Roots and Shoots Farm - 12th Week of CSA Food 2012

As we edge into September, the CSA food basket from Roots and Shoots Farm is less 'delicate' and more 'roots-y'.

I was so taken by the lovely looking acorn squash I did something I have only ever done once before. I used the trade box. Wanting 'lots' of acorn squash, I traded in my delicata squash for a second acorn. This strategic move set me up well for hosting a Thanksgiving-esque dinner party this weekend. The basket also had onions, celery, carrots and beans. Naturals on the dinner plate with bird, stuffing and gravy.


[My 6.55 pound chicken came from Earth's Harvest Farm near Oxford Mills. Luke and Liza Swale raise pasture-raised (grass-fed) organic chickens. I called him Francis and he was delicious.]

Roots and Shoots shared an Asian Napa Cabbage Salad recipe in their newsletter that I know we will try this week. The ingredient list includes: chow mein noodles, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, and dry mustard.

This basket will not last long.


[Acorn squash]


[Red onions]


[Celery]


[Carrots]


[Beans]


[Curly kale]


[Napa cabbage]


[Beets]


[Bell peppers, chocolate pepper, lipstick pepper, jalepeno peppers]


[Cherry tomatoes]


[Garlic]

If you want to learn more about the farm, the contact information for Roots and Shoots Farm is:
ROBIN TURNER
email: robin@rootsandshootsfarm.com
website: www.rootsandshootsfarm.com
facebook: Roots and Shoots Farm
twitter: RootsShootsFarm

They sell at a number of markets around the city, including the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sunday at Brewer Park. 8 am to 3 pm. I frequent their Westboro market on Saturdays. It runs from 9:30 am to 3 pm. They are also out in Kanata and Manotick on Saturdays.

[Disclaimer: Many have noticed that I write quite frequently about Roots and Shoots Farm. I have no connection to this business other than as a 3rd season CSA customer and pitching in as a volunteer. My comments are my own. I do not do sponsored posts. Roots and Shoots Farm has never asked me to write about their farm. I did this post because I love their food. I receive nothing in return for waxing poetic about their great produce.]

Roots and Shoots Farm - 10th Week of CSA Food 2012

The CSA baskets from Roots and Shoots just keeping better and better! I am feeling a bit melancholy though. The start of September marks a changing season and our remaining weeks of baskets are dwindling.

We have done well using our produce but it is still a bit of a race to make sure none goes to waste and that it is used well.

I have enjoyed helping out at the Roots and Shoots Farm 'pavilion' for their first two weeks at the Westboro location of the Ottawa Farmers' Market. A great way to catch up with my neighbours, fellow CSA members and meet new food loving friends.

We loved how everyone within hearing distance would pitch in to share their ideas on how to best care for the new purchases and their favourite way to cook them up. The most common advice I doled out was "Don't be a beet boiler!" I hope there are a few converts to roasting them and keeping the nutrition packed inside.

I was not surprised when the kale sold out week 2. It has become so popular as the morning smoothie core ingredient. Kale is the new ! How would you answer that? Super food? Kale and quinoa!

My big surprise news flash is that my mister really doesn't like string beans. Not green, yellow or purple beans. We have been married forever and I am finding this out now? Their is a silver lining though. This week's beans are all mine.

Have you found a new favourite in your basket or at the Farmers' Market?


[green and purple beans]


[cooking onions and a red onion]


[arugula]


[carrots]


[romaine lettuce]


[red, golden and candy cane beets]


[delicata squash]


[asparation/broccolini]



[tomatoes]


[savoy cabbage]


[garlic]


[lipstick peppers, green peppers, jalepeño peppers]

If you want to learn more about the farm, the contact information for Roots and Shoots Farm is:
ROBIN TURNER
email: robin@rootsandshootsfarm.com
website: www.rootsandshootsfarm.com
facebook: Roots and Shoots Farm
twitter: RootsShootsFarm

They also sell at a number of markets around the city, including the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sunday at Brewer Park. 8 am to 3 pm. Their Saturday markets are: Kanata, Manotick and Westboro.

