Sola Gratia: Shares Still Available and the Glory of Chives
I can't very well say that spring snuck up on me this year but I was still surprised to realize that it was the first week of Sola Gratia. For those of you that don't know, Sola Gratia is a local CSA organized by St. Matthew's that donates at least 10% of its production to Eastern Illinois Foodbank. I think it's a tremendous way to support the community agriculture movement, two organizations that are doing good things, get gorgeous fresh from the field produce AND support Eastern Illinois Foodbank. A ridiculous amount of wins there....what would it be? Win, win, win, win, win?
Here's their official blurb:
Sola Gratia Farm is a four-acre community garden located behind St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana, Il. For years this land had been in production of corn and soybeans raised to support families and communities abroad suffering from chronic poverty and hunger. We have now turned the use of the farm more locally and have developed what is commonly known as a CSA, or community supported agriculture enterprise. Sola Gratia Farm developed out of a joint vision with St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Urbana, which owns the land, and an organization called Faith in Place, whose fundamental ministry is aiding communities of faith develop responsible and sustainable practices.
Full and half shares are STILL available. If you go to the Friday pick up between 3 and 6 at the garage in the parking lot of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Urbana you can still sign up.
As I did last year, I hope to be posting recipes and reports of the weekly half share we will be receiving.
Because of all the rain, they are running behind...as everyone is.... rather than delayingfor a week or two, they decided to have the first week’s share consist of herbs from Deanna’s (Sola Gratia's farmer)garden in White Heath that are growing nicely. They said they will make up for the small size of the early-season shares byproviding generous shares later on.
When I got in the car last night after work I could smell the fragrant chives, garlic chives and mint. I was a bit out of sorts last night...my legs were really hurting from my back and I felt bleary. I knew doing something with the herbs would make me feel better though so after sitting outside for a bit I went inside and pulled out my blender and a bottle of vegetable oi. I pulled the beautiful flowers off the chives and put them all in the blender with a cup or two of vegetable oil. I whirred them...to Leo's great disgust. He feels that when he's playing Minecraft on the kitchen computer that the entire household should creep around him silently. HA.
I put some cheesecloth (yes, we had cheesecloth...a miracle...I actually was looking for a coffee filter which would be better I think) over the top of a jar and slowly poured it in. I tried not to press on it so it wouldn't be cloudy. It's still a bit cloudy but I think that's where the coffee filter would be more efficient. So now I have a gorgeous little jar of bright green chive oil and I'm planning to put it on top of whatever I make for dinner. It might be homemade pizza, it might be grilled chicken, it might be scrambled eggs....but I think it will be delightful no matter what it tops.
Now....any ideas for mint???