Happy Beltane to all!

          Welcome to May with all of it's promise of new growth.  Beltane is an old celebration of fertility with deep agricultural roots.  Seed, field and flower as well as fire are important aspects of Beltane traditions and we note it's return as buds swell, new growth emerges and the smell of life is in the air.  Breathe it in and listen to the birds!  We've had a mockingbird singing to us all day long for the past few days as he sits on top of the tallest trees, trilling through his repertoire, calling out for love.

          We've had a busy week of planting in the fields, hoophouse and greenhouse and so were quite thankful for the gentle yet steady rains that fell through the night.  Another box of goodness makes it's way to you today:  Yukon gold potatoes, shallots, sunchokes or jerusalem artichokes(neither a choke or from Jerusalem, these are perennial sunflowers with edible and nutritious tubers),a small head of buttercrunch lettuce, a bag of mixed lettuce,a small bag of stir fry mix, a head of vitamin green and a head of bonsai miniature bok choy or Chinese cabbage.  Time for some stir-fry don't you think?  Don't forget to wash all before using.  To use the vitamin green and bonsai, take leaves apart and swish in cold water.  Roll in a dry cotton towel, but leave some moisture clinging to leaves if you want to make simple sautee of shallots and chopped greens.  These choys have delicious stems that require a bit longer to cook, so add them first, then the leaves.  I made a strata(eggs, cheesy casserole) last week with vitamin green chopped into it and mmmmmm...was it good.  Here's a  little  advice about the sunchokes; although their texture is appealing raw,( they are nutty and refreshing not unlike a waterchestnut), be warned!  Eating suchokes raw can cause some digestive upset(read bad gas).  I would suggest cooking them, rather than eating them raw in salads. 

          If we have cooler weather, the next boxes will be in 2 weeks.  If it heats up again, we will have to have another box next Friday.  We are sorry to be flaky about these dates, but don't want to let the precious greens go by; we want them in your bellies!  I'll send an email next week, or call those of who don't have email.  Take time to smell the air, love the meadowalrks