Mankato Winter Wellness CSA

 Mankato Winter Wellness CSA

 ***Winter Wellness CSA Shares are limited! This Mankato CSA is a test run! If interested contact me directly to be put on a wait list. We only offer 3 shares with this test. One off Samplers Shares are sometimes offered during the winter as well. Organic greens and other farm goods are available 5 days per week at our farm store and at the Winter Mankato Farmers Market, held the 1st and 3rd Saturdays Nov.-March at Bomgaars from 9-Noon.

Mankato Winter Wellness CSA 2023

Launching a last minute test run of our Mankato Winter Market version of our popular farm store Winter Wellness CSA!

Winter Wellness CSA 

As always, the highlight is our winter greens! Pea shoots, microgreens and salad mix will be accompanied by canned goods and herbal wellness items. This season the apple harvest was not abundant, on some years we will also feature apples; this year simply apple products!

What's in the Shares? 

Winter Greens Feature – organic pea shoots, zesty microgreens, mustard greens salad mix each share.

Canned Goods Feature – applesauce, apple butter, jam/jelly, salsa – with 1-2 items in each share pick up.

Herbal Wellness Items Feature – Golden Milk Mix, Elderberry Syrup Kit, Calendula Lotion Bar, farmer choice.

 

When are the Shares?

Winter Wellness CSA will have 3 pick-ups at the Winter Mankato Farmers Market, Bomgaars, Mankato. If you miss a pick up it is your responsibility to come to the farm store to pick up your share.

Satuday, December 16

Saturday, January 20

Saturday, February 17

Greens are picked up at the Mankato Winter Farmers Market.

Cost is $130. $130 due up front for reservation.

Eggs – This year I’m not reserving ahead (it’s all based on the current batch of chickens), eggs are more limited at the time of this post. Eggs are $6/dozen.

 

How to get a share?

Shares each year are first offered to returning members. If spaces open up then they are offered to folks on the wait list. If any shares need further filling I'll post on social media (rarely happens!). 

 

Thank you!!

 

Brooke 

Price of Applesauce

Price of Applesauce

Next Wednesday, December 13, the price of applesauce will be going up from $7 to $8.

Applesauce is a popular product, a staple in our apple enterprise. One way we let no apple go to waste on the farm! It also takes a lot of time, our most limited resource on the farm.

For the first time since we started making it we have costed it out to include our labor that we put in; what it would cost to pay someone else to do it. We have to honor our time and efforts.

This is something many small farmers (and small business owners) are guilting of doing, not paying themselves for their time. It kicks us in the butt.

Moving into our 13 season of farming in 2024 we are being more conscious about honoring our work so we can better thrive. So we can continue to serve our community the way we want to. May we all be as robust and resilient as we can be.

Favorite Ways to Use Pea Shoots

Pea shoots! Harvested at about two weeks of age, these tender shoots taste like fresh spring peas. They have a mild, fresh flavor and are packed with nutrition. Pea shoots can be used raw, or lightly cooked. Like microgreens they are super versatile!

With Eggs

If you have been following me for any given amount of time you've probably seen my post 800,000 pictures of eggs and greens. Zesty Micros are my first go-to, but pea shoots fill the bill too!! They are my preferred when dressing scrambled eggs, or adding a layer on a frittata.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Let's just dress those BLTs, wraps, burritos and tacos, shall we! Tender pea shoots are the perfect accompaniment.

Curry and Stir Fry

I know this is a pic of micros, but I haven't one of pea shoots. We love wilting pea shoots into hot curry, stir fried ramen and the like, or mixed in a bowl of korean beef! Always topping our bowl, or adding in just before serving.

With Salad

Of course the easiest thing would be to add to your existing lettuce salad! Pea shoots are light and tender enough that I will also use them as a salad base solo. 

Health Tip!

Aim for 1 cup of raw greens, or a 1/2 cup cooked each and every day - studies show it keeps our brains younger! Pea shoots are an easy way to keep greens in the diet, add flavor and nutrition...and feel a little fancy when you sprinkle them around. 

P.S. Pro tip...you could take this same advice for microgreens!! 