[Disclaimer: Many have noticed that I write quite frequently about Roots and Shoots Farm. I have no connection to this business other than as a 3rd season CSA customer and pitching in as a volunteer. My comments are my own. I do not do sponsored posts. Roots and Shoots Farm has never asked me to write about their farm. I did this post because I love their food. I receive nothing in return for waxing poetic about their great produce.]

Roots and Shoots Farm - 8th Week of CSA Food 2012

This week we hit the half way point in our CSA season with Roots and Shoots Farm. It's week 8. If the weight of the basket is any indication, this farm appears to have reached its crescendo. Or at least is well on its way.

I continue to marvel at the beauty of the produce week after week. This is their best year of their three. The storage life exceeds what I normally experience with produce from the grocery store. It helps that what I receive in my CSA share was picked just the day before it arrives.

Thankfully there are a few dinner parties over the next week. I plan to stuff everyone to the gills! Lucky them.

How are you doing with your food basket?


[Beans]


[Red curly kale]


[Sprouts tops]


[Fennel]


[Carrots]


[Onions]


[Watermelon]


[Lettuce]


[Garlic]


[Cucumbers]


[Zucchinis]


[Peppers]


[Basil]


[Tomatoes]

If you want to learn more about the farm, the contact information for Roots and Shoots Farm is:
ROBIN TURNER
email: robin@rootsandshootsfarm.com
website: www.rootsandshootsfarm.com
facebook: Roots and Shoots Farm
twitter: RootsShootsFarm

They also sell at a number of markets around the city, including the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sunday at Brewer Park. 8 am to 3 pm. Their Saturday markets are: Kanata, Manotick and Westboro.

[Disclaimer: Many have noticed that I write quite frequently about Roots and Shoots Farm. I have no connection to this business other than as a 3rd season CSA customer. My comments are my own. I do not do sponsored posts. Roots and Shoots Farm has never asked me to write about their farm. I did this post because I love their food. I receive nothing in return for waxing poetic about their great produce.]

Roots and Shoots Farm - 6th Week of CSA Food 2012

Despite the drought, Roots and Shoots Farm continues to deliver luscious food in our CSA baskets. Bless that very deep, new well.

The focus of this week's food will be the menu for our Food Day Canada party on Saturday evening. FDC is the brainchild of Anita Stewart, culinary activist and recently appointed Member of the Order of Canada. We made our plans earlier trying to guess what we might be receiving this week. Happily, this is going to allow us to use many of the items throughout our dishes.

Our Food Day Canada menu this year is heavy on the vegetables. There will be a wee bit of duck in one dish of our 5-course meal and also smoked salmon in one of our three canapés. This 'heavy on the vegetables' is a side effect we continue to experience as CSA shareholders. We want to use all that we have been given with care and respect. No waste.

What will you be doing with your food basket this week?


[Tomatoes] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Yellow beans]


[Basil] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Carrots]


[Cucumbers] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Garlic] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Napa cabbage]


[Peppers] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Romanesco]


[Tatsoi] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Onions] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]


[Zucchini] [In Food Day Canada 2012 menu]

If you want to learn more about the farm, the contact information for Roots and Shoots Farm is:
ROBIN TURNER
robin@rootsandshootsfarm.com
www.rootsandshootsfarm.com
www.facebook.com/rootsandshootsfarm
www.twitter.com/RootsShootsFarm

They also sell at a number of markets around the city, including the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sunday at Brewer Park. 8 am to 3 pm.

[Disclaimer: Many have noticed that I write quite frequently about Roots and Shoots Farm. I have no connection to this business other than as a 3rd season CSA customer. My comments are my own. I do not do sponsored posts. Roots and Shoots Farm has never asked me to write about their farm. I did this post because I love their food. I receive nothing in return for waxing poetic about their great produce.]