Welcome to King's Hill Farm!

B Week Box 2 2010

This is a B week so, Meadowood Drive, Woodcroft Circle, Hybrid Fitness, Golds Gym and Lewis St Platteville(after 3:30 pm) will be this Friday June 25 after 2 pm. Oak Park Farmers Market for Oak Park members 7 am Saturday June 26, and Independence Park Farmers Market and Glenwood Sunday Market 9 am June 27. Come as early as you can to insure quality and freshness. UNFOLD boxes by pressing from the middle towards the wall of box, seem will fold back and disconnect , then flatten and keep reusable.

What’s in the box?!

• Green Romaine Lettuce – bag and store in refrigerator. Rich in chlorophyll, iron and vitamins A and C.

• Broccoli – cooked lightly high in Vitamins A, C, calcium, potassium, and iron and has a special enzyme sulforaphane to boost health. Soak florets in salted water to remove any hidden pests before preparing. Steam max. 7min’s.
• Cauliflower – offers significant vegetable protein as well as vitamins A, B-complex, C and E and a variety of minerals if cooked lightly. Soak like broccoli, steam whole head for max. 20 min’s and cut up for max of 10 min’s.

• Green Top Spring Turnips -bag and store in refrigerator. Use leaves soon. good source for vitamin C, potassium and calcium. Delicious steamed and served plain with butter or add to stir fry or grate into salad.
• Bunched Carrots – Greens can be used like parsley, high in Vitamin A and beta carotene, fiber, calcium, potassium and other trace minerals. Best raw! Seperate greens for storage. Greens can be dried – hung upside down out of sunlight for later use. Carrots store in bag in refrigerator.

• Cilantro – put plants standing in shallow water in fridge. Add fresh to soups, stews, and stir fries; toss into green salad; nice addition to potato salads. Enjoy within a few days.

• Rainbow Chard– store in bag in refrigerator, best to use within 4 days. high in chlorophyll, vitamins A, E and C, raw or slightly cooked. In salads, steamed or boiled for under 10 minutes.

• Pak Choi – bag and store. Thick juicy stalks and bright green leaves. small amounts of vitamins A and C along with fiber and very few calories. Great in a Stir Fry! Remove outer leaves only before use because they protect the moisture and quality. Will store for more than 2 weeks.
• Napa Cabbage – use like Pac Choi, has a Romaine Lettuce look but different. Can be added to salad but great in stir fry. Lasts a long time, peel outer layer before use.

• Snow Peas ½ lb bag – store in refrigerator, excellent source of vitamins A,C, K and the B’s. High in minerals iron, potassium, and phosphorous. High- protein, carbohydrate and fiber. Eat raw whole or chopped in salad or plain. Cook for under 2 min’s in stir fry. Enjoy within a few days.

• Mini White Onions – no bag in refrigerator. Onions which shallots are included also strengthen the bodies health. Great with every meal. Some people are sensitive to raw onions (as am I) but they are delicious and easily digested cooked till translucent.

• Baby Leeks – Flat leaf, mild onion.
• Garlic – is a wonderful probiotic, boosts immune system and increases health. For long time storage, mince into airtight container and cover with olive oil. (though I am sure this will go fast in the kitchen anyways!)

• Purple and/or Green Kohlrabi with green tops. Store leaves and globe separately. Use greens within 5 days, globes will last for over a month. Bag Leaves, store all in refrigerator. High in vitamins A and C and minerals potassium and calcium. Use greens like kale or chard, can remove rib if you want. Peel globe and add to salad, stir fry, blanch, steam, mash, or even stuff! They are very fun, yummy and versatile!
• SHIITAKES! - special treat – decreases fat and cholesterol in the blood and helps discharge the excess residues of accumulated animal protein. Good source of germanium which improves cellular oxygenation and enhances immunity. Wash well before preparing to cook. Slice, dice or grill whole. Add to stir fry (great with Napa Cabbage, Snow Peas and Garlic)

On the farm this week.

Still wet!! But there seems to be sunshine in the near future long enough to catch up in the field. Staying busy and trying to balance by taking second breakfast, lunch and dinner breaks! We avoided working past 8 pm this week!! Time to celebrate

Newsletter Week A Box 2

Week A Box 2!!

This is an A week so, Manna Cafe, Vom Fass, UW Vet School, and On Farm pick up will be this Friday June 18 after 2 pm. Mineral Point Market 8:30 am, Green City Market 7 am Saturday June 19, and Chicago Botanic Garden Farmers Market 9 am June 20. Come as early as you can to insure quality and freshness. Please bring two bags with you. UNFOLD boxes at seems to flatten and keep reusable.

What’s in the box?!

• Green Bib Lettuce – bag and store in refrigerator.Rich in chlorophyll, iron and vitamins A and C.

• Baby Bulb Fennel – bag and store in refrigerator. Smells like licorice, the leaf can be used as a garnish or added to salad dressing, replace for dill in most recipes nice addition to desserts. Can also make an ice tea. Steep in just boiled water for 5 minutes and add ice. Bulb can be grated into stir fry and salads.Nutritionally high in vitamins A and calcium, potassium and iron; low in calories.

