Winter Share Pickup on Friday and December Happenings

Winter Weather Harvest
With snow on the ground, it’s finally starting to feel like winter! Despite the weather, we managed to

bunches of fresh kale

clean off the last of our covered spinach to get one final harvest for the share. We weren’t able to unearth the greens, which were mostly crushed under the weight of the snow. But luckily we have a good variety of storage crops in the cooler still.

Harvests get tricky this time of year because the vegetables will turn to mush if they are cut frozen and then allowed to thaw. So we carefully watch the weather for a few warm hours to get it done. It’s amazing how hardy and delicious the winter grown kale and spinach can be!

winter-grown spinach...delicious!

Don't Forget to bring two bags! Final Winter Share Pickup is on Friday, December 15th from 2pm to 6pm!

The share will include:

Spinach

Kale
Red cabbage
Watermelon radish
Daikon radish
Kohl rabi
Carrots
Beets
Purple top turnips
Red onions
Shallots
Garlic
Potatoes
Butternut squash
Popcorn
Tomato puree

Remember to bring two tote bags for pickup this week. If you are unable to make it, please inform us before the share happens so we can put together a box for you. We look forward to seeing you there!

- Andrew, Appleton Farms CSA Manager



  UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE FARM       

Winter is the perfect time to get cooking in the kitchen and learn some new recipes! We have an array of fantastic adult cooking classes let by Chef Carolyn Grieco with Carolyn’s Farm Kitchen. From Soups to Pot Pies, Valentines Dinner and Maple Cooking, there is so much to choose from! All classes involve hands-on instruction through multiple dishes, with a full meal at the end.

You can also get in the kitchen with our Cheese Maker Kristian Holbrook and learn how to make fresh cheese. Great last minute gifts for the holiday season!

Have some little ones in your family? We also have a parent/child Preschool Kids in the Kitchen program starting on Thursday, January 4th from 9:30-10:30AM. This is a 4 week program where we will learn a new kid-friendly recipe each session! Check our website for a full list of winter offerings and registration!

  IN THE FARM STORE                          


Lots of fantastic, locally-made items are in the Dairy  & Farm Store just in time for the holidays! Stop by to enjoy fresh samples of local goods and check out what's new. And of course, Appleton Farms award-winning cheese is on hand for all your holiday needs, from gift-giving to party-throwing.

Don't miss the Rum Cheese sampling on December 15th from 2 to 6pm for a perfect taste of the holidays!

Winter Share and December Happenings

Winter CSA Pickup on Friday!

The second winter CSA pickup is Friday December 1, from 2-6pm. Despite some cold nights, we’re still harvesting head lettuce, arugula, spinach and kale from the fields! These are hardy crops that tolerate some cold. We cover these crops with a double layer of white fabric, which traps heat from the ground and buffers the cold temperatures. In between CSA pickups, we’ve spent the past few weeks cleaning up the farm and planning for next season. Most of the equipment is put away for the season and we’re just diving into the new seed and farm supply catalogs!

The share will include:

Arugula

Spinach

Head lettuce

Curly kale

Bok choi

Green cabbage

Daikon radish

Kohl rabi

Carrots

Beets

Yellow Onions

Garlic

Sweet potatoes

Buttercup squash

Kabocha squash

Remember to bring two tote bags for pickup this week. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Store Offerings for the Holidays

We also have lots of great things for your holiday table:

• Ever So Humble Pies in 3 flavors:  Apple, Cherry, or Jumble Berry
• Fresh pumpkin pies, carrot cake, and cheesecake from Pure Pastry in Beverly
• Gluen Free Pies from the Maine Pie Co.
• Vegetables form the Farm:  onions, garlic, winter squash, carrots, kale
• Frozen Cranberries

We also have a growing offering of farm-related toys, cook books, and locally made products. 

Page Street Publishing has provided us with some fabulous food and environmental books as part of their commitment to 1% for the Planet.   Come check the titles -- there is a title for all ages at the store!  And thank you to Page Street Publishing!

Gift Certificates are also available. 

Store hours are M-F 11 am to 6 pm and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends. 

The Farm Store is also accepting donations for The Open Door Food Pantry, Beverly Bootstraps, & Toys for Tots – coupons for future purchases given in exchange for all donations.

Cheese Sampler

We are offering cheese samplers throughout December.   You can get them at the store or email Staci (szarimba@thetrustees.org ) to request an order form.   

Upcoming Events 

Sign up at the Store or on line here. 

