Circle S Farms

“The storm starts, when the drops start dropping
When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping.”
― Dr. Seuss

There was a rain storm Friday.  A little bit of help for the heat and drought.  More rain predicted for next week.  Maybe the drops will not stop dropping.

I had planned on getting strawberries early on, and peaches from Jones Farm to add to CSA shares.  As it turns out, he did not have a bumper crop of strawberries, and keeps selling out of peaches, so I have not been able to get any.  Apologies for the lack of fruit this season.

This is the very last week of the spring/summer session.  Thank you all for participating!  Our farm depends on CSA income to keep on going….so you are helping us protect our farmland, and eating local food which is a boost for the local economy and the environment.  Just think of how many cucumbers have traveled from our farm to your door instead of across the country, or across the world.

Farm News:    Friday, were checking fence and I heard Tip yelp from a distance.  I called him and he came.  And with him an angry Mamma deer.  He must have gotten to close to her baby.  She chased him from here to Ten Buck Two.   When he came back he was heat exhausted and bleeding.  Not sure if he cut himself on the fence or if she got him with a hoof.

We cooled him by bringing him in the AC and putting cold towels on him.  He finally recovered enough to drink and quit panting.  Then a trip to the vet and a few stitches.  He is almost back to normal now, but I’m hoping he learned his lesson.  There are lots of baby deer about.

Fall CSA:  We are taking a long break to replant for Fall.  Here is the link to the online store.

If you would like to sign up, please do so before August 1.  I will not be delivering to Downtown or Hixson for Fall, so if you will have to pick up your share at Main Street Farmer’s Market if you are not on Lookout Mountain or in St. Elmo.

What we are planting for Fall? Ginger, a few sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, October beans, winter squash, edamame, a few tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, greens and of course broccoli and cabbage.  Probably carrots and beets as well.

What’s in the bucket?  onions and taters…cucumbers…carrots.  Fennel, okra, cherry tomatoes, mint or lemon balm and green tomatoes (I planted them for you guys, maybe they can turn red on your countertop.) Or green tomatoes can be good in curry or pickled.

Recipe for the week:  Quinoa Tabouleh

3 cups cooked quinoa

2 lemons, zested and juiced

1/4 cup olive oil

1 garlic clove

salt and pepper to taste

2 small cucumbers, sliced and cut into small pieces

1 carrot grated

1 fennel bulb sliced thinly, and any fronds chopped for garnish

1/2 cup olives pitted and halved

1/2 cup chopped mint, lemon balm or leftover celery tops from last week, chopped or a combination of all.

You can also add feta cheese, or chick peas if desired.  I had some red cabbage in the fridge that needed a home, so I added some of it.

Grate lemon zest and garlic.

Then juice the lemons and squeeze 1/4 cup juice into a large bowl (strain seeds out)  Add zest and garlic and olive oil.

Add other ingredients and stir together.  Taste and adjust seasonings.

Thanks again to all of you.  Happy Eating.  Happy Tabouleh.  Hope the drops will not stop dropping.  Thanks for buying local food from Circle S Farm.

“It is wise to master your self, but it is wiser to leave a few rogue thoughts, some few doubts, and some loose ends. It is into the wild and unfinished places that we can grow.”
― Chris Ernest Nelson

If this is true….then Curtis and I are the tallest people on earth.  If that’s how we grow….tall.  We have so many wild and unfinished places.  They are everywhere you look.  Unfinished fences, unfinished outbuildings, unfinished house addition, unfinished mowing, unfinished planting.   I sometimes think if we ever finish then we will be finished.  Perhaps that is why we don’t.

Speaking of which, we are almost finished with the spring/summer CSA session.  There, see, one thing I am going to finish!  And so thinking towards our next….I am going to take a long break to try to work on some of these unfinished projects and to plant for fall.  So no Dog Days session this year.  I am posting the information for Fall CSA on my online store (go to the home page and click shop now).  It will be a six week fall session starting late September and running through Thanksgiving.

What we are planting for Fall Blast:  Ginger, winter squash, October beans, greens, carrots, beets, russet potatoes, a few sweet potatoes and of course cabbage and broccoli.  We will have some late peppers and perhaps field peas.  My new herd of chickens should start laying about September…so keeping egg shares on the list.  Hopefully we will have some colorful golden eggs!

What is in the bucket this week:  carrots, onions, russet baking potatoes, summer squash, maybe a splash of okra or a few cherrytomatoes, celery (mostly leaves which are great for garnish or using like parsley), green beans.

What’s for dinner?  I am making pasta salad.  I have some broccoli and red cabbage hanging around from last week, and planning to add some summer squash, carrots and green beans.  Maybe some salty olives and garbanzos.  Some crusty bread on the side.

