Week 13
It’s starting to feel like fall with shorter days and cooler weather. Although we will continue to pick tomatoes, the huge harvests are behind us now. We spent quite a bit of time harvesting a good crop of winter squash this week. Most of it out of the field now, binned up and curing in the greenhouse. It takes a couple weeks of warm, dry conditions to toughen up the skins for longer term storage and to improve the eating quality of the fruit.
Although there are two more months of CSA pickups, it’s time to start preparing some of our land for next year already! We started spreading compost on some our early planted fields to improve fertility and build organic matter. Over the next two weeks, any of our land without a crop will be seeded to a winter cover crop. These crop will be grown in the fall and early spring with the intention of being plowed in to protect and enrich the soil. We seed mixed species but try to include at least one legume, which enriches the soil with nitrogen and reduces our fertilizer input needs. A healthy farm starts with healthy soil.
This week the share will include:
Greens
Lettuce mix
Rainbow chard
Bok choi
Fennel
Beets
Beets
Peppers
Onions
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Zucchini
Yellow Squash
Cherry tomatoes - PYO
Hot peppers - PYO
Herbs - 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
News from the Farm Store
Milk bottling on Thursday this week.
We would like to know more about what you like about our milk. Click Here to take our very short survey. (sorry the link did not work last week - thanks to those of you who tried).
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.
We are looking for one or two shopkeepers. If you know of anyone who would like to join the team in the store on a part-time basis, please have them apply by sending an email to screighton@thetrustees.org .
Please remember to bring back your glass milk bottles. We generally bottle milk on Wednesday mornings and it is ready in the store on Wednesday mid-afternoon. THIS WEEK IT WILL BE BOTTLED THURSDAY.
CSA Staff Profile:
Meet Leah Jurman, CSA Assistant Manager . This is Leah's 3rd year at Appleton and she lives on the property with her boyfriend and dog, Ruby. She loves farming because she is fascinated with systems biology and loves to eat. When she is not working, Leah volunteers for Sweet Paws Dog Rescue.
Upcoming Programs and Events:
Friday Night Dinners: Join us for dinner by Chive and music in the Stone Paddock. The family-friendly dinners feature food grown or raised on our farms (as well as other local area farms.) Dining on the farm is one of the best ways to enjoy the flavors of the season! Ticket prices include full dinner buffet, non-alcoholic beverages, and dessert. Beer and wine is available for purchase.
We do limit the numbers and some dates are filling up so Sign up now!
Sunday night concerts start Sept 24.
Are you a runner? September 23rd's Run for Amy is a great way to see the Great Pasture as you run a 5K or 10K. The run is in memory of Amy Foster and will benefit Dana Farber and Appleton Farms.
Haybale Hangout
Every Saturday 10AM-2PM Member Child: $5 Nonmember Child: $10Join us at Hay Bale Hangout and spend the day at Appleton Farms. Stop by anytime between 10AM – 1:30PM for fantastic farmyard meet and greets! Hands on activities start at 10AM and run every half hour. Once you’ve paid, stay for an hour or all day! Cash only please. No additional cost for adults.
