata.
Veggie Share
- Nettle
- Spinach
- Yellow potatoes
- Cherry Tomatoes – Stokdijk
- Asian Salad Mix – What on Earth
- Turnip
Combo Share
- Nettle
- Spinach
- Yellow potatoes
- Crimson crisp apples
- English cucumber
- Organic grape tomatoes
- Large beefsteak tomato
Meat Share
- Whole chicken
- Ground pork
Fruit Share
- Crimson crisp apples
- English cucumber
- Organic grape tomatoes
- Large beefsteak tomato