Here’s how:

Unfinished Pasta Salad

Boil some short pasta (elbows, rotini, penne….)

drain it and let it cool, drizzle some olive oil on it to keep from sticking

add steamed veggies (full disclosure, sometimes I use the microwave, 3 minutes in a covered glass dish)   I would leave the squash, cabbage and onions raw.  If you get tired, leave it deliciously unfinished.

stir in Mom’s vinaigrette to coat (recipe below) but not too much.

Add beans or cheese if you wish, or serve with a protein and crusty bread:)

Mom’s vinaigrette

1 T dijon mustard

4T red wine vinegar

1t sugar

1/2 t salt

1/2 t pepper

a pinch of other dried herbs if you like such as parsley, thyme or oregano

1/2 c olive oil

Combine in a jar with tight fitting lid.  Shake vigorously until combined.

unfinished pasta salad

Happy Eating, Happy Wild and Unfinished places, and Thanks for buying local food from Circle S Farm.

“God, it was hot! Forget about frying an egg on the sidewalk; this kind of heat would fry an egg inside the chicken.”
― Rachel Caine

Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.  I have a new flock I’m excited about.  They have not started laying yet….but soon.

It is time to pull the onions out and let them start drying.  Good news:  I finally grew some sweet red onions.  The last few years the red onions have been super strong – not that I don’t love an onion with conviction.  But these are delicious.

Farm News:  It’s hay season.

Usually, when we cut hay it decides to rain.  Honestly, this year we cut it in hopes of rain.  Rain to cool things off.  Rain to give the thirsty land a drink.  Rain to wash the air clean.  We will keep hoping…

Sunflowers and Gladiolus coming in.  If you are a flower share, you are in luck!

AND, I know some of you are eagerly awaiting the next CSA sign up info.  We have three weeks left for Summer CSA.  I will post sign ups for the next session (which will be this fall) next week:)

What’s in the bucket? Red cabbage, red onions, red potatoes….you see where I’m going with this?

Cucumbers, summer squash, green beans and dill.

I try not to do too many repeats…but this is a recipe I sent out years back for refrigerator pickles.  It is for spears, and I love it.  If you have any oversized cucumbers, don’t worry.  Just leave out the innermost seedy parts when you cut your spears and compost…or feed to your chickens.

Recipe follows – you can easily half it for one quart jar

from Once upon a chef

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.”
― Helen Keller

Happy Father’s Day!  We made it back from our beach trip and look what was waiting in the garden!  I love them.

Jennifer and Josh watching the store and, as usual, taking such great care of everything.  We are weary from our travels….so I will not rattle on:)

What’s in the bucket?  potatoes, leeks, broccoli, savoy cabbage, squash, cukes, green beans, mint.

This was also waiting for me in the fridge.    A half gallon of cold water with mint and cucumbers steeping.  So refreshing and must be more hydrating.  So throw some of that mint and cucumber in a jar and make some for yourself….your will be glad you did.

Following a recipe from Body Ecology for sauteed squash.

Sautéed Zucchini, Squash, and Leeks

Looking for a simple vegetable dish for your next brunch?  Packed with health-promoting nutrients like vitamins C, K, and B6, this Sautéed Zucchini, Squash, and Leeks recipe is a great way to support your overall wellbeing. And we know zucchini is a good source of antioxidants, which may help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Leeks also contain healthy compounds like sulfur and kaempferol that are valued for their health benefits. It’s a fantastic way to use up the abundance of fresh zucchini and squash that are in season during the summer months. Even when these vegetables are out of season, you can still enjoy this recipe by using frozen options.

So, whether you’re looking to impress your guests or simply want a nutritious and flavorful side dish for you.

Ingredients:

– 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into rounds

– 2 medium yellow squash, sliced into rounds

– 1 medium leek, sliced into thin rounds

– 2 tablespoons olive oil

– Salt and pepper to taste

-fresh herbs

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet or sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Once the oil is hot, add the sliced leeks and cook for 1-2 minutes until they start to become translucent.
3. Next, add the sliced zucchini and yellow squash to the pan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Stir the vegetables occasionally and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes or until they are tender and golden brown.
5. Once the vegetables are done, transfer them to a serving platter or individual plates, and garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro, or mint if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Also, check out the link to food as a verb and sign up.  It’s about our farm this week….but they do all kinds of interesting, community based stories.

Happy Father’s day, Happy eating and thanks for buying local food from Circle S Farm!

“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for a bird to learn to fly while remaining an egg.   -C.S. Lewis

Jessie Gantt-Temple is helping with our egg shares again this year.  Your eggs are a mix of her hens and Circle S hens..

