The fresh vegetable and fruit
crops vary through the year while the dry goods are fairly
consistent. Vegetable-wise, the
Summer provides traditional lettuces/greens, a variety of veges and herbs. Fall
moves into squashes, roots and heartier greens. Winter provides apples and
dried fruit, more roots (storage crops), and thanks to greenhouses and tunnels
the fresh leafy greens continue even after the ground freezes. In Spring,
locally grown vegetables are just not in nature’s plan although a wide variety
of leafy greens, spring onions and garlic may grow abundantly as the weather
begins to warm and daylight lengthens. (Greens are excellent as March and
April are a tradition time of "spring cleaning" our bodies.)
Expect Spring and Fall to be the time for abundant greens while Summer and
Winter have more of other vegetables. Any
thin times are filled in with extra dry goods.
The Crop Chart shows what the Kimberton CSA farm has planned
for the seasons. Updates are occasionally posted on the member's yahoo
chat group with the weekly share list. The good news is that the
Kimberton CSA farm has committed to us for Winter so we are
Biodynamic year round! As not every
farm can grow everything, we supplement the Kimberton CSA vegetables with other
regional favorites such as those listed below the Kimberton crop chart.
Fresh fruit varies
through the year with a good supply of apples in fall and berries in summer if
the bugs and birds don't get to them first. There is less fruit in summer than
one would expect until more local, Biodynamic or organic farms surface - this
is beginning to happen as demand increases and our CSA is contributing to
this. Avocado and mango are offered as superior health foods from two
Biodynamic and organic farms in southern Florida;
fresh, unprocessed dates are a favorite. We are hoping to connect with
another citrus provider. Dried fruit is given when fresh is not
available.
We call the
additional items "supplements"
which include the weekly half dozen eggs while a rotation of cheese, bread and
other grains and legumes round out the shares year round providing whole foods
for a balanced diet.
- Eggs are truly free-range and
organic from Amish farms.
- Dried fruit comes from
Biodynamic and organic farms we have worked with for many years
- Cheese is made by the Amish
with milk from the Camphill Village Kimberton, and is raw, aged over 60
days.
- Bread comes from Sweetwater
Bakery and is made from certified Biodynamic wheat freshly ground on a
stone mill, literally hand made, and baked in a wood fire stone oven
according to protocol set by Rudolf Steiner
(www.camphillkimberton.org/bakery/). All of the bread in CSA shares
is 100% whole-grain and slow-rise from sourdough starter rendering it
suitable even for many people who are considered wheat intolerant. It is
hearty and wholesome, and normally holds up a week or more. We rotate 6-7
varieties for a total of about 10 times in a season. (Other varieties are
available to order including gluten-free.)
- Grains and legumes are
staples to round out a nutritious diet; we offer popular ones according to
member surveys e.g. brown rice, quinoa, rolled oats, lentils, chick peas.
- A few special items are
offered as available to introduce members to them and to support those
providers. Usually included in spring when there is less fresh food.
| 