Contributed by Stephanie Willette, Assistant Farm Manager
The ground was frozen, but we
had promised to donate leeks to the Food Summit’s lunch menu. Leeks are one of
the few vegetables that can survive winter outside and even taste good. If you
can pry them from the frozen ground, that is. So it was that Nick and I found
ourselves armed to the teeth with shovels, gloves, hats, and all manner of
sharp tools as we headed out to the leek bed.
It soon became apparent that
the ground was not going to relinquish its hold on the leeks, so we decided to
take it with us. With our shovels, we chipped around the plants as close as we
dared, and dragged them, along with masses of frozen clinging dirt, onto the
trailer. Then we drove the whole mess into the garage to thaw.
Another thing about leeks – you’ve
never harvested as much as you think you have. In fact, they are one of my
least favorite vegetables to clean because the process is so long and you end
up with so little. The allium must first be cleaned, then its roots cut off,
then peeled, and then rinsed for good measure. Our trailer full became two
boxes worth of edible produce as we made our way through the pile.
Since a leek is an allium, it
belongs in the same family as garlic and onions and shares similar health
benefits. They have high levels of antioxidants and vitamins K and A, and help
protect our blood vessel linings from damage. And they’re delicious, too. Ours
ended up in a wonderful rice pilaf that was enjoyed by farmers and foodies at
the Summit.
The Food Summit, for those who
are unfamiliar, is an annual gathering of the Washtenaw County food community
to discuss sustainable, local, and healthy food solutions. It’s a chance to
exchange ideas and to catch up on what is going on. One exciting development
that was discussed at the Summit was MAEP certification and the CSA Coalition. Capella Farm is looking
into getting certified and joining the coalition. MAEP is a basic program that helps
farmers asses their legal and environmental risks, verifying that we use environmentally
friendly practices. The CSA coalition will be the first of its kind in the
area. Its purpose is to link together
CSAs so that we may access larger markets such as universities and hospitals,
and to define common standards for CSA farms (thus, the MAEP certification). We
hope this will strengthen the voices and influence of small, local farms by linking
us together.
As for the leeks, there’s
still more out there. A second bed awaits harvest. But we are waiting for
warmer weather, and for the ground to thaw.
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