Wed, December 6
Festive Feasting: Recipes for the Holiday Season

Fri, December 8
Cheese Making Intensive with Kristian Holbrook

Fri, December 8 and Sat December 9
The Farm Nisse  A farm elf visits the Farm!

Sat, December 16
Gingerbread Farmer Decorating & Story Hour

Thu, December 21
Winter Solstice Walk

Pre-Thanksgiving Update

Welcome Fall!

Throughout the summer this blog and email serves to help CSA members navigate the CSA schedule.   During the Fall and Winter we plan to send the blog every few weeks to let you know what is going on and help you plan your visit to the Farm.  

Store Offerings for the Holidays

Milk will be bottled on Wednesday November 15 and MONDAY November 13.  This should help make sure we have enough for your holiday needs. 

We also have lots of great things for your holiday table:

• Ever So Humble Pies in 3 flavors:  Apple, Cherry, or Jumble Berry
• Fresh pumpkin pies, carrot cake, and cheesecake from Pure Pastry in Beverly
• Gluen Free Pies from the Maine Pie Co.
• Fresh herbs from Appleton Farms and Cedar Rock Garden
• Vegetables form the Farm:  onions, garlic, winter squash, carrots, kale
• Frozen Cranberries

We also have a growing offering of farm-related toys, cook books, and locally made products.  Gift Certificates are also available. 

Store hours are M-F 11 am to 6 pm and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends.   We will be closed on Thursday November 23 and Friday November 24.    

The Farm Store is also accepting donations for The Open Door Food Pantry, Beverly Bootstraps, & Toys for Tots – coupons for future purchases given in exchange for all donations.

Cheese Sampler

We are offering cheese samplers for Thanksgiving and throughout December.   You can get them at the store or email this form to szarimba@thetrustees.org  

Upcoming Events 

Sign up at the Store or on line here. 

November 17
Giving Thanks: The Holiday Harvest Table

Sat, November 18
From the Forest: Wreath Making

Sat, November 18, December 2
From Cultures to Rinds: Cheese Making Fundamentals

Sun, November 19
REI Wilderness Survival: Winter Skills

Fri, November 24
Green Friday For The Dogs

Wed, December 6
Festive Feasting: Recipes for the Holiday Season

Fri, December 8
Cheese Making Intensive with Kristian Holbrook

Fri, December 8 and Sat December 9
The Farm Nisse  A farm elf visits the Farm!

Sat, December 16
Gingerbread Farmer Decorating & Story Hour

Thu, December 21
Winter Solstice Walk

Winter CSA Pickup 

There are still spots in the Winter and Meat CSAs.  Sign up here.  or email skelly@thetrustees.org 

Pick up is Friday November 17 from 2-6.  It includes: 

Spinach, Greens, Head Lettuce

Escarole, Bok Choi, Kale

Carrots and Beets

Radishes, Oninons, Garlic

Potatos

Butternut Squash

Apples

Week 20 - Last week of the Summer CSA

It’s hard to believe the season is nearly over! It was a cool, wet start this spring but we found our stride by mid summer, and we’ve had some really nice crops this fall. I’ve appreciated getting to know many of you in the shareroom and really enjoying welcoming everyone to the farm each week. With the season coming to a close next week, we will be saying goodbye to our full season farm crew soon. I like to extend them a huge thanks for all their efforts this season and I hope you do as well!  

Renewals for the 2018 CSA season are now open for current members. The price of the CSA & number of weeks will remain the same for 2018: $650 for the season, starting in early June and running for 20 weeks. We will continue with the same volume-based system by which members fill a canvas tote bag each week. Primary shareholders received an email this week with the link for signups. If you haven’t receive an email, please contact us at appletonfarmscsa@thetrustees.org or call 978-356-5728 ext. 4115.

Winter CSA signups are still open. A typical share features a mix of storage crops like winter squash, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, popcorn, and fresh vegetables like head lettuce, kale, spinach, and arugula. The three pickups, which feature quite a bit more volume than our summer share, are on Fridays 2-6pm in November and December: November 17, December 1, December 15. Sign up online at  www.thetrustees.org/appletonwinter

This week the share will include:

Greens

Spinach

Head lettuce

Escarole

Fennel

Kale

Collards

Rainbow chard

Radish

Kohl rabi

Cabbage

Carrots

Potatoes

Buttercup squash

Long island cheese pumpkin

Herbs - PYO

Corn stalks - PYO

Despite our best efforts to keep a good stash of scissors for the pick your own field, every week many go missing. I’d like to encourage you to bring your own scissors if you plan on picking.

