We have a very rare opportunity that I want to tell you about…

Our team is always researching around the country for what other farmers are doing and how they are bringing their products to market.  

In doing this last month, we connected with a small family farm in Florida that is growing organic citrus, strawberries, and yucca.  They also have a small organic farm in NY and asked if we wanted to meet them on their way up there and buy some of their stuff from Florida for our Yellowbird members.

The last time we had apple cider I said it was the last time...I lied, we actually had 1 more time scheduled.

I actually drink it more this time of year than any other time because I think I need the fruit more in the dead of winter or something…(that sounds like it could be true, so let’s go with that).

Also, please remember that you are eating your medicine each week...ESPECIALLY this time of year.  Your immunities, your defense system, your sense of humor (that can’t be true) are all influenced by the food you are fueling yourselves with

I went to a “Meat Free Monday” dinner as a guest speaker and talked about the Yellowbird community to about 30 people.  They were not all vegan or even vegetarian (nor am I), just folks that are trying to make positive lifestyle changes.

I called our winter group, the “Hard-Core Locavores”.  

I just sat down after being at Newark High School all morning.

They have a home economics teacher (yes, they still exist), and she convinced her 2nd, 3rd, and 4th period classes to take the @1803eatingchallenge that we set up.  The 1803 eating challenge is simply this…”if it ain't grown in Ohio, then we ain't eatin’ it.”  For the month of January, every last ingredient that I’m eating will be grown in Ohio.

Welcome to 2020.  

Wow, what a statement.  If I were watching a movie, and the screen said, “OHIO: 2020”, I would assume they meant that was some time in the future.  Nope. It’s today.

And TODAY we find ourselves in the middle of the 1803 Eating Challenge.

Navy Beans Part Deux:

I’ve never made homemade refried beans.  I’m not even sure what the “typical” refried bean is…kidney?  It doesn’t matter, because what I did know on Saturday was that I had an entire bag of Shagbark Navy Beans.  

I loosely followed the instructions on the back, and poured a bunch into some water.  I let that sit overnight on the counter and then I drained them and poured 8 cups of water over the top of the beans in a dish that I put on the stove to bring to a boil.  

What a fun week it was...Thanksgiving this year, more than anytime before, was such a restful week with the family. I hope that you each had time to reflect, be thankful, and eat good food. If you had a stressful or mournful holiday because of various circumstances, then peace be with you this holiday season.

As we transition into our “WINTER” months, we get to do some unusual things with our boxes. We begin to include some products that might not make it during our other seasons.

Well folks...the time to celebrate is before us. Thanksgiving has been the traditional “ending” of our year at YB. This year is slightly different as we will be coming right back to keep the fun rolling ALL WINTER! However, we will be taking next week off to celebrate with family and friends so it still has that same celebratory, “WE DID IT!” feeling.

We consider it all joy to be gathered with you in spirit around your various tables and layouts.Well folks...the time to celebrate is before us. Thanksgiving has been the traditional “ending” of our year at YB. This year is slightly different as we will be coming right back to keep the fun rolling ALL WINTER! However, we will be taking next week off to celebrate with family and friends so it still has that same celebratory, “WE DID IT!” feeling.

We consider it all joy to be gathered with you in spirit around your various tables and layouts.

I don’t know the first thing about KimChi. Here is what I do know…

It’s good for your gut.

Therefore hipster’s love it

Therefore I love it

ALSO…this batch is made by Krazy Kraut which is

An Ohio company

Using Ohio grown produce

And they gave us a great deal on it because we have such cool members

This week, ONLY THE MINI boxes will be getting it. NEXT WEEK THE BASES AND FULLS will get it.

Asian P’s make a curtain call but bring a poncho to this party because the juice is loose. Good golly, I bit into one just now and I felt like I was sitting front row at a Gallager show. The flavor is somewhere between cotton candy and John Candy.

There is so much happening right now that I’m not sure where to begin...let’s just use bullet points as those seem to be a good way to make some sense out of my ramblings.

BLACK RADISH!!

Seems like every week we have one “show stopper” type product and this week we are blown away by the black radishes. Mile Creek Farm over in New Lebanon, OH has been a new partner with us this year for many of your great products and this is one of their beauties.

2 things coming in your box this week on card stock…
-A recipe for Acorn Squash and Apples that you can use this week, and then add to your recipe box...you do have your grandma’s old recipe box right?
-A card with a promo code on it for the online store...use promo code “GROCERY” at checkout to get $5 off an order of $50 or more...and YES, YOUR BOX COUNTS TOWARDS THE TOTAL!

Spigariello or “Broccoli Leaves” have made their way back around for the second time into our boxes.

Deep Purples and Reds are brewing this week.

My oh My it’s a beautiful time to be eating the produce of OHIO!

We have 5 BRAND NEW varieties hitting the boxes this week but none more awesome than the purple carrots. I wish I could see the looks on each of your faces when you see them for the first time...and then TASTE them for the first time.

Our last farm dinner event was spectacular and I am still full in both heart and stomach

PLUMS! I haven’t tasted them yet because they are not here yet. (Tuesday at 3pm) BUUUUTTTT…...they are on their way so let's keep our fingers crossed.

I ordered a box this week from a national food delivery service called “Farmbox Direct”. It was $50 to have a box of “natural” fruits and veggies delivered. It got here and it had about $7 worth of food in it and about $40 worth of packing materials. These were things that looked like they had been pulled off the shelf of the nearest Kroger...2 weeks ago. I’m not trying to run a dirty campaign here but let’s not be tricked any longer by fancy packing materials and million dollar marketing campaigns.

“I want my honeycrisp, honeycrisp, honeycrisp. I want my honeycrisp, honeycrisp, honeycrisp. OHHHIOOOOO, Hoooneyycrisp Aappllllles” (chili’s baby back ribs? anyone?)

They are big. They are tasty. They are the most expensive apple on the block, but we figure let’s come out swinging for apple season!!

If you want more, you can order them on the store for the upcoming week.

Pears, Leeks, and Grapes...where do we live? The Garden of Eden??

Nope, it’s OHIO!

(Throwback line to the movie Field Of Dreams…”Is this heaven?” Kevin Costner:“No, It’s Iowa.”)

ast week the “Mini’s” went Ca-prazy over the Caprese ingredients...this week it’s the “Base” and “Full”’s turn. Basil, Tom’s, Mozz, and a mouth is all you need.

Blackberries again because by the sounds of it, most of your blackberries last week didn’t make it home because either you or a kid ate them all en-route.

Kids are back in school, the sun is hanging lower in the sky, “OUR PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!” (The randomness of that Dumb and Dumber quote surprised even me) Let’s get to it. The FOOD you eat is what is giving you fuel to operate. The better the fuel, the better the performance. We’ve all eaten wrong at lunch and then paid the price for it (or sometimes our employer has paid the price for it), by having a lackluster afternoon.

“We Cantaloupe, my dad’s got the car!”

Come on...that’s top 5 food puns all time.

Just had a great conversation with Ester Run Farm. If you were with us last year, you got a bag of heirloom “black pop” popcorn from them. This year they are doing a rainbow popcorn for us but also had planted an heirloom striped acorn squash, as well as some heirloom pie pumpkins.

Anyone remember the song “Peaches”? If you DO remember that song, you now have it playing in your head...you’re welcome.

What kinds of salsas are we seeing out there in everyone’s kitchens? Peaches can be added to your fresh mixes, as well as the lemon balm, wax pepper, and cuke’s that some of you will have this week...the Hungarian's are bringing the heat though so don’t be caught unawares!