Appleton Farms Blog: 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