Week 20: Last Week of the Summer Share!

At long last, the cold weather has arrived and we’re starting to think about winter. We’re still harvesting carrots and parsnips and have things like kale and brussels sprouts for later picking, but most other crops have been harvested at this point. As we begin to wrap things up in the field, we continue to prepare for our winter share, which consists of three pickups in November and December. Sign up in the share room if you’re interested!

This is the last week of the summer share. Thanks for a great season with us and stay tuned for CSA membership renewals coming soon.

This week the share will include:

• Lettuce
• Kale varieties
• Escarole
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Radishes
• Kohl rabi
• Brussels sprouts
• Napa cabbage
• Butternut squash
• Leeks
• Potatoes
• Garlic
• Popcorn

Despite our best efforts to keep a good stash of scissors for the pick your own field, every week many go missing. We encourage you to bring your own scissors if you plan on picking.
Our hours for pickup are on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 12:30-6:30PM. We are also open for pick your own on Saturdays, 8AM-Noon. Shareholders are free to pick up their share any day that best suits their schedule, and do not need to commit to the same day each week. Additionally, shareholders do not need to tell us which day they will be picking up.

Vegetable of the week!

PARSNIPS are a root vegetable closely related to carrots and parsley. A long, tuberous root with cream colored skin and flesh, and a nutty flavor that sweetens with winter frosts. It can been eaten raw but is typically cooked. It’s a favorite roasted, steamed with butter, or cooked in winter soups. It’s rich in potassium and dietary fiber and is thought to help reduce blood cholesterol.

Roasted parsnips with rosemary

1 1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-by-2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss parsnips with oil and rosemary, then season with salt and pepper. Roast until tender and golden, about 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Farm Store News

Best wishes from the Appleton Farms Store!

We hope you have enjoyed your CSA season.  Though the barn will close for the winter, the farm store is open year round with fresh milk, cheeses, meats, eggs and local treats to delight young and old. Save the dates for these upcoming holiday festivities.

Trick or Treat with Harbor Sweets! Stop in the store on Saturday, 10/27 (as part of the Ipswich downtown trick-or-treating) and again on Halloween, 10/31 (it's a Wednesday, so you can get fresh milk while you are here) & receive a free goodie bag of Harbor Sweets chocolates with any purchase.  We will also have a bowl out with free honey candy, maple candy, fruit chews & honey sticks for all visitors. (while supplies last). 

'Tis the season to give thanks, and cheese! Sign up now for Thanksgiving cheese boxes.  We have custom made wooden gift boxes filled with delicious Appleton Farms cheeses and other goodies for $50 or $100.  Flat rate FedEx shipping anywhere in the US for only $25.  Sign up by 11/1 to guarantee availability.

Dreaming of holiday pies? Pumpkin & apple & pecan. Oh my! Pre-order your pie by 11/1 to guarantee availability.  This holiday season we are happy to feature frozen ready-to-bake pies from Bushel & Crumb and Ever So Humble Pies as well as gluten and dairy free options from Kim Gregory Pure Pastry. 

Sign up in the store or by email appletonfarms@thetrustees.org

Save the Date: Friday, November 30th 5 PM - 9 PM Appleton Farms Barnyard Holiday Market Join us for an enchanting evening in the Carriage Barn with twinkling lights, music & local vendors offering unique holiday gifts.  We will be sampling Appleton Farms signature cheeses and have holiday cheese boxes for sale.

Farm Events & Programs

Thursday, October 25, 2018

October Barnyard Story Hour

Thursday, October 25
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Appleton Farms Cheese Making Intensive

Thursday, October 25
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, October 27
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Pick your Poison Pumpkin Walk and Party

Saturday, October 27
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, October 28
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Appleton Pumpkin Trail and Smores

Sunday, October 28
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Family Fun

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, October 28
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Week 19: Acorn Squash and Sweet Potatoes!

The theme this fall seems to be rain, rain and more rain. While we’ve been privileged to some beautiful fall foliage this year, the weather has made for less than ideal conditions. The constant moisture has made it difficult to conduct late season field operations, such as digging storage potatoes and turning over spent fields to seed cover crops. It’s also made for many soggy harvests. But our willing crew has maintained a positive attitude throughout and we’re having fun nonetheless!

We partnered with Picadilly Farm again this year to provide our shareholders with sweet potatoes, a crop we do not grow here. Their farm is owned and operated by Appleton Farms’ original CSA managers, Jenny and Bruce Wooster, who many of you know and fondly remember. We are happy to continue working with them and maintain their connection here.

