Edibles

This summer I’ve been surprised by parts of veggies that I had not realized were edible previously ---- and I’m sure that are probably more surprises to come. Here’s the list to date.

Garlic scapes. These were in one of the early CSA shares. They are cut from the top of the plant in the spring so that the garlic bulbs will form better. There is a small window when they are available but are a short term seasonal treat.  Their general curling form appeals to me too!

Sweet potato leaves and stems. It had never occurred to me that the sweet potato leaves were edible when I made my small harvest in the past. They are good in salads and stir fries (and probably soups too). I even chop up the stems. At first I thought the stems would be too tough for salads but they are no tougher that fresh green beans. Again - the CSA share was my first exposure to the ‘new food.’

Carrot tops. Most of the carrots I buy are already sliced or peeled…their tops long gone. This year I have a few carrots in my own deck garden and the CSA share has provided carrots with their green tops. I had no idea that the fresh tops tasted like parsley (probably with similar nutrition)….until I went to a lecture on food preservation. Now I manage to use some of the tops fresh in salads and then put the rest in the smoothie maker with water to create slurry to freeze in an ice cube tray; they’ll add a fresh green to soups this winter!

Now I’m wondering what else I am putting in the compost pile that should really be part of dinner instead….

CSA Week 1

I signed up for a medium share at the Gorman Produce Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for this season and yesterday was my first pick up. My husband and I were out on other errands so we drove over even though the farm is less than a mile from our house.

They provided two reusable bags for each member to use for the season. There was a chalk board listing this week’s full and medium share items. I walked around to pick up everything for the medium share:

  • Tatsoi
  • Cilantro
  • Arugula
  • Pac choi
  • Mizuna
  • Garlic scapes
  • Red butter lettuce
  • Romaine lettuce

 I’m going to be eating a lot of fabulous vegetables this summer - mostly in salads. The refrigerator has been reconfigured to accommodate the extra amount of greens.

On the way home we clocked the distance and the round trip would be 1.5 miles…a comfortable hike. Maybe the CSA will turn into a healthy choice from both a food and exercise perspective!