Our first share distribution is only two weeks away! We are looking forward to welcoming all of you back to the farm on a weekly basis. Before we jump into the details about what is happening on the farm and in the fields, we want to thank all of you who attended The Trustees' 125th Anniversary Gala at Appleton on May 21st. This spectacular event welcomed over 500 guests, with 200 arriving by antique train car and stopping right where Mrs. Appleton and many family members before her flagged down the train to Boston. This event kicked off a series of celebrations for The Trustees' big birthday this year. We hope you will visit our new site www.thetrustees.org/125th to check out some fun activities, amazing events around the state, and fascinating history about the organization's founding in 1891 created to honor this exciting year.
In other news, May is the height of field trip season here at the farm and over just the last two weeks, we have welcomed 217 students from 6 different schools from around Greater Boston. The children have learned about a variety of topics from dairy farming to local food systems, Appleton’s history and cheese making. Our new Merino sheep are being extremely cooperative, allowing the children to experience the amazing wool that according to the kids feels "just like memory foam!"NEW FACES ON THE FARM:
We have new staff starting this week who we can't wait for you to meet. Ashley who was with us last year as our Education Assistant will be returning to manage the share room and our welcome center in Jimmy's Barn (the CSA Barn). Ashley will be there on each pick-up day to help answer questions about what is thriving or struggling in the fields, why some crops may have limits, when crops can be expected, help with any billing or administrative questions, and support the wonderful crew of current share room staff and volunteers.
Olivia, who has been working at the Clarke Farm in Danvers for several years after gradating from Montserrat College of Art, will be joining us to begin a public, pick-your-own flower field behind the barn. This Flower Field will be modeled after ones we have operated at other Trustees properties (Long Hill and Stevens-Coolidge Place) with a goal of offering the public a fun and family-friendly activity to take part in and something special from Appleton to take home with them. Flowers will be for sale by the stem and/or bouquet. Shareholders will continue to have their own flowers planted within the crop fields as they always have. We hope to recruit a group of volunteers who will lend a hand on Thursday mornings to weed both the Flower Field and the Shareholder flower rows. Please email Beth at bzschau@thetrustees.org if you are interested.
FROM THE FIELDS:
This past winter was fairly mild as far as the berries were concerned and beneath the cozy frost cloth, soaking up rays on that southern facing slope the Early Glow berries came off the starting block with a full head of steam. We started to see a little bit of red out there early last week but with the sudden swing to summer temperatures the berries have been ripening like crazy. “Oh no! We’re going to miss out on all those extra early berries. The CSA doesn’t start for another 2 weeks.” is what you are probably thinking but worry not! With the CSA Welcome Open House coming up this Saturday June 4th all of our CSA members are invited to attend and get a little taste of what’s to come while you’re here. Follow this link to RSVP and we’ll see you Saturday. Appleton Farms CSA Shareholder Orientation
While you are here learning all about this upcoming season, you can also sample goodies from the farm store, taste new cheeses from cheese maker Kristian Holbrook, find our about upcoming programs and events, and meet our partners from the Boston Area Gleaners.
