First of all, we had an issue with our first CSA pickup of the season that we need to address. Several people didn't pick up your share during the designated time at various locations. Our pickup locations and site coordinators volunteer their time and facility to host our CSA. Did you hear completely free there? They do this because they believe in local food and healthy living, but we must not take advantage of their kindness. If you can't make it to the pickup location during the time frame allotted, please contact your site coordinator and make arrangements. Some will leave your box outside after they leave for the day if you know you will be there soon after (you don't want lettuce left outside for very long when it will freeze). Most locations don't have refrigerator or freezer space to hold your share, so if you don't pick it up on time you will likely end up with wilted greens or spoiled meat. If you don't pick up your box in a timely manner and don't contact your site coordinator, your box may be donated, but you will still be charged for it. So put it on your calendar, set a reminder on your phone, put a note on your steering wheel, or tie a string around your finger if you have to.
We have loads of fresh greens for CSA this week, as well as lots of storage crops. Here are some highlights:
- Two types of lettuce, spinach, arugula, and more from Harmony Grove Farm
- Curly kale, large garlic, and a few carrots and spinach from Glacial Till Farm
- Sweet potatoes, potatoes, red and green cabbage, and more from Detweiler Farm
- Golden potatoes from Mickley Farm
- Mushroom shares will be Lions Mane this week
- Dinner Bell Farm brings us Pittsburgh-Style Nut Roll, 7 Grain Bread, and Blueberry Muffins
- Butter is back from Detweiler Farm
- Plus lots more of meat, cheese, eggs, and more!
Consider ordering gifts through your local farms. We have various lotions, salves, lip balms, etc. made by The Way Nature Intended from Mercer, as well as honey from Humble Bee and Tree Farm in Grove City and maple syrup products from Bushel and a Peck Farm in Mercer.
And don't forget to stock up on meat, cheese, and more for your holiday gatherings.
Holiday break: Remember that we have a 3-week break until the next CSA, so plan ahead when customizing your share. Our next delivery will be January 5, 2022.
Farm News
Glacial Till Farm: A multi species cover crop serving as a mulch in place and photosynthesis through winter- holding, protecting and supplying soil with living roots. Feeding the biology through root exudates, all to set up a nutritious and delicious carrot crop for the people in 2022. Farmer Derek has also been busy shoveling wood chips and compost, creating new growing beds, and more!
At Mickley Farm, Howard has been busy keeping his chickens warm, fed, and watered. Everything about farming is more challenging in the cold weather, and it takes longer to do most things. He has also been digging fresh golden potatoes for the shares. With the proper mulch to keep them from freezing in the ground, we can dig potatoes into January for the freshest food to you!
Life is always busy at Bushel and a Peck Farm. We just started feeding hay to our cows and sheep this week, since they always prefer green grass if they can get it. Since all of our meat birds have been butchered, our ducks and geese are all in and around the chicken coop for the winter, meaning no more moving pens daily. We continue to make fresh maple products to sell at our store at Grove City Premium Outlets. And within the next couple of weeks we will be in the woods repairing sap lines and clearing trees that have fallen in preparation for tapping trees for maple production in January or February. Plus we had a new calf born a couple weeks ago and snapped this pic while it was still wet!
New life on the farm doesn't always come in the spring.
Wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season from all of our farmers to all of you!
Amy
