THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 What a start to the 2018 CSA year! Such beautiful and bountiful May boxes of amazing produce has arrived! The growing season may have gotten off to a late start, but here we go. Hurray for summer! This first box is certainly proof that it has arrived! The heat, along with some nice rain showers is surely being welcomed by our CSA veggies in the field. This is their kind of weather! On pages 2 & 3, I’ve attached links to recipes, a letter from your farmers, and photos from our SW Wisconsin CSA farms, where we visited last week. It is lush green, full of hills and valleys, pure streams, and rich, black soil. The area has more certified organic family farms than anywhere else in the country. Organic Valley has it’s corporate headquarters May Wild+ Produce Shares nearby– complete with their own windmills. Our farmers sell to them, as well as other national, or- Asparagus ganic wholesalers; but they truly look forward to Spinach (overwintered– super packing these very special care boxes each May plump, sweet and tender-crisp) for you! It’s personal, local, sent with love, and is a real highlight of the year for the families. Wild Watercress (spicy and peppery; adds a crisp bite to sandwiches, omelets; combine a small handful with other greens) “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes.” Baby Leaf Lettuces Maya Angelou Radishes Cucumbers Happy Memorial Day! Green Garlic (“baby” garlic) It’s the kickoff-to-summer weekend! Wild Ramps (garlic-leeks, red As you gather with friends and family, be sure to take time to stems) remember our veterans- the weekend’s official honorees. Wild Nettles (small amount, Not only those who gave their lives for our country, but also for tea, or add to dishes along those who have sacrificed in countless other ways. with spinach– must be cooked; handle w/ gloves or tongs) A great way to thank them is to pay it forward by standing up All Red/All Blue Potatoes for the America you believe in, through your own kind words (overwintered) and actions. Find a way to do something that would make a vet proud of you. Be a model citizen; smile at someone, pick Rhubarb up a piece of litter, talk about the goodness in America. Mini Raw Honey Bear As you sit around the picnic table, share a story about a vet you’ve known, or ask a relative about a veteran somewhere Special Order Shares in your family tree. Consider making a donation to a veteran’s charity of your choice as another way of saying thanks. Morel Mushrooms (must be https://www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities/33 cooked!) Maple Syrup Whatever you do, have a fun and safe holiday weekend! Raw Honey Eat well, and enjoy! Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 May Box Recipe Ideas Selections from the Urban Graze Recipe Library Click link below to access the full Urban Graze Recipe Library: Urban Graze Recipe Library To use the library: Click on the Green “Get Cookin’” Tab Best search methods: In column on the right side of page, click on the veggie name of your choice to access recipes using that veggie Enter key words in the search box- e.g. the list of different veggies you want to use in a recipe Stir Fry & Skillet Dinners Salads & Grain Bowls Chicken & Asparagus Skillet Dinner Asparagus Slaw Skillet Pork Chops with Rhubarb Chutney Asparagus Salad w/ Poppy Seed Vinaigrette Lemon-Garlic Skillet Shrimp & Asparagus Bread Salad w/ Asparagus, Mint & Rhubarb Quick Pickles Spicy Asian Asparagus & Beef Stir Fry Grains & Minty Greens Bowl with Maple Syrup Vinaigrette Asparagus & Pork Stir Fry w/ Soba Noodles Lentil and Watercress Salad Shrimp with Garlic Scapes & Veggies Chicken Asparagus Salad with Creamy Tarragon Dressing Spinach Salad with Roasted Asparagus and Rhubarb Pasta Mediterranean Wilted Spinach Salad Penne Pasta w/ Spring Veggies & Salmon Watercress Salad with Mushrooms Pasta with Asparagus and Morels Watercress Salad Dressing Pasta with Ramps and Spinach Rhubarb Maple Vinaigrette Pizza Greek Tzatziki Asparagus Mint Pizza Asparagus, Ramp, and Watercress Pizza Misc. & Treats Chicken, Spinach, and Radish Salad Pizza Nettle Tea Sparkling Cucumber Mint Drink Sandwiches, Wraps, Tacos Cucumber Mint Refrigerator Pickles Grilled Cheese and Asparagus Sandwich Rhubarb Coffee Cake Asparagus Quesadillas Oven Dinners Baked Fish & Spring Veggie Foil Bowls Moroccan Spiced Rhubarb-Ginger Chicken Soup Scandinavian Nettle Soup Springtime Spinach Soup Red Lentil and Rhubarb Soup Asparagus Stalk-Stock Eggs Asparagus Quiche Morel and Watercress Omelet Sides Roasted Asparagus, Radish & Ramp Medley Asparagus with Morels and Hazelnuts Crunchy Rhubarb & Radish Stix Salad Asparagus Hashbrown Bake Asparagus, Radish, Ramp Medley (one of our favorite sides!) Cucumber Gratin Green Pancakes Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 A Letter From Your CSA Farmers What a gorgeous day! We are so grateful that the sunny season is here. We went from winter to summer! There is a lot of activity on the farms these days. Peas, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cauli- flower, beans, potatoes, radishes, chard, kale, and many more varieties are already in the ground and growing well. Doesn’t it make your mouth water? At this time of year, we are often using a horse drawn machine that performs many tasks at once. We actually have three of them in our community that we share. See photo on the right. It adds organic fertilizer (spreads from the large scoop on top), tills, creates planting hills, lays down irrigation hose, lays poly, and tucks the poly into the soil. All in one swoop! You can see why this is a valued machine. We do still plant all of the seeds and small seedling plants by hand. On my small farm alone, we hand plant many tens of thousands of plants– each one individually. Our children are now old enough to help a little now. For instance, they can get the separate plants out of the box in the wagon, and hand them to us as we plant. They can go and get the water jug. Just little things. But they are learning, and know they are already very valued and important help on our family farm. Everyone is enjoying being outside after the long winter. People and animals too! The chickens are very happy to be eating green grass outside now. We notice right away that the egg yolks are darker yellow, with improved taste. Thank you for supporting your CSA community of family farmers! Aden Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] THE GRAZER May 26, 2018 Urban Graze www.ugraze.com P.O. Box 54 Champlin, MN 55316 Liz Talley 952-201-2330 [email protected] .