This week our CSA members were provided beets in their share. Add some Walla Walla onions with the mixed greens (both found in this week's share) and you have a lovely summer salad!
Here is a great recipe from one our supporters (and a friend), Mindy Crum
Pickled Beets
Ingredients
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
¼ tsp pickling spices
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ onion – halved
1 small bay leaf
¾ tsp peppercorns 2-3 beets
Instructions
Boil first 8 ingredients, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let cool. Strain out solids. Set aside.
Boil beets in salted water until tender – about 1-1.25 hours. Drain and cool. Slip off skins and cut into ½ inch pieces.
Pour liquid over beets and chill, at least 1 day
#SummerSalad #BeetsRock #GetYourNutrients
image courtesy of Forks Over Knives11

​It's official - the 2021 Season is in Full Effect and FreshList offerings are coming around the bend!!
For those of you that are new to the FreshList (or are thinking about joining up), please allow us to introduce ourselves and how this all works....
We started this outside-of-the-box food growing experiment in 2018, as Jon missed growing food, but at the time we had no yard to speak of! We connected with our first LandDonor, Anita, then onto BJ, then Sarah, then....by 2020 we were up to 19 LandDonors!!
The end of 2020 we were able to formally contract with FamilyWorks for weekly donations to their food bank in support of our food insecure community members. Check our website link in the comments additional ways you can support those in need). We also strengthened our partnerships with Lagana Foods (pasta, pasta, pasta) and Rainy Day Bees (honey harvested throughout North Seattle) - all thanks to the support the community has provided - thank you!
With COVID and school closures, we were able to meet our commitments, but found ourselves a bit overwhelmed and needing to really re-evaluate our model moving forward. And so enters the pivot (not that word...) to fewer yards, with more focused growing and processes AND we partnered with a small farm in Shelton, Meadow Moss - to allow for a more varied experience for our CSA members and FreshListers for 2021!!
And now that you know a bit about what we do - let's talk about HOW THE FreshList WORKS!
This is a great model for folks that want access to fresh veggies but not the commitment! Jon harvests multiple times a week and once we fulfill our CSA member commitments, we then offer up the additional shares to you!
As abundance builds, you can plan on a weekly email with what is up for grabs that week, what the cost will be ($30-45 dependent upon the offerings), and when deliveries will be scheduled (usually the next morning).
As a FreshLister, you are also able to purchase add-on products such as honey or pasta, gift certificates and even eggs from our ladies (we will let you know when they are available)!!
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO? First, make sure you're signed up! And since this is a first-come-first-served format, we ask that you respond right away to our email to ensure you get in on the fun - as we have limited shares available - with your delivery address & specific instructions, when appropriate. We confirm your order, send a PayPal or Venmo payment request and that is that!!
Another great thing about being a FreshList member - you get FIRST WORD of offers throughout the season for seed-shares, start sales, recipes for inspiration and more! Oh, and you get to know before anyone else when we open up the CSA Seasons, too (the Summer one is just around the corner....wink wink)
SIGN UP TODAY by sending us a PM or email us at [email protected]
Welcome to the Jon the Farmer - Urban Farmer FreshList family - we cannot wait to provide you and yours with this season's tasty treats!!

​It's not like me to post twice in a day but we really want folks to watch this movie. It is available at no cost for the next four days - just in time to stay inside and be cool, while learning about why it's so damned hot (not to mention learning more about our global food systems). Tell us what you think and please, spread the word!!
https://grow.foodrevolution.org/?orid=2091511&opid=314...

​So don't be silly and leave your chicken's eggs out on a picnic bench for say - 10 minutes while you check on dinner because they will NOT make it!! Some something or other got lucky!!
#NomNomEggs #MyBad #PutYourEggsUp

​These are the days the kids are TOTALLY on board with the #GrowFoodNotLawns movement!! Dad did most of the work - they could barely push the dang thing!!
#ResourceWaste #FeedYourCommunity #LawnsAreOverrated

​Here's a lovely Radish Greens Pesto recipe to go with the fresh Lagana Foods pasta our CSA members have been receiving in their grocer bag. Give it a try and let us know what you think! Better yet, send us a picture!!
#ShowUsWhatYouGot #RecipesForSuccess #LaganaFoods #PestoForTheResto

​No matter the Season - Jon is always there for us. Happy Father's Day!!