10 Weeks In!
Hello Followers!!
Apologies for not getting out a week 9 newsletter. We were focused on gathering materials for our donation for the silent auction at the Rotary Concert benefitting our beloved Philipsburg Library! It was a fun event and congrats to our long-time member and friend Kim Chabal for getting our FIRST 2026 CSA SHARE!
🥕 What’s in the Box:
A quick list of what you might find in your box this week.
Head Lettuce
Salad Mix
Large Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Kale/Swiss Chard
Thyme/Sage Mix
Carrots
Corn
🌿 Featured Item: Tomatoes
We're beyond excited that Lisa Stravakas from Renew Wellness has decided to contribute her wealth of knowledge on the health benefits of eating and utilizing fresh produce and herbs. Thank you Lisa!!
TOMATOES
Tomatoes have an astringent taste and dryness dominate the body and emotions in late summer, just like in the New Mexico desert. In contrast, tomatoes are plump and juicy with a hint of sweetness. And they ripen just in time to restore your virility and juiciness in the dry season.
Tomatoes are also sour which means they:
- Rehydrate your salivary glands
- Moisten your mouth
- Stimulate your taste buds which tend towards blandness in early autumn.
Heat Up Your Digestion
Tomatoes are strongly acidic, making them both stimulating and sour. For some they are even irritating. Their sourness not only hydrates salivary glands, but your entire digestive tract as well, as their acidity heats up your digestion and makes your digestive glands juicy. On the other hand, a tomato’s high acidity may also irritate your GI tract. For this reason, those with GI inflammation should avoid tomatoes, tomato sauces and sun-dried tomatoes.
Also, be aware that the more tomatoes are cooked, (as in tomato sauces and sun-dried tomatoes) the more these irritating qualities become concentrated, pungent and hot. For die-hard tomato fanatics, such as my Italian American family, a pinch of baking soda in the sauce will neutralize some of these irritating acids, but also much of the flavor.
Note: The flesh of tomatoes is easy to digest, but their skins and seeds may be irritating and too difficult to digest for some. In that case, tomatoes are easily skinned and seeded.
And don’t forget cherry tomatoes, which are generally less irritating. They actually cool your blood on hot summer days, raw tomatoes can cool your blood as well. Their high vitamin A content clears liver heat and supports detoxification. So go ahead, pick a juicy tomato off the vine and bite in.
As a member of the nightshade family, tomatoes also have a funkiness. These funky chemicals can ultimately irritate the body, especially the joints.
Use caution with tomatoes if you have arthritis, are easily irritated, or have an aggressive, hotblooded temperament (Pitta).
On the other hand, tomatoes are high in lycopene a potent antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic. They are high in vitamin A, a Pitta pacifying substance that benefits the liver, blood and eyes. They are also high in vitamins C and E.
🍽️ Recipe of the Week:
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata
https://kitchenmoms.com/heirloom-tomato-bliss-salad-with-creamy-burrata/#google_vignette
Ingredients
4 medium heirloom tomatoes, assorted colors (red, yellow, green)
1 ball of fresh burrata cheese
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
Optional: Flaky sea salt for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Tomatoes: Wash and dry the heirloom tomatoes. Cut them into wedges or thick slices, depending on your preference. Arrange them on a large serving platter or individual plates for a beautiful presentation.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and honey until well combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Add the Burrata: Tear the burrata into large pieces and place them strategically over the heirloom tomatoes. This will allow the creamy goodness to seep into the salad.
Dress the Salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing generously over the tomatoes and burrata. Make sure to pivot your wrist for even coverage.
Finish with Herbs and Nuts: Sprinkle the torn basil leaves over the salad, followed by the toasted pine nuts for added crunch.
Serve: Optionally, add a pinch of flaky sea salt on top for an extra burst of flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy the vibrant colors and rich flavors!
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes | Servings: 4-6
📣 Farm News & Notes:
Over the last week we've been plugging away at basic farm tasks and trying to find a rhythm and routine with it all. We've seemed to have pinned down our lettuce successions, figuring out the correct amount and timing for everything. We're bummed that we weren't able to provide our salad mix this past week, but are confident we've figured out how to have the perfect quantities to fulfill it's high demand.
All the cucumbers have been planted, although we are not sure how many will survive the transplant. There will probably be a pause in cucumber production as they adjust to their new environment. Fingers crossed!!
In exciting news, the Moon River Ranch Chickens are producing well and we hope to have available eggs for add-ons to your veggie shares for the last half of the season! They've been an absolute blast to have around and are the most spoiled chickens, getting all of our daily veggie scraps and aphid-infested lettuce that was thrown out.
In MORE exciting news. we are bringing in a few extras this week from the Montana Growers Cooperative to bulk things up while we wait for are next round of veggies to come around. You will find carrots and sweet corn in your shares this week. All things we hope to provide in the future with the help of our new green house and soil beds.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
COME VISIT US!!
Whether your a CSA member or not, you can always come by our pop-up market stands!