December Farm Store Updates

 December Farm Store Updates

The farm store is open all year long and farm fresh goodness is abundant!

Open Tuesday-Friday 9-7 & Saturday 9-2, or by appointment.

What's New or Returning

Golden Milk Mix - a warming turmeric tea blend, made like cocoa, that boasts anti-inflammatory properties and digestive benefits. Restocking this week!

Sore Throat Spray - healing and soothing herbal spray, give the immune system a little boost and help sooth a sore throat. Restocking this week!

Various gift packs!

Salad greens!! - delicious blends of tender mustard greens. Now in regular rotation.

Watch for Winter Wellness CSA Sampler shares!

Great Items for Gifting

Gift packs, Calendula Lotion Bars, Jams, Apple Butter.

Microgreens and jam make a great host gifts!

On the Shelf

Eggs - Very limited ATM.
Microgreens 2oz/4oz  As available: Zesty Mix!, Mizuna (mild), Radish and Arugula

Pea Shoots 2oz/4oz

Sourdough bread   limited!

Applesauce

Apple butter

Apricot Jam - last call!

Elderberry Syrup Kits

Herbal Tinctures: Astragalus, Motherwort, Ashwaganda, Stinging Nettles, Holy Basil, Willow Bark

Sore Throat Spray

Healing Salve gone til next summer!

Golden Milk Mix

Watch For:  new jelly, more herbal wellness items!

Watch For:  our new girl Strawberry!! A gentle giant who joined the farm crew.

November Farm Store Updates

November Farm Store Updates

The farm store is open all year long and farm fresh goodness is abundant!

Open Tuesday-Friday 9-7 & Saturday 9-2, or by appointment.

What's New or Returning

Golden Milk Mix - a warming turmeric tea blend, made like cocoa, that boasts anti-inflammatory properties and digestive benefits.

Sore Throat Spray - healing and soothing herbal spray, give the immune system a little boost and help sooth a sore throat.

Applesauce - back in stock after a little hiatus!

Watch for Winter Wellness CSA Sampler shares!

Great Items for Gifting

Healing Salve, Calendula Lotion Bars, Jams, Apple Butter.

Microgreens and jam make a great host gifts!

On the Shelf

Eggs
Microgreens 2oz/4oz  As available: Zesty Mix!, Mizuna (mild), Radish and Arugula

Pea Shoots 2oz/4oz

Sourdough bread   limited!

Applesauce

Apple butter

Apricot Jam

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam   last call!

Elderberry Syrup Kits

Herbal Tinctures: Astragalus, Motherwort, Ashwaganda, Stinging Nettles, Holy Basil, Willow Bark

Sore Throat Spray

Healing Salve

Golden Milk Mix

Watch For:  new jams, more herbal wellness, salad mix!

Winter Wellness CSA

 ***Winter Wellness CSA Shares are limited! If interested contact me directly to be put on a wait list. We only offer 10 shares each season. One off Samplers Shares are sometimes offered during the winter as well. Organic greens and other farm goods are available 5 days per week at our farm store and at the Winter Mankato Farmers Market, held the 1st and 3rd Saturdays Nov.-March at Bomgaars from 9-Noon.

Winter Wellness CSA 2023

I’ve just marked another trip around the sun, feels like a good time to mark another start to our Winter CSA!

This year the CSA is going to change up a little bit!

Winter Greens CSA is evolving into our Winter Wellness CSA. As always, the highlight is our winter greens! Pea shoots, microgreens and salad mix will be accompanied by canned goods and herbal wellness items. This season the apple harvest was not abundant, so unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll be able to add apple bags, as we do most years.

What's in the Shares? 

Winter Greens Feature – organic pea shoots, zesty microgreens, mustard greens salad mix.

Canned Goods Feature – applesauce, apple butter, jam/jelly, pizza sauce, salsa – with 1-2 items in each share pick up.

Herbal Wellness Items Feature – salves, lotion bar, elderberry syrup kit and more – holistic wellness comes from more than just food.

 

When are the Shares?