• Rainbow Chard– store in bag in refrigerator, best to use within 4 days.high in chlorophyll, vitamins A, E and C, raw or slightly cooked. In salads, steamed or boiled for under 10 minutes.

• Pak Choi – bag and store. Thick juicy stalks and bright green leaves. small amounts of vitamins A and C along with fiber and very few calories. Great in a Stir Fry! Remove outer leaves only before use because they protect the moisture and quality. Will store for more than 2 weeks.

• Radishes – bag and store in refrigerator.root - traces of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. Leaf – excellent source of vitamins A, C and the B’s. blood cleansers and digestive aids. Add to mixed salad or grate and add your favorite salad dressing. Stir fry or steam, as well.
• Spring Turnips -bag and store in refrigerator. good source for vitamin C, potassium and calcium. Delicious steamed and served plain with butter or add to stir fry or grate into salad.

• Snow Peas ½ lb bag – store in refrigerator. excellent source of vitamins A,C, K and the B’s. High in minerals iron, potassium, and phosphorous. High- protein, carbohydrate and fiber. Eat raw whole or chopped in salad or plain. Cook for under 2 min’s in stir fry. Enjoy within a few days.

• Shelling Peas – 1 lb bag – store in refrigerator. Blanch or steam for 2-4 min’s add to dishes or eat plain with butter to enjoy the flavor. To freeze, shell then blanch for 2 min’s. Rinse under cold water, drain well and pack into airtight containers such as ziplock bags.
• Mini White Onions – no bag in refrigerator. Onions which shallots are included also strengthen the bodies health. Great with every meal. Some people are sensitive to raw onions (as am I) but they are delicious and easily digested cooked till translucent.
• Green Onions – fresh onions, tops can be used.
• Baby Leeks – Flat leaf, mild onion.
• Purple and/or Green Kohlrabi with green tops. Store leaves and globe separately. Use greens within 5 days, globes will last for over a month. Bag Leaves, store all in refrigerator. High in vitamins A and C and minerals potassium and calcium. Use greens like kale or chard, can remove rib if you want. Peel globe and add to salad, stir fry, blanch, steam, mash, or even stuff! They are very fun, yummy and versatile!
• Potatoes – no bag in warmer drawer of refrigerator. Potatoes source of complex carbohydrates and minerals, particularly potassium with skin on. They form a complete protein when consumed with grain, dairy or meat.To versatile to list how many ways to eat potatoes.

On the farm this week.

We are still really wet! We need to ask and receive some dry days in a row to catch up. Fortunately, we were ahead of the game before the rains began but we will be hand planting the winter squash and pumpkins because we are running out of time and they are starting to flower in the greenhouse! Otherwise we may have a hiccup (a break in successions) in lettuce, but all else is still going as planned. We have some very healthy looking melons!! Very exciting! Also, the raspberries are beginning to ripen, even more exciting!!

B Week Box 1 2010

Newsletter Week B Box 1

This is a B week so, Meadowood Drive, Woodcroft Circle, Hybrid Fitness, Golds Gym and Lewis St Platteville will be this Friday June 11 after 2 pm. Oak Park Farmers Market for Oak Park members 7 am Saturday June 12, and Independence Park Farmers Market and Glenwood Sunday Market 9 am June 13. Come as early as you can to insure quality and freshness. Please bring two bags with you. UNFOLD boxes by pressing from the middle towards the wall of box, seem will fold back and disconnect , then flatten and keep reusable. DO NOT TEAR OPEN, PLEASE OH PLEASE.

What’s in the box?!

• Red Leaf Lettuce – bag and store in refrigerator. Rich in chlorophyll, iron and vitamins A and C.

• Leaf Fennel – bag and store in refrigerator. Smells like licorice, the leaf can be used as a garnish or added to salad dressing, replace for dill in most recipes nice addition to desserts. Can also make an ice tea. Steep in just boiled water for 5 minutes and add ice.Nutritionally high in vitamins A and calcium, potassium and iron; low in calories.

• Spinach – store in refrigeratorhigh in chlorophyll, vitamins A and C, raw or slightly cooked. Does inhibit calcium absorption. In salads, steamed or boiled for under 10 minutes.

• Cilantro – put plants standing in shallow water in fridge. Cilantro Pesto!!
  

  Add fresh to soups, stews, and stir fries; toss into green salad; nice addition to potato salads. Enjoy within a few days.

• Radishes – bag and store in refrigeratorroot - traces of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. Leaf – excellent source of vitamins A, C and the B’s. blood cleansers and digestive aids.Add to mixed salad or grate and add your favorite salad dressing. Stir fry or steam, as well.
• Rhubarb -bag and store in refrigeratorhigh in vitamins A and C and many minerals, particularly calcium. Blood purifier and digestive aid.Dice into salads, hot or cold cereal raw for tart flavor (I LOVE Rhubarb).

  Chop Rhubarb, sweeten with sugar or honey and bake 30 min at 375.

  Simple Sauce: Chop Stems into 1” chunks, cook in small amount of water with sweetener of your choice to taste. When fibrous stalks become stringy and mushy, done.

  Can be frozen raw as well.

