Reminder: Thanksgiving share pick-up this Monday

If you ordered a Thanksgiving vegetable share, cranberries or pies, don't forget to come pick them up this Monday, November 25th from 2 - 6pm in the CSA barn. Looking forward to seeing many of you again before we finally put the fields to bed for the winter!

November Update: Veggies in the Diary Store, Thanksgiving Shares, and Dairy Shares

Starting this week, we have made garlic, shallots, red onions, butternut squash, buttercup squash, lettuce and spinach available in the Dairy Store for purchase. We plan to have some leeks and celeriac available this week as well. We will try to make lettuce and spinach available up until Thanksgiving, or whenever the cold finally kills them off. The other storage crops I mentioned will be available until they run out.

If you had been thinking about purchasing a Thanksgiving share, but weren't sure if it was too late, then you are in luck! We have 3 more vegetable shares available (pre-ordering for cranberries and pies has ended). If you would like to purchase a share, contact Assistant Manager Ryan Wood as soon as possible, either by calling 978-356-1655 x 24, or by sending him an email to rwood@ttor.org. Shares are $80 and are 40 lbs of vegetables. This year's share will include: butternut squash, buttercup squash, sweet potatoes, white storage potatoes, yellow and red onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, carrots, beets, parsnips, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, rutabagas, turnips, and mixed radishes. Also, unless we have some truly dramatic weather circumstances before Monday the 25th, it looks like we'll be able to offer lettuce and spinach as part of the share this year as well!

For those of you interested in expanding your CSA participation into the realm of dairy, the Dairy Store is now offering shares:

The Dairy Share program starts the week of December 16 and lasts for 13 weeks (through March 16, 2014). Shares are available for purchase and pickup at the farm Monday – Friday, 11am – 6pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 4pm.

Full Dairy Share includes two ½ gallons of milk (choice of skim, 1%, and whole), one ¼ lb. wedge of artisan cheese (your choice from seasonal selections) and one quart whole milk yogurt. The cost for 13 weeks is $210.00 for Trustees of Reservations members, $230.00 for nonmembers.

Half Dairy Share includes one ½ gallon of milk (choice of skim, 1%, and whole), one ¼ lb. wedge of artisan cheese (choice from seasonal selections) and one pint whole milk yogurt. The cost for 13 weeks is $135.00 for Trustees of Reservations members, $150.00 for nonmembers.

To learn more about the Appleton Farms’ dairy and to purchase a share, visit online www.thetrustees.org/dairyshare, call the farm at 978.356.5728, or stop by the dairy store Monday – Friday, 11am – 6pm and Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm.

Week 22: Last distribution and renewals for next season!

It's hard to believe that this is the last week of the main season CSA distribution! It's been a great year, but now it's almost time to put the fields to rest for the winter and start planning for next season. If you're having a hard time letting go of Appleton veggies for the year, there is still one more chance to stock up, as there are a few vegetable shares available for our Thanksgiving Share distribution on November 25th. Be sure to drop off your order form this week to ensure you get one.

Renewal forms for the 2014 season will be handed out this week during CSA distribution. Any forms that are not picked up this week will be mailed out the following week, so if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to update us. Please note that we have increased the price for the 2014 season by $10 to $650 for TTOR members and $705 for non-members. In working on the CSA's budget for the 2014 season with Trustees management, it quickly became apparent that a slight price increase was necessary to keep up with rising materials and labor costs. I think this small price increase still represents an excellent value to our shareholders and is very competitive with other CSAs in the area.

In order to secure a share for next season, a deposit of $325 is due by January 3rd, 2014. The final bills will go out in late April/early May of 2014. Please note, in order to receive the TTOR member discount, your membership must be valid through June 1st, 2014. If you need to make alternative payment arrangements, please contact our Office Manager Maura Mastrogiovanni at mmastrogiovanni@ttor.org.

What's in the share: Lettuce, Greens, Kale, Collards, Cabbage, Radishes (Daikon, Watermelon and Nero Tondo), Carrots, Parsnips, Celeriac, Turnips, Leeks, Red Onions, Garlic, Kennebec Potatoes (white storage), Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash.
New this week: Buttercup Squash, Shallots, Brussels Sprouts, Rutabagas.