We are fortunate to be a family of blended cultures – half Indian (the sub-continent variety) and half American hodge-podge of English, Scottish, Welsh and Norwegian ancestry. Besides the fact that our children are exposed to a rich and diverse range of cultural traditions, language and foods, we get to celebrate twice the usual number of holidays. The bottom line – there’s always some excuse for a party around these parts.
Tomato boxes fortified with makeshift critter barrier (masking tape and heating duct material)...
Earlier this fall I wrote about the challenges of backyard farming amidst a rampant rodent invasion.
For the story, click here: Gophers, Tomatoes and Peaceful Coexistence
Since that installment, friends have asked for a status update and I must sheepishly admit, the saga continues…
A little background – we live in a lovely area, just on the edge of development, rolling hills on one side, secluded creek on the other. Devoted nature lovers, we’re fortunate to catch glimpses of wild creatures every day – quail broods running across the yard, lizards climbing stucco walls, hawks, rabbits, deer and when we’re really lucky the occasional bobcat sighting at dusk. Unfortunately, there’s also a couple of critter varieties we’re less excited about – the toothy, subterranean pocket gopher, at work devouring unprotected roots. Perhaps even more notorious is the Norwegian roof rat, not just a household pest, an unseemly intruder in the kitchen garden as well.
“What’s that bulbous vegetable that looks like pregnant celery with giant feather stalks?”
– Anonymous CSA member
Perhaps you’ve also been wondering about the funny looking bulb that came in last week’s bag. If you happened to break off a wispy leaf and take a whiff you’d have been treated to the delicate, refreshing licorice like scent of the fennel plant. Native to the Mediterranean coast, fennel figures prominently in both raw and cooked dishes of the region. The bulb, delicate leaves, celery-like stalks and seeds are widely used. Fennel popularity extends as far eastward as India, where it is appreciated primarily for its seeds – for their medicinal properties as well as in cooking. In Hindi, the seeds are called sanf and they are consumed after meals as a breath freshener and digestive aid.
If you’ve had a busy week you may still have a full bag of produce waiting for action in the fridge. It happens sometimes, and as long as you refrigerated everything except the tomatoes (cold ruins the flavor), you’ll be good to go. Here’s what I did with my Freshness Farms produce over the last couple of days:
Cilantro, Radish, Anaheim pepper and Tomato – We combined these for a modern take on a favorite side dish – guacamole. The addition of the mild Ahaheim pepper and rosy pink radish added color, a little crunch and a tiny bit of heat. If you aren’t fond of radishes by themselves – try using small amounts in salads and dishes like this one. The little bite the radish offers is mellowed out quite nicely by the creamy, mild avocado flavor.
More than 13 years ago our family entered the wonderful (and sometimes wild) world of Community Supported Agriculture, complete with its weekly ritual farm bag delivery. Back in 1997, a shipment straight from the farm often meant searching for new and different ways to use broccoli (as an example) for weeks on end during the season and without the Internet to boot. These days we’re lucky to enjoy a variety of just harvested produce from Freshness Farms, thanks to Blue Heron and Martinez Family Farms as well as other local growers in the Watsonville area. Last week we received carrots, spinach, strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, dill, mushrooms and celery. This week a whole different collection of seasonal treasures awaits us.