Harvest of the Month
March
Maine Protein!
Chicken Drumstick served with school garden mashed potatoes, corn, broccoli and kiwi last fall.
Protein gives us energy and helps us feel satiated.
Falafel anyone? Schools have a vegan option every day. See your school's monthly menu here.
Beans, peas and lentils are all great sources of protein.
In Portland, you can keep up to 6 chickens per lot for egg production. (Roosters are not allowed.)
American's eat about 19lbs of seafood per year compared to about 90 lb of chicken!
Look protein packed cheese curds and other local products on this month's menu!
This Month's Menu Will Feature Local Cheese Curds
Cheese curds from Pineland Farms in New Gloucester will be in a chef salad on March 16th!
Cheese Curds are a dense source of protein. They are essentially cheddar cheese that has not been aged. A very fresh cheese curd (a few days old) will squeak when you bite into it!
Check out this pasta salad recipe that uses cheese curds!
Tofu
Tofu is a wonderful source of protein and can be enjoyed in many ways. Here is the basic process of transforming soybeans into tofu:
Soybeans are soaked, ground up & boiled. From there, the curds are collected (much like cheese making) and pressed to make one big block of tofu.
Soybeans
Non- gmo and grown in Maine!
The Owners of Heiwa Tofu
(Heiwa means peace in Japanese)
Blocks of Heiwa tofu ready to be purchased
Find it in Hannafords across Maine as well as smaller groceries.
A news story about Heiwa Tofu
Heiwa's MAPLE GLAZED TOFU
We all love maple-glazed tofu and so do our customers when we bring it to sampling events! It's delicious eaten on its own, cutting it up to mix with sauteed kale and onions, or as a salad topping.
1 lb fresh tofu, cut into 3/8" to 1/2" slabs or cubes
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce
2 Tbsp maple syrup
4 Tbsp water
Mix tamari, maple syrup, and water. Heat oil in cast iron pan. Place slabs in pan and pan-fry until over medium heat until crisp and golden, about 10 minutes each side. Be patient! Pour in tamari, maple syrup, and water mixture and simmer over medium heat, flipping occasionally. As sauce begins to reduce, turn heat to low. Make sure both sides are coated and nicely glazed. Serve hot or cold.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic species for human consumption. In Maine, we farm species such as Atlantic Salmon, eastern oysters, blue mussels, scallops, varieties of clams and several varieties of trout.
Check out this video of Bangs Island Mussels located here in Portland!
photo courtesy of Zhao Qin, MIT.edu
Mussels
Mussels attach to rocks, piers and ropes using their bysall threads or "beards." These fibers are super strong and help the mussel stay anchored to where it is growing. (Kind of similar to the roots of a plant!)
In Maine, we can harvest wild mussels right from the shore and also buy them at grocery stores and fish markets.
Mussel shells can sometimes be found in compost. They add calcium and help plants thrive!
A mussel shell found in the Rowe school garden
Learn about 3 species of Maine mussels with Tidepool Tim
Thai Curry Mussels
Mussels are high in protein, vitamin B12, zinc, selenium and manganese. They are a sustainable and affordable source of Maine protein!
Fishing
Haddock
picture from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Fishing is a big part of Maine's cultural heritage and economy. The Gulf of Maine is home to a large variety of edible fish. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is a great resource for understanding the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.
Check out the Gulf of Maine Seafood Guide to learn about the best local and sustainable seafood.
Learn about trawling, a common way of catching fish in Maine.
Pogies, or Atlantic menhaden are important to the aquatic food chain in Maine. Lobsterman use them as bait and they serve as food for many other important species of fish in the Gulf of Maine like tuna and striped bass.
Atlantic Menhaden
Meet Lexi Saxton, a 14 year old lobsterman from Harpswell, ME
Maine's Fishing History
Captain Leroy shares some aquatic creatures with kids.
Eggs
Above: newly hatched chicks! Chickens will lay their first egg sometime between 16-20 weeks old.
Eggs are a great source of protein. Learn about scrambled eggs, fried eggs and huevos rancheros!
