April 2024 Newsletter
Hello Mama!
Happy April! Spring is here, and we are beginning to see hints of warmer weather out in the world - spring flowers are popping up, trees are budding, and the rainy season is upon us, with a few wonderful rays of warm sunshine!
Spring is a busy time for our FarmHers. Much of the planting for this year has already been underway, and small seedlings of summer crops such as peppers and tomatoes have started to pop through the soil. Spring is abundant with fresh greens and root veggies! You’ll be seeing even more as we get into the next month. But for now, greens like lettuce, kale, herb varieties, and spring carrots are ready to eat! Fresh turnips and radishes are also nearly ready for harvest. Over here at the NWI Food Council, we are excited to dive into spring salads with these fresh, crisp greens.
Do you have a favorite spring or early season vegetable or fruit? Some of the earliest fruit we will see in our region are late May/early June strawberries! These sweet bites are such a treat. We can’t wait to share them with you this year, in addition to all the wonderful things our FarmHers are growing and raising.
Whether you are still in your pregnancy journey, have a new bundle of joy at home, or are chasing after a running toddler, it is important to continue to eat nutritious foods both for you and for your growing child, whether they are in the womb or are ready to begin solid foods around 6 months of age and beyond. We hope our recipes provide some inspiration for yummy, wholesome meals. The items in your tote are packed with nutrition and harvested at the peak of freshness for the highest nutrient content. We’ve got your health, heart, and family in mind, Mama!
Food Justice For All,
The FarmerHer to Mama Team
Anne, Anna, Porchea, Virginia, Becca, Allyssa, & Veronica
April Goodies
Eggs from Six Day Farm (Dyer, IN) and Eden Eggs (Crown Point, IN)
Ground Beef from Laird Farms (Rensselaer, IN)
Curly Kale from Green Bridge Growers (Mishawaka, IN)
Microgreens from Baby Greens Family Farm (Merrillville, IN)
Head Lettuce Variety from Tuholski Produce (La Porte, IN)
Beets from Rainfield Farm (New Carlisle, IN)
Culinary Herbs Variety from Hulitt Homestead (Portage, IN)
Carrots from Kankakee Valley Homestead (Walkerton, IN)
Maple Syrup from Four Flags Farm (Bloomfield, IN)
Foodie Tips
Eggs should be kept in the refrigerator.
Beef should be kept frozen. Thaw in the refrigerator before use.
Greens (kale, lettuce, herbs, and microgreens) should be kept in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator until ready to eat. Greens should be used within 1-2 weeks for best quality.
Carrots and beets can be kept in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. If feeding carrots to infants (such as cooked or in a puree), peel carrots before use.
Maple syrup can be stored at room temperature in a dark place such as a cabinet or pantry before opening. Once open, store in the refrigerator.
Featured FarmHer: Jan Pilarski at Green Bridge Growers
Jan is absolutely delighted to be a grower for all the FarmHer Mamas. Her grandparents, aunts, and uncles were farmers in Poland who continued farming when they came to the U.S. Her family’s background in agriculture had a big impact on Jan. She now grows with her team on 5 acres just outside South Bend. Her farm, Green Bridge Growers, grows veggies that are chemical-free and tended with great care and joy.
Green Bridge Growers has two unheated grow tunnels and what’s grown in those tunnels is tailored to the weather. Her team plants greens and kale seedlings in these two tunnels at the end of October, and the cold winter temperatures put sugar into the leaves of these plants. Besides having a nutrition boost from these fresh greens, they are super tasty! A third greenhouse uses aquaponics, where fish and lettuces grow in tandem throughout all four seasons.
Along with growing fresh food to improve food access, Jan’s farm has the dual mission of providing skill-matched employment for autistic youth and young adults. She is happy to have her son Chris work alongside her. Jan’s team thinks there is nothing better than seeing tiny seeds grow into beautiful plants that bring health and wellness to the local community. What’s grown at Green Bridge Growers comes to you with much love!
Check out Green Bridge Growers in action!
A Look Ahead
May - ground pork, radishes, turnips, green onions, green garlic, relish, spinach, eggs, and more!
Join our FarmHer to Mama Facebook Group for support, recipes, tips, & community.
Questions or feedback about the program? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Anne (info@nwifoodcouncil.org, 219-313-8828) or Porchea (porchea@nwifoodcouncil.org, 219-316-4556).