Week 16: Cooler Weather and Sunshine Squash!

As we have officially arrived in the fall season, our efforts focus on bringing in bulk harvests of storage crops like carrots and potatoes. These are crops we begin to squirrel away for late fall and winter CSA pickups. While we have been enjoying cooler weather, all the rain and constant humidity has been a challenge for us in our brassica field (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) this fall. These crops are much more likely to contract fungal afflictions when the foliage doesn’t dry during the daytime. Unfortunately, a recent six day stretch of rainy and foggy weather has facilitated the spread of a dreaded plant disease called alternaria through the field. However, we are happy to continue to harvesting beautiful greens this week and to be distributing a wonderful, bright orange kabocha squash called sunshine!

This week the share will include:

• Arugula
• Baby kale
• Braising mix
• Radish bunches
• Brussel sprout tops
• Collards
• Bok choi
• Broccoli
• Beets
• Fennel
• Red onions
• Potatoes
• Sunshine kabocha squash
• Garlic
• 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!

Collards, a member of the brassica family, are grown for their large, dark colored edible leaves. These greens are a staple of Southern cooking in the United States and are often featured in African, Portuguese, and Brazilian cuisine. For nutrition, collard greens contain large amounts of vitamin K, and moderate amounts of vitamins A & C, and manganese.

Kenyan Braised Collard Greens and Ground Beef (Sukuma Wiki)

1 tsp olive oil

1/2 onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 lb 90% lean ground beef
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 bunch (8 leaves) collard greens, stems removed sliced into 1-inch strips

½ pint tomatoes

1 tsp lemon juice

Saute onion in olive oil for four minutes. Add garlic and jalepeno, cooking one minute more. Add ground beef and seasonings, cooking until browned. Stir in collard greens and tomatoes and cook for four minutes. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Farm Store News

UPDATED FOR BREAKING NEWS regarding Wolf Meadow Farms

We are happy to welcome back Voula, the proprietor of Dancing Goat Olive Oil, this Friday afternoon sampling her delicious fresh-pressed olive oil made with love and sunshine-filled Koroneiki olives.  Already a fan?  Gallon size jugs will be back in stock, and this weekend only, on sale for $100.  Pre-order yours at appletonfarms@thetrustees.org to ensure availability.

First fall cheese subscription pickup is this Friday, September 28th, featuring hand-crafted, artisanal Italian Molisani cheeses made in the old-world caseificio tradition by Luca Mignogna at Wolf Meadow Farm in Amesbury, MA. We are sad to pass along the news that Wolf Meadow Farms is closing its doors on September 30th.  We hope they will reopen in a new location in the future, but for now, this will be your last chance to enjoy Wolf Meadow cheeses at Appleton Farms.

It's not too late to join for the fall cheese subscription.  For only $100, you get 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. 

Farm Events & Programs

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Appleton’s Preschool Farm Explorers

Wednesday, September 26
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Hike for Beer

Wednesday, September 26
Appleton Farms Grass Rides, Appleton Farms
Hamilton | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Farms & Food

Friday, September 28, 2018

Appleton's Friday Farm Dinners with Bonne Bouche Caterers

Friday, September 28
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, September 29
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Hay Bale Hangout

Saturday, September 29
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore
Family Fun, Farms & Food

Earth Oven Bread Culinary Workshop

Saturday, September 29
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food, Lectures & Workshops

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, September 30
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, September 30
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Week 15: Shorter Days and a Focus on Soil Health

As the days get shorter, the crew has been enjoying cool mornings and more pleasant work weather. But recent cloudy days and persistent moisture has promoted the spread of unwanted plant disease that is very difficult to control. We do what we can to facilitate air flow in crops by planning field orientation with prevailing winds, using appropriate crop spacing, controlling weeds, and using mulches. Even more important, we devise our plans to rotate crops out of fields for at least four years so that disease in the soil disappears before we reintroduce a susceptible crop. However, our main fields have been intensively cropped for many years and proper rotation isn’t always possible on our current land base. This summer we have been working with others at the farm to repurpose a small field behind the dairy to help alleviate some of our crop rotation issues. We are thrilled to have a deal in place to grow on that parcel and excited to be able to put effort into soil-building in some of the depleted parts of our main field. There will be more to come about the new field as we proceed.

