Table of Contents 1. In Your Box this Week 2. Farm News

• What's Going on in Our Fields?
• T-shirt Sales Continue
• A New Feed Silo
• Log into Your Account
• New Chicks in Town
• HELP! We need a Plumber and a HVAC Contractor!
• Etched in Stone

3. Events

• Save Hand Made Toys and Thousands of Jobs!

4. Quotable Food 5. Recipes

• Cabbage Risotto

6. Vegetable Storage Tips 7. Johnson's Backyard Garden Contact Information Please send newsletter feedback, suggestions and contributions to farm@jbgorganic.com. We're on MySpace, be our friend! 1) In Your Box this Week Brussels Sprouts Green Onions Collard Greens Cabbage Kale Cauliflower Broccoli Florets or Turnips Kohlrabi Tomatoes from Reliable Organics Grapefruit from G&S Organics Oranges from G&S Organics This list is subject to change depending on availability and quality of crops on harvest day. You'll find the most accurate packing list on the homepage of our website. 2) Farm News

• What's Going on in Our Fields? This past week we have been busy planting new crops, not just the regular selection of eggplants, potatoes, and onions (which I might add are going to be great......lots of flavors, lots of colors) but perennial crops that are new to the farm like Asparagus and Jerusalem Artichokes. We've also taken steps to exclude the deer from the open buffet served at Johnson's Backyard Garden. Today we planted lettuces close to the barn and houses in the hopes that our almost constant activity will sway them to not partake.
• T-shirt Sales Continue, but in case you haven't yet submitted your order, you have until the end of January to get your request in for the best organic cotton fashion statement available around Austin. Check out the our website for ordering details.

• A New (to us anyway) Feed Silo has arrived at the farm. Since we don't raise livestock you may ask what we were thinking. However, farmers notoriously have the knack for adapting and reusing equipment; our feed silo will be reused as a fertilizer silo. The feather meal (N 12%), which we use to increase nitrogen in the soil, is an excellent and economical source of a moderate to slow-releasing form of nitrogen. This organic fertilizer will now be purchased in larger quantities, which reduces our costs, and stored near the fields for quick access.
• Log into your Account and check details regarding pickup, renewal, and changing your orders. It's a good idea to help us save time and improve accuracy of all our subscriptions.

• New Chicks in Town Amy Ringger, from Ringger's Family Farm, sent us pictures of their new batch of chicks that arrived at their farm on January 7. These fine young foul will replace Ringger's oldest flock when they retire. The young birds are Production Reds and will start laying eggs in about four or five months. The chicks don't get their beaks clipped, so they are free to scratch and peck, nor do they get any medication or shots. Ringger's depend on good husbandry to see them through life; with the right system and low stress, few animals will get sick.

• HELP! We need a Plumber and a HVAC Contractor! CSA members did such a great job at recently directing electricians our way, we thought we'd ask you about other tradesmen you know and love. We are looking for experienced plumbers and HVAC contractors who can help us remodel the barn and office. The farm would like to find someone (or a few someones) who can do the installation and rework for us. We are growing and need to revamp the barn space to accommodate our expanding operations. The dusty dirt floors of the packing shed (the back part of the barn) will soon disappear with the installation of concrete floors so the time is ripe for putting in the systems that we need to run the place. The packing line will also see some modifications that will assist in the efficiency of cleaning and packing the produce. The storage area (the center of the barn) will be turned into an office, computer area for the interns, and a bathroom. This not only means the port-o'-pot will soon be gone (....yeah!!), it also means that we will have an organized space for working. PLEASE email us at farm@jbgorganic.com or give us a call at 512.386.5273.
• Etched in Stone, well it's really concrete but it is very permanent. One of those new slabs of concrete for the barn has already been poured and the farm kids got a chance to make their mark on it. Check out their handy work. Thanks to Centex Material for the concrete donation!

• In addition to the new concrete slab, Chalon has started putting up new barn walls. The finish detail on the corner has not begun, however, the electrical service box has been installed and awaits wiring.

