Tag: Virginia

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CSA Farm Share CSA/Farm Market Local Food News Prepared Meals Uncategorized

Farm to YOUR Table- Chef Prepared Meals on the Menu!

Great News! 

We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with a local chef and have added gourmet Prepared Meals using fresh local ingredients (the same as in your CSA!) to the menu and they are available to order for pickup/delivery next week. Deadline to order online is Friday at 5pm for the following week. If you miss the deadline and want to order, email and I can place the order for you. They are also for sale in Richmond at the Farm to Family Market, 2817 Mechanicsville Turnpike, RVA 23223. You do NOT have to be a current member to order. 

This week’s meals come from Richmond, VA Chef Michael Hayes (Awful Arthur’s and Chef Mike’s “Your Craving Is My Command). Meals are frozen and ready to heat.  All are single serve portions this week. We are working on family sized options for next time.

1. Braised lamb shank with sweet potato hash and sweet carrot/ honey scallions. GF – $18

2. Meat loaf with roasted golden beets and garilc chive rutabega/potato mash – $14

3. Marinated tofu with spinach pie and veg fried rice (Vegan contains soy) – $12

4. Pasta with ramps, mixed mushrooms (oyster, maitake and shiitake) with roasted garlic oil. (Vegetarian/contains egg and dairy) – $12

I do not yet have the menu for the following week – but once I have it, I will be sending it out. If you are getting a share the week of the 14th/15th – you need to wait for next week’s menu, and your order deadline will be Friday 4/10.

How to Order

Go to Prepared Meals under Categories on our website and log in or create a log in. Click on the item you wish, and adjust quantity. Let me know if you need help or have difficulty. As the order deadline is Friday at 5pm for next week, and we just got these, please email farmshares@thefarmbus.com with your order and quantity and I can place this for you 

We are looking forward to working with Chef Michael and we appreciate your feedback! Let us know if you have special requests!

Bon Appetit! 

Categories
CSA Farm Share Get Educated Get Involved Local Food

Spring/Summer Farm to Family CSA Ready for Signups with Early Bird Discounts

The Spring/Summer season of the CSA is ready for sign ups!

The Farm to Family Spring/Summer CSA in Washington, DC (Capitol Hill) and RVA is ready for Early Bird Sign Up!

And there are discounts!!!

5% Early Bird DISCOUNT the whole month of February for ALL shares including installments!!!!  Use code “19S” at checkout.

10% Early Bird DISCOUNT for FULL SHARE PACKAGE (Veg, Meat, Dairy, Bread value $127/time) paid in FULL up front the whole month of February!!! Use code “19SF” at checkout. Good only for the Full Share Package paid in full (not installments or single shares i.e. dairy, meat or veg — please use 5% discount above if this is you.)10% Military Discount – For all active, retired, veteran military families. Email me for the code along with info on your service. Returning members – you will have to reenter the code, and it is the same. This discount carries over to everything you purchase all season. If you buy direct from Mark remind him you are military for your discount.  Thank you for your service.

Anyone you refer who joins, earns you a $25 Referral Reward = Free Food! 

2019 SPRING/SUMMER CHANGES:

24 weekly/biweekly deliveries.  2 week summer holiday break 8/1-8/20 

Start/end dates (Projected)

We are currently scheduled to start on 4/2, subject to change pending weather and what the farmers have.  End date includes two week holiday break.

DC:  24 Weekly/12 biweekly  – Tuesday – Start 4/2; End 9/17

  • Tuesdays – Eastern Market 4-7pm (weekly/biweekly)
  • Home Delivery – Tuesdays (via courier $24/time charged separately at onboarding) Home Delivery available on Capitol Hill 20002, 20003 and Navy Yard.
  • Full season member fee is $100/50 and will be charged separately at on-boarding.  It is pro-rated late join.

RVA : 12 Biweekly only Thursday – Farm to Family; RVA  Start 4/4 – End 9/20

  • Pickup at Farm to Family, or
  • Home Delivery (within 5 mi radius F2F) $5/fee per time  (full season $60) .
  • Full season member fee is $30 and is pro-rated late join.
  • All fees charged separately at onboarding.

