Purple Rain Vineyard

Week of July 25th, 2010

This photo represents a medium share

Cauliflower

Fennel Bulb

Garlic

kohralbi

Lettuce

Scallions

Summer Squash

Garlic: Green garlic is served  for this week's harvest.  The term green refers to uncured garlic.  You will notice as the garlic is peeled that the skin enclosing each clove is soft and the taste of the garlic is much milder.   Garlic at this stage is best to be consumed within a few weeks.

Summer Squash: We are beginning to harvest summer squash and it will be a crop that goes on rotation.

Eating organic food and being physically active can only promote a healthy lifestyle.   Self evaluation and commitment are two important elements required for one to continue on the right path.  Unfortunately, statistics show that we typically change not from knowledge but from how we feel.  By then, it can be too late to reverse the ailment.  In Untied States there are 1.6 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed each year. Data from 2007  shows that 23.6 million people in United States have diabetes.  The total cost of diagnosed diabetes was $174 billion.  No doubt the numbers has increased.  The good news is that each one of us can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through a healthy lifestyle;  Changing our diet, increasing our level of physical activity, and  maintain a healthy weight. With these positive steps, we can stay healthier longer and reduce the risk of diabetes.

One aspect of our CSA Program is the amount and variety of leafy greens we provide to our CSA members.  We strongly believe that greens should be the largest percentage of what we intake to replenish and maintain excellent health.   As we say good bye to July and welcome August,  field beds are being  sown with leafy greens to be introduced in the fall harvest.  We courage you not to shy away, but rather to embrace the new tastes, especially the pungent mustard greens,  and begin to appreciate the different flavors.

Enjoy your week!

Week of July 19, 2010

This photo represents a Medium share.

Beets

Savoy Cabbage

Cauliflower

French Sorrel

Lettuce

Onions

Peas

The Food and Climate Connection

"How we farm and eat is simultaneously one of the greatest contributors to climate change and one of its greatest potential solutions. The same global food system that is making us sick, increasing food insecurity, and polluting the environment is also contributing to climate change.  Climate change, in turn, is contributing to rising rates of hunger and food insecurity. As much as 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions come from the food system.  As you may know, it's how we farm and eat.  Indeed, food and climate change are inextricably linked." (www.organicconsumers.org.) But the good news is that all of us can be part of the solution by becoming responsible consumers. Thank you for being part of our CSA Program. Together we are making a difference.

Week of July 12th, 2010

This photo represents a small share.

Week of July 5, 2010

This photo respresents a large share

For recipes, check our website, http://www.purplerainvineyard.com/recipes.php.

Available for purchase this week:

Eggs: half dozen/$3.25    full dozen/$6.50

Herb Bouquet: $2.30

This photo represents a medium share.

Broccoli  

Escarole 

Cress 

Garlic Scapes 

Green Wave  

Peas or Fennel Bulb  

This week’s cress has beautiful little white flowers.  After the vinaigrette has been incorporated into the salad, sprinkle the flowers over it. 

Peas are beginning to mature and being harvest this week. We are offering this year snap and snow peas.  Remember that snap peas do not require the shell to be removed.  Enjoy your fresh peas!

Fennel has a mild anise flavor with celery like crunch.  To gain a taste for fennel, we recommend eating it raw.  When cooked, the flavor of fennel becomes milder and sweeter.

Garlic scapes come only once a year and what a treat.  It can be a substitute for garlic cloves in most recipes.  An easy recipe is to chop finely, one or more scapes and sauté in olive oil. Then add your favorite, already steamed vegetables, and mix them well with the scapes.  Serve with crostini.

 Herb bouquet for this week: Apple Mint, Chives and Orange Mint

 Available for Purchase this week:

Herb Bouquet/ $2.25

Eggs: half dozen/ $3.25… Full dozen/$6.50

This Photo Represents a Large Share

Lettuce

Green Mix

Bok Choy

Kale

Red Giant

Herb bouquetis included in this week's photo. Herb share members will receive  Italian Oregano, Peppermint and Apple Mint.

Films to watch:  Food Inc, Food Matters and King Corn.

Recipes:   Follow the link to our website page recipes, http://www.purplerainvineyard.com/recipes.php

Week of June 7, 2010

This Photo Represents a Small Share

Ho Mi Z  

Lettuce  

Pizzo  

Radishes  

Spinach  

Turnips  

Eggs available for Purchase this week:  

1/2 dozen/$3.25 dollars  

1 dozen/$6.50 dollars.  

Enjoy your week!  

Week of May 31, 2010

This Photo Represents a Large Share

Bok Choy

Green Mix

Kale

Lettuce

Mizuna and Mibuna

Red Giant

Did you know that Fruit and Vegetables make up only 10 percent of the average American’s caloric intake?  That means  90 percent of calories are consumed from other types of foods.  Subsequently this is why the vast majority of agricultural land in our country is growing genetically modified corn and soybeans for feeding livestock and making processed foods.   If you have not watched Food Inc. and Food Matters, please do.  In the meantime  here is another film that we recommend for you to view.  King Corn.   From each film we watch, there is something to be learned, a change to be made.

Week of May 24th, 2010

This Photo Represents a Medium Share

Broccoli

Bok Choy

Escarole

Ruby Streaks

Radishes

Spinach

Our first broccoli of the season is tender and sweet.  This variety grows in a stalk form rather than the familiar head style.  Stalks are edible.  Broccoli will be on rotation.  If not received this week, we will be substituting with French Sorrel, French Sorrel .