Farm Happenings at Broadfork Farm
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Farm Happenings for November 21, 2020

Posted on November 19th, 2020 by Janet Aardema

Our final Saturday Farm Share of this season is upon us! THANK YOU for enjoying what we've grown this season. We are truly a community supported farm and we are so grateful that you all have chosen us to grow food for you. It is an honor and a pleasure, and we look forward to great farming in 2021!

We have a Winter Farm Share -- sign up is OPEN here on Harvie. Once logged into Harvie, just click on "Place Order" to choose your selection. 

In other news...that's been a lot of rain recently! One variety of Cabbage that we grow is extra tender and delicious, which is fantastic, but when it rains excessively this cabbage splits apart, sometimes at the slightest touch. Agh! If you find a cabbage in your share split, please know it is still completely fine to eat, and that it split after we packed it for you. 

The rain (the rain!) caused a lot of Broccoli to rot before maturing, and destroyed most of our fall Spinach, but most of the Carrots are still good. We are harvesting thousands of them each week right now. YUM! 

We decided to do the unprecedented and offer you Certified Organic Butternut Squash grown by our friends instead of us! We've never offered anyone else's vegetables before, but here's the quick story: Our friends trial varieties of different vegetables for their Certified Organic Seed Farm located at Twin Oaks in Louisa County. This year they grew thousands of Butternut Squash as part of their research and now have these delicious fruits available. But they are a Seed Farm, meaning they grow and sell seeds through their catalog. They don't go to market or have vegetable customers. They asked if we'd be willing to connect their Butternuts with our customers and we said Yes. We don't have any Butternuts of our own to offer, and we believe some of you all would enjoy them. So, enjoy away! They are among the options for your share this week. 

We have recently been enjoying many soups and stir frys with our vegetables, plus roasting vegetables with gusto. Add oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and you're likely to enjoy any combination of vegetables and protein. Add noodles, rice, or bread for some filling, and grab a few jars of trusted spice combinations. (We love Penzeys and Spicewalla and enjoy not stressing about having to always figure out flavor combinations on our own.)

Earlier this week saw a first-time event here on our farm: Our rescued kittens were running around outside, climbed high up in an Ash tree and were playing adorably way up in the branches. After a while, one came down and the other stayed up there, shaking. We didn't know this cat-stuck-in-a-tree thing was real! Fortunately we have a tall ladder and Dan was up for making the rescue. How about that! What goes up doesn't actually always come down. 

?? How to get vegetables from us after Nov 24th?? Read on...

:: We have a Winter Farm Share! And we are able to offer many more shares this winter than usual due to changes in market logistics. Winter Farm Share is open on Harvie with pick up options at our farm and Good Health Herbs (in Brandermill). If shares remain after a couple of weeks, we will open up a pick up location in Bon Air or @ St. Stephens Market in the West End. 

:: We continue to stock our self-serve FarmStand here at our farm all winter. Some weeks it may be open only certain days of the week. Check for availability on Facebook or Instagram 

:: We will continue to sell through Richmond's online market, Fall Line Farms, as we have for the past seven years. Use "broadfork" as a code to get a free subscription. Order on the weekend, pick up the following Thursday at one of various spots around our area.

:: We will continue to offer the chance to order one-time shares through the digital FarmStand here on Harvie. Sign up to receive an email whenever the digital FarmStand is open. 

:: We plan to be (outdoors) at the Farmers' Market @ St. Stephens on certain weeks of the winter. Sign up on their webpage for their newsletter to receive updates. 

Also: Check out our Pinterest page of recipe ideas (organized by vegetable) for suggestions. 

Blessings on your meals, and KEEP ON masking up and washing your hands, plus staying home whenever possible ~

Janet, Dan, & the whole Broadfork crew (Julie, Caity, Karen, Ray, Diana, Rachel, Mare, and the kids: Sylvie, Joren, Elletta, and Beckett)
Want to follow along during the week, including Farm Stand updates? Visit us on Facebook or Instagram