Just a reminder, we only allow one pickup per week but the choice of day is up to you. If you cannot make it for one of the weeks, you can always send a friend to pick up your share for you. Please remember to bring your tote bags! The shareroom is open Monday & Thursday 2-7pm, Tuesday and Friday 12-5pm

Fall Cheese Share and Holiday Cheese Boxes 

We will be offering a shorter cheese share in November and December and taking orders for the Holiday Cheese Boxes.   We will have a few seasonal cheeses.  Details at the Store soon.  

Neil Young Cover Band, Rust Never Sleeps, Concert - October 22

Join us for our annual Down on the Farm Fall Concert Series at Appleton Farms! These family-friendly concerts will feature live music, food trucks, lawn games, and an opportunity to meet our dairy cows and farm animals. The series kicks off on Sunday, 

Bring your own picnic or purchase food from Joe's on a Roll and CopperDome Pizza.  Beer and wine will also be available for purchase from Ipswich Ale and Old Planters Brewing.

Gates open at 4pm and concert starts at 5pm. Leaf-peeping and family photo opportunities among the foliage in our historic Stone Paddock a bonus!

Cooking Classes and Private Events

Appleton Farm House is a great place to host book club or a small family birthday party.  We rent the kitchen and farm table space or can arrange a private cooking class.   Contact us:   screighton@thetrustees.org  

Trick or Treat:  Sunday Oct 29 2-4

Grab your best (non-scary) costume and join us for some trick-or-treating in the farmyard! Go for a walk through our barn and around the stone paddock to collect candy. Meet the animals, make a Halloween craft, and enjoy music, hot cider and cider doughnuts. Bring your pre-carved pumpkin from home to light up our carriage barn. Participants can vote for the "best of" in a number of categories and winners will be announced at the end of the event. 

An adult must attend with children at no additional cost. Please let us know if there are any allergies and we will do our best to accommodate with available candy. 

Like Cheese?  Learn how to make Mozzarella at home! 

Spend a morning or an evening  with Appleton’s own cheese maker, Kristian Holbrook, for a hands-on cheese making class in our farm kitchen.  You’ll learn all the basics of making soft cheeses, make your own mozzarella and ricotta to take home, and get a tour of our dairy operation and cheese caves. Kristian will cover all the basics of cheese making and teach you exactly how to make delicious fresh cheese at home. Next cleass is November 18th, but it makes a great outing for a book club!   contact screighton@thetrustees.org to arrange a special class. 

Or.... spend a day in the Creamery:  Oct 26 or Nov 10. sign up at the store or on line.

News from the Farm Store

Milk bottling on Wednesday this week.  

Now you can keep the taste of Appleton tomatoes all season long.  Our own tomato puree is now in the store. 

Alprilla flour, freshly milled in Essex, is back!   It is fresh and seasonal.   We will be ordering it weekly so let us know if you want a special order.   The flour comes in 2 and 5 pound bags.   Cornmeal will be coming later this fall.  

A&J King breads & pastries are delivered daily Mon-Sat. 

Pure Pastry are freshly baked Thursdays.  Pure Pastry product is refrigerated so keeps well through Saturday. 

We have several new items including toys and puzzles -- great farm related gifts!

Regular store hours are M-F 11 to 6 and Sat and Sun 10-4.

Week 19 - Fall Shares, Concerts, and Cooking Classes!

We had a threat of frost last week but it seemed to miss our fields. I’m yet to see any cold damage on tender plants. While many have been enjoying the mild fall we’ve had so far, including me, a hard frost could do us well. It does wonders to sweeten up certain crops like carrots and spinach, and it kills off some pesky weeds that are threatening to go to seed. For now it seems the mild weather will continue.

Our wonderful and talented share room manager, Sarah Kelly, who warmly greets all our shareholders each week and keeps the barn looking so good, is moving on to a different role within the Trustees. She will finish out the season with us in the shareroom on Thursdays and Fridays through the end of month as she takes on new responsibilities in an administration support role for our statewide Trustees agriculture team. In essence, it’s a shift from front of the house to behind the scenes, as she will continue her work at Appleton Farms helping with CSA signups, among other things. I’d like to acknowledge and thank her for the great work she’s done this summer!


This week the share will include:

Greens
Spinach
Head lettuce
Fennel
Kale
Collards
Rainbow chard
Daikon radish
Kohl rabi
Napa cabbage
Carrots
Onions
Sweet potatoes
Butternut squash
Herbs - PYO
Corn stalks - PYO

Despite our best efforts to keep a good stash of scissors for the pick your own field, every week many go missing. I’d like to encourage you to bring your own scissors if you plan on picking.