Winter Wellness CSA will have 7 pick-ups November—March. We like to start the week before Thanksgiving. Pick ups will look like à Nov(1), Dec(2), Jan(1), Feb(2), Mar(1), by my best estimate. Greens are picked up at the farm store, or the Mankato Winter Farmers Market (ONLY if dates line up). Shares are roughly every several weeks, dependent on the growth of greens. I am better at anticipating this now, but every once and a while I may have to push back a week if growth is slow (clouds and cold and such). Some flexibility must be honored to be a share member.

 

Cost is $240. $140 due up front for reservation, with remaining $100 due by first pick up.

 

Eggs – This year I’m not reserving ahead (it’s all based on the current batch of chickens), but I will take reservations the week of share pick up, as available. Eggs are $6/dozen.

 

How to get a share?

Shares each year are first offered to returning members. If spaces open up then they are offered to folks on the wait list. If any shares need further filling I'll post on social media (rarely happens!). 

 

Thank you!!

 

Brooke 

A Dozen Wonderful Ways to Use Your Apple Butter

Alternative Roots Farm apple butter is made with love, local and organic ingredients. We use only our organic apples, organic spices and it is now made with local honey from Moody Bees Farm. But what should you do with it besides putting it on toast?!

1. Top your oatmeal or pancakes! This is a great way to add some clean-eating sweetness to your breakfast routine.

2. Add it into baked goods. This is a great way to add some subtle apple pie flavor and make a great moist, delicious baked good. Think muffins, pancakes, bread and more!

3. Freeze into ice cubes. Toss the frozen ice cubes into your smoothie for a delicious apple pie flavor! Try it with bananas, almond milk and vanilla protein powder. This is also a great tip for using up apple butter that you aren't going to use up.

4. Spread on sweet potatoes. Dip sweet potato fries! Again, a great clean-eating option.

5. Yogurt topping. Drop a blob of apple butter in your yogurt, maybe add a squirt of Moody Bees Honey and enjoy a bowl of delicious yogurt of breakfast, a snack or healthy dessert! You can always add another dash of cinnamon or cardamom to add flavor and health benefits.

6. Muffin spread. Choose apple butter, instead of regular butter, for your next muffin indulgence. In summer it’s a great way to add flavor to those zucchini muffins. ;)

7. Add to your pork! Drop a dollop on your pork chop or loin.

8. PB & AB. Make a simple sandwich with apple and peanut butter - a double-butter sandwich. I think the kids will like this one!

9. Cottage cheese swirl. Drop a dollop in and swirl it into your cottage cheese.

10. Just eat it. Grab a spoonful of apple butter and enjoy the apple pie flavor. No guilt, just pure joy.

11. Add to roasted nuts. Drizzle over nuts that have been warmed in the oven and enjoy.

12. Top that ice cream! Add some natural goodness to your bowl of ice cream. Feel free to warm it up.

BBQ Bonus tip from a customer! Put a jar of apple butter, a jar of BBQ sauce and an ARF pork roast in the slow cooker, HEAVEN!!!

Made with Organic apples, local honey and organic spices. Apple butter is a clean eating treat!

Worth Reading: "Ugly fruit may pack more nutrition"

Worth repeating. From the article "Ugly fruit may pack more nutrition" - those blemishes on your apples may provide more antioxidants and sugars.

“In an unofficial experiment, Greenman tested scabbed and unscabbed Parma apples...scarred apples had a 2 to 5 percent higher sugar content than unmarred apples from the same tree. More sugar means a higher alcohol content once fermented, producing a tastier hard cider.

But she loves these ugly apples for another reason: They may be more nutritious and have a higher antioxidant content.”

----> When we demand perfect looking, uniform, shippable and shelf-stable foods oftentimes this comes at the cost of less nutritious produce and more food waste. Also, the loss of genetic diversity. Real food has variation, imperfections...and sometimes it's ugly.

“We already suspect this is the case with organic fruits and vegetables. A 2014 review of 343 studies found that organic produce had lower pesticide residue and a 20 to 40 percent higher antioxidant content than conventional produce. Those antioxidants include compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins and carotenoids, all produced by plants as defense mechanisms when they are stressed by pests.”