• Snap Peas ½ lb bag – store in refrigeratorexcellent source of vitamins A,C, K and the B’s. High in minerals iron, potassium, and phosphorous. High- protein, carbohydrate and fiber.Eat raw whole or chopped in salad or plain. Cook for under 2 min’s in stir fry.

  Enjoy within a few days.

• Shelling Peas – 1 lb bag – store in refrigerator. Blanch or steam for 2-4 min’s add to dishes or eat plain with butter to enjoy the flavor. To freeze, shell then blanch for 2 min’s. Rinse under cold water, drain well and pack into airtight containers such as ziplock bags.
• Yellow Onions – no bag in refrigerator
• Shallots - no bag in refrigeratorOnions which shallots are included also strengthen the bodies health. Great with every meal. Some people are sensitive to raw onions (as am I) but they are delicious and easily digested cooked till translucent.
• Green Onions – fresh onions, tops can be used.
• Baby Leeks – Flat leaf, mild onion.
• Potatoes – no bag in warmer drawer of refrigerator.Potatoes source of complex carbohydrates and minerals, particularly potassium with skin on. They form a complete protein when consumed with grain, dairy or meat.To versatile to list how many ways to eat potatoes.

On the farm this week.

We were really wet!! over the course of one week we got 4 inches. Not to bad but no field work. We stayed busy weeding and harvesting. Looks like the late frost has claimed our strawberries. We were hoping they would fruit again but that hasn’t happened yet. The raspberries look plentiful though! The boys are out of school and have been helping a lot on the farm. Its been a real treat to hang out with our kids and keep getting work done!!

A Week Box 1 2010

Newsletter Week A Box 1

Because it is the first box I am going to give more direction for how and when to pick up your boxes. This is an A week so, Manna Cafe, Vom Fass, UW Vet School, and On Farm pick up will be this Friday June 4 after 2 pm. Mineral Point Market 8:30 am, Green City Market 7 am Saturday June 5, and Chicago Botanic Garden Farmers Market 9 am June 6. Come as early as you can to insure quality and freshness. Please bring two bags with you. UNFOLD boxes at seems to flatten and keep reusable. DO NOT TEAR OPEN, PLEASE OH PLEASE.

What’s in the box?!

• Green Romaine Lettuce – bag and store in refrigerator.

Rich in chlorophyll, iron and vitamins A and C.

• Green Rocket Napa Cabbage –  has red twist tie on it. Bag and refrigerate.

small amounts of vitamins A and C along with fiber and very few calories.

Great in a Stir Fry!

• Spinach – store in refrigerator high in chlorophyll, vitamins A and C, raw or slightly cooked. Does inhibit calcium absorption. In salads, steamed or boiled for under 10 minutes.

• Cilantro – put plants standing in shallow water in fridge.Add fresh to soups, stews, and stir fries; toss into green salad; nice addition to potato salads. Enjoy within a few days. Too much rain – not in box – replaced with a plant of either sage or thyme! Plant in a quart size or up to a gallon size container. Place compostable pot right into soil.
  
• Radishes – bag and store in refrigerator. Root - traces of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. Leaf – excellent source of vitamins A, C and the B’s. blood cleansers and digestive aids.Add to mixed salad or grate and add your favorite salad dressing. Stir fry or steam, as well.
• Rhubarb -bag and store in refrigerator high in vitamins A and C and many minerals, particularly calcium. Blood purifier and digestive aid.Dice into salads, hot or cold cereal raw for tart flavor (I LOVE Rhubarb). Chop Rhubarb, sweeten with sugar or honey and bake 30 min at 375.Simple Sauce: Chop Stems into 1” chunks, cook in small amount of water with sweetener of your choice to taste. When fibrous stalks become stringy and mushy, done. Can be frozen raw as well.
• Snap Peas – store in refrigerator. excellent source of vitamins A,C, K and the B’s. High in minerals iron, potassium, and phosphorous. High- protein, carbohydrate and fiber.Eat raw whole or chopped in salad or plain. Cook for under 2 min’s in stir fry.Enjoy within a few days.
• Garlic Scapes – no bag in refrigerator. Garlic strengthens the bodies health. The raw bulbs are the most potent as medicine and the scapes the least.Good raw in a salad or stirfry.
• Yellow Onions – no bag in refrigerator
• Shallots - no bag in refrigerator. Onions which shallots are included also strengthen the bodies health. Great with every savory meal. Some people are sensitive to raw onions (as am I) but they are delicious and easily digested cooked till translucent.
• Potatoes – no bag in warmer drawer of refrigerator.Potatoes source of complex carbohydrates and minerals, particularly potassium with skin on. They form a complete protein when consumed with grain, dairy or meat.To versatile to list how many ways to eat potatoes.

On the farm this week.

We have planted many successions of lettuce, chard, kale, cabbage, green onions, fennel, cauliflower and broccolli to make sure to have plenty to fill your boxes each share.

Our crew now has grown to 5 interns who live on the farm with us and an Amish crew come in once a week. We have been on the ball planting right before the rain and managing the weeds. We transplanted the curcubitz – melons, cukes, zukes and summer squash into the field this week, too.