Hello Members! (Please click on "Continue reading" to read the whole newsletter from us!)
Week 6 and the season is flying by, as usual. Thank you to everyone who came out to farm on Saturday for the Annual Coop Farm Tour! It was really nice to see some of you and show folks around the farm. We will be having our Fall Harvest Party again this year and will set the date soon ( it will either be on the 21st or 28th of September).
This time last year we were putting eggplant and peppers in your box. Those are still a couple/few weeks out because of the cool, wet spring we had. The cherry tomatoes are looking great in the hoophouses and we will be putting those in your boxes soon, too!
The heavy rains have really taken a toll on some of our crops. There is rot and damage in the cabbage and peas. The corn is sideways and the onions have been "flagged" bent down. Most things will bounce back but not everyone is getting cabbage or peas this week unfortunately.
As always, here are a few things for you to remember about the CSA and the boxes:
If you ordered meat, PLEASE RETURN YOUR FOIL PACKS TO US!
PLEASE RETURN YOUR BOXES ASAP! WE ARE RUNNING OUT, WHICH MEANS FOLKS AREN'R RETURNING THEIR BOXES!
ALWAYS take the box with your name on it that is from BLACKBROOK FARM! If someone is picking your box up for you, please tell them to take the box with your name on it from BLACKBROOK FARM! This is very important.
IF you can't pick your box up on THURSDAY, please communicate with me about this so I can arrange for it to be kept at the dropsite instead of donated or used.
Please return your box either the same week (bring a bag to empty your veggies into) or the following time you pick up your box. Please collapse your box and neatly stack it or put it where the other boxes are.
If you are half share, your box is delivery every other week ( unless you have rearranged your schedule with Harvie). Please remember to check if this is your week or not. Full shares are delivery every week. When your box is delivered on Thursday, a delivery email is sent out. EVERY one at that dropsite gets that email, even if you do not get a box that week. So it is important for you to know which weeks you pick up. Please email me with questions. Here is information on how to access when and where to pick up your box
We also have 100% pastured Pork extras for SALE! If you order pork from us in your share we put it in a foil pack very frozen and deliver it to you in your box. It will either be partially frozen or very very cold when you receive it. We also have Pastured Pork Packages for sale that we home deliver to your door. This is a great way to load up on all the cuts of a hog and get your good healthy fats! You can find our sign up share for that on our website or our Harvie site under shares. Let us know if you have any questions! Raising animals is a large part of what we do at Blackbrook Farm!
This is what may be in your box this week:
Cabbage or Collards- We are very sorry, but due to the excessive rains we have a large rot problem in our cabbage. We only were able to supply about 2/3rds of you and the rest got collards, which we feel is the best substitute. Apologies for the inconvenience.
Celery bunch- This year we tried pulling the whole plant and cutting the root off for you. This celery is not watery like California celery, so it packs a punch. Great for pasta, potato, egg and tuna salads!
Parsley- curly or flat this week. Enjoy with cucumbers in a tabouli (no tomatoes yet!) Tabbouleh
Cucumbers (s)- 1 to 2 per member.
Summer squash and Zucchini- 3-4 per member.
Broccoli (some get Cauliflower)- Our cauliflower is growing like molassas, but some people got it this week instead of broccoli.
Peas- pint (some members)- A lot of our peas rotted this week, too, due to the rains and storms knocking them down into the mud. Some people who have peas labeled on your box are NOT going to get them. We will give you a little extra of other crops instead. Sorry!
Ailsa Craig bunching Onions- These are my favorite fresh eating onions. So crunchy and fresh! They are great for grilling, stir frys, kebobs, etc... Eat the greens, too!
Green Beans- a nice bag of green beans for you! We love these sauteed with sesame oil, soy sauce and garlic or onions. Seared Green Beans
Beets- A nice big bunch of beets! Finally, these have sized up. The greens can be cooked like swiss chard, too. Roasted Beet Salad
Salad Mix- This salanova mix will need to be WASHED! The muddy rains did a number on our crops this past week. We washed it TWICE but I would recommend doing it again. Will keep for over a week in the plastic bag.
On this pick list for next week:
Carrots
summer squash
cucumbers
red onions
broccoli/cauliflower
swiss chard/kale
Have a great week!
Blackbrook Farm
PICKING BLACK CAPS!
