Well, it has been a rough start in a strange year in general, but I’d rather not dwell on that.
I’d rather tell you what the garden looks and feels like right now.
Each week brings new growth and what was bare soil not that long ago is now a lush, green garden. 

                            March 20th                                                                              April 20th

There are as many as 6 Great Egrets that I sometimes see soaring against the backdrop of the many shades of spring green the tree leaves hold right now.  I try to take pictures, but when I look at them, they do not do the scene justice.
They are an excellent reminder of why we chose to farm and why, against all odds, we continue to do it.  Our love of the natural world and residing in it has always been a strong motivator for our work.

​Over the winter we assembled a third high tunnel, which allows us to plant even more early tomato plants.  In the newest and largest high tunnel, we will experiment with a ‘lower and lean’ trellising system. 

​Everyone’s life looks much different than it did a month or so ago.
Instead of rushing our kids out the door with hugs, backpacks, and wishes for a great day, we all ride out to the farm together.  I pop up a tent for shade and lay out a quilt underneath on the soft, green grass near where I plan to work for the day.

​I would be remiss to leave you with that idyllic image of farming, which if I were to read would leave me screaming at my computer screen “That is not what it is like!”  The truth is, some days are perfectly pastoral and others are a mess.

On the morning of our scheduled first CSA harvest of the season, we awoke to a flooded farm road and the river on the rise after over 5 ½ inches of rain fell overnight.  Strong winds left trees down across the road and the power out at our packing shed, meaning we had no access to water and no refrigeration.  Hail had torn through tender salad leaves leaving them looking battered.
​
Everything will not be perfect this year, it never is.  We will do our best and we will all likely eat very well this year, but there will be a bad strawberry in the batch one day, a squashed tomato, some beetle bites out of a bunch of greens.  There will be ups and downs.  There will be beauty and frustration in each day. ​

​For now, I will simply say how tremendously thankful we are to those of you trusting us to be your farmers!

​Reason One: 
​THE FOOD

​Eat better, live better!
The food is our main reason for farming. Once you begin to regularly cook meals at home and eat truly fresh produce, it is nearly impossible to settle for less. It does take time, but the return is grand!

​You’ll feel better physically and mentally, plus you’ll spend more time around a table with the people you love.

Everything that we sell is grown by us on Snow’s Bend! We know everything that has happened from seed to your kitchen.

​It is all grown using organic practices, but more importantly we let our young children graze straight from the field with the full confidence of its clean and pure goodness!

Join today and enjoy the benefits of eating well all year!

​Forming a strong connection between the people eating the produce grown on Snow’s Bend and the farmers growing it, as well as between eaters and the land the food is grown upon, is one of the most important (and enjoyable) aspects of our job!

​CSA members are invited to the farm for our annual Harvest Party, for occasional work days, discounted farm tours and tastings, as well as new events planned for this coming year.

Last year we hosted multiple CSA events in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, including a Tomato Tasting and a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest!

When you join our CSA, you are joining a strong community of people that give thought to the food they are eating, the people that are doing the work, and the care of the land.

​Snow’s Bend is a little piece of the planet we strive to protect. We are strongly connected to this place, so take seriously our responsibility to leave it better than we found it.

​The first people that we know of were associated with Moundville and their time here dates back to sometime around the 1500s. There is a mound located on the farm (see the photo of our son standing on top of it) and many pieces of pottery were found here in the 1930s. Maize was their main crop, but there were others. Currently, more archeological research is being done on Snow’s Bend!

​Before we began our farming endeavor, David’s family land was leased to other farmers. In 2004, we took over the lease and were the first generation to be the ones actually working the land.

​We have two young children and feel all too well the struggle to balance farm and family, but realize the importance of raising the next generation with a knowledge of food and what it takes to produce it.

​This is our full-time, and only, job. If we do not succeed, we do not get paid.

We could not do it without our incredible staff! They work harder than you can imagine, and they do so with care, for the land and for our customers.

​It is critical to us that every person working on Snow’s Bend is paid well, takes time off, and has a good life!

Feel good about the food you eat, not just the health benefits and deliciousness of it, but also the people behind it!

Herb Pie
From Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi
Serves 4

2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing the pastry
1 large onion, diced
1 bunch chard, stems and leaves finely shredded but kept separate
5 ounces celery, thinly sliced
1 ¾ green onion, chopped
1 ¾ ounce arugula
1 ounce flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 ounce mint, chopped
2/3 ounce dill, chopped
4 ounces anari or ricotta cheese, crumbled
3 ½ ounces aged Cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 large free-range eggs
1/3 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp superfine sugar
9 ounces filo pastry

​Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Pour the olive oil into a large, deep frying pan over medium heat.  Add the onion and saute for 8 minutes without browning.  Add the chard stems and the celery and continue cooking for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the chard leaves, increase the heat to medium-high, and stir as you cook for 4 minutes, until the leaves wilt.  Add the green onion, arugula, and herbs and cook for 2 minutes more.  Remove from the heat and transfer to a colander to cool.

