CSA Newsletter forWeek 18

Farm Update

Right now, most of the crops growing
in the fields are fall veggies like these
carrots, because the summer vegetables
have been put to rest for the year.

Hi everyone! This is definitely a week where you win some and you lose some.  We were able to turn under a lot of ground that used to be planted with onions, and we've planted a cover crop of rye on those plots.  That will help the soil to store up nutrients throughout the winter and spring, and we'll have stronger soil to plant in when again it is the season for planting.  On Thursday and Friday we were able to get the rest of the sweet potatoes out of the ground and safely into the barn before the ground starts to freeze, so we're glad to have them stored up in the barn and ready to bring to the CSA drop-offs!  We've also been pretty successful at keeping the deer out of the farm and away from our veggies this week.  The downside is that the almost incessant rain and cold have really caused a lot of our crops to go downhill quickly.  While many of the crops are turned under and put to rest for the year, some of the vegetables that are still in the field are really struggling.  We have several successive plantings of carrots that do not seem to be growing in size, which confounds us to no end.  The Brussels sprouts are late in becoming ready to harvest, but they should start trickling in next week or so.  It feels like fall came upon us really quickly, and most of the summer crops dried up almost overnight.  So now is the time to really embrace the root vegetables, squash, and hearty greens of autumn!  The list of what we'll have have in the shares this week reads like a menu for Thanksgiving dinner!  So bring out your autumn decorations, pick up some apple cider, and put the extra blankets on the beds.  Because ready or not, fall is here!

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!

• Sweet potatoes or beets
• Potatoes
• Squash or a bag of small onion
• Surprise veggie
• Cabbage, kale, or cooking greens mix
• Radishes, turnips, or 2 peppers
• Onion, garlic, or microgreens

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:  Sweet potatoes, potatoes, butternut squash, surprise veggie, cabbage, 2 peppers, garlic

Share B: Beets, potatoes, butternut squash, surprise veggie, cooking greens mix, turnips, onion

Share C:  Sweet potato, potatoes, acorn squash, surprise veggie, kale, radishes, microgreens

             

Recipes

Normally we don't do a lot of casseroles at our house, because we really love meals where the freshness and quality of the vegetables can really shine.  But in the fall, sometimes you just want some good old-fashioned comfort food, and these Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes are exactly the thing for weather like this!  Try out this awesome potato goodness on a damp, windy evening and relish the fact that you don't have to go outside!  :-)