Green Gate Farms: Farm Stand Open, Winter CSA Week 6!
Farm News:
- Farm Stand Open: Saturdays, 10-12, beside Big Red Barn, eastside farm, 8310 Canoga Ave., Austin, 78724. For touchless pick-up, place your orders here.
- Tater Planting Time! Come one, come all: Saturday, February 20th, 9-12, you're invited to help plant red, blue and yellow potatoes. All ages welcome at our River Farm.
- Adult Farm Camp, Sunday, Feb. 14, 9-12: Spend the morning getting your homesteading, gardening and farming questions answered by the founders of Green Gate Farms. You’ll get to try out tools and make new friends. Bring your sweetie for a couples discount.
- Spring CSAs for Veggies and Flowers Sign up has begun, don’t dally! https://greengatefarms.net/shop
- Flower Power Workshares: Learn how to cultivate organic cut flowers this spring. Farmer Erin is putting her team together for the season...Apply here
- We're hiring! Seeking a farm manager and seasonal workers. See www.greengatefarms.net
- Green Gate Gift Cards Available Need something special for your friends and family? Give the gift of fresh, organic food! We have Farm Bucks for all your celebrations.
A Polar Vortex Is Coming!
By Farmer Kalina
I’m sure you’ve seen the news. This week in Texas we are expecting a polar vortex. Five nights in a row below freezing, and the possibility of a whole frozen day. Frankly, that’s a recipe that some of our crops won’t survive. While the idea of another snow day this winter sounds like fun, the reality of this freezing weather is very serious for the farm. After a brief moment of panic, and a quick thought of just leaving the state all together (I live in an RV and am not looking forward to chilly toes this weekend), I jumped into action. Skip and I walked the fields yesterday and made a game plan.
As farmers we have tricks up our sleeves to try and save our crops from too much frost damage. We use cloth row covers to protect the plants from frozen wind and we make sure everything is well watered. I have moved our more delicate spring starts, such as tomatoes and peppers, into our office with the heater on. Today and tomorrow we will harvest everything we know will keep for next week, and then we will tuck all our crops under row cover, and hope for the best. Cross your fingers for us.
As I’ve mentioned before, the ability to adapt is one of the most important lessons I have learned from farming. How to react to a difficult situation, how to plan and move forward, and how to look at all the pieces of our resource puzzle and arrange them for the best outcome, these are the skills that make us good farmers. We are doing our best to continue to provide our community with beautiful produce, evan with this unbelievable weather pattern.
Be sure to come to our Saturday farmers' market to load up on delicate goodies that may not survive -chard, herbs, and more. This will be a good week for cooking!
Winter CSA - Week 6 Veggie Share
- Broccoli Rabe
- Brussel Sprouts
- Swiss Chard
- Collard Greens
- Green Garlic
- Beets
- Lettuce
- Cauliflower
Food and Flower Snapshot
- Veggie CSA Winter season, 10 weeks: January 4th - March 10th
- $25 each week, prorated
- 5 pick-up locations, Wed/Sat; no deliveries
- Additional vegetables, herbs, flowers and specialty items (e.g., pickled okra, plants for your garden, etc.) posted every Wednesday on Green Gate’s private Facebook page; touchless pickup at our intown farm is on Saturdays, 10-noon. (8310 Canoga Ave., Austin 78724)
- Volunteers welcome at both farms. More information on our website.
- Veggie CSA shares still available -- tell your pals!
- Got a question about your CSA share? Contact your Community Organizer, the volunteer who manages your pickup site and handles any issues that might arise.
Recipes From Kalina:
Chili Honey Roasted Brussel Sprouts - This is one of my favorite ways to cook brussel sprouts! Great served with other veggies over rice!
https://reciperunner.com/chili-honey-lime-roasted-brussels-sprouts/Beet Hummus - Use your beets this week to make this creamy and delicious hummus! Try swapping the garlic cloves for some of your green garlic for a sharper and fresher garlic flavor!
https://www.acouplecooks.com/heart-beet-hummus-with-kohlrabi-sticks-recipe/Buffalo Cauliflower - Spice things up with this fun buffalo cauliflower recipe!
https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/buffalo-cauliflower-bites/