When life gives you lemons…

It’s a well-known saying that’s very relevant right now. Because of the unprecedented rainfall, 2022 has been an extremely challenging year for growers. At the Green Connect Farm, we like everyone have had to focus on positivity and resourcefulness to make the most of the tough times.

Fortunately, this is a bit easier to do on a farm like ours that is guided by permaculture principles and contains lots of micro-ecosystems. Although many garden beds have been too water-logged to plant since March, others with different slope and aspect have dried out enough to keep growing traditional crops. We’ve also been able to take advantage of the less conventional veggies that are growing well in the current conditions.

Two plants that have literally been in their element recently are water celery and watercress. These water-lovers are thriving and have taken over many of the naturally wet areas of the farm that they were originally planted in. And fortunately for us, they are delicious! See the ‘Feature Veg’ info below for tips on how to prepare them..

Lemons are also flourishing around the farm right now, so we’re packing them in most boxes this week too. Whether you use them to make lemonade or not, we hope you enjoy them and everything else in your box.

Enjoy,

Lindsay Burlton
Fair Food Coordinator

In your box this week:

Note: We sometimes need to make changes to what we pack in your veg box based on the quantity or quality of produce that we can harvest and source. If you have any questions about what is in your box, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Feature Veg: Watercress & Water Celery

 Watercress is an aquatic vegetable that dates to ancient times. This superfood chart-topper is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, and it boasts many health benefits. Raw watercress tastes fresh and peppery; It can be eaten raw in salads or on sandwiches or cooked too in soups or stir fries. Watercress can be used in place of rocket, kale, or spinach in most recipes. Check out https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/watercress-recipes/ for 25 watercress recipes.

Water celery (also known as water dropwort or water parsley) is an aquatic plant that grows well in the damp gullies between the swales we’ve built around the farm to catch water. Think of it as parsley with a celery taste. It is delicious raw in salads or as garnish in a huge range of dishes. The luscious stalks are also delicious chopped up in a stir-fry