• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Earth Dance Farm

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Delivering fresh, local, chemical free food to your neighborhood.
We offer Spring, Summer, Fall and Egg shares.

  • Home
  • About
  • Join Us
  • Drops
  • Crops
  • Members
  • Newsletters
  • Internships
  • Contact

2020 – Summer Week 14 Newsletter

September 17, 2020 by Earth Dance Farm

2020 – Summer Week 14 Newsletter

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking.

It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

Albert Einstein

 

 

Summer Share Box 14 Crop List

  • Potatoes – All Shares
  • Collard Greens – All Shares
  • Swiss Chard – All Shares
  • Onions – All Shares
  • Hot Peppers (Hot Wax & Jalepeno) – All Shares
  • Radishes – Full & Single Shares Only
  • Kale – Full & Single Shares Only
  • Slicing Tomatoes – Full & Single Shares Only
  • Lemon Balm – Full & Half Shares Only
  • Lettuce – Full Shares Only
  • Bell Pepper – Full Shares Only
  • Fennel – Half Shares Only
  • Mini Tomatoes – Half Shares Only
  • Cilantro – Single Shares Only

 

 

Farmer’s Notes

*We had a very cold and wet week last week so there was not much growing going on – green beans and eggplant and bell peppers just sat there.
*We are nearing the end of our tomatoes with some slicers for the full shares yet next week
*Potatoes are now a white baking potato called Cascade. We had French fries tonight and the trick is to soak the fries in ice cold water for hours before baking to remove some of the starch
*The hot peppers are a jalapeno and the yellow hot wax both with medium to high heat
*We will return to the Green Forest romaine lettuce here now for the cooler weather beginning in box 16
*Lemon Balm is a new crop for us-it is primarily used for tea but can also be made into a pesto(recipe down below). Get creative with it!
*The Swiss Chard may have to rest in some ice water to be refreshed
*Fennel to the half shares is the rest of it for this season
*We will begin delivering winter squashes beginning next week
*Thank you for returning our ice packs and boxes each week

 

 

Farm Article

Is anyone getting tired of the weekly produce yet?  This week is the #14 box and there are 4 more to go.  I know that some of you are new to CSA this year, and perhaps joined because of the Covid -19 pandemic.  Let me tell you that it takes a few years to create a system that works for you:  it begins with choosing the correct size box that fits your household, learning to navigate the contents of the box each week, using or processing the produce so that you do not waste too much.  The hope is that a new habit is slowly forming – that buying and preparing fresh produce is something that you want and even crave.  The taste of fresh local produce, grown and delivered in season, becomes the norm.  It is healthy and it grounds you to mother earth – taste it, feel it, live it!

Thank you for letting us grow some of your food,
~Norm the Farmer

 

 

 

Crop of the Week: Swiss Chard

 Swiss chard is a colorful, leafy green in the same family as beets. Some of its other names include Silver Beet, Beet Spinach, and Leaf Beet. Chard is believed to have been first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is not known why the crop is actually called “swiss” chard since the plant is coastal in origin, however, it is used traditionally in Swiss cuisine.

 Here at Earth Dance Farm we grow rainbow chard which is actually a seed mixture of different varieties. Both the stem and the leaves are used for cooking although it is recommended to cook the stems to remove any bitter taste that may be present. The leaves may be eaten cooked or raw and will happily take the place of leafy greens like spinach in dishes. The vibrant green leaves are highly nutritious. Just a 100 gram serving is known to contain around 122%DV of Vitamin A, 1038%DV of Vitamin K, and 50%DV of vitamin C. Data also shows significant levels of vitamin E and dietary minerals such as magnesium, iron, and Potassium. It should be noted that these values drop by OVER HALF when cooked! Try your best to not over cook them!

