Full Circle Farm--Initial Impressions

When a friend started with Full Circle Farms, I asked her how she was liking the produce. She paused, then said, "Well, it's not as fresh as you're used to with the Beans...but it's good."

I opened my first box of Full Circle Farms yesterday, and understood what she meant. There is a difference between veggies produced forty-five minutes north of here, and those flown in from Seattle (and produced along the West Coast). They look less shiny, somehow, and, well, a bit tired.

That being said, the variety of things packed into my box is both daunting and exhilarating. Everything from persimmons to garnet yams to Valencia oranges!

I tried the Japanese eggplant last night. Didn't like them, but I think it's the cook's fault, not the veggie's. I really liked that Arctic Organics pushed me to cook unfamiliar vegetables, and I think Full Circle Farms will push me even more. What will I do with the persimmons?!! And how do I know when D'Anjou pears are ripe? And then there are Asian pears, which look more like apples. As my sweetie said, "I didn't know pears came in any other shape than 'pear-shaped.' "

All in all, I think it will be a good adventure, one that prompts me to be the better person I would like to be.

Cheap GMOs Are In Your Gas Tank

The environmental news and commentary website Grist posted a story this week about federal crop insurance. Yawn, right?

Wake up! The story talks about what is, in effect a subsidy for companies creating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and at the same time a punishment for organic farmers. Here's a brief quote:

Last Wednesday, Monsanto announced that the Federal Crop Insurance corporation (FCIC) approved a pilot program that will give farmers a 20 percent discount on insurance premiums if they plant a majority of their corn acres with seeds featuring Monsanto's trademarked YieldGard Plus with Roundup Ready Corn 2 or YieldGard VT Triple stack technology. This is the first time the FCIC Board has approved a crop insurance discount for specific crop traits, but not likely the last.

For more information about GMOs, read this article from the Land Institute.

Arctic Organics Week Sixteen

Thanks for joining us this season! We did it! We made it into October for the first time ever! If you’ll remember, adding this week was to make up for starting one week late in June. The produce this week is certainly compensating well. The extended subscription season as well as the warm weather has allowed our shrinking fall crew to accomplish quite an autumn harvest! The leeks are in fine form, well worth waiting for to let them size up. We are very happy that the broccoli is matured in time. And it’s been a real boon to have the last planting of lettuce protected by hoop houses. Enjoy these last veggies! If you run out, we’ll be at the Anchorage Farmers Market until October 20th with more. Thanks again, and see you next year!
- River and Sarah

Today’s delivery includes:
Yellow Finn potatoes
Brussels sprouts
Beets w / greens
Purple top turnip
Carrots
Broccoli
Leeks
Kale
Lettuce
Thyme

Arctic Organics Week Fifteen

Last delivery is next week! We had another frost last Saturday, but the weather has been very nice to the vegetables since then. Nevertheless we think it’s time to get the tender greens harvested out, as we see the snow line descend down Lazy Mountain! Better to harvest the baby turnips, mibuna and red mustard early than to lose them.

Next week’s order will most certainly consist of hardy vegetables. Enjoy ‘em while you’ve got ‘em!
- River and Sarah

Today’s delivery includes:
Russet potatoes
Red cabbage
Rutabaga
Carrots
Baby turnips w / greens
Collards
Red onions w / greens
Mibuna
Red Giant mustard
Lettuce
Sage

Arctic Organics Week Fourteen

Frost came Monday morning…but it warmed right back up by Tuesday. It was cold enough to kill the zucchini plants. It didn’t damage any of the heartier greens and vegetables, but you might see some signs of frost on the some of the lettuces. We are in full scale “haul it in” mode now, knowing that more frequent freezing overnight temperatures are (sadly) inevitable. We’ve got loads of potatoes, beets, turnips, etc., to get into storage for the winter. Meanwhile, plan on two more deliveries of vegetables this CSA season. The last one is October 2-3. Enjoy the veggies!
River and Sarah


Today’s delivery includes:
German Butterball potatoes
Brussels sprouts
Beets w / greens
Carrots
Redbor kale
Rainbow chard
Purple Top turnips
Red onions w / greens
Catalogna dandelion greens
Lettuce
Parsley

Arctic Organics Week Thirteen

No frost yet, but it’s nipping at our heels!

We have stayed ahead of the frost successfully so far. This week you’ll be seeing the most frost sensitive crops for the last time: zucchini, celery and fennel. The field is still loaded with other more autumnal offerings for the next three weeks of your subscription.

We harvested carrots for the first time, and look forward to bringing you as many of those as we can find in the field. Enjoy the veggies!