PARTIAL SEASON/1xSTAND ALONE SHARES– Partial seasons are available. Email me with your start/end dates and I will manually set this up for you. Do not sign up thru the website. You also have the option to get 1x stand alone shares thru website as needed if you need more flexibility.

Start/end dates are as follows – We are currently scheduled to start on 4/2, but this is subject to change pending weather and what the farmers have.  If you are a current member, you will stay on the same schedule you have now. End date includes two week holiday break.

Please visit the website for specifics on pricing and shares.

Let Suzi know if you have additional questions – email is preferred: farmshares@thefarmbus.com or you can call Mark directly at 804-397-7337.

 

 

Thank you so much for being loyal CSA members and supporting your local food system!  Please share our info we could always use more members!  We are looking forward to a tremendous Spring and Summer Season!

Warmly,

Mark Lilly + Suzi Miles

Categories
CSA Farm Share CSA/Farm Market Get Educated Local Food Recipes

What’s in the Share – Week of 5/11

Happy Cooking for this wonderful CSA share this week in Richmond, VA and Washington, DC.

13063115_10153923646585935_5214467713006134061_oVeg is looking like:

  • Bibb
  • Romaine
  • Asparagus – grill bacon wrapped asparagus . We also made asparagus kale soup last week. Here’s a vegan version.
  • Strawberries –  I posted info on how to freeze them to use later in the season in smoothies. You can also make fruit leather, dehydrate for snacks, or jam. Here is the boss small batch strawberry balsamic jam recipe I posted in the group that I made for Mother’s Day gifts last year. I cooked it in the slow cooker. this makes only 4 half pints, so refridgerate, eat on the biscuits, or give away. No need to process. But if you want to process, I used a saucepan, and a veggie steamer and it worked great. I used this on baked brie at mom’s for Easter.
  • Ramps or rhubarb – not sure yet
    • if Ramps: Treat them like you would garlic or onions, only better, and you’ll be ok. Here’s a great video on how to find, clean and pickle them. They are forest foraged, so still have soil on them. Clean them well, dirt can hide in them, like leeks. Use the leaves to make pesto, or chimmichurri – this recipe puts it on grilled polenta. If you aren’t going to get to them for a bit, cut off your leaves – use those quickly, and keep the bottoms in a bag in your fridge. I have actually had them stay in the fridge for a month or so.  They are great in biscuits. Put on pizza.
    • If Rhubarb – Here’s sweet recipes. Here’s savory recipes. Here’s my blog on rhubarb that includes my grandma’s rhubarb pie recipe, and then down in the comments my mom posts how to make rhubarb ice cream, and rhubarb sauce.
  • Arugula – good on pizza with the ramps. add it to asparagus soup, Make strawberry arugula salad. .
  • Swiss chard –  Swiss chard is delicious, versatile, and don’t forget to pickle the stems. It is hearty enough to stand in for pasta, say in a lasagna. The stems take longer to cook than leaves, so I usually put stems in first, then leaves. Here are some ideas.
  • Cilantro – use it in your ramp chimmichurri.
  • Red radishes – young radishes have a sweetness to them. Try roasted radishes with brown butter, radish tops, and lemon. You can also sautee the tops like any green.  Slice and add to salad. Pickle. Here are some recipes. There is a radish corn salad in here, that would be good with your corn if you haven’t used it yet.
  • Garlic – this goes in your pesto, or chimmichurri
  • Bok choy – bok choy with garlic
  • Chamomile — so many neat things you can do: fresh tea is amazing, but you can use it in ice cream – here’s a vegan salted caramel chamomile version, make simple syrup, put it in cocktails, add it to salads, crostini, chop fine and add to yogurt like you would with dill. bake a cake here’s ideas. Here’s some health and beauty things you can do.
  • Sugar Snap Peas – quinoa salad with sugar snap peas, Here’s a few more ways.
Fruit – Strawberries. Possibly rhubarb, if he finds some.

Meats-

Rappahannock River Oysters
Rappahannock River Oysters

Oysters and Clams –  how to shuck an oyster with Chef Pete at Merroir. How to prepare them raw 0 use your ramps, garlic, or green onions! Grill them. Here’s a few other methods of cooking like roasting, and steaming. Here’s how to steam clams. Here’s the Ultlimate Pasta with Clams – perfect if you still have your pasta from the other week! Clams with bacon, cilantro, ginger and galic (sub ramps!!) Make oyster shooters. You can use sake, tequila, vodka etc. Look them up. You’ll be in heaven.