This week the share will feature:

• Arugula 
• Collards
• Curly kale
• Head lettuce
• Escarole
• Carrots
• Peppers
• Leeks
• Potatoes
• Delicata squash
• PYO herbs
• PYO sunflowers

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!

Delicata squash is a type of winter squash with very sweet taste and a delicate peel that many people eat with the flesh. Unlike most winter squash, this type of is easy to cut and prepare. These cream colored fruits are excellent roasted or stuffed and are a favorite to many. Like other winter squash, it’s a good source of fiber and potassium, vitamins B & C, and magnesium.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Garden Herbs

2 large delicata squash

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup sage and rosemary sprigs

Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 425 F. Cut delicata squash crosswise, remove seeds and slice into half inch rounds. Arrange squash in single layer on baking sheet and sprinkle with herbs. Brush both sides of squash and herbs with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until squash are golden brown on bottom, 15 minutes. Flip and roast until tender, about 5 minutes more.

Farm Store News

A message from Appleton Farms store manager, Staci Zarimba:

As we welcome Autumn, I wonder, "Where did the summer go?" I spent mine in the haze of newborn baby bliss.  On July 2nd, we welcomed our baby girl, Luna Bella, to the world. Now 10 weeks later, I am pleased to return from my maternity leave to my Appleton family.

A big thank you to Kate Kennedy, our office manager, for keeping the store fully stocked & staffed during my leave & for providing our customers with their favorite cheeses each week.  The last pick up for the summer cheese subscription is Friday, September 14th.

If you enjoyed your summer cheese subscription or are sad you missed out on the fun, please sign up for our fall subscription.  It begins seamlessly in 2 weeks - first pick up on Friday, September 28th with a total of 6 cheese selections available every other week for only $100. Sign up in store or by e-mail at appletonfarms@thetrustees.org.

Farm Events & Programs

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Appleton’s Preschool Farm Explorers

Wednesday, September 19
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Summer Food Swap

Thursday, September 20
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Farms & Food

Friday, September 21, 2018

Appleton's Friday Farm Dinners with Bonne Bouche Caterers

Friday, September 21
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Hay Bale Hangout

Saturday, September 22
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

REI - Local Landscape Photography

Saturday, September 22
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Outdoor Recreation, Lectures & Workshops

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, September 22
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, September 23
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, September 23
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Down on the Farm Fall Concert Series

Sunday, September 23
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Family Fun

Week 14: The First of the Winter Squash

A couple cool nights and it suddenly feels like fall. The shift in weather is fitting because this week we start harvesting some treasured cool-weather crops like broccoli and collards. We will also start doling out the first of our winter squash harvest. This week we will get our last round of transplants in the ground and continue putting summer fields to rest. Cover crops seeded in August are looking good so far, adding wonderful waves of green to the farm. There are still a couple rounds of sunflowers to remind us that summer isn’t quite over yet.

This week the share will include:

• Mixed greens
• Head lettuce
• Kale varieties
• Collards
• Broccoli
• Sweet peppers
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Spaghetti squash
• PYO herbs
• PYO sunflowers

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!

Spaghetti squash is a winter squash that is beloved as a gluten-free, pasta substitute and a delicate flavor that pairs well with a variety of foods. Its yellow flesh is solid when raw, but falls away like ribbons or strands of spaghetti when cooked. Spaghetti squash is low in calories and contains many nutrients, including folic acid, potassium, vitamin A, and beta carotene.

Spaghetti Squash with Garlic

1 Spaghetti squash

2 Cloves garlic

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 400 F. Prick spaghetti squash with fork in several places and bake until soft to touch, about one hour. When cool enough to handle, cut in half, scrape out seeds, and tease flesh into strands. Saute garlic in olive oil on low heat for a few minutes. Then add squash, tossing until very hot. Makes a great substitute for pasta in recipes with marinara sauce or tomato sauce.