Once the mixture is cool, squeeze out as much water as you can and transfer to a mixing bowl.  Add the three cheeses, lemon zest, eggs, salt, pepper, and sugar and mix well.

Lay out a sheet of filo pastry and brush it with some olive oil.  Cover with another sheet and continue in the same manner until you have 5 layers of filo brushed with oil, all covering an area large enough to line the sides and bottom of a 8 ½-inch pie dish, plus extra to hang over the rim.  Line the pie dish with the pastry, fill with the herb mix, and fold the excess pastry over the edge of the filling, trimming the pastry as necessary to create a ¾-inch border.
​
Make another set of 5 filo layers brushed with oil and place them over the pie.  Scrunch up the pastry a little to create a wavy, uneven top and trim the edges so it just covers the pie.  Brush generously with olive oil and bake for 40 minutes, until the filo turns a nice golden brown.  Remove from the oven and serve warm or at room temperature.

Next Thursday, people around the country will gather with friends and family with one goal in mind - EAT!  Tables will overflow with casserole dishes, trays of meat, pies, cakes and so much more.
For us, it all starts in the garden.  I've compiled a few farm inspired dishes below that I hope you will consider adding to your table this holiday.  CSA members can find many of the ingredients in their boxes this past week or next, and produce will be available at The Market at Pepper Place and Tuscaloosa River Market on Saturday morning.
​
​Happy Eating!
​

A Note on our Recipes:
​David and I both love to cook.  It is one of our main motivations for growing vegetables.  However, we are not recipe writers.  Please view the following as rough templates and make them your own.

Salad Greens with Persimmon and Blue Cheese
You can use any salad greens you'd like in this salad.  I love the sharp flavor of frisee and treviso, mixed with lettuce.

1/2 pound of salad greens (chopped treviso, frisee, lettuce, arugula, kale, or any other greens you would like)
1 to 2 persimmons
blue cheese to taste
Garlic-Lemon Dressing (recipe follows)

Toss the salad greens with the dressing and top with slices of fresh persimmon and crumbled blue cheese.
That's it!

Garlic-Lemon Dressing
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup of lemon juice, or a combination of lemon juice and your vinegar of juice
1 cup olive oil
A couple of pinches of salt, to taste

We always put dressing ingredients into a half-pint mason jar with a lid and shake to combine.
​

Fennel and Greens Dressing
1 bunch of cooking greens (collards, kale, chard, or any other), stems removed and leaves cut in chiffonade
2 medium or 4 small green bell-type peppers, deseeded and cut into dice
1 medium onion, cut into dice
4 to 6 small fennel bulbs, or 2 to 3 large, fronds removed, stems cut into ¼-inch rounds and bulb sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Herbs of choice, I used a ¼ teaspoon dried savory from the garden
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups broth
6 cups croutons

Make croutons
Cut bread into 1-inch cubes and toss with olive oil and salt.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
​
While the croutons are baking, cook the vegetables, starting with the onions, peppers, and fennel stems.
After about 10 minutes, add the fennel bulbs and garlic.  When you can smell the garlic, add the greens and cook until tender.
In a large bowl, combine the croutons, vegetables, and herbs then add salt to taste and stir.  Add the broth and mix again.
Put all of this into a baking dish and bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove the lid and bake another 10 minutes.

Aromatic Rice Stuffed Pumpkins
You can adapt this recipe to the number of people you would like to serve.  Our Seminole Pie Pumpkins could serve 2 to 4, depending on the number of other dishes being served.

Cut a circle in the top of the pumpkins and scoop out the seeds.
Add a ½-inch of water to the bottom of the pumpkins and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

While the pumpkins bake, make the aromatic rice - be sure to substitute the dried turmeric for fresh!
https://www.theroastedroot.net/ginger-turmeric-aromatic-rice/

​
When the pumpkins are soft, pull them out of the oven.
When they are cool enough to handle, fill them with the aromatic rice and bake for another 10 minutes.
Top with cilantro and toasted pine nuts.
​

Smashed Sweets with Toasted Pecans
Our sweet potatoes need nothing more than butter and salt!  I add the pecans for a bit of texture.

