Greeting fellow food and farm lovers!  I've got bad news:  I think I've got Spring Fever. My symptoms include day dreaming of trout fishing while answering emails, leaving my chores at home un done while I dream-walk unconsiously into the woods in search of flora and fauna, and a compelling desire to dine alfresco.  Doc says the only thing to do is get farming! What a relief.  There's plenty of farming to do these days.  I'll be cured in no time.  Nic, on the otherhand, has an uncontrollable case of disappointment: He is lamenting the fact that he didn't achieve his goal of ripe tomatoes by April 30th.  He would have settled for a May 1st tomato but alas, it is now May 1 and there are no red tomatoes. The fruits were set weeks ago, but there just isn't enough light coming through the third layer of plastic in the hoophouse to ripen them as quickly as he thought.  Still, we predict the first ripe tomatoes will happen in the next few weeks--a feat that is not easy in our neck of the woods.  Perhaps that will ease Nic's pain...

While we may not have tomatoes, we've got plenty in the way of Brassicas to eat at the moment, however.  The Brassicacae Family (also known as the mustard family) is vastly important to the human diet, with many wild and cultivated edibles found throughout the world.  Within the "family" is the brassica genus which includes radishes, turnips, chard, brocolli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and of course, mustard greens, to name a few. I think it is amazing to think about each of these "veggies" as the part plant they are: stem, leaves, flowers, roots and seeds.  We use it all!  Soon too, as these are the ones you'll be seeing in your shares in the upcoming weeks, as many of them produce edibles early in the spring season.  

In event news, Nic and I attended the 1st annual Leelanau County Farmers Market Meeting (open to the public) on April 30th.   The Board decided to bring in a guest speaker-John Pridnia, market master for the Port Austin Farmers Market.  Let me just tell you how fabulous it was!  He shared stories about starting his market, its current success and its future.  I'm taking from his speech and enormous helping of inspiration, as I and many others set forth on an adventure that will help turn our area markets into dynamic venues that perpetuate social interaction, entertainment and community support, while at the same time providing a platform buying and selling local agricultural goods!  One organization that is doing its part is MIFMA (Michigan Farmers Market Association).  If you are interested in learning what MIFMA does to support farmers markets statewide, visit www.farmersmarketsmi.msu. 

Speaking of farmers markets, next week Saturday (May 9) marks the season opener of the Sara Hardy Market in downtown TC.  9 Bean Rows will be there in full force-so come stop by.  We'll also be attending two (if not more) Leelanau County markets this year: Leland (Thursdays) and Northport (Fridays).  

For the adventurous culinarians, which I know you all are (that's why you're CSA members), I've added two new soup recipes in the recipe section of this website.  You can read more about them in the TABLE TALK section of "This Week's Share".  

A quick reminder to all those wine lovers out there:  LPVA is hosting Sip and Savor this weekend!  Visit www.lpwines.com to get tickets! 

P.S.  Happy Belated Earth Day, Week, and ALWAYS, EARTH YEAR!

Jen and Nic