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. (Spring 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 and the FACEBOOK page 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 from organic farms such as those listed at the bottom of the 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, mango and meyer lemons are offered as superior health foods from a very special farm in Florida. Delicious 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, black beans, white beans.
- Some very special items are offered as available to introduce members to them and to support those providers as well. Usually included in spring when there is less fresh food.
Here are sample shares throughout the year
Keep in mind there is more variety in Summer and more weight in
Winter
Summer
8 oz Perpetual Spinach or Swiss Chard
bok choi or tot soi | Winter Greens, rotating kinds
arugula |