----> When it comes to organic apples you know you're getting a more nutritious product, because conventional apples are one of the most highly sprayed and contaminated foods, ranked high on the Dirty Dozen list.

“One study showed that an apple covered in scab has more healthy, antioxidant phenolic compounds, called phenylpropanoids, than a scab-free apple peel. Another study showed that apple leaves infected with scab have 10 to 20 percent more phenolic compounds.”

FULL ARTICLE: Ugly fruit may pack more nutrition MPR, April 27, 2016

September Farm Store Update

 

That's right, it's apple season once again and we are up to no good...

Farm fresh this week is fresh, raw apple cider.

We press fresh cider 3-4 times during apple season and it's available until it runs out. So, grab it while it's on the shelf and watch for updates. Use or freeze within 2 weeks of the pressing date.

Apple Updates

It's a less than bountiful apple season. After our early Pristine and Zestar! apples hitting the farm store shelf we haven't been able to stock apples for a couple weeks. We'll be doing our best here this week to bring apples back onto the farm store shelf - watch the socials for updates. The bulk of our apples harvested have gone into our Apple Shares, who make an up front investment in the season. 

We had a bountiful season last year, for which we are grateful, so we see some reduced crop on some more biennial bearers, but we also have had a hard year with pests. Bear with us! Grab apples and cider when you can and know that your support makes a difference to small business owners like ourselves. 

On the Farm Store Shelves

Garlic

Eggs

Raw apple cider

Apples - as available

Applesauce

Jams/Jellies - Apricot NEW, Elderberry Jelly LIMITED, Strawberry Rhubarb, Apple Butter

Elderberry Syrup Kits

Herbal Tincture

Salves - Bug Bite, Healing

Calendula Lotion Bar

More Farm Store Details

Fruits Update!

Plums - Crop came in really nice! Decent crop. There will be some plums at the farm store yet this week and if they do make it to market Saturday there will just be a handful!

Apples - Our early season apples are not bountiful this year, most of them headed into early Apple Shares (benefits of being a CSA member!). This means kind of a slow start to the season! Usually we start cranking up mid-August and go into high gear in September. Feel a little like hurry up and wait right now! Folks grabbed the last of the delicious crabapples and Kindercrisp at market last Saturday.

McIntosh and Cortland coming up! Watch the socials for updates on farm store stocking and market lineups.

We are picking over 40 varieties of apples! Much more goodness to come!!

Apricots & Elderberries - Grab an Apricot Jam! Elderberry Jelly is a new seasonal item!

BACK TO MARKET - Find us Saturdays 8-12 at the Mankato Farmers Market in the Best Buy parking lot, through October 14.

Fruit Update

Apricots - done for the season! These aren't predictable, given their early bloom, SO, we'll see them again...when we see them! Apricot Jam will continue!

Raspberries - done for the season! We're hoping the patch recovers for a bountiful crop next year! An 80% crop loss, plus drought, made for a short season. We'll be mad rabbit hunters this coming winter...

Blackberries - a good, small start to a new crop! expect more in years to come!

Coming...

Plums - not looking like a big crop, so watch for updates. I may take some of the small crop for jam/jelly, as that was a hit 2 years ago!

Apples - getting started in August!!! Apple butter should be back in stock by September!!

Pears - a small crop like last year, perhaps, also still getting started!

BACK TO MARKET - August 12th is the plan! Saturday in Mankato only - 8-12 in the Best Buy parking lot!

Sowing Seeds: Celebrating Local Foods & Lost Skills

Sowing Seeds: Celebrating Local Foods & Lost Skills

Sunday, July 23^rd - 11:00am-3:00pm - Alternative Roots Farm, Madelia

Together let's plant the seeds of a more sustainable and resilient future! Join the Minnesota River Chapter SFA for a fun and memorable afternoon that’s all about celebrating local foods and rediscovering traditional self-sufficiency skills! 

Sowing Seeds: Celebrating Local Foods & Lost Skills is coming up on Sunday, July 23^rd. The event runs from 11:00am-3:00pm and features kids activities, a food truck, pop-up farmers market, 10 skill share demos, organic farm tour, and a flax-to-linen demonstration. 

