May we suggest…

The best salad in the metro Richmond area. Seriously. Look at these beauties.

They have been quietly, humbly, unobtrusively growing in our small tunnel (unheated greenhouse).

Now they are flashy and gorgeous heads of lettuce, waiting to become salad on your table. (Especially spectacular, in our opinion, is this curly green number, pictured above. Show stopping, I tell you.)

With the right toppings and dressing, this salad can fill your plate. Just in case that’s what you need after some rich holiday meals. Just in case. 🙂

Top a mix of these salad greens with some slices of our turnips:

…and kohlrabi…

…and perhaps some slivers of almonds and gorgonzola cheese, tossed with this Lemon Vinaigrette, and you’ve got yourself an amazing salad. Plus a slice of our bread on the side would be nice.

Mouth watering, eh? I hope so, because salad is the bulk of what we have to offer during these darkest days of the year. We are taking orders for pick up on the farm, delivery in Chesterfield on Saturday, or delivery to Richmond on Sunday (details below). We don’t plan to be at the winter market again until late in February or early March, when our new crop of greens out of our new greenhouse will be ready. Prepping beds today, pictured below:

Elsewhere around the farm, garlic is peeping up above the mulch. It will soon become dormant and hang out through the winter, growing again in the spring for harvest next summer.

We have a few hearty greens still hanging tough in the cold, (collards pictured below) that are great for sautes or juicing.

This week’s harvest includes:

Salad Mix ($3 bag – last for the season!), Hearty Mix ($3 bag), HonTsai Tai ($3 bag), Collards ($3 bunch), Kohlrabi ($1 ea), Turnips (small, sweet, and crunchy purple tops – $3 bunch), Heads of Gorgeous Lettuce (red, green, curly leaf green – please specify if you have a preference – $2 ea or 3 for $5), our hearth-baked Multigrain Bread ($7), or our own Pepper Jelly (mild, medium, or hot – $5).

A final plug for our lettuce: Our family members in-the-know have started swinging by our farm daily to snag a head for their dinner. It’s really that good.

If you would like to place an order, please email your list of desired items and pick up location to BroadforkFarm@yahoo.com

Delivery Options and Order Deadlines:

Pick up at our farm after 9 am Saturday: Orders due by noon Friday. Pick up your bagged order in the green shed/walk in cooler beside the house. Leave your payment (cash or check) on the shelf in the walk-in.

Pick up at Good Health Herbs, Saturday 9-12:30 pm: Orders due by noon Friday. Leave your cash or check in the envelope at the store.

Pick up at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond (beside Byrd Park), Sunday 9-11 am: Orders due by noon Saturday. Pick up just inside the door facing Douglasdale Road. Janet will be there with your goods, plus a smile! Pay with cash or check.

** We are currently advertising for apprentices for the 2013 season. Hard workers interested in learning in-depth the operations of a small, organic farm wanted. Full-time, March through October. Learn planning, cultivation, and management of Certified Naturally Grown vegetable, flower, and mushroom growing, including use of season extension and Biodynamic preparations. Must be able to lift and carry 40 pounds and be able to work around small children.  Farming experience not necessary but enthusiasm to learn and work hard is required! Financial incentives after 6 months consecutive work.

Please submit resume and cover letter to BroadforkFarm@yahoo.com or 9501 Deer Range Rd, Moseley VA 23120.

Enjoy that salad!