| Jump to page: 1 2 |
Winter share 2007 was perfect for the two of us!
By: (Sep 29, 2008)
Here's what I wrote Gretta last winter: "We LOVE the food you're growing at the Belmont CSA! Having the winter share, our first, is a life-changing experience, just like having the summer share (Waltham Fields) was. We learned how to store the winter vegetables, and we're trying new recipes every week. To be able to say this after nearly forty years of extensive food experience as a discerning eater and serious cook is very cool. I look out my window this morning at the falling snow and remember your snowy field and the rows of dark green kale. Then I remember the sublime Portuguese kale soup Mayhew made with that kale. And the big baskets of butternut and acorn squashes in our basement, then the garlicky soup I recently made with them. The leeks, onions, parsnips, carrots, potatoes--what a bounty even now just seven days from the winter solstice. The multi-farm winter share is a TERRIFIC idea. More, please!" You might think the winter share LOOKS like too much food for a family of four, but it's not. Not even for two, like my husband and I. The winter share consists of our old friends the Chiller Dillers, the Rootie Patooties, and the Cellar Dwellers--vegetables that can be stored and cooked as needed through the winter, just like our grandmothers used to do. One thing we did find, however, was that we needed to buy a 2nd fridge and to set up some shelves in the basement. Cellar Dwellers such as winter squashes can keep for months, no problem. Many even improve with storage.)Or split and roast as many as you can fit on a cookie sheet, scoop the flesh into Ziplocs and freeze the pulp for great soups later. Chiller Dillers and many Rootie Patooties like carrots, beets, parsnips or celery root keep in the fridge for months (in plastic bags). Cabbage too. If outer leaves start to go, just peel them off and cook the cabbage into something delicious. Kale can be chopped, bagged raw in Ziplocs, and frozen or first stir fry it in a bit of water and freeze. I thought I would never say this about winter vegetables, but...yum yum, bring 'em on!
| |
 Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
Share size is perfect!
By: Susan Johnson (Sep 29, 2008)
We are looking forward to our second year of Belmont CSA winter shares. Last year, I was worried that a share would be too much and split mine with a neighbor despite Gretta's warning that her shares were sized for a single family. Sure enough - we found it incredibly hard to divvy up the produce so that everyone received enough of everything. This year we will have all that yummy produce to ourselves! I really appreciate the fact that my kids can see the farm, receive the box, understand what grows here in the fall/winter, and realize that all sorts of interesting local vegetables are delicious in the winter. Thank you Gretta!
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
Winter CSA
By: Ellen (Sep 29, 2008)
Last years winter CSA was great! Thank you all farms! I really enjoyed all the food. I liked the sage which I was able to dry and use in soup. I am so happy I did this. I am a single person and it saved me so much money. I did not buy 1 vegetable for the 3 months. I used what I got in my share and it was just enough. I rarely had left over veggies before the next pick up. Thank you again. I am so happy I was able to be in the winter share. - Ellen
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
Eat Local even in Winter!
By: Susan Pinette (Sep 29, 2008)
I only learned about the Belmont Winter CSA last year as
we prepared to move to another town a few miles away. I subscribed anyway because local produce is quite hard to come by in this area. We just loved it and resubscibed for this winter. There are just two of us, but unlike a summer share, most of the vegetables are suitable for cold storage, so nothing goes to waste if you don't eat it up immediately. We eat A LOT of vegetables, but I think a share would easily feed a family of four more normal vegetable eaters. It is important to have space to correctly store the produce - we have section of our basement that has a dirt floor and it stays quite cold - we also have a second fridge in the basement. As other reviewers have indicated, it is important to check the stored veggies often to use up any that maybe heading south. We did lose a couple of squash to mold as the weather warmed up but otherwise nothing went to waste. I also took part in the experimental Preservation Share, which I really hope Gretta will offer again - I have a freezer ful of pesto, pints of pickles and quarts of tomatoes from my share. All in all Belmont CSA rocks!!
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
Great veggies
By: Jocelyn Milton (Sep 28, 2008)
Last year, I did the fall and winter CSA of Gretta's, and this year I've added the summer and preservation shares. I could not be happier. The winter share did a great job of feeding our family of four. We learned new ways to cook vegetables, and got introduced to some new to us vegetables. Two in our family are vegetarians, so having lots of squash was really great for us. We stored our veggies in the basement, and I think this year I'll take the extra steps and store it in the garage, to keep things a little colder. Twice weekly checks of the vegetables to see what needs to be eaten next are helpful so that we didn't waste anything. I think it is so great to have a farm in town, and the other reviewers are right - homegrown veggies taste so great! Knowing that Gretta grew these veggies made my kids much more eager to try them and be positive about them - who would guess that my 9 year old loves escarole (something I had never heard of, let along eaten, before the CSA!) Parsnips were another great favorite - we all loved those no matter how we cooked them.
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
CSA review
By: (Aug 13, 2008)
When I was looking for a CSA close to me I never expected to find one in Belmont, but I did and have been a member for several years. This is a wonderful CSA. Greta's vegetables are beautiful and delicious. She now offers a preservation share and a winter share. I bought both and have enjoyed making pesto and pickles and look forward to making tomato sauce! I'll be a member as long as Greta keeps farming and as long as I'm in the area.
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
Fantastic seasonal staples!
By: jkirrane (Aug 5, 2008)
I so enjoyed having on hand potatoes, carrots, onions, squash and other seasonal veggies. The carrots were so sweet and big, they sliced up into excellent carrot sticks for my kids and all the veggies were excellent quality. The size of the share was generous and easily fed a large family of 5. The farm is beautiful and Gretta is a gracious and professional steward and offers a high quality product and service.
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
Enjoy local produce all winter long
By: Sarah Ellison (Aug 4, 2008)
The Belmont CSA in the winter is a delight. You get wonderful fresh produce that you might not have thought to buy otherwise, and the recipe suggestions open new doors. It gets you in touch with your inner chef and gets you to try new things. I have to admit I loved just about everything, but my kids didn't always feel the same way. Things taste so much better when they are really fresh! My husband grew up with canned beets--he had no idea how wonderful they really can be--he's a convert now. Roasted root vegetables from the CSA were a big hit at Thanksgiving. We did a ride share and only had to pick up the veggies once. Way to go!
| |
Flag as Inappropriate
Comment on this Review
|
|
|
| Jump to page: 1 2 |
|
|
Average Review:
10 reviews
|
|
view basket
