Happy new year to you! I hope you were able to ring in the new year in a festive and healthy way. We were able to see family for the holidays which felt unnerving but wonderful during this crazy COVID spike.
View from a winter hike at Prettyboy Reservoir
We're back at the farm now trying to get back into the swing of things. Our crew is back part time which helps us get everything done for our CSA each week. In fact, they're the main ones harvesting, washing and packing while Bryan and I are preparing for the 2022 season and working on our old farmhouse. The snow last Monday missed us which felt like a huge rip off to me as a New Englander! I adore the snow, but of course do not love the often accompanying wind, slush and ice. But we woke up to a blanket of snow last Friday and we got another light blanket this past weekend. Zaydee goes crazy in the snow - zooming in circles and biting fluffy snow piles! I hope you’re staying cozy and safe during all of this winter weather.
Post-zooming Zaydee
We’re still harvesting and packing out lots of delicious food! We have our weekly winter CSA shares along with bi-weekly orders for restaurants and home delivery customers through Chesapeake Farm to Table.
Here’s an example of a winter CSA share
We also love to try new recipes while we have more down time during the winter. Bryan gave me Joshua McFadden’s new book Grains for Every Season for Christmas and it has been revolutionizing our kitchen! Every recipe we’ve tried so far has been delicious, from Farro con Pollo to the Chicken Soup with Brown Rice, Radishes and Lots of Lemon. Although I would advise against attempting to sprout grain if your kitchen is at all drafty…things got a little funky!
Photo from The First Mess
ROASTED CABBAGE WITH GINGER LIME ROOT SLAW & CASHEWS from The First Mess
I saw this recipe from The First Mess that I can’t wait to try - her vegan recipes are always delicious and beautiful!
The main theme of January is planning for the season to come. Bryan is an absolute spreadsheet maestro, linking our crop plan, budget and crop rotation all together. I’m working on finding new CSA members and planning events like plant sales and farm tours. I’m very excited to announce that in 2022 we’ll have our first CSA pick up in the Metro DC area! It’s especially meaningful to us to make this leap because the site will be hosted by our former business partner. He’s the best! To learn more about our CSA and sign up for a pick up in Mt. Rainier, check out our website. Please note that Mt. Rainier shares cost slightly more, reflected in the delivery fee, to cover our costs travelling down to DC.
Thanks for following along on our farming journey!