Greetings All,
It is bittersweet for me as I wrap up my weekly newsletters to you here this season. We've spent a lot of time together on these computers and phones.. I'm out taking pictures of the farm and sharing them here with you, stories of the day-to-day life on our farm, what is going great and what is a struggle.
It really does get personal; to be able to share all of the farm happenings it has to be. It's personal for Ben and I, we're poured our lives and goodwill into our farm for over a decade now and with your support we've made it work. Through the best seasons and through the worst seasons, our CSA Members and community always pull through for us. We'd like to think that we always pull through for you, too. We do our best every day to make sure we provide a great product at a great price.
We realize that farming and committing to CSA Shares aren't an investment that either party takes lightly. It only works because we're so committed to each other! The investment of our time, bodies, minds and souls from both parties. The fulfillment of this commitment to our Members can't be described in words, it is SO powerful.
*Note Ben didn't want me to use this pic bc he said his hair is too long and stupid, lol. But he can't get a haircut after the farm stand because great clips is closed by then, and he works too many long days during the week. So I told him I am using this pic anyways, because he didn't tell me I have dirt on my face, haha! So we're even, and equally silly looking :P
Thank you for enjoying the ride with us this season!! We learn more and more every season; about the produce and growing, about the handling and care, about the storage and canning for winter. The thing about food is that you can never really know too much. About how it's grown and raised, how it's handled, whose harvesting what varieties at what size; the knowledge is limitless and it's a challenge that we look forward to pursuing for the rest of our lives.
Thank you for being the most special part of our farm!! Without operating a CSA we wouldn't be able to do what we do; offer what we can and connect with so many other local families. Truly; thank you for your support!
A touch of Housekeeping
Please bring a reusable bag this week to transfer your produce into so that your CSA box doesn't leave the pick up sites. If you have boxes leftover for some reason, you can drop them off at your hosts' house when you pick up your last box of goodies. Or you could always bring them out to the Fall Sale if you're coming to the Farm on the 12th/13th.
2025 Membership- As many of you know we sell out of CSAs every season. Our Returning Members always get first dibs and you'll actually have the entire month of January to sign up for your 2025 CSA. I'll send out several newsletters leading up to and announcing the open Membership. We would love to have you join us again next season!
I also would like to let you know that I plan to send out a survey at the end of this season. It's important for us to hear back on what your thoughts are, how the season went, if there was anything that was really cool or anything we can work on. We appreciate your help in getting the most responses as possible! I will make it anonymous, and there is a spot at the end where if you want to be contacted- you can enter your email address.
THIS WEEK IN YOUR CSA SHARE YOU CAN EXPECT:
Jumbo & Family Shares: BonBon Squash (green buttercup), Pie Pumpkin, Dried Onions, Russet Potatoes, Sweet Peppers & a mystery variety!!
Single Shares: BonBon Squash (green buttercup), Pie Pumpkin, Dried Onions, Russet Potatoes, & Eggplant!
**A mystery variety in the Family & Jumbo Shares means exactly that- we have a handful of patches that we still have harvestable produce in, but we don't have any patch with enough for all of the Family & Jumbo Boxes. SO, in an effort to get you as much produce from the farm this week; you'll have to be OK with getting a surprise variety ;)
PIE PUMPKINS!
Are right at the top of our list of fall must-haves. These are a seasonal favorite that you may be surprised to know- they taste just like a squash! They're a little sweeter than most squash varieties but I'd say the buttercups are sweeter than pie pumpkins.
They also have no spice. Pumpkin spice is referring to the mixture of spices you'd use to make a pie or bread; nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. I'm sure everyone is familiar with this- it's in our pumpkin spice coffee, yogurt, granola, cheerios, twinkies, whiskey...
Literally everything has a pumpkin spice twist nowadays! To use your pumpkin, cut it in half and remove the seeds just like a squash. I always put a little olive oil on the flesh and then put it face down in a pan and cook at 350 for 20-30 minutes until it's fork tender. Once you take it out and it's cooled, scoop the flesh and measure it for your recipe! Then you'll need your pumpkin spices. Which come conveniently as 1 jar now- they pre-mix all the spices you need so you don't have to buy 4 containers!
Russet Potatoes! These are a special type of potato that lasts longer than any other type of potato. These thick-skinned potatoes fall apart while cooking and whip up fluffy and light. This makes them the ideal choice for mashing. Because they have a light, mealy texture, high starch potatoes are the best baked potato. You’ll get russets only at the end of the season because they grow irregularly so we don't pull any early.
I have a recipe for hassleback potatoes that I want to share this week- I'll add it to the newsletter!
Dried Onions! These are the onions that we're cured in the field so that they last for a very long time. We have had onions keep a whole year after we harvested and dried them, as long as they're stored correctly.
Remember, they don't like to be stored by potatoes because they emit gasses to each other that will soften the onions and cause the potatoes to get eyelets like they're sprouting.
Onions belong in everything in our house. Hopefully you enjoy these this week! If you know you want extra, there are boxes full available on our website, too.
I am sorry to source a pic from the internet but I want to get this newsletter sent out before I have to run two kids to birthday parties on the opposite end of town. I have about 3 hours worth of driving ahead of me and I don't want you to wait any longer for this newsletter! The pic below are the bon-bon squash. It's a buttercup squash so it is very sweet and the flesh is perfect for making into baked goods. Some folks like it plain, or with some brown sugar and butter in the center cavity. That's the most popular way to enjoy buttercups. The seed cavity protrudes on the bottom of the squash. There are still seeds in the center a little bit but not quite as many as a traditional sweet mama or sunshine squash (the orange and other green buttercups).
I think these have a little bit of a shorter shelf life compared to the other buttercups but it's because they claim it has more sugar in it. So it ripens faster and starts to over-ripen / soften faster. I mean it's not like they're going to go bad on you- but they won't boast a shelf life of 3 months in the basement either.
WRAPPING IT UP:
Here is a fun throw back for you guys to check out. I haven't ever shared this picture, I think. Below is "baby Ben & Jodi", when we had little babies. You can see we updated our logo from the one that's on this picture. We took these pics out on the woods at Grandpa Brown's after the season was over in 2014.
The pride that this young couple had when telling folks about our new little farm was just incredible. We were growing food, the right way, for all sorts of our family and friends, and we had our farm stand too.
10 years have gone by since this picture. If I could go back and tell myself anything I would remind myself to be gentle. We all judge ourselves harder than anyone else ever could or would. I imagine you guys are probably guilty of this too.
We can say "wow we were young and dumb" but really, we were the smartest we could have been with what we knew then.
We ALL need to love every version of ourselves. The "You" of yesterday was just doing their best. The "You" of today is doing their best. And the "You" of tomorrow will have even more insight into how to do better.
Be patient. Love yourself. Feel gratitude for the choices you made. Laugh at the mistakes you made.
Understand that life is like a garden and you get a brand new fresh chance every morning to weed out the uncertainties, water the flowers so they bloom big and bright, and fertilize it with healthy food to make you physically strong.
Love yah,
~The Farmer's Wife
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