Her hens range freely like ours…and live the good life.  Jessie is a good egg herself….she shares her eggs with us, but also cans pickled eggs among other veggies and fruits.  She is a vendor at Main Street Farmer’s Market, so check out some of her wonderful offerings there.  She also teaches canning classes at her farm.

Farm News:  Curtis and I are going to the beach for father’s day weekend.  Celebrating with my father, and with Logan…so excited.  Jennifer and Josh holding down the fort at Circle S….so thankful.  This blog will be short and sweet.

What’s in the bucket?  Napa cabbage, broccoli and/or cauliflower, red bibb lettuce, giant summer squash and zucchini, beet roots, daikon radish, cilantro, mustard greens.

Mustard green pesto served with stuffed squash?  or roasted beets?  or baked cauliflower?  or all three!

It is true that there is a state of hope which belongs to bright prospects and the morning; but that is not the virtue of hope. The virtue of hope exists only in earthquake and eclipse. ― G.K. Chesterton

We planted during the eclipse.  Jennifer and I.  And Buddy and Diamond and Tip.  She brought glasses.  Actually, she had the glasses in her car left over from the last eclipse.  We were hopeful.

It was eerie. Fun to be able to watch – to actually look at.  Mysterious because it got darker, and cooler.  Jennifer let the dogs take turns wearing the glasses, so they could see too.

So we wondered….while we planted, what happens when you plant during an eclipse?  Can the signs tell?  Do the plants know?

Everything we planted seemed to thrive.  No confused plants.  Perhaps they knew the eclipse was coming.  Animals as well.  No panic or riots broke out.  Just another, but different day.

What’s in the bucket?:  Eclipse Broccolini or Broccoli, dill, cabbage, beets, snow peas, arugula, iceberg lettuce, eclipse kale, daikon radish.

I went to Blowing Rock with a friend for a quick trip this weekend to see my folks.   We had dinner at a lovely restaurant and I ordered a kale salad.  It was so simple, and we tried to guess what was in it…

This recipe looks similar, let’s give it a try….grate a few strokes of daikon radish on top for color and flavor.

“This one isn’t just any old horse. There’s a nobility in his eye, a regal serenity about him. Does he not personify all that men try to be and never can be? I tell you, my friend, there’s divinity in a horse, and specially in a horse like this. God got it right the day he created them. And to find a horse like this in the middle of this filthy abomination of a war, is for me like finding a butterfly on a dung heap. We don’t belong in the same universe as a creature like this.”
-War Horse― Michael Morpurgo

Happy Memorial Day.

In paying tribute to veterans and their sacrifice, I started to wonder about the horses and dogs who fought alongside.

Where did the horses come from?  During World War I, and into World War II, many of the horses came from what is now the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada.  These were wild horses (mustangs) who were rounded up, and shipped via railroad and then across the Atlantic by boat.  Not only did America supply the horses for our troops, but for our allies as well.  The horses that survived the grueling trip “had a bit placed in their mouths and began to pull artillery or serve as a cavalry mount. ”

Roughly eight million horses died in World War I alone.  Compared to 9.7 million military personnel.

Horses were replaced with tanks completely by 1942.

Dogs were also used.  I saw a photo of two large hounds hitched to a small artillery wagon.  Dogs also served as sentries, scouts and couriers.

Camp LeJeune, North Carolina was the home of the war Dog Training School, where dogs began their training with the rank of private; war dogs actually could out-rank their handlers.

Dogs are still used in the military….even though methods of warfare have changed.

Honor, on this Memorial Day, to all the people, dogs, horses who have given their lives.

I’m quite certain my dogs would out-rank me.  They keep me marching to the beat of their barks and whims.

What’s in the bucket? golden and red beets, kohlrabi, red and green lettuce, turnip and/or mustard or collard greens, baby kale mix, baby Daikon or breakfast radish, young onions.

I decided on soup and salad for tonight.  Not a very Memorial day kind of meal…but comfort food none the less.  I like this recipe because it makes use of the whole kohlrabi….skins and leaves and bulb.  Chop the beet greens and add them to your salad for a healthier and less wasteful meal.  I cooked mine a little longer for the greens to be tender and added a dash of red pepper.  Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Kohlrabi, beet and lentil stew

Happy Eating, Happy Memorial day and thanks for buying local food from Circle S Farm.

“My grandmother used to say that mint could heat up a man’s blood. She told me that it was used in love potions in the olden times and soldiers weren’t allowed to eat it lest they run amuck with lust….”-Caroline Scott, Good Taste

I think mint is under rated and under appreciated.  Love potion…perhaps?  My mint has been beautiful this spring.  And it is always the first green, harvestable thing.

Mint julep, mint jelly…I’ve been broadening my horizons.

We have been obsessing about street tacos lately, so since the mint grew faster than the cilantro….

