Seasonality at Brix: Winter
Large flakes fall forming a blanket of snow covering the town of Mount Horeb. Welcome to winter at Brix!
It may seem that there is little to no produce to be sourced in the winter months in Wisconsin. Contrary to this belief, farms produce a variety of vegetables utilizing high tunnels, greenhouses, and aquaponic systems.
Looking again to Squashington Farm, we see examples of such systems. On their new land purchased just over a year ago, Squashington has constructed a high tunnel system allowing them to trap enough heat in the winter months to grow a variety of produce. Between their high tunnel system and winter crop storage Squashington is able to produce a multitude of veggies including; spinach, lettuce mix, kale, collards, microgreens, carrots, celeriac, garlic, rutabaga, shallots, turnips, winter squash varieties, and beets!
We can also look to Mythic Farm for another example of winter vegetable production, this time in the form of potatoes! Mythic Farm, formerly known as Vermont Valley Community Farm, is a multi-generational family farm specializing in seed potatoes. They utilize cooler winter storage and a precise harvesting and cooling process to provide the best possible potatoes to local customers such as Brix.
In addition to this, co-owner of Mythic Farm Jonnah Perkins, is also the writer and producer of an abundance of videos and articles featured on Brix’s website. Her work helps Brix to capture their story and share their production methods with the community. This is yet another example of the deep rooted relationships and connectedness Brix has with their local farms and community.
In early February several Scandinavian inspired specials can be found on Brix’s menu to celebrate the local Scandihoovian Fest. Scandihoovian Fest is an annual celebration of Mt. Horeb’s Scandinavian heritage as well as an opportunity for community members to get together and avoid the post-holiday season crankiness. Dishes such as Swedish potato salad and Scandinavian meatball soup can be found on their menu to celebrate this local tradition!
A 2022 Scandahoovian special at Brix of Swedish Potato Sausage (Seven Seeds Farm & Kates Family Farm), Swedish potato salad (Mythic Farm), pickled beets (Squashington), and a cider-mustard sauce (Brix Cider). Credit: Brix Facebook
Brix’s winter chicken dish is a comforting chicken and dumplings bowl. Within this dish seasonal vegetables such as carrots, celeriac, and garlic can be found in addition to a side salad topped with microgreens. By utilizing in-season vegetables, the dish nourishes one by providing flavor that non-seasonal vegetables could not during this time of the year.
Brix’s winter chicken dish, the chicken and dumplings bowl. Credit: Brix Facebook
You may notice produce in dishes at Brix in the wintertime that could not be grown during these months. This is due in part to the creative work of Brix’s head chef, Kas. Throughout the Summer, Spring, and Fall Kas is strategically freezing and storing excess vegetables and vegetable products so that they can bring summer flavors and colors to dishes during the cold winter months.
Brix head chef, Kas Sonderberg, stands in front of the restaurant freezer stockpiled with frozen veggies to last all winter long! Photo taken by our team in an interview with Kas.