Bake sweet potatoes on 425 degrees for about 1 hour, until soft and fragrant.
Allow to cool and remove skins, placing the sweet potato into a large bowl.
Add butter and salt to taste and smash.
Place this mixture in a baking dish.
Top with slightly candied pecans (toasted in a skillet with butter, a sprinkle of sugar, and a pinch of cinnamon until aromatic).
Bake again for 5 to 10 minutes.
​

This cake is SO delicious!  It tastes like gingerbread cookies, but has the airy-ness of cake.  It is the perfect combination of salty and sweet.
​
Fresh Ginger and Molasses Cake
From Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat
Makes two 9-inch cakes
 
1 cup thinly sliced fresh ginger
1 cup sugar
1 cup neutral-tasting oil
1 cup molasses
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup boiling water
2 large eggs at room temperature
2 cups Vanilla Cream (recipe below)
 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Set a rack in the upper third of the oven.  Grease two 9-inch cake pans, then line with parchment paper.  Grease and sprinkle generously with flour, tap out the excess, and set aside.
Puree the fresh ginger and sugar together in a food processor or blender until completely smooth, about 4 minutes.  Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and add the oil and molasses.  Whisk to combine and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper, salt, and baking soda, then sift into a large bowl.  Set aside.
Whisk the boiling water into the sugar-oil mixture until evenly combined.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and gradually whisk in the water-oil mixture until incorporated.  Gradually whisk in the eggs and stir until smooth.  The batter will be thin.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.  Drop the pan onto the counter from a height of 3 inches a couple of times to release any air bubbles that may have formed.
Bake in the upper third of the oven for 38 to 40 minutes, until the cakes spring back from the touch and just pull away from the edges of the pan.  An inserted toothpick should come out clean.
Cool the cakes completely on a wire rack before unmolding them from the pan and peeling off the parchment paper.
To serve, place one layer down on a cake plate.  Spread 1 cup Vanilla Cream in the center of the cake and gently place the second layer atop it.  Spread the remaining cream onto the center of the top layer and chill for up to 2 hours before serving.
Alternatively, top with cream cheese frosting, serve with ice cream, or simply dust cakes with powdered sugar.  The batter also makes for fantastic cupcakes!
Tightly wrapped, this cake will keep for 4 days at room temperature, or for 2 months in the freezer.
​
Vanilla Cream
Makes about 2 cups
 
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
Scraped seeds from ¼ vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chill a large, deep metal bowl (or the bowl of your standing mixer) and the whisk (or whisk attachment) in the freezer for at least 20 minutes before you begin.  When the bowl is chilled, prepare the cream with the vanilla seeds or extract, then add the sugar.
I prefer to whip cream by hand because it gives me more control, so I’m less likely to overwhip it and end up with butter.  If you’d like to use a mixer, run it at a low speed.  Whisk until the first soft peaks appear.  If using a machine, switch to a handheld whisk and continue to whisk until all the liquid cream has been incorporated and the texture of the cream is uniformly soft and billowy.  Taste and adjust sweetness and vanilla as desired.   Keep chilled until serving.
Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days.  Use a whisk to bring deflated cream back to soft peaks as needed.

This super-tuber adds incredible flavor and color to meals and teas!   It leaves you feeling warm and healthy.
The aromatic rice recipe below is the best rice I have ever tasted!
And the tea left me feeling incredibly satisfied on a cold, gray day.
Fresh turmeric can be substituted for dried in any recipe and adds a depth of flavor.

Ginger and Turmeric Aromatic Rice
From theroastedroot.net
 
1 cup white basmati rice
1.5 cups water
1 tablespoon coconut oil (or oil of choice)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon ginger peeled and grated
1 teaspoon fresh turmeric peeled and grated*
1 teaspoon sea salt to taste
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ cup dried cranberries
FOR SERVING:
¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
¼ cup pine nuts toasted
 
Add all ingredients for the rice except for the dried cranberries to a small pot, cover, and bring to a full boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, until rice has absorbed all liquid, 15 minutes (or according to package instructions). NOTE: if using a rice other than white basmati rice, follow package instructions for amount of water and cook time.
A few minutes before rice is finished cooking, stir the dried cranberries into the rice - this allows them to plump up and lends more flavor to the rice. Re-place the cover and continue to cook.
Taste rice for flavor and add more sea salt if desired. Serve with fresh cilantro and pine nuts alongside your favorite main dish.

Golden Milk Turmeric Tea
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/golden-milk-turmeric-tea
​
1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, preferably coconut milk beverage or almond milk
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
1 (1-inch) piece turmeric, unpeeled, thinly sliced, or 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric
1 (1/2-inch) piece ginger, unpeeled, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
Ground cinnamon (for serving)
 
Whisk coconut milk, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, honey, coconut oil, peppercorns, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan; bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors have melded, about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into mugs and top with a dash of cinnamon.
Do Ahead
Golden milk can be made 5 days ahead. Store in an airtight container and chill. Warm before serving.