Skill shares range from Canning 101 to Mushroom Prep & Preservation to Seed Starting 101 and more. The event is being hosted by Alternative Roots Farm, a certified organic farm focused on organic perennial fruit, pastured heritage pigs and more. 

Tickets: $10 for adults, kids under 12 free. Reservation only, no walkups please. 

Parking: Gravel road. 

Join the Facebook event for more updates, full schedule and information. 

Register HERE. 

Volunteer HERE.

Brooke Knisley, Alternative Roots Farm

Mary Fischer, K & M Fisher Farm

 

 

July Farm Store Updates

July Farm Store Updates!

July brings an uptick to the season, more bounty and blessings from the land!

Fruits

We have been berry picking! Daily raspberry picking is now added to the schedule - get them while they're available! Limited inventory, and no bulk orders, this year, due to large crop loss (rabbits). You may be lucky enough to snag a rare container of black cap wild foraged raspberries!

Fruits will just continue to roll in over the next month - apricots are blushing, plums will be on their way and NEW to the shelf will be blackberries this year!

We are also truly on the cusp of apple season, as we pick our earliest varieties in late July.

More In Store

Garden produce is coming in and more selection will be available over the coming weeks. Kale is in stock. Watch for cucumbers, green beans, celery and tomatoes.

NEW Bug Bite Salve is in stock!! Wild harvested and hand crafted, this salve is sure to cool and soothe itchy bug bites.

In Stock: Eggs, kale, seasonal garden produce, herbal healing salve, bug bite salve, calendula lotion bars, herbal tinctures, applesauce, apply syrup, strawberry-rhubarb jam, herbal bug spray, cool it spray, raspberries, black caps.

Sowing Seeds: Celebrating Local Foods and Lost Skills

Register HERE

Volunteer HERE

Facebook event HERE

We can't wait to see you at the farm for this unique event!! It's going to be a great day for the whole family - kids activities, food truck, skills demos, farm tour, market shopping! Hope you can make it!

 

New Item: Bug Bite Salve

New at the farm store - Bug Bite Salve!

Soothing, cooling relief for itchy bug bites. Plantain (yes, that weed in your yard), is the star here, with a little help from yarrow and comfrey. Pain relieving, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Plantain also has a drawing action, pulling out what shouldn’t be there - we use it also for stubborn splinters.

Calendula Lotion Bars and fiiiiinally back in stock!! Not my only lotion, but it’s my fav!!

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

Fall 2023 Apple Shares Update!

Sign up is opening now for returning Apple Share CSA members! Return members always get first dibs, then folks on our wait list...then, if any shares remain, we open to the general public. 

What is an Apple Share?

Our Apple Share CSA is a way to connect deeper to your food source and support you local farmer, while getting the BEST Organic and local apples at the best price of the season. Our members routinely tell us the flavor of store apples just does not compare. 

Each week enjoy a 4 lb bag of fresh & local apples, for 6 or 8 weeks. Each bag sports 1-2 varieties of our organic apples. A mix of standard, lesser known and old heritage types. We'll send out a short weekly newsletter weekly.

Full deets on Apple Shares

Apple Shares are a core part of our farm! This will be our 11th season!!! Last year we served about 75 Apple Share members.

The 2023 Season

Despite an interesting winter. and the boatload of rabbit damage we incurred at the home orchard, we are seeing a good amount of apples on the trees. We are also seeing increased pest pressure this season. A new pest at the Lake Crystal orchard, in larger volume. For this reason we are going to open fewer shares to begin with this season. With how dry it has been this year we expect that apples may not fully size up, as with our 2021 crop. Flip side, crops that are stressed tend to put out more sugars and antioxidants as defense! Building flavor and nutrition (and higher ABV in our hard cider)!

We continue to partner with Cedar Crate Farm for their Apple Share add-on to their CSA, as well as Nature's Pantry Farm for an apple share pick up location. This year Straight Up Outside farm will also be a pick up location option (provided we get enough shares for that spot). We love that our Apple Share program gives us an opportunity to build community - direct with our members and our farmer friends!

