Why are organic CSA shares so rare? Because we have lost so much farmland in Connecticut that less than one percent of our residents earn a living by farming. Eat well, support your local farmer and do your bit to preserve farmland by buying a CSA share in one of our precious organic farms.

January is CSA registration month. This is your chance to buy local, organic food directly from the farmer who grows it. So if you want to reserve your CSA share for this summer, I recommend you sign up immediately before the shares are gone.

Two organic farms are expanding and have opened their lists to new CSA families: Sport Hill Farm in Easton and The Hickories in Ridgefield.

Sport Hill Farm is leasing 15 more acres in Easton and is able to double their organic CSA shares offered to 150. Pick up is on farm only. That means you get to watch Patti pick your organic lettuces fresh so they don’t wilt and your kids get to see the chickens! Please visit the farm’s web site to email farmer Patti Popp and ask her to send you the CSA agreement. You may also be interested in her new Cash Crop program. This is essentially a farm credit that allows you to stop by the farm and buy produce, fruit, eggs, bread, honey and any additional products she may offer without having to carry around cash.

If you live in Ridgefield, you surely know that Dina Brewster’s USDA/Baystate certified organic farm, The Hickories, is the only farm left in Farmingville. When you hear Dina talk about her CSA families, it’s clear that building community gives her joy and satisfaction. Dina is increasing the number of CSA shares offered on farm this year to 200 so you have a rare chance to get a share for this summer! Please register directly on the site. Both fruit and vegetable shares are offered including 113 varieties of vegetables plus strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples and peaches. Share add ons include bread, eggs, meat and locally produced cheese.

Fort Hill Farm in New Milford, a Baystate certified organic farm,  has opened up their waiting list to new registrants. But don’t expect a share this summer. The waiting list is 3-4 years out for two reasons - farmer Paul Bucciaglia has no additional land to farm and his 400 CSA shareholders (500-600 families) are extremely loyal. This farm drops half its shares in lower Fairfield County (Darien, New Canaan, Fairfield, etc.) and the rest are picked up on farm. Each share box includes a newsletter containing instructions and recipes for preparing some of the 140 different kids of vegetables they grow. Please register on the farm’s web site and be sure to choose a “box” if it’s going to be dropped or the “mix and match” option for an on farm share.

Sunflowers at Sport Hill Farm in Easton, planted by the children who attended the summer farm camp

It was the most beautiful late summer day one could hope for when attending an outdoor farm lunch. The backdrop of sunflowers  and zinnia in bloom and ripening swiss chard added the most brilliant yet tranquilizing effect to the well-planned and executed event. The setting was Patti Popp’s Sport Hill Farm in Easton and our hostess was Amie Hall, a holistic health counselor and cooking coach. Amie regularly holds lunches here and the next one is on October 13 (see Event Calendar for details).

Amie Hall discussing fall produce and its many uses

Patty Popp, owner Sport Hill Farm, Easton

Patti and her husband started farming the property in 2000 and have been growing their small organic farm, well, organically. They serve the community not only through their on- farm stand (open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10-6) but also through programs at a local school and their CSA. The Unquowa School runs a summer farm camp that Patti hosts and their cafeteria serves local, organic food picked fresh daily from their fields.  Sport Hill Farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program has grown from 20 families to 75 and still cannot meet the demand (read long waiting list).

Roasted garlic served with warm Wave Hill bread

Let’s begin the feast. The amuse- bouche of raw patty pan squash was a revelation - soft and slightly sweet with the warmth of the sun still on it. Lunch began in earnest with warm and crusty Wave Hill bread and heads of roasted garlic served on a small cast iron skillet.  I combined the two for a savory combination of crunchy and silky smooth textures.

Lima bean, butternut and patty pan squash soup

Next came the  lima bean, butternut and patty pan squash soup which had been simmering since our arrival. Served in a green pepper bowl, it was light, tasty and satisfying and I’m pretty sure nobody at my table was able to resist a second serving.

Kale and Cabbage Salad with a umami-rich soy sauce dressing

The secret to a salad using raw kale is to let it sit. With lettuce you wind up with a soggy mess, but with kale the result is sublime. The dressing was made with orange juice, Nama Shoyu (organic raw unpastueurized soy sauce) and olive oil.  If you have never cooked with soy sauce or used it in a dressing, go out a buy a bottle and start experimenting. Soy sauce contains the fifth taste, L-glutamate, which the Japanese call umami. Do not underestimate the power of umami to deepen and enrich the flavor of a dish. Go put that soy sauce on your list.

Simply Delicious Lasagna

The Simply Delicious Lasagna was just that, simple and delicious. The flavors just melted together so beautifully it was hard to believe it was spiked with kale and pesto. The magic continued as we were served black bean brownies that had no hint of black bean and bordered on fudge according to one guest. After that indulgence, I was ready for the farm tour.

Banana peppers galore

Patti walked a few of us around her fields to get a closer look at her produce in its late summer glory. Enormous heads of cabbage, broccoli nearing ripeness, banana peppers galore, lettuce, and kale adorned the fields. I left with some melons from the farm stand and a fresh head of lettuce Patti cut for me and can’t wait to go home and make some soy sauce dressing to go with it.