~Farmer Joshua

 

 

Some recipes to try:

Print Recipe
Spaghetti with Collard Greens and Lemon
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves sliced
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 bunch collard greens stems removed and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup pine nutes toasted
  • grated zest of 1 lemon plus more for serving
  • 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • coars salt
  • 12 oz whole grain spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup pecorino Romano for serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves sliced
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 bunch collard greens stems removed and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup pine nutes toasted
  • grated zest of 1 lemon plus more for serving
  • 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • coars salt
  • 12 oz whole grain spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup pecorino Romano for serving
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook until tender, about 1 minute. Add collard greens and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pine nuts and lemon zest and juice. Season with salt.
  2. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a pot of boiling salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta.
  3. Add pasta and reserved water to skillet, tossing to coat. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon zest and sprinkled with cheese.
Print Recipe
Lemon Balm Pesto
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings
2-Tbsp servings
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup fresh lemon balm leaves
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin
  • 3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp fresh chives
  • salt and pepper to taste
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings
2-Tbsp servings
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup fresh lemon balm leaves
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin
  • 3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp fresh chives
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
  2. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Store in an airtight container for up to one week in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
Print Recipe
Kickin' Collard Greens
Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 slices of bacon
  • 1 large onion roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp both salt and pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound fresh collard greens cut into 2 inch pieces
Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 slices of bacon
  • 1 large onion roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp both salt and pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound fresh collard greens cut into 2 inch pieces
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and return to the pan. Add onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until just fragrant. Add collard greens, and fry until they start to wilt. Pour in chicken broth, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until greens are tender.
Print Recipe
Garlicky Sauteed Swiss Chard
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 bunch swiss chard ribs removed and chopped, leaves roughly chopped.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • pinch salt
  • splash red wine vinegar
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 bunch swiss chard ribs removed and chopped, leaves roughly chopped.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • pinch salt
  • splash red wine vinegar
Instructions
  1. Add the oil to a large saute pan with the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium heat until the garlic turns golden. Remove the garlic and discard. Add the chopped Swiss chard ribs and sautee until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the Swiss chard leaves and season with salt, to taste. Cook until the leaves are wilted. Stir in a splash of red wine vinegar. Serve immediately.

 

Filed Under: 2020 Newsletters, Newsletters

Footer

Earth Dance Farm

27842 141st Ave.
Spring Valley, MN 55975
507-378-4252

Earth Dance Farm

Earth Dance Farm, CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, Farm, Produce, Organic, Sustainable, local, food, farm to table, farm to school, herbs, honey, beekeeping, visits, eggs, pastured chickens, foodie, fresh, heirloom, vegetable, mushrooms, berries, fruit, yurt, biodynamic, heritage, breeds, crop rotation, cover crops, compost, land stewardship project, field to work, rural life, WOOF, living off the land, tiny house, fish emulsion, foliar food, green manure, companion planting, internships, farm fresh, alternative energy, footprint, wind power, solar power, lacavore, vegan morganic, pesticide free, non GMO, no herbicides, chemical free, no till, greenways, headlands, filter strips, grain, hay, neighborhood, delivery, boxed food, nourish, flavor, healthy, shares, full, half, single, flex, winter, spring, fall, summer, bushel, family, recipes, asparagus, beans, broccoli, raab, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, sweet corn, popcorn, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parships, peas, bell, peppers, hot, potatoes, pumpkins, rhubarb, squash, tomatoes, zucchini, arugula, boc choy, lettuce, mizuna, mustard, tatsoi, kale, spinach, swiss chard, Spring Valley, Minnesota, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Austin, Highland Park, Lakeville, Merriam Park, St. Louis Park, Uptown, Hiawatha, Longfellow, Como, Norm the farmer

SPRING VALLEY WEATHER

  • Sign Up Today
  • Drop Locations
  • Crops Grown
  • CSA Movement
  • Farm Connections
  • Newsletters
  • Recipes
  • News & Information
  • Gallery
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Home
  • About Earth Dance Farm
  • Internships
  • Contact

© 2025 · Website Design and Hosting by SMG Web Design of Preston, Minnesota