Other Notes

Regarding other farm fruits...Apple Share members get first dibs on other Fruit Shares that may come up. We see this as a future part of the farm, when more fruits mature with more dependable harvests. In 2021 we were able to offer Plum Shares!

Raspberries - large crop loss, due to rabbits, harvest will be available at the farm store.

Blackberries - first year in more abundance

Plums - looking like a decent crop

Rhubarb - season has ended

Pears - future crop, maybe a small amount at the farm store

Apricots - looking like our first crop this year!

Elderberries - looking like a decent year! Small season.

We have young pear trees, more plums trees, 50 more blackberries, 60 new raspberries (will double the patch) and 50 new rhubarb plants that will have the farm bursting at the seams with more bounty in future years. Plus, 5 cherry trees, but those may just be personal (and cider) trees.

The Slow Down (part 1)

It occurred to me on a recent yesterday that the Universe is trying to send me a message.

"Slow down," She says gently.

Cairn, Grand Staircase Escalante, 2018.

This is a hard message to hear as a farmer (of diverse directions), as a mother of a 4 year old, lover of lists and multi-tasking, a chronic "over-projector" who routinely falls into "speed farming."

A couple weeks ago I was barefoot at the park, being present, with Leo and I ended up with a piece of glass in my foot, which only was removed after 10 days. Working with the drawing action of plantain, and the care of my husband, it finally came out. A few days after I was moving like normal again I jammed my foot hard and my middle toe turned into a little purple sausage. It's healing, slowly.

Stump, Grand Staircase Escalante, 2018.

A couple months ago, in seeking some baseline data for myself as I age, I discovered thyroid and hormone imbalances. While I continue to learn about these imbalances, and how to work with them, it has become clear that stress management needs to play a larger role in our lives - in our farming. Our bodies know how to heal, if we don't get in the way, but we have to head these cues.

Aged tree, Grand Staircase Escalante, 2018.

Then I start seeing this messaging about slowing down...and circle back to the stress management. The Universe reinforcing my intuition. The Universe has our backs, if we are willing to listen.

I have little doubt that stress has played a part in my imbalances. Our work, with the farm is stressful. I think 12 years in, we are getting better at managing it, but at difference seasons it can be a challenge.

Having another kiddo has helped - as kids do (or should), they instinctually ask you to slow down. We're also just better at calling it quits earlier in the day, or just saying f*ck it, let's go canoeing. 

But there's always quite a list to get done. 

BUT there is always going to be a list to get done. 

Feel that?

.

.

One of my mantras this Summer has been, "I'm getting it all done, one thing at a time." Our (mostly) weekly farm meetings have been a positive addition to our routine; it gives us space to meal plan and reflect on our flow of progress and accomplishments, alongside our list of to-do. Taking a little time to write, another tug from the Universe, has been nice as well.

Despite this mantra I know I can't do it all, but I'll work my hardest and get ALL done what I'm meant to.

.

“I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do

With your one wild and precious life?”

Excerpt from The Summer Day, by Mary Oliver 

.

from there flowed The Slow Down (part 2)

.

P.S. I don't share these parts of my life to call to pity our hard work, or this current health challenge, I share because I feel the resonance with words other people need to hear to free up something in their own lives. It's hard to explain. I share to create more opening and connection within our communities. To perhaps call to a different way of thinking beyond how our culture tells to think. And because it's important to see the reality behind what goes into our food system, for reals. Thanks for being here. Keep livin' it up.

“I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass..."

Poem: Sometimes I Wake

Sometimes I Wake

Sometimes the sun wakes before me now,
making me feel behind on the day.
I do treasure the slow dark mornings of winter so, but
I'll take the invitation of early dew to bare feet and
growing light on the horizon. In knowing that Mother Nature too,
must enjoy some season of early mornings - exhalted
by birdsong and first blooms.

Sometimes I wake before the sun, 
making me feel in tune with the universe.
Coming alive with the day, in a way
intimate
and deeply biological.
Long awake chickens cluck and crow
amidst the robins and thrashers calls - 
more in tune with this cycle than we humans will ever be, 

but all
a part of the same intricate web of life.