​1 bunch of scallions, sliced
1 bok choy, stems separated, washed, and quartered lengthwise
2 to 3 medium turnips, greens removed (can be cooked with the bok choy), washed and quartered
1 Eggplant, cut into ½ inch cubes
2 to 3 Sweet Peppers, chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 can of coconut milk
1 stalk of lemongrass or 1 tsp. dried
Red curry paste to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Over medium heat, sauté the turnips, eggplant, and sweet peppers about cook 5 minutes. Add the bok choy and minced garlic.

In a small pot combine the coconut milk, lemongrass, ginger, and add the red curry paste a little bit at a time until the desired flavor is reached. Allow to simmer for 10 or 15 minutes, then strain and add this to the vegetables.  Serve over buckwheat soba noodles and top with scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

*You can add mushrooms to this recipe; cook them along with the turnips, eggplant, and sweet peppers.

Okra and Greens Gumbo
Adapted from the Gumbo Z’herbes recipe in Susan Spicer’s Crescent City Cooking
Makes 8 to 10 servings
 
½ cup oil
½ cup flour
2 medium onions, chopped
2 sweet peppers, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 medium turnips, chopped
1 cup plus ½ cup chopped scallions
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups of greens, coarsely chopped (mustard greens, turnip greens, kale or chard)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon file powder
2 quarts stock (chicken, vegetable, or shrimp)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Bouquet garni (made with parsley stems, bay leaf, and thyme)
2 cups okra, chopped
Salt and pepper
Hot sauce
Cooked white rice, optional
Also optional, cooked chicken, shrimp, and/or sausage
 
Heat ½ cup oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until almost smoking.  Carefully whisk in the flour.  Continue whisking until the roux is the color of peanut butter, or a little darker. 
Add the onions, sweet peppers, celery, turnips, 1 cup of scallions, and garlic, and cook, stirring to coat vegetables with roux, for 5 minutes. 
Add the greens, stir, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until they are wilted; add the thyme and file powder. 
Stir in the chicken stock, 2 cups at a time, bringing the mixture to a boil after each addition.  Whisk in the oyster liquor and Worcestershire sauce. 
Bring the gumbo to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.  Add the okra and the bouquet garni and cook over medium-low heat for about 1 hour, adding more chicken stock or water if the mixture gets too thick. 
​Season to taste with salt, pepper, and hot sauce. 

To serve the gumbo, ladle generous portions into bowls and garnish with remaining scallions, and hot rice, if desired.

These fresh-from-the-farm ingredients available at The Market at Pepper Place and Tuscaloosa River Market, as well as in CSA boxes!

Sweet Potato, Potato, and Turnip Gratin with Thyme and Gruyere
 
1 pound of potatoes
1 pound medium red-skinned sweet potatoes
1 pound of turnips
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups (packed) coarsely grated Gruyère cheese (about 5 ounces)
 
Using a mandoline (or knife if you do not have a mandolin), cut the potatoes, sweet potatoes, and turnips in 1/8-inch rounds.  Combine cream, butter, and garlic in medium saucepan; bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Place thyme leaves in a small bowl. Mix sea salt and black pepper in another small bowl.

Butter small baking dish or pie pan. Alternate slices of sweet potato, potato, and turnip, standing on their skin side, to fill the dish or pan.  Sprinkle thyme and salt mixture over the slices, separating if necessary and allowing some of the salt and herbs to fall between the slices.  Pour cream mixture over gratin, pressing lightly to submerge potato mixture as much as possible. Sprinkle the cheese on top. 
DO AHEAD Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Remove plastic wrap before baking.
​
Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover gratin tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until top of gratin is golden and most of liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes; serve.

With a salad, it makes a meal!

It is greens season!  We have plenty to choose from, but this week I have turnip greens on my mind and specifically a turnip green calzone with sweet peppers and smoked cheddar.

Turnip Green Calzones
Makes 2 calzones
 
1 pizza crust recipe (included below)
1 large bunch of turnip greens
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minces
As many sweet peppers as you’d like, chopped
4 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, grated (you could substitute gouda or other cheeses, but if you can find smoked cheddar, it is really the best)
1 egg, whisked
A tomato or some tomato sauce (Most have sauce on the side, but I just put a couple of spoonfuls in the filling and it was great that way!)
 
Heat your oven to 450 degrees.
While the crust is rising, cook the onion and peppers in some olive oil in a skillet.
When they begin to soften, add the garlic and turnip greens.  Once cooked, you can add in a couple of spoonfuls of tomato sauce (or save for the side if you would rather).
Roll out one round of dough and place it on a flour or cornmeal dusted baking sheet.   On one half of the circle, sprinkle one quarter of the cheese then place half of the filling, leaving one inch on every edge.  Top with another quarter of the cheese and fold the empty half of dough over.  Fold the edge and crimp shut.  Cut decorative vents in the top.  Coat with whisked egg and repeat with the other round of dough.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the crust has a nice golden hue.