Try using spring onions and mint to top your chorizo or chicken, black bean or fish tacos.  Mint can double for basil or cilantro.  It’s fantastic with sundried tomatoes on pasta.  Goes perfectly with lemon.  It’s as simple as adding a squeeze of lemon and mint sprig to your water to make you feel elegant.

What’s in the first bucket?  MINT…Tuscan kale, Russian kale, spring onions, kohlrabi, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce.

Farm News:

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”    The Great Gatsby

It is that time of year.  CSA sign up.  And although we had four inches of cold rain last night, and we are on target for “wintry mix” tonight, I am planning my spring/summer CSA.  And dreaming of summer squash and tomatoes (and the fennel I planted too late this fall to mature!).  And so we begin over again with summer.

For those of you who have been in our CSA, you know it changes a little bit each year.  According to weather, production, good luck (or bad) and other farm demands.  This year we are starting off with an 8 week spring/summer hoorah.  I will likely add a Dog Days and Fall session, but I’m leaving some flexibility in my planning.  So we start here.  Somewhere between mid-May and June 1.

You can go to our Circle S home page and click “shop now” to sign up.  The deadline is February 15.

As always, delivery free to Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo and Downtown Chattanooga.  Other folks can pick up at Main Street Farmer’s Market on Wednesday from 4-6 PM.

If you want to send a check instead of paying cash, just don’t complete your checkout.  You can print the shopping cart, or just write on your check what you are signing up for…..for example: half share veggies, half share eggs and just snag the pricing from the online store.  Send to:  Circle S Farm, 1930 Gilreath Mill rd, Menlo, GA 30731 by February 15.

Thanks for buying local food from Circle S and Happy 2024.

“Frost kills the flowers that bloom out of season…”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Michael Angelo

We almost made it!  I was really hoping for a last bucket full of October beans and green tomatoes (or even better, red tomatoes).  I planted these things kind of late, I knew it was a risk.  But what if….

Oh well, lady frost got them all.  And so we are making do with:

What’s in the bucket: sweet potatoes, collard greens, savoy cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower, romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, a green tomato.

A market shopper last week says cabbage just doesn’t seem very sexy.  To that I responded “why not?”  Cabbage has lots of good qualities….it stores really well, it is very versatile, it’s good for you, and it’s delicious.  Just think of all the options….cabbage rolls, cabbage wraps, slaw, cooked cabbage, grilled cabbage, sauteed cabbage, cabbage casserole, cabbage and potatoes, sauerkraut.  Just because it smells funny, don’t give it such a bad wrap.  Wrap and roll!

Egg Roll-Inspired Cabbage Rolls (from Eating Well.com)
Skip takeout and try these egg roll-inspired cabbage rolls! Savoy cabbage leaves are stuffed with egg roll filling and baked in a flavorful soy-hoisin tomato sauce.

Ingredients
1 ¼ cups water
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
4 tablespoons hoisin sauce, divided
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch
12 large leaves savoy cabbage
2 cups finely chopped broccoli
1 pound lean ground pork
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
1 bunch scallions, sliced
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Whisk water, tomato paste, vinegar, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons hoisin, 1 tablespoon ginger, 2 cloves garlic and crushed red pepper in a small saucepan. Whisk in cornstarch; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 4 cabbage leaves and cook, gently stirring, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves. Place broccoli in a colander and pour the hot water over it. Refresh with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl. Add pork, rice, scallions, sesame oil, the remaining 2 tablespoons hoisin, 1 tablespoon ginger and 2 cloves garlic, and 3 tablespoons of the reserved sauce. Stir to combine well.

Place 1/3 cup filling over the bottom third of 1 softened cabbage leaf. Fold the bottom and sides over the filling and roll up. Place, seam-side down, in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining leaves and filling. Pour the remaining sauce over the rolls. Cover with foil and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a roll registers 150°F, about 40 minutes.

Peanut-Tofu Cabbage Wraps
Cabbage is a tasty low-calorie stand-in for buns or bread in this healthy, gluten-free lettuce wrap recipe. Don’t limit yourself to cabbage for this recipe—any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works.

Ingredients
8 small napa or Savoy cabbage leaves or 4 large, cut in half crosswise
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 14- to 16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, patted dry and crumbled
¼ teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons prepared peanut sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons lime zest
1 cup julienned Asian pear
1 cup julienned English cucumber
¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
Directions
Wash and dry cabbage leaves well and cut out any tough ribs or stems.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu, season with salt and cook, stirring often, until just golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk peanut sauce, vinegar and lime zest in a small bowl.

Remove the pan from the heat, add the sauce mixture and stir to combine. Serve the tofu in the cabbage leaves, topped with pear, cucumber and cilantro.

Happy last week of Fall Blast, Happy Winter, and thanks for buying local food from Circle S Farm!