Just a reminder, we only allow one pickup per week but the choice of day is up to you. If you cannot make it for one of the weeks, you can always send a friend to pick up your share for you. Please remember to bring your tote bags!

MORE Ways to Get Great Food from the Farm

Sign up for our Winter CSA!

A typical share features a mix of storage crops like winter squash, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, popcorn, and fresh vegetables like head lettuce, kale, spinach, and arugula. The three pickups, which feature quite a bit more volume than our summer share, are on Fridays in November and December:

Sign up online at  www.thetrustees.org/appletonwinter

Meat Share will be coming to Appleton this Fall 

More info can be found here.  


Fall Cheese Share and Holiday Cheese Boxes 

We will be offering a shorter cheese share in November and December and taking orders for the Holiday Cheese Boxes.   We will have a few seasonal cheeses.  Details at the Store soon.  

Neil Young Cover Band, Rust Never Sleeps, Concert - October 22

Join us for our annual Down on the Farm Fall Concert Series at Appleton Farms! These family-friendly concerts will feature live music, food trucks, lawn games, and an opportunity to meet our dairy cows and farm animals. The series kicks off on Sunday, 

Bring your own picnic or purchase food from Joe's on a Roll and CopperDome Pizza.  Beer and wine will also be available for purchase from Ipswich Ale and Old Planters Brewing.

Gates open at 4pm and concert starts at 5pm. Leaf-peeping and family photo opportunities among the foliage in our historic Stone Paddock a bonus!

Cooking Class:  October 19th 6-9 pm  - Autumn Apple Harvest 

It’s apple season in New England and we’re honoring this favorite crop in our farm kitchen!  We’ll prepare a complete menu including both sweet & savory dishes using apples sourced from local orchards, with recipes such as Roasted Delicata & Apple Salad with Warm Honey-Lemon Dressing, Apple-Stuffed Pork Loin with Hard Cider Pan Sauce, Sweet & Sour Braised Red Cabbage and delicious Dutch Apple Kuchen.  Our workshop includes hands-on cooking, professional culinary tips & techniques, printed recipes, plus a sampling of unique heirloom apples and locally crafted hard cider! Class ends with a wonderful meal in the farmhouse dining room.  (byob beer & wine allowed).   Sign up at the Store or HERE. 

Trick or Treat:  Sunday Oct 29 2-4

Grab your best (non-scary) costume and join us for some trick-or-treating in the farmyard! Go for a walk through our barn and around the stone paddock to collect candy. Meet the animals, make a Halloween craft, and enjoy music, hot cider and cider doughnuts. Bring your pre-carved pumpkin from home to light up our carriage barn. Participants can vote for the "best of" in a number of categories and winners will be announced at the end of the event. 

An adult must attend with children at no additional cost. Please let us know if there are any allergies and we will do our best to accommodate with available candy. 

Like Cheese?  Learn how to make Mozzarella at home! 

Spend a morning or an evening  with Appleton’s own cheese maker, Kristian Holbrook, for a hands-on cheese making class in our farm kitchen.  You’ll learn all the basics of making soft cheeses, make your own mozzarella and ricotta to take home, and get a tour of our dairy operation and cheese caves. Kristian will cover all the basics of cheese making and teach you exactly how to make delicious fresh cheese at home. Next cleass is November 18th, but it makes a great outing for a book club!   contact screighton@thetrustees.org to arrange a special class. 

News from the Farm Store

Milk bottling on Wednesday this week.  

Now you can keep the taste of Appleton tomatoes all season long.  Our own tomato puree is now in the store. 

Alprilla flour, freshly milled in Essex, is back!   It is fresh and seasonal.   We will be ordering it weekly so let us know if you want a special order.   The flour comes in 2 and 5 pound bags.   Cornmeal will be coming later this fall.  

A&J King breads & pastries are delivered daily Mon-Sat. 

Pure Pastry are freshly baked Thursdays.  Pure Pastry product is refrigerated so keeps well through Saturday. 

We have several new items including toys and puzzles -- great farm related gifts!

Regular store hours are M-F 11 to 6 and Sat and Sun 10-4.

Week 18 - Warm Fall!

The season is winding down and we keep checking things off the list. This past week we did our final transplanting and greens seeding of the season, which is a major accomplishment considering we’ve been at it every week since April! The sunflowers that greet us on our way into the farm are the last of our summer crops hanging tough against the impending cool weather. The late season crops we plan for fall are going gangbusters with all the warm weather!

