Greenmarket Discussion on Brian Lehrer

Check out Windfall Farms', "local farmer", Morse Pitts and Phil Yacuc of Council on the Environment talk about local agriculture on Brian Lehrer.
You can find the video here. Morse & Phil appear 3/4 of the way into the program, so let the video download all the way and scroll to the end of the program.

One statistic I caught from a video clip shown in the program

"7% of "our" farms sell 70% of our food, and collect the majority of farm subsidies offered by the US government."

I guess we should consider them "our" farms since anyone that pays taxes is sustaining all the large farms the accept them!

As the Days Get Longer

Last Spring New York Magazine had the following recipe and really good explanation about Eggs. They mention our, previous, policy of rationing one half-dozen per customer. We no longer limit the amount customers can purchase, yet they come at a slightly higher price.

Just like ramps, asparagus, and Shack Burgers, eggs have a season. Of course, you can get them year-round at your corner deli and local Greenmarket, but official egg-laying season begins in spring, when chickens—prompted by increasing daylight—bump up their production cycle. Connoisseurs say that eggs from contented, pasture-raised hens taste best and are, for lack of a better word, eggier, not to mention more nutritious. If that’s not enough incentive to get cracking, consider this recipe from George Weld, reigning grill-maestro at Williamsburg’s best breakfast joint, the aptly named Egg. Then click here for a primer on what to look for in a high-quality egg, where to find them , and a list of our favorite egg dishes, gathered from a handful of local chefs increasingly besotted by them. They’re not just for breakfast (or Easter) anymore.

George Weld’s Eggs Rothko

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 thick slices of brioche or challah
• 2 large or extra-large eggs
• 1 cup good-quality Cheddar, like Grafton, grated

Place oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to broil. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat until it begins to foam. Place brioche slices in the skillet, moving them around until well-buttered and browned.
(1) Using a biscuit cutter or drinking glass, press a hole in the center of each bread slice and discard the cutout rounds. Divide the remaining tablespoon of butter between the 2 holes in the bread.
(2) When butter begins to foam, crack an egg into each hole and cook until the egg whites set about halfway up the sides of the yolks. Flip the bread with a spatula and cook for another minute or so.
(3) Remove bread from skillet and place onto a broiler pan. Spread grated cheese thoroughly over the bread, covering as much surface area as possible to prevent the bread from burning, and place pan under the broiler. Remove as soon as the cheese is melted. Serve with broiled tomatoes or a simply dressed green salad.

Diversity in the Spring

This past Saturday at the Union Square Greenmarket the stand had a large variety of Micro-Greens. The fields are also starting to produce, so not only are we having different varieties of edibles at market, but a diversity of prices!

Above there is Micro Mesclun, Red Amaranth, Micro-Frisee, Purple Radish, Hong-Vit, Buckwheat Greens, Micro Mizuna, Micro Tat Soi, Micro Hon Tsai Tai, Micro Purple Mizuna, Micro Ruby Streaks, Micro Red Mustard, Micro Pepper Cress, Corn Shoots, Micro Red Russian Kale, Baby Dandelion, Mini Golden Purslane, Shungiku(edible Chrisanthemum), Claytonia, Sorrel, White Pea Shoots, Pea Greens, Mache, Sylvetta Arugula, Baby Arugula, and Mesclun!

There were also fair amounts of larger Arugula, Spinach, Dandelion, Mesclun, Pea Shoots and...gosh, I can't really think right now! Oh, there was also a large amount of Nasturtiums, Impatiens, Arugula blossoms, and Mustard flowers to spice up and beautify your salads and sandwiches.

Windfall Shrieking Tour with Beavers

Lots of "mmm"'s and "oh my god!" for the first 2 minutes. Then a view of the farms wildlife.