Wednesday, September 26

Week 17


The increasing scarlet and yellow tints around the meadows and the river remind me of the opening of a vast flower-bud; they are the petals of its corolla, which is of the width of the valleys. It is the flower of autumn, whose expanding bud just begins to blush. 

Henry David Thoreau          September 26, 1852

Got a bit nippy one morning this week, so I broke down and provided the fire worshipers in the family their first flash of flame for the season.  Soon that will become a daily habit.

In the meantime, a crop seeded all the way back in late July is finally being harvested: Napa cabbage
Here's a simple, quick and delicious way(I made it twice this week!) to prepare as a side dish or for lunch: Roasted Napa cabbage

The cabbage heads grew so beautifully I've kept some of the outer leaves on many of the heads--use them too.  If you're intimidated by the cabbage, you may choose Red Russian Kale instead...

Also in the share this week: golden beets, chiogga beets, or turnips; pea shoots; tangy mix of microgreens; salad mix; beautiful Bubblegum Chard (my first time growing this) or spinach; and  apples.  Take more garlic for a bonus, if you'd like.

I've been battling chipmunks for the apples--I've trapped 5 this week (re-located to a lovely 100 acre estate)--but they just keep coming.  On CSA day, there should be enough traffic to deter them, but if you see any gnawed apples, well, you know what happened.  I'm now keeping the apples in the double fridge during the week...

Hans brought more pork by earlier in the week, and it's been going fast.  Should still be some left tomorrow.

I picked the last of the peppers today...we'll be prepping that area for the garlic we will plant in mid-October.

The winter squashes are curing, and will be showing up in following weeks.

I'm closing the Garden gates at 7:00 p.m. now.  It's fully dark, and I need to keep the deer out.  If you can't make it by 7, please feel free to come Friday or Saturday...just let me know.

Thanks!
     

Wednesday, September 19

Week 16!


Wind that is in orchards
     Playing with apple-trees
Soon will be leagues away
     In the old rookeries.
Vaguely it arises,
     Swiftly it hurries hence: --
Like sudden beauty
     Blown over sense:
Like all unheeded
     Beautiful things that pass
Under the leaves of life,
     Just touching the grass.
F. W. Harvey
 
 
Order of business #1:  I'm pleased with fall crops, so I'm happy to open up the fall share to summer members who would like to join.  I think I can accommodate 12 more, so first come, first serve!  Let me know as soon as possible by sending me an e-mail.  Thanks!

Order of business #2: Appleridge Farm will be providing 40 lbs. of beef in various forms--there is a flyer at the farm stand with details.  Hans will get me the price for this very soon.  Again, shoot me an e-mail if you are interested.
 
This week's share:  onions, peppers (next week is last week for peppers!), choice of kale or arugula or baby tat soi, outrageously tangy radish microgreens, potatoes (unwashed!!!--haven't been pleased with keeping quality after washing), garlic, a head of lettuce (same as last week--fantastic variety!) and a choice of 5!!! varieties of apples.

Enjoy!


 

Wednesday, September 12

Week 15!!!


"The moment has come when everything stops
to ripen. The trees in the distance are quiet,
growing darker and darker, concealing fruit
that would fall at a touch. The scattered clouds
are pulpy and ripe. On the distant boulevards,
houses are ripening beneath the mild sky."

Cesare Pavese

There have been hints of what was coming all along, of course, but still...after a summer like this, it's a bit of a shock to be wearing a sweater and a jacket to harvest turnips at 6 in the morning. 

If, like me, you refuse to turn on the furnace or fire up the wood stove before October, roasting vegetables is a great way to generate a little heat...Turnips and potatoes roast beautifully together, and the method is simple: Roast turnips and potatoes.

I prefer to add at least an entire head of garlic, and I prefer the vegetables caramelized...but no matter how long you roast them, they taste great.

Tomatoes are in the share this week, but are winding down quickly.  The field tomatoes were beat up badly by the recent heavy rains, but the hoop house tomatoes continue to ripen.

I found a wonderful beekeeper at the Dutchess County Fair and I visited his farm this week.  We now sell his raw buckwheat, linden, and wildflower honey.  We also have his Hive Mixture, a magical elixir of honey, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly.  Have a spoonful a day for a long and healthy life!


If you ordered pork from Appleridge, please track me down...I should be available all day.  There will be some extra pork available, too.  Hans is also taking orders for Thanksgiving turkeys, and there is a sign-up sheet at the stand.

Honeycrisp apples have been in very short supply...I have a box, but had to pay up for them.  Other apples are in the share.

This week's share:

Salad mix or head of lettuce
Swiss chard
Potatoes
Pint of cherry or heirloom tomatoes or 1.5 lb heirlooms
Basil
Turnips
Apples/pears or plums

We have wonderfully dried, aged firewood for sale--a mix of oak, maple, ash, black birch, and elm.
$225/cord, $125/half cord/ $75 quarter cord.  Let me know if you need any.


 


Wednesday, September 5

Week 14!!!


Tomato 'Great White'

No joke: this is peak tomato week.  Production will drop off sharply from here on out.  Load up.  Eat well.  Enjoy.




Oh heck: when in doubt, have a tomato sandwich:  good bread, toasted; a bit of mayonnaise; heirloom tomatoes, thickly sliced; salt and pepper.

"Eating is an agricultural act!"  Wendell Berry

So, this week's share: tomatoes, turnips or leeks, beets, pea shoots, salad mix or heads of lettuce, zucchini or patty pan or potatoes, apples (Gala or Macintosh) and/or pears, or plums.  Garlic...you need garlic?  Take some garlic!

Please let me know if you have to make it later in the week!!!  

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