What to do with Garlic Scapes?
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Perhaps garlic scapes have popped up in your CSA share, or you’ve seen them recently at a farmer’s market and thought “what do I do with these?
You’re not alone. Before I signed up for my first CSA last spring, I’d never seen a scape or even heard of them. A garlic scape is the greens that garlic bulbs shoot up out of the ground while they are growing (much like onion greens). Farmers remove the scapes so that the garlic bulb devotes more of its energy to making itself big and fat. While farmers used to throw scapes into the compost or feed them to animals, they’ve become a popular market produce and herald of the new Spring season.
So what do you do with them? Basically, anything that you would already do with garlic. Scapes taste like garlic, but with a milder, greener flavor. You can chop them (all the way through the flower) and add them to stir-fries, soups, salads, casseroles, burritos, and really, anything else. Many scape lovers find them especially delightful ground into pesto. I like to fry the scapes before using them (like garlic). Because they are milder, you can use many more scapes than you would white garlic cloves. A good estimate is about one full scape per garlic clove (if you are substituting) and you will still have milder flavor. And if for some reason you just can’t stand garlic, they also look beautiful in a vase!
Posted by Erin on 06/09 at 04:14 PM
First and Second Red Earth Farm CSA
My first CSA delivery was last week, June 1st. I get a half share and an egg share from Red Earth Farm. The pick-up location is only 6 blocks away from my house, and I get to choose what goes in my basket!
Green lettuce, spinach, pac choi, Japanese turnips, green onions, sugar snap peas, and eggs.
Second CSA box, June 8th. Snap peas, summer squash, green garlic, Easter Egg radish, Salad turnip, and arugula. Plus some hydrangea flowers I got from my neighbor and a growler of incredible iced tea made by Amy at Earth Cup in West Philly (45th and Pine).
Posted by Erica on 06/09 at 02:48 AM
3rd Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA delivery
Between the holiday, travel, and the odd schedule last week, I missed the CSA update, but here is week three. I was so excited to see garlic scapes again, and I have less lettuce this time. But what will I do with those turnips? What are you enjoying in your spring CSAs?
1 bunch radishes – certified organic – Friends Road Organics
1 bunch scallions – certified organic – Friends Road and Bellview Organics
1 bunch garlic scapes – certified organic – Friends Road Organics
1 head broccoli –certified organic – Farmdale Organics
1 head Romaine lettuce – certified organic – Riverview Organics
1 head red leaf lettuce – certified organic – Misty Meadow and Railroad Organics
1 bunch beets – certified organic – Millwood Springs Organics
1 bag Hakurei turnips – certified organic – Autumn Blend Organics – 1 lb
3 pcs yellow straight neck squash – certified organic – Goshen View Organics
Posted by Erin on 06/09 at 12:46 AM
Wheat Yard
Saturday, June 05, 2010
I recently walked past this yard in West Philly on Chester Avenue. It’s planted with some sort of blue-ish wheat variety! Now that’s urban agriculture. Does anyone have any other info about this planting?
Posted by Erica on 06/05 at 02:33 AM
New Friday Farmers Market in University City
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Good news for all you University employees, students, summer-workers and University City neighborhood dwellers! A NEW Farmers Market will open this Friday, and run every Friday, at the Radiun building (approx. 40th and Walnut).
Help Odwalla plant a tree in your state!
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Odawalla, the natural juice and smoothie company, is planting trees all across the US this summer with their “Odwalla Plant A Tree” Campaign. Just click on the site below, select your state, and vote using either your email or Facebook accounts. It’s that simple! PA is currently in second place for number of trees planted. The sky’s the limit!
Monthly Green Drinks on Wed, June 2nd.
Green Drinks Philly meets the first Wednesday of every month at Standard Tap in Northern Liberties. Open to anyone who considers themselves any flavor of environmentalist (that’s you, local eaters!), Green Drinks is an opportunity to hang-out, drink, and network with like-minded Philadelphians. Not only is Standard Tap a beautiful building in a convenient location, they source ALL local beers! Hurray! Join this international green drinking movement. And if you don’t happen to live in our fair city, find a Green Drinks in your town HERE.
Standard Tap
6:00 - 9:00 PM
2nd & Poplar St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Tel: 215 238 0630
http://www.standardtap.com
http://www.standardtap.com/map.htm
Posted by Erin on 06/01 at 06:06 PM
City Gardens Contest
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s annual City Gardens Contest is going on right now and there are lots of different categories. You can enter your home garden, community garden, vegetable garden, flower garden, combination garden, children’s garden, container garden, park, garden block, “greenest block in town,” or urban farm! The deadline is June 10th, so hop on by the website to fill out the quick online entry form.
(The picture above is The Woodlands Community Garden in The Woodlands Cemetery, 4000 Woodland Ave, and it’s been entered into the 2010 City Gardens Contest.)
Posted by Erica on 05/28 at 11:05 PM
1st Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA Pick-Up
Thursday, May 27, 2010
I’ve been so excited this month, waiting for the Monday when I could finally pick-up my first CSA of the year. While I ordered a full-share last year, I’m growing more vegetables myself and decided to downgrade to a half-share this season. I have to say, I love not having to shop for vegetables. True to the time of year, I received greens, greens, and more greens. I’ll have to eat a giant salad twice-a-day to keep up. The red leaf lettuce - pale pink and speckled on the inside, the purple bulbed scallions, and the strawberries, just perfectly ripe, were the most beautiful this week.
