CSA Newsletter for Week 15

Farm Update

Look at all these pretty beets!  These beets were all
bunched up and ready for their bath in preparation
for last Tuesday's drop-off! :-)

Hi everyone!  I can't believe we're already in week 15 of the CSA!  It's definitely fall out there these days, even though today was like another day of summer for us to enjoy.  We're getting to the point in the season where the weeds will be less on an issue; we're going to have one last hurrah with the weeding this week, and after that we'll likely have to pay a lot less attention to it.  Once the weather shifts into fall, keeping any plants thriving takes more work, and that applies to the weeds too.  Our fall plantings are starting to take center stage.  The carrots we planted several weeks ago will be ready to start harvesting this week, but they won't be in full force until next week.  The kale is also coming back to life, and it's the robust, hearty kale of fall instead of the lighter kale of summer.  We harvested the last of the onions last week, and they are currently drying in one of the coldframes.  This curing process will help the onions last much longer once they get to your kitchen, as opposed to freshly-harvested onions, which you have to use sooner.  We've started harvesting the sweet potatoes, and we'll have them in the shares this week!  This wasn't actually a great year for sweet potatoes, since they generally require a longer hot period than we had this year, so they might be a little smaller than we're used to.  But I do know they'll taste great!  We're also seeing increased deer pressure, which commonly happens this time of year.  Over the next several weeks, we'll start to see more deer making stupid decisions regarding fences, food sources, and crossing the road as the rut (the main mating season) begins.  
     
Another thing we wanted to let you know about is the Butternut squash this week!  We pride ourselves on providing only things we grow on our farm in the CSA shares, but this week we're making a very rare exception.  We wanted to make sure you guys got lots of yummy squash this year, and we're coming down to the end of our Butternuts, so we're going to be including some in the share this week that were grown by a friend of ours.  His name is John Miller, and he's a local Amish farmer near us, and he's also certified organic.  So you can be sure that you're getting the same high quality organic goodness from him that you get from us!  But we just wanted to let you know about it, because we want you to know exactly where your food comes from.  If you have any questions about that, just let us know!

Also, this week is the week where folks can set up tables to sell their products!  So if you're interested in setting up a table, just let me know by the day before your drop-off.  Also, bring your cash just in case you want to buy something from any of our lovely CSA members who have products to showcase.  See you all this week at the drop-offs! :-)

What to Expect in This Week's Share

If you are picking up at one of our traditional style drop-offs (Alma, Mt. Pleasant, and Midland), here’s what the options will be at the different stations.  If you have a half share, you’ll choose one item at each station, and if you have a full share, you choose two items at each station!

• Kale or green peppers
• Potatoes or cabbage
• carrots or cherry tomatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Butternut squash or beets
• Tomatoes or a bag of small onions
• Onions, microgreens, or basil

If you have a prepacked share (Midland hospital, St. Johns, Lansing, Okemos, or home delivery), here are your options.  If you have a half share, you’ll choose either share A, B, or C, and if you have a full share, you can choose two of them.  So just email me by lunchtime the day before your drop-off to let me know which share you want for this week!  If I don't hear from you, I'll just choose for you. :-)

Share A:  Kale, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, tomatoes and basil.

Share B:  2 green peppers, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, bag of small onions, and microgreens.

Share C:  2 green peppers, cabbage, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, tomatoes, and on onion.


             

Recipes

It's sweet potato season!  If you've never tried roasted sweet potatoes, this is the recipe for you!  They come out so delicious, you'll never go back to the mashed and marshmallowed variety you grew up eating at Thanksgiving!  (Or was that just me?  Either way, I'm so glad I've seen the light!) :-)