Sign up for our Winter CSA!

A typical share features a mix of storage crops like winter squash, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, popcorn, and fresh vegetables like head lettuce, kale, spinach, and arugula. The three pickups, which feature quite a bit more volume than our summer share, are on Fridays 2-6pm in November and December: November 17, December 1, December 15.

Sign up online at  www.thetrustees.org/appletonwinter

This week the share will include:

Greens

Spinach

Baby lettuce

Head lettuce

Radishes

Kale

Collards

Rainbow chard

Beets

Kohl rabi

Broccoli

Potatoes

Acorn squash

Golden nugget squash

Herbs – PYO

Corn stalks - PYO

Despite our best efforts to keep a good stash of scissors for the pick your own field, every week many go missing. I’d like to encourage you to bring your own scissors if you plan on picking.

Just a reminder, we only allow one pickup per week but the choice of day is up to you. If you cannot make it for one of the weeks, you can always send a friend to pick up your share for you. Please remember to bring your tote bags! The shareroom is open Monday & Thursday 2-7pm, Tuesday and Friday 12-5pm

Last Sunday Night Concert: October 22!

Join us for our annual Down on the Farm Fall Concert Series at Appleton Farms! These family-friendly concerts will feature live music, food trucks, lawn games, and an opportunity to meet our dairy cows and farm animals. The series kicks off on Sunday, 

Bring your own picnic or purchase food from Joe's on a Roll and CopperDome Pizza.  Beer and wine will also be available for purchase from Ipswich Ale and Old Planters Brewing.

Gates open at 4pm and concert starts at 5pm. Leaf-peeping and family photo opportunities among the foliage in our historic Stone Paddock a bonus!

Cooking Class:  October 19th 6-9 pm  - Autumn Apple Harvest 

It’s apple season in New England and we’re honoring this favorite crop in our farm kitchen!  We’ll prepare a complete menu including both sweet & savory dishes using apples sourced from local orchards, with recipes such as Roasted Delicata & Apple Salad with Warm Honey-Lemon Dressing, Apple-Stuffed Pork Loin with Hard Cider Pan Sauce, Sweet & Sour Braised Red Cabbage and delicious Dutch Apple Kuchen.  Our workshop includes hands-on cooking, professional culinary tips & techniques, printed recipes, plus a sampling of unique heirloom apples and locally crafted hard cider! Class ends with a wonderful meal in the farmhouse dining room.  (byob beer & wine allowed).   Sign up at the Store or HERE. 

Trick or Treat:  Saturday Oct 29

Grab your best (non-scary) costume and join us for some trick-or-treating in the farmyard! Go for a walk through our barn and around the stone paddock to collect candy. Meet the animals, make a Halloween craft, and enjoy music, hot cider and cider doughnuts. Bring your pre-carved pumpkin from home to light up our carriage barn. Participants can vote for the "best of" in a number of categories and winners will be announced at the end of the event. 

An adult must attend with children at no additional cost. Please let us know if there are any allergies and we will do our best to accommodate with available candy. 

Like Cheese?  Learn how to make Mozzarella at home! 

Spend a morning or an evening  with Appleton’s own cheese maker, Kristian Holbrook, for a hands-on cheese making class in our farm kitchen.  You’ll learn all the basics of making soft cheeses, make your own mozzarella and ricotta to take home, and get a tour of our dairy operation and cheese caves. Kristian will cover all the basics of cheese making and teach you exactly how to make delicious fresh cheese at home. Next cleass is November 18th, but it makes a great outing for a book club!   contact screighton@thetrustees.org to arrange a special class. 

News from the Farm Store

Milk bottling on Thursday this week. 

Alprilla flour, freshly milled in Essex, is back!   It is fresh and seasonal.   We will be ordering it weekly so let us know if you want a special order.   The flour comes in 2 and 5 pound bags.   Cornmeal will be coming later this fall.  

A&J King breads & pastries are delivered daily Mon-Sat. 

Pure Pastry are freshly baked Thursdays.  Pure Pastry product is refrigerated so keeps well through Saturday. 

We have several new items including toys and puzzles -- great farm related gifts!

Regular store hours are M-F 11 to 6 and Sat and Sun 10-4. Sometime we may stay open a little later, but generally we close at 6 pm.

Please remember to bring back your glass milk bottles. We generally bottle milk on Wednesday mornings, but due to the holiday, we will bottle on Thursday this week.