Farm Events and Programs

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Appleton’s Preschool Farm Explorers

Wednesday, September 12
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, September 16
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Family Farm Day: Fall Festival at Appleton Farms

Sunday, September 16
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Seasonal Celebrations, Family Fun, Farms & Food

Come celebrate the fall harvest with some good old-fashioned fun on America's oldest working farm. Grab your friends and family and join us at Appleton Farms for our annual Family Farm Day!

Visit with our farm animals, paint your own pumpkin, learn about beekeeping, challenge your friends at the potato spoon relay or hay obstacle course, and make sure to enjoy a pony ride! Looking for more? There are old-fashioned games like tug-o-war, crafts, face-painting, farm tattoos, and live music. Hop on the Hay Ride and go for a spin around the farm! 

All this activity will surely have you hungry for some fresh-from-the- farm food. Visit the food court where you will find our own 100% grass-fed burgers and local food trucks. Snacks, drinks, and dessert will include ice cream,  Pure Pastry, cider donuts, popcorn, Mojo cold-brewed coffee, and lemonade.

Admission includes everything except food and beverages. This event runs rain or shine. Admission fee is per car.  Trustees members don't forget your membership card to receive discounted admission. Not a member yet? Join at the event and receive a free Appleton t-shirt plus $10 off a family membership! (Promotion available at the event only). See you there!

Week 13: Harvesting a Beautiful Crop of Fall Greens!

August is in the books as we stare down another heatwave. While hot crops have been thriving, we’re hoping the weather will cooperate for our first succession of soon to be harvested fall broccoli. High temperatures can do funny things during early head formation and there’s not much we can do about it. We are nearing the end of tomato season and are finally pulling in the last of what has been a wonderful melon crop. With half our winter squash crop curing in the greenhouse, we will continue to clear the field of late ripening varieties. This week we’re excited to be harvesting the first of what looks to be a beautiful crop of fall greens! While the recent hot weather has been a challenge, our wonderful crew is maintaining a positive attitude and staying focused on growing high quality vegetables. I so appreciate all their efforts and hope you do too!

This week the share will include:

• Arugula
• Baby kale
• Bok choi
• Head lettuce
• Rainbow chard
• Beets
• Carrots
• Sweet peppers
• Tomatoes 
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Watermelon
• PYO herbs
• PYO tomatoes
• PYO flowers

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!

ARUGULA, also commonly called rocket, is a member of the brassica family used as a leafy vegetable for its peppery flavor. It grows quickly in cool weather and is harvested when it’s young. For nutrition, it contains folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin, K, and lutein. Arugula makes a delicious addition to salads or mixed greens and is great in soups, sauteed vegetable dishes, quiches, stir fries, pizza and pasta. It can also be used raw in place of basil for a spicier pesto.

Pasta with potatoes, rocket, and rosemary

1 pound potatoes

½ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper

½ pound rocket

1 small onion, sliced

6 cloves garlic, chopped

1 sprig rosemary,

¾ pound penne pasta

½ lemon

Preheat oven to 400 F. Slice potatoes ⅓ inch thick, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on baking sheet in single layer, roasting until golden brown (15 minutes). Boil large pot of salted water for pasta. Meanwhile, saute onions in olive oil until soft. Lower heat and add potato slices, garlic, and chopped rosemary. Toss together for a couple minutes. Drain pasta when done, add potatoes and onions along with the rocket. Add juice of ½ a lemon and toss everything together. Drizzle with a little olive oil and serve.

Farm Events & Programs

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Appleton’s Preschool Farm Explorers

Wednesday, September 5
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Friday, September 7, 2018

Appleton's Friday Farm Dinners with A&B Burger

Friday, September 7
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Hay Bale Hangout

Saturday, September 8
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Saturday, September 8
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Wagon Rides at Appleton Farms

Sunday, September 9
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Outdoor Recreation, Farms & Food

Meet a Dairy Farmer

Sunday, September 9
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich | North Shore

Family Fun, Farms & Food