3) Events

• Save Hand Made Toys and Thousands of Jobs! Tiny Birds Organic Baby and Family, JBG's Round Rock drop off site, sells natural toys and family goods. Owner Christina Gagnon recently sent us the following information and asked for our help in spreading the word and taking action on upcoming legislation that effects the availability of safe manufactured toys.Are you aware that many safe, natural toys made or imported by small US companies will disappear this year? This is due to needlessly complicated, expensive compliance requirements contained in the new CPSIA children's products safety law. Please go to the sites below and learn more. Help us save the natural/specialty children's products industry.Learn more at:http://www.cpsia-central.ning.com/http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/http://www.squidoo.com/fixcpsiaWe are all a little concerned about the economy right now. While our government is bailing out big business and Wall Street, thousands of small businesses like Tiny Birds Organic Baby and Family may be shut down because of this legislation that will go into effect on February 10, 2009. Please let your senators and representatives know that that we don't need any new government regulations that will put people out of work during these uncertain economic times.Vote for change today: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia Thank you, Christina Gagnon Tiny Birds Organic Baby and Family Online store: http://www.tinybirdsorganicbabytoys.com/ Local store located at: Sam Bass Market Center 1050 Meadows Drive, Suite 407 Round Rock, TX 78681

4) Quotable food: The day will come when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution. - Paul Cezanne 5) Recipes Sent in by CSA member Katie Malinski; sourced from Barbara Kafka's Cookbook Microwave Gourmet. Katie made this cabbage risotto a few nights ago and reported that was great! Katie's personal notes on the recipe include: I probably put in more than 1/3 c onion, and used a combination of fresh & dried basil. Next time, I will reduce the butter & olive oil to a generous 1T each, and also add a little more cabbage.

Cabbage Risotto

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup onion, minced

1 cup Arborio rice (regular rice won't do as well)

2 3/4 cup chicken broth

1 cup cabbage, shredded

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

All cooking is done in the microwave at 100 percent power with dish uncovered. (This recipe is designed for a 700-watt microwave, it may take a little less in a newer high wattage oven.) Heat butter and oil in a 14-by-11-by-2-inch dish for 2 minutes. Add onions and stir to coat. Cook for 2 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat. Cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in broth. Cook for 9 minutes. Add cabbage, parsley and stir well. Cook for 9 minutes more. Remove from oven. Stir in salt, pepper and cheese. Serve hot.

Champ (Mashed Potatoes with Scallions), from cooks.com

3 lbs. boiling potatoes (about 12)

8 scallions

6 tbsp. butter

1/2 tsp. pepper

6 tbsp. milk

2 1/2 tsp. salt

Cut potatoes in chunks. Put in large pot with salted water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until tender (about 25 minutes). Drain. Slice scallions, including the green tops. Melt butter in the pot used to cook the potatoes. Add scallions and cook over low heat until tender, about 5-10 minutes.

Peel potatoes and mash with 2 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the milk. Stir into scallions and heat through. Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper as needed. 8 servings.

6) Vegetable Storage Tips We aim to grow and package our vegetables to maintain the highest taste and nutritional quality possible. However, once they've left the farm it's up to you to keep them fresh and nutritious. There's no refrigeration at the CSA drop points so it's best to pick up your box as early as possible. Here are some additional tips on how to store this week's share: Spinach, Kale, Chard, Lettuce, Salad Greens, Bok Choy, Braising Mix and Cooking Greens will stay fresh in the crisper for 4-7 days and should be kept in plastic bags. Any bunch greens can be freshened by cutting an inch of the bottom stalks and soaking the entire bunch in cold water for 10 minutes. Place in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few hours to revive. Cabbage and Celery have a fridge life of up to two weeks. Wrap celery in plastic. Broccoli will last 4-7 days in plastic bags in the crisper. Oranges and Grapefruit are best kept at room temperature of 60-70 degrees and used within two weeks. Do not store in plastic bags. Check out our storage tips on our website for a more complete guide, and of course, feel free to contact us with any questions. The National Center for Home Food Preservation is your guide for how to can, freeze, dry, pickle or ferment just about anything. We would love to share your recipes too! Please email your favorites to bess@jbgorganic.com. 7) Johnson's Backyard Garden Contact Information Johnson's Backyard Garden 9515 Hergotz Lane, Box E Austin, Texas 78742 Office phone: (512) 386-5273 Office Hours: M-F, 8am - 12pm e-mail: farm@jbgorganic.com website: www.jbgorganic.com