1 pkg microgreens – certified organic – Eastbrook Produce – 2 oz
1 head red lettuce – certified organic – Farmdale Organics
1 bunch green kale – certified organic – Life Enhancing Acres
2 small heads green leaf lettuce – certified organic – Back 40 Ranch
2 bunches scallions – certified organic – Sweetaire and Country Boy Farm
1 bag wrinkle crinkle cress – certified organic – Back 40 Ranch
1 box strawberries – certified organic – Friends Road Organics
Posted by Erin on 05/27 at 01:32 AM
Saving my Spinach
Thursday, May 20, 2010
My community garden plots are bursting with spinach right now. It’s just not possible to eat it all at once, so after I’ve offered it to as many people as I can, the next thing to do is freeze it. Here’s how.
Harvest, making sure to keep as much soil OUT of the bag as possible. Saves time later.
Wash, removing stems and yucky leaves.
Blanch, for 1 minute in boiling water.
Plunge, into an ice-water bath ASAP after the blanching time is over.
Drain, as thoroughly as possible. Squeeze gently if needed.
Freeze, in a labeled and dated bag. Remove as much air as possible.
This process works for all greens. Tougher greens like kale can be blanched for longer, and can be layered and frozen flat.
Enjoy!
Posted by Erica on 05/20 at 10:12 PM
GRID “food issue” party at The Swift Half
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
GRID magazine’s Griddle blog was nice enough to link to my sprout post, and I’m returning the favor - to them and to you - by announcing the release party for the June “food issue.” A whopper of local-food-friendly information at 32-pages, this is GRID’s largest issue yet. The issue promises “farmers’ markets, CSAs, cafes, artisan producers, neighborhood markets, breweries and restaurants. Also included: best buy local brunches and late-night snacks, as well as local cheese/local libations pairings from Marnie Old.” Hurray!
Come celebrate and pick up the new issue this Thursday from 5-7pm at the Swift Half Pub. Drinks are $1 off until 7pm, when local-beer favorite Flying Fish will be tapping a firkin of Summerhouse Ale.
Sprout your own Beans
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Not only to sprouted bean pack a great crunch, they are also higher in enzymes, fiber B-vitamins and protein than cooked or canned beans, an easy protein-pick if you’re eating raw, and easy to make yourself. Garbanzo beans (or chickpeas) work especially well and make a wonderful hummus, as do green lentils. Mung beans, adzuki beans are other popular choices.*
1. Place 1 cup of dried beans in a large jar. Fill with water and soak overnight.
2. Drain the beans, leaving them in the jar.
3. Every day, rinse the beans and drain again.
4. When the beans have sprouted long white tales, they are ready to eat and should be kept in the refrigerator.
The beans will “grow” as they sprout, so make sure to leave extra jar room. I like punch holes in a few jar lids with a hammer and nails so I have a permanent straining solution! Enjoy on salad, in curries, as spreads, in pasta - however you usually eat beans!
* Do NOT eat raw sprouted black beans, kidney beans or soya beans as they produce a poison before they are cooked and will likely make you sick. You CAN sprout black beans and then cook them.
Green cherries
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
This little dwarf sour cherry tree I planted in the backyard 2 years ago was not thriving, so I dug it up in March and moved it to a giant pot out front. Even with the unintentional root pruning it endured, I have way more cherries in development than before. I counted 41. Not exactly a pie yet, but a couple of nice handpies, perhaps!
Posted by Allison on 04/28 at 02:29 AM
Walnut Hill Community Farm
Monday, April 26, 2010
Introducing the Walnut Hill Community Farm! This is a brand new project in West Philadelphia that is a combination community garden and urban farm. In partnership with The Enterprise Center CDC, the Walnut Hill Community Farm is run by the Walnut Hill Grower’s Cooperative and funded by the PHS City Harvest Community Grower’s Alliance grant.
The Urban Farm part of the project is run by West Philadelphia youth who cooperatively farm and sell their produce at the Clark Park Farmer’s Market (look for them starting in mid-May!). The farm is located between 46th and Farragut Streets, and Ludlow and Market Streets, right at the 46th St. Septa station; you can see the whole thing from the eastbound platform.
The Community Garden part of the project is full of Walnut Hill residents who grow produce for their own consumption. In the future, the farm and community garden will both be a part of The Enterprise Center’s Center for Culinary Enterprise on 48th St. The farmers and gardeners will work with people in the CCE program to grow and process local foods and contribute to the local food economy.
To help out and learn more, come to the May workdays on Sat. May 8th from 4-6pm and Fri. May 21st from 5-7pm. We will be going to Local 44 after the work days to celebrate our hard work with local beer!
Posted by Erica on 04/26 at 03:31 PM
Get Your CSA Today
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
There is still time to join a CSA for the summer! Deliveries for most begin in just a few weeks, so now’s the time to stop procrastinating and start participating. CSA’s ask you to pay in advance for your produce deliveries so that farms are able to invest in their crops for the season. All you have to do is pick up your share once a week and enjoy all the exciting, local Delaware Valley produce! Some CSAs with Philadelphia delivery (to a park, farmers market, or neighborhood location) that still have openings:
Lancaster Farm Fresh
Greensgrow Farms
Keystone Farm
Just Fruit Shares:
North Star Orchard
If you missed your favorite farm, put yourself on the waitlist and a spot may open.
Posted by Erin on 04/21 at 05:49 PM
