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Cromwell Valley CSA Newsletter |
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For those who want to participate in work hours and end with a potluck and bonfire, you can commit to work one or more of the following Fridays from 4 to 7 PM: There are three Friday potluck options left: · July 30 · August 13 · August 27
For those who can’t make the Friday shifts, there will be work sessions on the following pickup days from 3 to 6 PM. These shifts are work hours only and there will not be a potluck following them. · Tues., Aug. 10 · Sat., Aug. 21 To sign up for one or more sessions, please email info@cvcsa.org. Each session will have 20 spots, which will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. |
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(Picture courtesy of Flickr user thebittenword.com.) |
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CSA Work Hours Reminder |
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July 25, 2010 |
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Cromwell Valley Park offers a number of fun and educational workshops throughout the season. Check out the full calendar online. We’ve highlighted a few of the upcoming workshops below. Sign up now to reserve your spot for any of these fun activities down on the farm! For any programs not indicated as sponsored by CVCSA, you can contact the park office at 410.887.2503 or email info@cromwellvalleypark.org for more information or to reserve your spot. Unless otherwise noted, payment must be made to CVP within 5 business days of your reservation, or the reservation will be yielded to the waiting list. All payments are donations and non-refundable unless CVP cancels the program. Make checks payable to: Cromwell Valley Park Council (CVPC). Mailing Address: Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Baltimore, MD 21234. For programs sponsored by CVCSA, email molly.amster@gmail.com to reserve your spot or get more information. Workshop details are below: —————————————— WEDNESDAY JULY 28 Become a bone detective! By examining bones we can determine what animal they belong to and a lot about the animal’s way of life. Join us as we take a look at the bones of different animals and discover what bones belong to which animal All ages. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. —————————————— SATURDAY JULY 31 Groups & individuals are invited to work with the CVP Trail Club to maintain & improve trails in the Park. Help clear trails & prevent erosion to keep our trails in tiptop condition. Ages 13+. Reservations NOT required. —————————————— SATURDAY AUGUST 7 Raccoons, skunks, and opossum have all adapted to living around people. What are their special adaptations, character traits, and behavior patterns? Learn this and more as we compare pelts, skulls, and prints. All ages. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. —————————————— SUNDAY AUGUST 8 The Cromwell Valley Park Council invites children of all ages to the Chocolate Chip Cookie Children’s Theater to discover the world of bears through Thirst ‘n’ Howl Musical Productions delightful retelling of this ageless tale. When Papa Bear loses his job at the Harry and Jerry Merry Berry Factory, Mama and Baby Bears take the Papa Bear and the audience on an interactive scavenger hunt through the neighborhood to introduce him to jobs he might be able to do. While they are away, Goldy explores their house, discovering how different it is from her home. Songs include “Get on a Bus”, “The Farmer’s Nose Knows” and “The Mailman Delivers”. This lively musical journey captures the children’s imagination for role playing a worker in their neighborhood and inspires appreciation of workers children meet every day. It also provides a background on bears that live in Maryland. Beginning at 5 PM, performers will assist children in making their own bears masks to take home. —————————————— TUESDAY AUGUST 10 Are snakes really slimy? Do we have venomous snakes in our area? Learn the truth about snakes. Program includes live native snakes, snake eggs, shedding, skeleton, and hike to snake habitats. All ages. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. —————————————— SATURDAY AUGUST 14 We are going on an insect hunt to learn first-hand about those amazing 6-legged critters. Ages 5 to 12 with adult. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. —————————————— SUNDAY AUGUST 15 Come learn how to use clues to figure out which animals call Cromwell Valley Park home. We’ll learn which animals live in the Park and how to recognize their tracks, scat, sounds and more. Of course we will also put our new skills to work! All ages. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. —————————————— SUNDAY AUGUST 15 Join Hanne Blank, writer & cook who learned to can at her grandmother’s knee, to learn the basics of hot water bath canning and freezer storage. Imagine fragrant, fresh tasting peach pie...in February! You will learn everything you need to know to ensure safe, hygienic & delicious canned goods. Ages 15+. Reservations required. For more info visit www.cvcsa.org. Please contact the CSA directly to reserve your spot - info@cvcsa.org $30 CSA shareholders/$35 non-shareholders. |
Highlights in this issue:· Work hours · T-shirt logos · Food profile · Upcoming workshops |
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Upcoming Workshops |
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Sign up for one of many summer workshops at Cromwell Valley Park or CVCSA and learn while having fun! |
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(Picture courtesy of Flickr user thebittenword.com.) |
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New T-shirts, new logo |
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We have had several requests regarding CVCSA t-shirts, and since we're all out of last year's design, we've decided to let members decide which logo they prefer before we get the shirts printed. To vote, check out Option 1 and Option 2 and then email your vote to info@cvcsa.org by Saturday, July 31st. I know there are several graphic designers in our midst, as well, so if you have an idea for a new design, feel free to submit it to info@cvcsa.org by July 31st and we’ll have a second round of votes with the winner of this week’s vote going up against the new submissions. |
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Food Profile: Raspberries & Blackberries |
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These succulent staples of summer are technically not berries at all but “aggregate fruits” or clusters of several tiny fruits. Botanically, blackberries and raspberries are in the rose family (rosaceae) in the genus (rubus). Both are tasty toppers for ice cream or fillings for pie and are so similar that they are commonly confused. However, there are some key differences. Blackberries are plumper, juicier and a bit tarter. Raspberries are hollow inside and have little hair-like fibers. Both have seeds, but blackberries seeds are larger. Blackberries are a deep purple--nearly black--color. Raspberries may be red or the same black/purple color. Both grow on thorny bushes called brambles, which grow wild and are commercially cultivated.