Alt Meat – not sure yet. If you had alt meat last week — check with Mark to see what your selection is.

Cheese – Goat Feta from Peachy Family Farm – Snap pea salad with radish and feta. .

pea, feta and mint toasts (sub chamomile!) 

Bread – Prairie Grain

 

Categories
CSA Farm Share CSA/Farm Market Get Involved Local Food Recipes

What’s in the Share – strawberries, asparagus, bison – week of 4/17

 

11084032_10153185802240935_7942784199934615198_oHope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather and are settling into your CSA food. We have a lovely share coming your way this week. Keep in mind that these previews are what we think will be in the share, and may change due to a number of reasons. We ask you stay open minded when substitutions arise. Thank you!

Produce – so far:

  • bibb lettuce – Linda Bruce, Rain or Shine Greenhouse Gardens
  • mushrooms – Rob Woolfolk, Beaver Dam, VA
  • asparagus –  Sneads Aparagus Farm, Emmet Snead, Fredericksburg, VA. We made eggs benedict with asparagus and bacon for my mom for Easter Brunch.
  • strawberries – Anne + Chuck Geyer, Agriberry, Hanover, VA – We also made vegan strawberry shortcake with coconut whip for my mom. I’ve taken her off dairy and gluten for her eczema, which has been super helpful. I am planning a batch of strawberry balsamic jam, and going to try it in my Instant Pot. I made it last year as gifts for Mother’s Day and it is the best jam I’ve ever made. This recipe makes 4 jars.
  • spinach – Flores Farm, Northern Neck VA – Try my spinach strawberry salad with caramelized nuts(uses honey, but you can sub maple syrup to make vegan) – you can top with chèvre! The Agriberry vinegars are amazing in this.
  • leeks – Flores Farm, Northern Neck, VA – Mac and Cheese with braised leeks, asiago + park breadcrumbs.
  • red onions – Flores Farm, Northern Neck, VA  – spinach, mushroom, goat cheese pizza.
  • Chives or thyme – Flores Farm, Northern Neck, VA – Romanian gypsies are said to have used chives in their fortune-telling rites, and hung garlands of chives around their homes to ward off disease and evil spirits. I have them growing in my kitchen herb garden, and snip them into small bits, into eggs, potatoes, salads, vegetables. Here are thehealth benefits along with a fines herb omelet. Here are some other  ways to use them.
  • honey** – Hungry Hill Farm – Try strawberry honey butter. Steal a strawberry and some  yogurt away to make this face mask. Here is a strawberry honey smash cocktail perfect for porch sitting. **If you are vegan and home delivered, email me for a sub. Otherwise, check with Mark at pickup. 
  • Virginia Peanut Company – chocolate peanuts – lightly salted. These are ridiculous. Store in your refrigerator. Hide them from your children.

Meat

  • ground bison – Edmonds Farm, Lancaster, VA – we love to make burgers with these – go easy on toppings and condiments, they are so flavorful all you really need is salt and pepper. You can use the Bibb lettuce as a bun. However, you can make almost anything wth bison you would use ground beef in. Bison is super lean, so make sure to use coconut oil, butter, ghee, olive oil, bacon fat or another fat when frying. Cooking time is fast, temperature is lower.  Here are some cooking tips. We love Don and  Kim Edmonds and their 3 little girls. Their farm is a Dr. Dolittle kind of place – Don was a vet tech, and has a soft spot for rescues and odd creatures. He has a pet possum, emus, some other exotic birds I can’t remember, a tame bison named Ginger that grew up in the house alongside a fawn, lots of cats, dogs, ducks of many types, chickens, pigs and of course the majestic bison.
  • Bison Jerky – Edmonds Farm, Lancaster, VA – super good snack to keep you from going  hungry!
  • Smoked bacon – Edmonds Farm. This bacon is super tasty. Its got terrific smoked flavor, but not cured, so make sure to cook it up quickly after defrosting. Try roasted asparagus with mushrooms and bacon.Its amazing with greens,

