LUNENBURG — Since 1942, members of the Violette family have worked their farm — in sunshine, clouds, rain and fog. This time of year, when “June is bustin’ out all over,” residents flock to Lunenburg’s beloved “Dick’s Market Garden” farmstand. And I’m among them — usually with salad on my mind.
Third-generation farmer, Steve Violette recently spoke to “Family Recipe Box” and explained that his grandfather, Albert Violette bought the farmland in 1942. “He was more into lumber sales, pig farming, and plowing.”
Albert’s son, Dick Violette attended Stockbridge School of Agriculture in the 1950s, and returned home to work the land. And in the early 1960s, the family sold off the major part of the farm (bought by the Lanni family, who continue farming and running a farmstand), opened the Market Garden in 1962 and built a small farmstand.
Dick’s son, Steve went to Stockbridge School of Agriculture in 1983, and when he returned, his father “ran the plywood business, and I ran the farm stand business with my mother.” (Residents of a certain vintage may remember the soft, lilting voice of Mary Scully Violette who came from County Claire, Ireland.)
‘Going strong’
Back in the 1990s, I was a regular at the Central Square, Cambridge Farmers’ Market and one autumn was delighted to find that “Dick’s Market Garden” had a table bursting with greens, tomatoes, and everyone’s favorite, local corn.
What a wonderful reminder of my beloved hometown of Lunenburg! Back then, Steve told me the farm had expanded the varieties of crops and was a regular at urban farmers’ markets. Thirty years later, every day of the week, he drives a truck east to bring fresh produce to many city dwellers.
“We’re real proud of that,” he explains. “We’re still going strong in Central Square, Newton, Watertown, and Arlington.” On Fridays, you’ll find him in Copley Square, on Saturdays in Waltham, and Worcester, and on Sundays, “we work with the housing authority in Quincy and do a market for the Asian market,” he says. “We try to work with consumers on all economic levels.”
And he grows greens that are beloved to a wide variety of residents, such as Callaloo which “for the Jamaican community it’s one of their mainstays. It has a higher iron than kale.” He also grows Lalo, “which is popular with the Haitian community. It’s more like okra in flavor.”
When you visit Dick’s Market Garden in Lunenburg, wander into the greenhouses behind the farmstand, for an adventure in many plants and flowers you may not have seen before. Adventure is a theme Steve identifies with deeply.
“Somebody recently was talking to me about having a life of adventure,” he says. “Whether going out sailing, or hiking or a cross country trip on a motorcycle. Every day when I wake up and do farming, it’s fulfilling in that way. You don’t always succeed all the time. I enjoy the challenge of growing vegetables. I love when we get to the point of growing something someone eats.”
‘Mizuna, Tomatoes and Garlic Scapes’
Tomatoes are grown in a local green house, and he recommends the Geronimo tomato. “It’s a little firmer than outdoor tomatoes and most people say it has a nice juice content.” Smaller tomatoes, such as the cherry, Juliet, Sungold and Grape tomatoes are coming, “and we’re also growing a yellow grape tomato called Nova.”
One corner of the Market Garden is a leafy green jungle with kale, chard, arugula, and a delightful green new to me called Mizuna.
“That’s a nice salad green, meant as a fresh green,” he explained. “It’s a mild mustard green and we have it as green and red Mizuna. If you’re buying a loose leaf lettuce it’s got a little bit of spice and sharpness which I like. Put it in a sandwich instead of lettuce,” he advises. “And some people will cook pasta and put Mizuna cold on the pasta and then it will wilt onto the pasta.”
Another green that may not be familiar to folks are garlic scapes — small bulbs with a long, dark green stem. “That’s a seasonal item,” says Steve (recipe below).
But don’t miss the strawberries, which come in quart boxes, and melt in your mouth. “I was impressed with the flavor this year with the strawberries,” he said, adding that he’s also growing a variety which will finish later in the season.
Speaking of which, so far the weather is working in the farmers’ favor, and a wet May is giving way to a dryer June, which — it is hoped — will not be too hot. “When it gets to the mid 90s and high 90s it can bang up the strawberry crop,” he says. “I’m impressed with the flavor this year. They’re nice and sweet but a little bit of tart — and they’re coming in quick!”
Steve’s Easy Garlic Scapes
Ingredients:
Bunch of garlic scapes
Olive Oil
Pepper
Directions:
“I cook them like asparagus, coat with olive oil and pepper and bake them. They remind me of asparagus.” He also recommends ‘scapes “Anywhere I’d use garlic, like with zucchini and tomatoes. Some people make a very nice pesto with the,” — Steve Violette
Caprese Salad
Ingredients:
Sliced tomatoes or halved grape tomatoes
Sliced basil
Mozzarella cheese
Dressing
Pepper
Directions:
This is the salad that looks like the Italian flag: red, white, and green. Steve likes Feta cheese instead of the Mozz’ and you can also add a light balsamic glaze.
Strawberry salad
Ingredients:
Quarter red onion
Bunch of Mizuna
Half cup of strawberries
Directions:
Wash, slice strawberries and put atop chopped Mizuna. Sliver the red onion into the tiniest slices. Dress as desired.
Visit Dick’s Market Garden, 649 Northfield Rd., Lunenburg (just off Route 31). Open 8 am to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week, EBT and HIP accepted Flowers to plant, and hanging planters available; along with plants for home gardeners. Visit: dicksmarketgardens.com or call 978-582-0400.
Sally Cragin would love to read your family recipes and stories. Write to: sallycragin@gmail.com
Fresh tomatoes and cucumbers get high marks from our family — fresh off the vines. (SALLY CRAGIN)
Don’t miss the greens at Dick’s Market Garden — dark leafy greens are full of vitamins and nothing beats the fresh taste. (SALLY CRAGIN)
Dick’s Market Garden farmstand has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables just coming into season. (SALLY CRAGIN)
Sally Cragin is an award-winning writer/journalist and Fitchburg City Councilor-at-Large. (CHERYL CUDDAHY)
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