Turtle Times

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Vol. 16, No. 21, October 4th , ‘11    319-331-2367 (Ben) 278-4522 or 577-9208 (Angela)

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Rain:  None

In the Box . . .

 

Sweet Potatoes: ‘Beauregard’

Storage Onion: ‘Courtland’

Turnips: ‘Hakurei’

Pole Beans: ‘Gold of Bacau’, ‘Blue de Coco’, ‘Rattlesnake Snap’ or ‘Fortex’

Tomatoes: ‘Abe Lincoln’, ‘Celebrity’, ‘Jet Star’, ‘Defiant PHR’ and/or ‘Mountain Magic’

Miscellaneous Sweet Peppers

Hot Peppers: Jalapeno, ‘Aji Cristal’, ‘Tiburon’ Ancho, ‘Magnum’ habenero, (by request)

Eggplant: ‘Ping Tung Long’, ‘Thai Green’, ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Falcon’, ‘Rosa Bianca’, or ‘Snowy’ (some sites)

 

Ala Carte Items:

Rosemary, thyme, ($1 each) and potted Rosemary Plants ($5 each)

Free (upon request):  sage  

Please email Angela to request the ala carte and free items (angela@turtle-farm.com).

 

Farm Update

 

While it is hard for me to believe, this week brings our “regular season” shares to an end.  It is hard for me to believe because the weather has fluctuated extremes so much this season that we didn’t experience the “natural” shifts of cool springs to warm/hot summers gradually creeping into fall.  This season brought us three 90 degree days in April, followed with a lot of rain and cooler temps.  What I think of as summer (hot and humid), never really made an appearance except for those three extremely hot weeks we experienced in August.  Now all of a sudden here we are in the first week of fall.  It was nice to be able to watch the pelicans swirling above the farm and, while digging sweet potatoes last week, discovered a “new to me” species of frog. The chorus frog (  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN604.pdf ) was tucking itself in for the winter along with the toads and salamanders.

 

It was my great pleasure to get to reconnect with many returning members this season and meeting some new folks!  With the challenges (mainly weather related) faced this season by all growers, I don’t know how many do it without the support of a great group of people like I have!  So, thank you all for supporting Turtle Farm this season and allowing me to do something I truly love, providing a great group of people with local, certified organic food in cooperation with Nature!  I hope you all stay warm this winter, and I look forward to reconnecting next spring.

 

Box Reminder:  This week, please search around the house for any Turtle Farm boxes you have laying around and bring them with you to the drop off this week.  If you are not receiving an October share, please also remember to bring bags with you this week to bring home your bounty.

 

October share:  As I wrote in the last couple of newsletters, because we are extending the regular season, the first week of the Oct. share will overlap will also be delivered this week.  Because of this, for the first week of the October share you will be able to pick it up with your “regular season” share at your regular drop off site.  Look for two boxes this week (Tuesday Oct. 4 or Friday Oct. 7).  Starting Oct. 11, everyone will pick up their October shares on Tuesdays.  Those who normally pick up on Fridays will have a change in their pickup site to the Tuesday sites.  So starting Oct. 11 and continuing through Oct. 25th, here are the Tuesday pickup sites for everyone who does not pick up at the farm:

Des Moines      680 Harwood

W. Des Moines 1055—21st St.

Urbandale        4120—79th St.

Johnston          7260 NW 58th St.

 

 

Recipes (from Angela)

 

Rebecca Howe sent in this recipe from Kitchen Collage.  You could substitute this week’s turnip greens for the spinach.  And any meat is easily added to this dish if desired.

 

Tunisian Sweet  Potato Stew

2 T. olive oil                                                    16-oz can garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed

1 medium onion, chopped                               3 c. low-sodium chicken broth

4 cloves garlic, minced                                                2-inch strip lemon peel

14-oz can roasted tomatoes, chopped              ½ c. raisins

1 cinnamon stick                                             2 T. lemon juice

1 tsp. ground coriander                                                4 c. baby spinach

1 tsp. toasted cumin seed

½ tsp. red pepper flakes

1 really big sweet potato, peeled and cubed

 

In a large skillet, heat olive oil.  Add onion; cook and stir for about 5 minutes.  Add garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon, coriander, cumin and red pepper flakes, cook and stir for about 3 minutes.   Add sweet potato, garbanzos, broth, lemon peel and raisins; bring to simmering.  Cook, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.  Stir in lemon juice and spinach; cook just until spinach wilts.  Serve over hot cooked wild rice or couscous.  Serves 4.

 

 

***Turtle Farm online newsletters will continue to be sent to everyone through October even if you don’t get the October share.  You may wish to read with us in October even if you aren’t eating with usJ