River and Sarah

Today’s delivery includes:
Red French fingerling potatoes
Savoy cabbage
Beets w / greens
Carrots
Winterbor kale
Rutabaga
Celery
Fennel
Zucchini
Yellow onions w / greens
Tat soi
Lettuce
Dill
Apples – Norland and Oriole

Carrs Gets with the Program

I've been enjoying my Fred Meyer reusable grocery bags for months now, and grumbling about Carrs lack of such bags--somehow it seemed inappropriate to use FM bags in Carrs.

Yesterday when I stopped in at our remodeling-in-process Eagle River Carrs, there they were! A huge rack of reusable grocery bags, front and center, right there where people might actually see--and buy--them.

Yes, they were packaged in plastic, making it difficult to purchase them and use them on the same day.

Yes, they are missing that helpful plastic insert in the bottom that makes the FM bags sit nicely in the car.

But at least they had them! Last time I saw them, months ago, there were about five of them, located under the counter at the customer service desk. Then they disappeared completely.

I celebrated the arrival of this new bunch of bags by purchasing two of them. Gotta reward the good behavior of whoever put so many of them in so visible a place.

Beautiful Beets

This week's beets from Arctic Organics were beautiful! I roasted them while roasting some potatoes for dinner, then took some of the beets to work for Potluck Friday (as part of a green salad). The rest I ate when I got home--because the ones in the salad had been so sweet and delicious!

They are red beets, golden beets and chioggia beets. What a combination!

Another foray option...

briciole: Edizione speciale: Novel Food

First Foodblogging Event Foray?

thepassionatecook: Waiter! There's something in my... savoury preserve!

Hmmm. I've been wanting to join a foodblogging event. Perhaps this will be the one.

Sleepy Boy

This is what happens when you're addicted to doggie daycare.

You wind up flat on your back on the floor, "dog-tired," your ear turned inside-out, and your momma takes pictures of you.

It's enough to make a young dog consider the error of his ways.

Anchorage ReStore

On my way home from work this evening I stopped at Anchorage's Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The ReStore is a hybrid--part Home Depot, part thrift store. I was in search of a cover for the hole in our deck through which our dryer vents (long story, another day) and hoping for "salvage chic," but no luck. Bought a boring white vent cover, and I'll keep looking for a more attractive version.

Good to know about the ReStore, however. Lots of tile. Buckets of paint for $5. Doorknobs and cement blocks and kitchen cabinets. A good place to keep in mind.

Alaska Women's Environmental Network

Saw in tonight's ADN that the Alaska Women's Environmental Network (AWEN) is meeting at the Moose's Tooth tomorrow night. Don't think I'll have time to go, but it's worth noting their existence--and doing a little sleuthing to figure out who they are and what they do.

Bedtime Reading

For the last several nights I've been reading--and enjoying--Bonny Wolf's Talking with My Mouth Full. I read the chapter on kitchen disasters to my not-so-foodie sweetie, laughing so hard I could barely get the words out.

It's excellent bedtime reading--satisfying, like the comfort food she writes about in one chapter. The chapters are short, so disciplined folks can eat "just enough," while the rest of us zoom on ahead and soon the popcorn bowl is empty.

I'm pleased with myself that I was able to restrain myself enough to leave a few chapters for tonight's enjoyment before taking TWMMF back to the library.

Arctic Organics Week Twelve

Still no frost!
The lack of frost during August’s full moon is an Alaskan farmer’s boon. Now that the clouds have come in to help hold all this warm air close to the land, we may get a nice long reprieve from the frost. The benefit is that the more fragile plants are alive and well in the field. These include zucchini, fennel, celery, dill, etc. Thus the extended zucchini season!

Potato management is also dependent on frost. In the case of potatoes, we wait for the frost to kill the plants in order to harden the potatoes. Since that did not happen yet, we will have to mow the plants to accomplish the same end. River has started to do so this week, and so you’ll be finding potatoes in your order next week! Enjoy the veggies!
- River and Sarah

Garlic trial update
After a couple of disappointing years with garlic, this year we have conducted a garlic trial in hopes of finding a reliable variety. We have just completed that 11-month long growing season with exciting results. Of the three types we tested, one variety came in ahead by leaps and bounds! Our old favorite was only half the size of this new best, and the third variety was tiny (yet recommended for our climate by the garlic seed company ). So, we will give it another trial this year to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. With luck, you’ll be seeing garlic again next year!

Today’s delivery includes:
Chioggia, golden, and red beets
Collards
Zucchini
Purple Top turnips
Purple pac choi
Kohlrabi
Red onions w / greens x 3
Dill stalks
Mizuna
Spinach
Arugula
Italian parsley
Basil