“I realize that many of you would rather get a mammogram than eat another chard leaf. Or get a poke in the eye over another squash recipe.” That’s why this week I passed out notes at market about FREEZING. I myself am not that great at putting up food for the winter—afterall I’m only really 3 winters into my farm wifery. Getting pretty good at hanging clothes on the line, but that’s about it. In ten years I’ll be playing banjo and canning at the same time.
We do have squash coming out of our ears. So let’s brainstorm. What can we do with these vegetables that just won’t stop? Here are some exciting key words and phrases:
PICKLE IN A SPICY BRINE!
DIP IN HUMMUS!
GRATE INTO POTATO HASH!
ADD CURRY SPICES AND COCONUT MILK!
HOW ABOUT THESE OLD AND NEW FAVORITES:
QUINOA
LENTILS (try the red ones—they cook quick and are creamy and delicious)
THAT CHEESE THE CHEESE GUY SELLS THAT YOU CAN GRILL
GARLIC CHEESE SPREAD (great—from River Valley, the mushroom people)
BACON….
Don’t forget to try a tomato in your peanut butter sandwich today,
Julia
PS On the farm, mosquitos are much better. New additions to the Monday Harvest Team, Tazio and Glen. Thank you!
The Kids Are All Right
I (Julia) was appalled to read this story yesterday. Looks like all is well and good now, thankfully. The city took back its cease and desist order.
Seems us CSA farmers have a ways to go before “CSA” is a household word. -Julia
CSA home drop offs nearly plowed under by city rules
Posted by Monica Eng (Chicago Tribune columnist, Stew Blog)
A city investigator swooped into an Andersonville home Wednesday, on a tip that that folks inside were dealers.
The merchandise: locally grown organic carrots, cucumbers, green peppers, bulb fennel and garlic chives. Not to mention heirloom tomatoes.
The investigator from the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection mistakenly believed the family was selling the produce from their front porch, as a neighbor had reported in a complaint to 311.
But the family explained that they were just members of a community supported agriculture (CSA) club. Like thousands of Chicago area residents, they buy shares in local farms during the winter and spring as payment for boxes of fresh produce during the summer and fall. Members pick up their boxes during specified hours at homes, churches, farmers markets and even downtown’s Aon building this year.
But the business affairs investigator had never heard of this concept and slapped the Andersonville family with a “cease and desist” order and left.
The family called and e-mailed their alderman, Gene Schulter’s, office whose aides, in turn, e-mailed the business affairs office. An officer there sent a note back Thursday explaining mistakenly that “since food items are being sold, there should be a retail food license holder.”
Deb Hansen, the owner of Simply Wisconsin, the farm that runs this particular CSA, sent back a note explaining that CSA drop off points do not sell food. The officer then responded by citing ordinances that it is illegal to “warehouse” any goods in one’s home.
As late as noon today things were looking really bad for the dozens of Chicago area families who host CSA drop off points and the thousands who pick up from homes.
Then, in response to several Tribune inquiries, the clouds seemed to part and the DBACP issued the following statement:
“Our department responded to a complaint received through 311 that a residence was selling groceries from their front porch. On the 28th, an investigator issued a Cease and Desist order for operating without a wholesale food establishment license. Upon further investigation and in speaking with the supplier we have decided to remove the Cease and Desist order immediately.”
