Appleton Farms: Welcome to Week 6

Good morning shareholders,

This week on the farm we welcomed our new Artist in Residence, Laurie Miles.  Laurie Miles (http://lauriemilesart.com/) has been a friend of the farm and The Trustees for many years.  She knows our properties well and has long been inspired by the nature they provide access to.  Laurie's artistic process at Appleton is focused on paper making using the farm and field leftovers; broccoli and cabbage leaves, the tops of leeks, seed pods and roots left in the wake of the plow.  Laurie's weekly medium is as dependent on the harvest as what goes home in your share bag. Her process is available for all to experience in front of the Old House.  Please wander back and say hello- you won't be disappointed as both Laurie and her paper making process are absolutely wonderful. 

We also enjoyed the first week of Appleton Farm Camp!  The Little Peeps, Farmhands, and Foragers dug into farm chores, gardening, cooking in the kitchen, hiking, crafting, and plenty of sprinkler fun.  You should see these kids cook! Staff favorites included the herb biscuits (with their own homemade butter) and the zucchini muffins with a close runner up in the mini quiches with eggs and herbs collected by the campers.  We may be training the next generation of chefs AND farmers here at farm camp.

Back by popular demand, Carrot Club is back! If you have little ones, make sure to stop by and say hello to Caroline, our Farm Educator, on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 2pm-4pm. She will be in front of the CSA barn offering farm crafts, discovery stations, and more fun for the kids while you pick up your share.

 Don't forget! GARLIC HARVEST THIS SATURDAY!  BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!  9AM-NOON, MEET IN THE CSA BARN!!! 




Field Updates:
Unfortunately I’m going to be square this time around as I will be away this weekend but please come to help with the garlic harvest- it is fun for all ages.  Stop by for some or all of the morning to lend a hand. We are still waiting for any substantial amount of rain with a string of 85F days behind us and another string in front of us.  There is no doubt that this weather is having an impact on our growing season at this point but we can’t do anything except wait it out.  When the heavens finally do open up we’ll be out there dancing. -Ryan and crew

The Share
Lettuce
Chard
Scallions
Beets
Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Summer Squash
Garlic Scapes
PYO Herbs
PYO Flowers
New This Week
Fennel
Onions

The Recipe Exchange: We had some great submissions this week.  Keep them coming shareholders!

Email your favorite recipe highlighting veggies coming out of the fields to appletonrecipeexchange@gmail.com.

Spanish Gazpacho  from Kate S
This one is from her Spanish abuela (grandma) from Madrid .Very yummy and very healthy
For four - Adjust according to number of people

8 large peeled tomatoes (fresh) (peel by dunking in boiling water and cool skin peels off)
4 cored green peppers. 1 cored and diced green pepper for garnish
3 or 4 depending on size peeled cucumbers. 1 cucumber peeled and diced for garnish
One red onion diced for garnish
Slightly stale bread, cut into rough cubes for garnish
3 cloves garlic
Three tablespoons good olive oil for soup
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt
Pepper
Garlic salt

Put tomatoes, 4 peppers, cucumbers, garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper and tablespoons olive oil in mixer and blend. Remove, season to taste and chill
Drizzle bread with oil, garlic salt and salt and pepper and bake to make croutons
Garnish soup with croutons, teaspoon of onions, peppers and cucumbers.


Lettuce and Broccoli Soup from Betsy M. who warmed out hearts with this quote at the end of her recipe: "It is wonderful to be part of the Appleton Farms community!"

This is a recipe that uses only CSA ingredients, except for the oil & water, salt & pepper. ..        
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 scallions
2 garlic scapes
1 cup lettuce, chiffonade
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/2 cup lightly chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Chop scallions and scapes. Saute scallions and garlic scapes for about 2 minutes. Add broccoli stems, then lettuce. When lettuce is wilted, add 4 cups of water (broth/ stock optional) . Boil until broccoli is tender but not soft. Use an immersion blender or blender to "cream" the soup.
This is delicious hot or cold. Dollops of sour cream or yogurt could be added.

From the Farm Store:
We have pastured heritage chickens from Eden Pond Farm back in stock as well as mozzarella, ricotta and burratta just in time for basil picking season.  Know of something that you’d like us to carry?  Please let the shopkeeper know. We are always looking for new products.

Upcoming Events:

Meet the Machines Summer Picnic | Sunday, July 24th from 4pm-7pm
Balers and bucket loaders and harrows, oh my! Pack a picnic and spend a summer evening at Appleton Farms meeting our machines. You'll get to climb aboard backhoes, check out manure spreaders and try out the view from our tractors. Afterwards, enjoy live music and your picnic brought from home in the stone paddock. When you’ve gotten your fill of machines try your hand at some lawn games or get your face painted! Also make sure to say hello to our goats, sheep, and bunnies in the barnyard.  Limited picnic tables will be available, but feel free to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. We'll have free lemonade and water available for all. Top it off with ice cream for sale from Honeycomb Creamery, made with our own Jersey cream.  Member family: $24. Nonmember family: $30. Register online at http://bit.ly/29DlaNR

Graze the North Shore Food Festival  | Saturday, August 20th from 6pm-9pm
 Graze your way through this one-of-a-kind summer event featuring generous tastings of local food, beer and wine, a pig roast, farm tours, cheese sampling, and live music by the Jason Spooner Band. Attendees will experience a true farmer to chef experience among the rolling pastures and historic barns here at Appleton Farms.  Members: $40. Nonmembers: $50.
Restaurants:Grassy Roots, Wenham, Eva's Butcher Shop, A & B Burger, Beverly, Foreign Affairs, Manchester,  Vidalias, Beverly Farms, Pastaio Via Corta, Gloucester  With more joining each day!
Breweries and Vintners:Old Planters, Beverly, Newburyport Brewing Company, Newburyport, Alfalfa Winery, Topsfield, Far From the Tree, Salem, Ipswich Ale, Ipswich, 1634 Meadery, Ipswich