Shifting gears

News from the farm:
This week marks an off week for the farm. After 20 weeks of seemingly non stop work we are all taking a few days off to relax and rejuvenate before we launch into the winter season. I spent 48 hours in the White Mountains with a few of my more adventurous friends. When I left Boston we were still experiencing mild temperatures. I seem to have brought winter back with me. We hiked through snow, raw winds, and temperatures in the teens. It was an epic adventure.
I return to a farm transformed. With several nights in the 20's and a few good frosts it really feels like a true New England fall around here. The farm cats have been offering up ample snuggles and are keen to take advantage of warm laps  and computer keyboards.
This week we have a corporate volunteer group that will be helping us plant garlic for next season. Garlic is the only crop that we seed in the fall to be harvest next year. The garlic cloves that we press into the ground this afternoon will begin to establish roots over the next few weeks. As winter grows colder it will lay dormant until spring when it will be one of the first plants to emerge. We will harvest garlic scapes and green garlic through June and July. Garlic scapes are the immature flower of a garlic plant. By harvesting them we force the garlic to put its energy into growing a larger bulb rather than creating a flower bloom. If you have ever pondered during a June CSA pick up why you are getting so many garlic scapes remember that each garlic scape means one garlic bulb in your share come fall.

Winter Farm Stand Hours:
October 29th, 10-2
November 4th, 12-4
November 5th, 10-2
November 18th, 12-4
November 19th, 10-2
December 2nd, 12-4
December 3rd, 10-2
December 16th, 12-4
December  17th, 10-2

In the farm stand this week: apples, kale, radishes, broccoli, garlic, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, butternut squash, radicchio, tatsoi, popcorn, potatoes, cabbages, gourds, potatoes
and more. You can stock up on other favorites like wild Maine blueberries, Appalachian Naturals Fire Cider and sauces, Welsh Cakes, frozen Bushel and  Crumb Pies, Peter's Farm honey and jams. The list goes on.

Summer Share Update:
I am pleased to announce that with the final summer share distribution we reached a full value return on your share. Meaning you received just over $650 worth of produce over the 20 week summer season. It was an especially challenging growing season but I feel pleased with reaching this goal and humbled by your support and commitment to the CSA model.

Winter share:
We still have a few winter shares available. If you are interested in signing up please contact me at zporter@thetrustees and I will send you a registration form. The winter share is full of veggies like: beets, lettuce, spinach, scallions, tatsoi, radishes, cabbage, butternut squash, garlic, popcorn, shallots, cabbage, broccoli, kale, potatoes, and so much more!

CSA Renewals:
We are starting CSA renewals for the 2017 summer season. Primary share holders should have received an email today (Wednesday 10/27) from our CSA Administrator Susan Lewis. The email contains a link to the CSA renewal page.

Meat Share:
We still have meat shares available! For more information follow this link: http://www.thetrustees.org/meatcsa

Zannah, on behalf of the farm crew