Crop Talk, September 5: Week 14

Best Kept Secrets!

School is back in session throughout the DC metro area and that means that the number of guests at the farm drops dramatically on weekdays and swells to capacity on weekends.   It can be a bit surprising for our CSA and Fan members who have grown accustomed to our summer volume of guests.  

Here are a few Insider Secrets to Guide your Experience through the fall season:

  • Weekdays are VERY quite until pumpkin tours get rolling in October.  Come out during the week to relax and decompress.
  • For quick CSA Share pick up, we have several 10 min parking spaces next the Farm Market so you can zip in and out.
  • Most guests start their visit at the farm, so flip your day to avoid the bigger crowds. Start with lunch at the Winery or Brewery and then pick apples in the late afternoon on weekends.

Week 14 CSA Shares Include:

Apples 
Tomatoes
Green Beans
Eggplant
Cherry Tomatoes
Sweet Corn
Potatoes

Pick-your-own bonus: 6 apples
Bonus value this week: $5.00
Year-to-date bonus value: $104.00

Pick your own Wagons on the half hour on weekdays this time of year starting at 9:15 then at the top and bottom of each hour from 10am-5pm.    On weekends we often have 2-3 tractors running continuously.

Thank you for rinsing out and returning your CSA box each week. 
   
Group site members, please remember that  boxes must be picked up on the day they are delivered . Most group site hosts can't refrigerate boxes, so many items will be spoiled by the next day. Fragile items wilt quickly if left out in the heat.  

You can make your own vacation hold if you know the dates at least 2 weeks before your desired hold and make up dates.  If you need a hold in a shorter time frame, please call our office or email via CSA@greatcountryfarms.com

Sweet Corn, Tomato & Green Bean Salad.

Thank you to Susan Sink from American Farmland Trust for sharing this recipe just in time for peak tomato season.  Enjoy!

Ingredients 

  • 2 ears sweet corn
  • 1 small red onion diced
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
    (Or, 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved)
  • ½ cup feta cheese
  • 2 ½ cups green beans, trimmed
  • 6 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions  
  • Prepare green beans: Boil the green beans in a large pot of water for 4-5 minutes, until they are crisp-tender. Place the green beans in a bowl of ice water immediately after removing them from the pot, to stop the cooking process and set the color. Drain the beans after a few minutes and allow them to dry. 
  • Prepare corn: Grill: Husk corn, then wrap each ear of corn tightly in aluminum foil and place on the grill at high heat. Cook for approximately 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender. Carefully remove kernels from cob with a knife. Microwave: Place ears of corn in microwave with a few layers of husks intact (remove any brown tassels or dry outer husks). Microwave for 5 minutes, or more if needed. Shuck corn, then carefully remove kernels from the cob with a knife.
  • Mix the beans, tomatoes, feta cheese and corn in a large bowl. Toss with balsamic vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Chill, then serve.

Lady Liberty Corn Maze Now Open!

Celebrate our freedom and the 130th Birthday of the Statue of Liberty with a 

We will be doing Apple Cider Pressing Demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.  Come meet Farmer Jake and Pawpaw and learn all about making apple cider.  

We have live music each weekend in September and are so excited to welcome  Tony M.   back on September 10th.  This former music teacher is making it as a solo artist and is one of our very favorites!  He invites the kids on stage and has bird seed for the kids to make shakers.  
Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | CSA@GreatCountryFarms.com | www.GreatCountryFarms.com