History Blackberries are found all over the world. They are native to Asia, Europe, North and South America. This bramble has been cultivated in Europe for at least 2,000 years, where it was used for everything from food and medicine to protective hedges. Red raspberries are indigenous to Asia Minor and North America. However, evidence of raspberry cultivation at Roman forts in Britain suggests that the Romans spread this bramble throughout Europe. By the late 1700s, the British were exporting red raspberry plants to the New World. Today, the top raspberry-producing country is Russia, which produces 24 percent of the world’s raspberries. Black raspberries are only indigenous to North America and are most abundant in the eastern part. Commercial cultivation of black raspberries is much less common than red raspberries or blackberries. Boysenberries and loganberries and some other commercially grown brambles are actually hybrids of blackberries and red raspberries.
Uses Blackberries and raspberries are delicious eaten plain, sprinkled on top of cereal or desserts, mixed with other fruits and berries or in any of an endless number of recipes. Just a few ideas of the things to make with blackberries and raspberries: jam, jelly, wine, pie, cobbler, coffee cake, cheesecake, scones, bread, sauce, salad dressings, smoothies and syrup. Raspberry leaves have been used in folk medicine for wounds, colic, colds and childbirth. Raspberry leaf tea is a treatment of diarrhea.
Nutrition Blackberries and raspberries are rich in vitamin C and many antioxidants, such as ellagic acid, tannins and anthocyanin (which has anti-inflammatory qualities). Both contain vitamin A, particularly blackberries, and are good source of fiber. While low calorie (about 60 calories per cup), they are high in sugar and carbohydrates (about 15 grams per cup).
Picking When picked, ripe blackberries should detach from their stems. If the stems are still attached then the berry is not fully ripe. Raspberries, when picked, leave their inner core on the plant. Because they are hollow, raspberries are particularly delicate during picking.
Storage and Freezing Store blackberries and raspberries in loosely covered shallow containers inside the refrigerator. Raspberries are best eaten within 1-2 days, while blackberries may last 4-5 days. Do not wash before storing and do not store in bags. When freezing, berries should be completely dry. Either wait to wash them until after defrosting or wash and completely air dry berries before freezing. Using a towel to dry blackberries and especially raspberries may damage them. To freeze, spread berries on a jelly roll pan or tray and place in freezer overnight. Pour frozen berries into a freezer bag and seal, pushing out all excess air. Immediately return to freezer.
Recipes About.com Southern Food - Blackberry and Raspberry Recipe Index |
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Go camping without leaving town! Join other families at the Willow Grove Farm for a Family Campout. |
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A note about U-pick crops |
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Please keep in mind that U-Pick shares are determined by the amount of berries that need to be picked in order to keep the plants producing. The staff cannot control members taking beyond their designated share and also cannot assist in the finding of berries. The share is the maximum amount of berries a member may take should they find them. While there may not be many berries now, as Andrea mentioned in her farm update last week, the current raspberry picking is playing an important role in making way for more production during the normal raspberry season (late summer). We’re likely to see larger U-Pick shares later in the season, but as more berries become available, please remember that U-Pick shares are an “honor system” of sorts. It may seem tempting to take as many berries as you can while the bushes are producing in full force, but if you take more than your share, you are very likely shorting members who may come after you. As a community, keep in mind that your fellow farm members would like the opportunity to share in the bounties of the raspberry (and eventually, blackberry) bushes, too. |