Monroe Family Organics CSA Newsletter for Week 17

 Farm Update

Hi everyone!  The season has definitely turned fully into fall, and the farm reflects that everywhere I look.  We've harvested completely through most of our summer plantings, so a lot of the beds that used to have vibrant, growing plants, now just contain what's left of the plant after we've harvested the parts we eat.  Later this week, Fred will be tilling most of those stalks and other plant remains into the ground, where they will break down and add nutrients to the soil for next season.  After a little while, we'll also plant what's called cover crop.  Cover crop is basically a crop of plants we never intend to harvest, and whose sole purpose is to grow big and then be tilled under to add more organic matter to the soil.  The more organic matter is in the soil, the more nutrients there are for future crops to absorb as they grow, and the roots of the cover crop actually prevent nutrients from leaching out of the soil in between plantings.  Planting cover crop also promotes healthy biodiversity in the soil because it provides something for all those little bugs, worms, and helpful bacteria to eat.  And the more bugs, worms, and helpful bacteria we have, the more balanced our soil ecosystem is, and that makes it much harder for pests and plant diseases to take hold.  Not to mention, bugs and worms aerate the soil, which prevents soil compaction and allows the plant roots to grow strong and healthy.  This is important especially for root vegetables, because if the soil is too compacted, then you end up with weird shaped carrots, beets, onions, and potatoes, or a really decreased yield because they didn't have the freedom to grow the way they needed to.  But it's also important for the vegetables whose parts we eat are above the soil, because if a plant doesn't have healthy roots, then the rest of the plant can't thrive.  So basically, it all starts with healthy soil, and the best way to get healthy soil is by making sure you have lots of good organic matter.  

The other big thing going on at the farm right now is a bunch of harvesting!  We're pretty much done planting for the year, with the exception of a few plantings of overwintered greens we'll be putting in the hoophouses.  Everything that will be in the CSA shares for the rest of the year is already in the ground, which makes it feel like the massive, multi-part project that is each farm season, is almost a wrap.  There's still plenty to do to prepare the farm for winter, but for the next few weeks, the majority of the work at the farm will be harvesting for the next few weeks of the CSA, as well as the stores and restaurants for whom we provide veggies.  We still have three weeks of great produce coming your way, including all of our fall favorites! 

And if you're interested in signing up for next year, we've started sign-ups for the 2023 CSA season!  It's going to be pretty much the same as this year (all the same drop-offs at the same times), but the prices are going to be going up a little bit next season to $340 for a half share and $630 for a full share at the regular drop-offs.  Anyone who signs up and puts down at least a partial payment by December 31 locks in next year's share at this year's price though, so that's a good way to save a few bucks if that makes sense for you!  Either way, we would love to have you all in the CSA again next year, so just let me know if you have any questions, and here's the link to the sign-up form!

Thanks so much, and we'll see you at the drop-offs! :-)

What to Expect in the Shares this Week

 

If you pick up at our Alma, Mt. Pleasant, or Midland drop-off, here are the options for your shares!  If you have a half share, you’ll choose one item from each choice category, and if you have a full share, you’ll choose two.  And if there is something you don’t like or can’t eat, you can bring it to the trading station at the end and trade it for something you like better. 

• Butternut squash
• Sweet potatoes or potatoes
• Brussels sprouts, arugula, or lettuce
• Green beans or carrots
• Kale, microgreens, radishes, or cilantro
• Cabbage or Delicata squash
• Kohlrabi, onion, or pepper (could be bell peppers or Poblano peppers)

 

If you pick up at our Lansing, Okemos, St. Johns, Midland hospital, or Alma hospital drop-off, or if you have home or workplace delivery, here are your options!  We have three different prepacked shares, and you can let me know which one you want by filling out this quick form by lunchtime the day before your drop-off.  If you have a half share, you can choose one of these options, and if you have a full share, you’ll choose two.

Share A:

• Butternut squash
• Potatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Cabbage
• Kohlrabi

 

Share B:

• Butternut squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• Green beans
• Kale
• Delicata squash
• Onion

 

Share C:

• Butternut 
• Sweet potatoes
• Arugula
• Green beans
• Microgreens
• Delicata squash
• Onion

 

Recipes

It's definitely squash season!  You may remember the picture from last week's newsletter of Fred standing in front of a huge trailer of butternut squash?  Well, that was not quite half of the squash we brought in from the fields that week, so we have literally tons of it, which is enough to give everyone butternut squash for the next few weeks!  If you're thinking, "What am I going to do with all that squash?", never fear!  I have you covered with 37 Butternut Squash Recipes from Bon Appetit!  Also, kohlrabi is back!  If you don't remember from the beginning of the CSA season, kohlrabi is our little round green friend that's kind of like a mix between a cabbage and a broccoli stem.  And here again is the link for 20 Easy Kohlrabi Recipes that I shared way back in week 2, in case you're stuck for ideas.  Enjoy!