Bread

  • Billy Bread– Leckers Baking Company, Richmond, VA – This bread is renowned in RVA and served in many of its best restaurants. It’s one of Mark’s favorites.  Its a crusty artisan multi-grain sourdough, and includes spelt rye and whole wheat berries.  It’s 100 percent hand-made and naturally leavened. Do not be dismayed by its hard exterior! it is best eaten quickly, but here are some tips to use it if you don’t.  Try goat cheese toasts with honey and thyme. Use it to sop up sauces and to convey goat cheese to mouth.  Eat spread with very good butter and very good preserves or the strawberry honey butter above.

Cheese

  • Peachy Family chèvre – We love the Peachys, an Amish farm family from Pennsylvania who we have gotten to know over the years, and we are happy to partner with them.  One of my favorite easy treats is plain chevre drizzled with honey with strawberries. Its great on pizza, in a salad, on a cracker or veggies. Top the asparagus with it.  Here’s 39 other ways to use goat cheese.

 

Categories
CSA Farm Share CSA/Farm Market Get Educated Get Involved Local Food
News about BusFarm/Farm to Family + The FarmBus Mobile Markets
We proudly serve RVA and Washington, DC
Call us: 804-767-8570 or 804-397-7337
DC Markets: Tuesday @ Eastern Market
RVA Market Open:  By Appointment  804-397-7337
Veteran owned. Always honoring Veterans and Active Military – 10% discount

CSA-Day-Logo-3Farm to Family CSA in DC/RVA/Hanover Celebrates CSA Day
with Extended Discounts!

Farm to Family is celebrating National CSA Day, Friday, February 24, ALL WEEK!! and we are offering discounts for our DC,  Richmond and Hanover area members and new members along with free Home Delivery within our RVA delivery area.  We have extended the 5% CSA Day discount to begin now, thru Sunday2/26 – sign up now to get the best value on all shares, including payment plans.

10154035_10152105348736483_4621415552134914340_nYou will save 5% on all shares and payment plans using discount code CSA17 ALL WEEK! Share pickups in DC are at Eastern Market, 7th G, and 23rd Place and E st, NE. DC home delivery is $4/time.  Pickup for RVA members is at the Farm to Family Market at 2817 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond VA 23223 (not Mechanicsville).  Pickup location is adjacent to I-64, I-295, Church Hill, Downtown, Northside, Mechanicsville.  FREE RVA home delivery is available within 5 mi radius of the F2F market, with 2 drops in Hanover (Ash Creek and Bell Creek neighborhoods pending 10 members).

Additional savings are available with 10% discount code FULL17 for FULL share (combo produce, meat, dairy, bread) pd in full up front, and 10% discount for active military/veterans (email farmshares@thefarmbus.com for code).

The Spring season starts on Tuesday, 3/28 with weekly and biweekly shares, and runs for 24 weeks.  All drop locations start Wed, 4/8 (biweekly only). Shares include locally grown produce (veggies and fruit), fruit only (starts 4/23), grass-fed dairy and eggs, grass-fed/pastured meats, and combo full share that features produce, dairy, meat and bread. Add ons available.

Pampatike Organic Farms Delivery!
Pampatike Organic Farms Delivery!

We offer flexible payment plans and vacation holds.  Farmers and vendor partners include Polyface Farms,  Edmonds Bison Farm, Morning Glory Farm, Agriberry, Flores Family Farm, Farmstead Ferments, Bombolini, Twin Oaks, Rappahannock River Oysters, Local Food Hub, Trickling Springs Dairy, Old Church Creamery, Mt View Dairy and others.

To sign up, or for more info, visit http://thefarmbus.csaware.com/store/, email farmshares@thefarmbus.com or call 804-397-7339. For up to the moment info, recipes and more on our CSA, join our Facebook group.
If you believe in the value of the work our local farmers and small artisan vendors do and would like to help them be successful, sign up for a CSA this week. Your membership guarantees support for them for a 6 month season and is integral in the success of local farms and small business economy.  Use the hashtag #CSAday #farmtofamily or #RVA to share our offer, and join the online conversation. For more information on CSA day, visit www.csaday.info.

 

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