This week the share will include:

• Greens
• Kale
• Collards
• Kohl rabi
• Rutabaga
• Green cabbage
• Radicchio
• Head lettuce
• Carrots
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Acorn squash
• Sweet potatoes (Picadilly Farm)

Despite our best efforts to keep a good stash of scissors for the pick your own field, every week many go missing. We encourage you to bring your own scissors if you plan on picking.
Our hours for pickup are on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 12:30-6:30PM. We are also open for pick your own on Saturdays, 8AM-Noon. Shareholders are free to pick up their share any day that best suits their schedule, and do not need to commit to the same day each week. Additionally, shareholders do not need to tell us which day they will be picking up.

Vegetable of the week!

SWEET POTATOES belong to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are a root vegetable-unlike a white potato is, which a tuber. George Washington Carver, a famous scientist, developed 118 products from sweet potatoes including glue for postage stamps and starch for sizing cotton fabrics. Sweet potatoes are high in Beta Carotene and also an excellent source of copper, manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin B-6.

Melting Sweet Potatoes:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2-3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 pounds sweet potatoes, sliced 1 inch thick
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Honey, for drizzling

Heat oven to 475. Melt butter, sage, thyme, and garlic in small pot, and toss with sliced sweet potatoes, salt and pepper. Place on a large rimmed metal sheet pan and bake 15 minutes, flip, bake 15 minutes more, add broth and continue to bake until potatoes are soft and liquid is almost reduced (15 mins). Transfer to serving platter, season, and drizzle with honey.

Bonus Recipe: Sweet Potato Energy Bites
1 cup mashed sweet potato
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup raisins
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Unsweetened shredded coconut

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; stir until well combined. Place mixture in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to allow to firm up. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Scoop out a heaping tablespoon of sweet potato mixture and roll into a ball. Gently roll into shredded coconut and place back into refrigerator to firm up.

Farm Store News

Only 2 more weeks left of the CSA! Oh, dear, I hope to see all your smiling faces even after the share ends.  We will a lovely array of holiday offerings to keep you coming back into the New Year.

Trick or Treat with Harbor Sweets! Stop in the store on Halloween (it's a Wednesday, so you can get fresh milk while you are here) & receive a free goodie bag of Harbor Sweets chocolates and honey candy (while supplies last). 

'Tis the season to give thanks, and cheese! Sign up now for Thanksgiving cheese boxes.  We have custom made wooden gift boxes filled with delicious Appleton Farms cheeses and other goodies for $50 or $100.  Flat rate FedEx shipping anywhere in the US for only $25.  Sign up by 11/1 to guarantee availability.

Dreaming of holiday pies? Pumpkin & apple & pecan. Oh my! Pre-order your pie by 11/1 to guarantee availability.  This holiday season we are happy to feature freshly made pies from Bushel & Crumb, frozen ready-to-eat Ever So Humble Pies as well as gluten and dairy free options from Kim Gregory Pure Pastry. 

Sign up in store or by email appletonfarms@thetrustees.org

Farm Events & Programs

Thursday, October 18, 2018

From the Orchard: Autumn Apple Harvest 

Thursday, October 18
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

Appleton Farms Cheese Making Intensive

Thursday, October 18
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

October Barnyard Story Hour

Thursday, October 18
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, October 20
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

The Trustees present Notch Traveling Biergarten at Appleton Farms

Saturday, October 20
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, October 21
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, October 21
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Naturalist Walk: Sights & Sounds of the Farm

Sunday, October 21
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation

The Trustees present Notch Traveling Biergarten at Appleton Farms

Sunday, October 21
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Week 18: Prepping Fields for a Cover Crop

As we near the end of the share season, there’s still quite a bit of work to do in the fields. This week we continue with harvest of bulk storage crops like carrots, potatoes, and other root crops. There’s compost to spread and land to prep for garlic planting in a few weeks. Some of our late fields are needing to be seeded with cover crop for the winter. And while the cool, wet weather makes us feel like curling up inside, we continue to push through our to-do lists for at least another month before cold weather settles in. Please be sure to thank the crew for all their excellent work if you see them around them farm!

This week the share will include:

• Greens
• Head lettuce
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Daikon radish
• Kohl rabi
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Leeks
• Garlic
• Butternut squash

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

Our hours for pickup are on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 12:30-6:30PM. We are also open for pick your own on Saturdays, 8AM-Noon. Shareholders are free to pick up their share any day that best suits their schedule, and do not need to commit to the same day each week. Additionally, shareholders do not need to tell us which day they will be picking up.

Vegetable of the week!

CARROTS, the most beloved of root vegetables, is a member of the umbellifer family, which also claims celery, fennel, and parsley. This popular root vegetable is usually orange in color, although purple, yellow, and red varieties are available. Carrots can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including raw, roasted, cooked in soups, and baked in cakes to name a few. It is known to contain high amounts of vitamin A, which helps maintain vision.

