True, we informed you some weeks ago that in 2023 Melissa will no longer be supplying her delectable dry fruit rolls from Mipri Yadeha, thus you must bid farewell to these delicacies.… Well, we’ll let you in on a little secret here – There’s still a small quantity left in our inventory and they’re all yours to enjoy: natural fruit leather, additive-free, in a variety of distinctive combinations created by Melissa: giddy guava, Popeye’s choice (spinach!), Caribbean mango, grapes and more, as well as a bevy of dried fruit: pear, persimmon, banana, carob, mango, light grapes and plum.
Add sweetness and health to your winter boxes via our order system.
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The rain has been generous to us, and we’re soaking it up! Over the past weekend our field was granted a delightful 12 mm of gentle, rejuvenating showers. Combined with some 90 mm from the last round of rains, the soil is satiated, yet not swampy, the air is crispy clean, the temperatures have warmed up (rain moderates the extreme cold, rendering the weather more tolerable). Thus, here at Chubeza, it is officially, ceremoniously wintertime!
The generous quantities of rain expedite the growth of our veggies, which sometimes reach rather mammoth dimensions before we are able to pick them. Thus, you may come upon a huge turnip or enormous fennel bulbs in your boxes. Have no fear, my friends. Although giant vegetables can look hormone-pumped or old and tree-like – this is not the case! Those great big veggies are young over-enthusiasts who grew up too quickly and independently, with only the rain rushing them and expediting their growth. They are juicy, crispy and yummmmmmy.
This reminds me of a sweet legend from Vayikra Rabba (35, 10):
It happened in the days of Shimon ben Shetach and Shlamtzah the Queen that the rains would descend on Shabbat nights until the wheat [grew as large] as kidneys and the barley [grew as large as] the pits of olives and the lentils [grew as large] as a golden Dinar. The Sages gathered some of this produce and stored it away for generations to come…
And here is a group snapshot of one of the gangs (notice the pen to give you a feel of the proportions):
We truly hope that the showers will continue to be generous to us throughout this winter, praying that they come in well-measured quantities without causing major damage in one gushing rainstorm, for instance. But we still need to take precautionary measures, specifically in regard to hailstorms, so we’ve prepared the field by protecting the most sensitive green leaves with a cloth blanket.
Truthfully, we are talking from a somewhat egoistic perspective – don’t all plants have green leaves? And won’t they all be damaged one way or another if hail should fall? Covering the entire field seems a little over the top, which is why we need to ask ourselves if the leaves are edible (lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach etc.) or those that exist to assist photosynthesis and growth, but at the end of the day will remain in the field to re-compost in the soil…
The edible leafy plants will be covered in order to send you healthy, undamaged greens, while cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, turnips, fennel and other friends are left to confront the hail uncovered…. Of course, we do not love them any less, but do not necessarily need their leaves to be smooth and attractive.
Take a look at our field, blanketed safely under protective cloth:
And… we are already thinking about Spring in regard to the rain (wishing and hoping it continues to pour). In several weeks’ time, we will begin to plant and seed spring veggies, a formidable challenge in muddy satiated soil. Which is the reason we are currently digging and creating mounds in the field, leaving the earth wavy and high to ease the permeation. In preparation, we will be flattening out the beds, then planting and seeding as required. Keep your fingers crossed and take a look at what it looks like now:
Wishing everyone a great wintery week, and sending warm wishes of recovery to Majdi who broke his arm and will be recuperating at home over the next few weeks.
Alon, Bat-Ami and the Chubeza team
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WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S BOXES?
Monday: Fresh white or purple onions, fennel, lettuce, carrots, parsley/coriander/dill, turnips/baby radishes/daikon, cauliflower/sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, beets/kohlrabi. A gift for all: Swiss chard/kale/spinach/tatsoi/arugula
Large box, in addition: Garden peas or snow peas/green fava beans/Jerusalem artichokes, celery/celeriac, white or purple cabbage.
FRUIT BOXES: Oranges/clementinas/pomelas, apples/pears/carambola, avocados, bananas, pomegranates.
Wednesday: Fresh white or purple onions, lettuce, carrots, parsley/coriander/dill, beets/turnips/baby radishes/daikon/fennel, cauliflower/white or purple cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, kohlrabi, Swiss chard/kale/spinach/tatsoi/arugula.
Large box, in addition: Garden peas or snow peas/green fava beans/Jerusalem artichokes, celery/celeriac, sweet potatoes.
FRUIT BOXES: Oranges/clementinas/pomelas, apples/pears/carambola, avocados, bananas, pomegranates.