Read on for a little more about the Gleaners and our partnership: Ever wonder how your neighbors in need might
access fresh produce grown at small farms like Appleton? Be sure to stop by the
Boston Area Gleaners table at this Saturday’s CSA Orientation event to learn
about how this local organization organizes volunteers to go around to various
farms in eastern Massachusetts to harvest surplus crops that would otherwise be
plowed under. All of the produce they glean is then distributed amongst 500+
hunger relief agencies. You can even sign up to join them in their gleaning
efforts out in the field - no commitment or experience necessary! They will
have a table from 9-noon at the CSA Member Orientation event - please feel free
to stop be to ask introduce yourself and learn more!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Flavors of the Farm Culinary Event, Saturday, June 4th | 5PM- 8PM
This once-a-year event provides an opportunity for guests to experience a behind-the-scenes farm tour of Appleton’s cheese making, dairy barn, and farm fields followed by a fabulous culinary demonstration and tasting by professional farm chef Carolyn Grieco. Using the farms’ products, Chef Grieco will pair each recipe with tastings of wine from Willow Spring Vineyards in Haverhill, Mill River Winery in Rowley, and Russell Orchards in Ipswich. Participants will learn new tips and techniques so that you can easily capture the season’s fresh flavors in your own kitchen. All guests will be given generous tasting of each seasonal dish and wine to compliment. Printed recipes and a take home gift included. Seasonal menu will include items such as Savory Herb & Cheese Custards, Radish Salad, Orecchiette with Farmstead Beef Sausage, Green Garlic, & Field Greens & Honey-Roasted Strawberry & Rhubarb Tarts with Jersey Cream. Trustees Member Adults: $80 Nonmember Adults:$100
Wild About Greens Culinary Workshop | Wednesday, June 8th 6PM
Vibrant edible greens are popping up on the farm and will be the star of this seasonal menu. Learn how to work with chard, collards, kale, and more as we create a complete menu including amazing starters, entrees, salads, and sides. Dishes such as Swiss Chard & Feta Stuffed Portobellas, Roasted Kale & Potato Salad, and Grass-Fed Beef & Black Bean Collard Enchiladas…….fantastic recipes for keeping it healthy and ‘green’ all season long! Chef Carolyn Grieco will lead this hands-on workshop including instruction, printed recipe booklet and a full meal. BYOB beer and wine are allowed. Members: $72. Nonmembers: $90
Father's Day Bluegrass BBQ | Sunday, June 19th 4PM
*NEWSFLASH- CLOVER FOOD LAB WILL BE JOINING US ON FATHER'S DAY!
*NEWSFLASH- CLOVER FOOD LAB WILL BE JOINING US ON FATHER'S DAY!
Beer, bluegrass, and BBQ; the perfect recipe for Father's Day! Bring a picnic blanket and load up the kids for a summer evening on the farm. We’ll have Heritage Truck Catering, CopperDome Crust, Clover Food Lab and Gabi's Smoke Shack providing tasty food for dinner from their food trucks, our friends from Ipswich Ale Brewery and live music by local favorite Old Cold Tater. To top it off, ice cream from Honeycomb Creamery made with our own Jersey cream. A recipe for a super time!
Your family ticket pays for parking, lawn games, cheese samples, a visit with the farm animals, and live music from 5pm-7pm. Dinner from the food trucks and beer and wine, sold on site, are not included in your family ticket price. Make sure to pre-register, these tickets will go quickly. Food and beverages are purchased directly from our vendors. Any proceeds help support our farm education programs. Trustees Members: $24 per family. Nonmembers: $30 per family.
Have you ever collected warm eggs from the chicken coop or seen how fast pigs will run for their morning helping of veggie scraps? This Saturday morning program brings families behind the scenes of our working farm. You’ll meet our cows, goats, sheep & chickens when you help with the morning chores (don’t worry, we will go easy on you!) We learn as we go and take advantage of whatever lesson the day has to offer. We conclude our farm adventure with a seasonal farm story. Registration online at www.thetrustees.org.
Fun in the Farmyard | Sundays 10am-3pm
Drop by our Carriage Barn anytime between 10am-3pm on Sundays to experience life on the farm and meet some of our friendly farm animals. Activities are partially self-guided and can include farm crafts, games, story time, playing with the goats, meeting a chicken and more. This event is free and recommended for ages 2-6, but all are welcome! FREE
P.S.- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about what's happening on the farm
Fun in the Farmyard | Sundays 10am-3pm
Drop by our Carriage Barn anytime between 10am-3pm on Sundays to experience life on the farm and meet some of our friendly farm animals. Activities are partially self-guided and can include farm crafts, games, story time, playing with the goats, meeting a chicken and more. This event is free and recommended for ages 2-6, but all are welcome! FREE
P.S.- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about what's happening on the farm