Thai Carrot Soup

1 TBSP coconut oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
healthy pinch of salt and pepper
4-5 cups carrots, chopped (about one pound)
2 cups veggie stock
2 cups water, or more stock
1/3 cup creamy salted peanut butter
2 tsp chili garlic sauce
Optional Topping: Fresh basil, cilantro, or mint-- full fat coconut milk or cream-- brown sugar or honey-- sriracha

Heat 1 TBSP oil in large pot over medium heat and saute the onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and add veggie stock, water, and carrots. Bring to a low boil, and reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until veggies are tender. Transfer to blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Add peanut butter and chili sauce to blender ad combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Top with preferred herbs, creams and spices and serve with crusty bread, pad thai, or a cabbage salad.

Farm Store News

It's not too late to join for the fall cheese subscription.  The second pick up is this Friday, October 12th, featuring Valley View Farm Goat Milk Feta: pure, whole Nubian milk cheese brined a minimum of three weeks. This cheese is crumbly but smooth and full of flavor.  Pro-rated subscription for $85 if you join starting with week 2 pick up.  Or for only $100, you can still pick up week 1 as well as week 2 for a total of 6 bi-weekly cheese selections to share with friends and family throughout the holiday season. Sign up in store or by e-mail at appletonfarms@thetrustees.org.  Accepting pro-rated late enrollments throughout October.

Our shopkeeper, Becca, will be at the Rockport Harvestfest this Saturday, Oct 13th from 10 AM - 5 PM, sampling our cheeses. Please visit her booth and support a great local food festival.   

https://rockportexchange.org/programs-events/harvestfest/

Farm Events & Programs

Thursday, October 11, 2018

October Barnyard Story Hour

Thursday, October 11
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

20th Anniversary Farm to Table Dinner at Appleton Farms

Thursday, October 11
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Farms & Food

Appleton Farms Cheese Making Intensive

Thursday, October 11
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, October 13
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Rise and Shine Behind the Scenes Tour

Saturday, October 13
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, October 14
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, October 14
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Week 17: Bulk Harvesting Root Crops

The leaves are just beginning to change color in some of the low, wet parts of the farm as crop growth slows in the fields. We have ripped out most of the hot crops of summer and have put those fields to bed for winter. Cool weather crops that often thrive in October have been slow to ripen as a result of cloudy and rainy weather over the past few weeks. The change of the calendar brings slightly shorter work days and a slowing of pace. We continue with bulk harvests of root crops and begin separating garlic cloves for planting in a few weeks.

This week the share will include:

• Greens
• Head lettuce
• Spinach
• Cabbage
• Bok choi
• Broccoli
• Salad Turnips
• Carrots
• Fennel
• Yellow onions
• Potatoes
• Buttercup squash
• PYO herbs

Despite our best efforts to keep a good stash of scissors for the pick your own field, every week many go missing. We encourage you to bring your own scissors if you plan on picking.
Our hours for pickup are on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 12:30-6:30PM. We are also open for pick your own on Saturdays, 8AM-Noon. Shareholders are free to pick up their share any day that best suits their schedule, and do not need to commit to the same day each week. Additionally, shareholders do not need to tell us which day they will be picking up.

Vegetable of the week!

Buttercup squash is a popular turban type squash, with hard skin, a turban shape, and a dense, sweet yellow-orange flesh that can be eaten. Once the seeds are removed, buttercup squash can be baked, mashed, pureed, steamed, simmered, or stuffed and can replace sweet potatoes in most recipes. Buttercup squash is a good source of carotenoids and contains large amounts of vitamin C.

Buttercup Squash Coffee Cake

CRUMB MIXTURE:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons cold butter

CAKE:
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed cooked buttercup squash
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
GLAZE:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoons hot water

In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly; set aside. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in squash and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Spoon half into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Spread applesauce over batter. Sprinkle with half of the crumb mixture. Spoon remaining batter evenly over crumb mixture. Top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing sides of pan. Combine the confectioners' sugar, extract and enough water to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over coffee cake.

Farm Events & Programs

A Dinner at the Farm to Celebrate 20 Years of Trustees' Stewardship!

Join us in the Carriage Barn for a sit-down dinner and help us celebrate 20 years of the Trustees’ stewardship of Appleton Farms. This dinner will help support the mission of conservation and farm-based education at Appleton for many years to come. The evening dinner will feature our own Cheesemaker and Chef will prepare a dinner using the seasonal bounty of the farm. Music, beer, and wine will be included. Tickets are going fast so get yours today! More information at www.thetrustees.org/harvestdinner  

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Appleton’s Preschool Farm Explorers

Wednesday, October 3
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Thursday, October 4, 2018

October Barnyard Story Hour

Thursday, October 4
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Night Hike: Sounds, Stars & Smores

Thursday, October 4
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation

Appleton Farms Cheese Making Intensive

Thursday, October 4
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, October 6
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Hay Bale Hangout

Saturday, October 6
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, October 7
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, October 7
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Appleton Farms Autumn Bird Count

Sunday, October 7
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Volunteer, Outdoor Recreation

Down on the Farm Concert Series

Sunday, October 7
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food