Crop Talk, September 12: Week 15

Signs of Fall

   Here are some indicators that we're transitioning from summer to fall:

~ Temperatures on the Blue Ridge dropped into the 50s last night.

~ All of next year's strawberry plants have been moved from their incubation pots into the field.

~ Hard-skinned squashes are showing up in the market -- they'll be in boxes soon.

~ The cucumbers are finally done.

~ We're pressing cider in front of the Roosteraunt two days a week.

~ They're picking grapes up in the vineyard.

~ Our pigs are getting ready to race.

   Summer's not completely gone, however. We still have corn and tomatoes, and we'll start picking one last variety pf peaches later this week. So after you clean your chimney and shovel out your woodstove, come on out to the farm and enjoy the last of the last of the shirt-sleeve weather.
Week 15 CSA Shares Include:

Apples 
Lettuce
Eggplant
Peppers
Tomatoes
Sweet Corn
Potatoes

Pick-your-own bonus: 6 apples
Bonus value this week: $5.00
Year-to-date bonus value: $109.00

We will also you-pick Concord grapes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only this week -- one bag per member bonus.

Pick-your-own wagons leave on the half hour on weekdays, 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 in advance.  If you need a hold in a shorter time frame, please call our office or email CSA@greatcountryfarms.com

Eggplant Pasta Salad

Here's something you can do with a relatively small quantity of eggplant -- no oven time required.

Curried Eggplant with Tomatoes and Basil

This recipe, too, calls for about the quantity of eggplant you'll receive in your box this week. It also offers you the chance to incorporate your tomatoes, if you haven't eaten them already.

Both of these recipes come from Real Simple, which includes many additional suggestions for using eggplant, such as Penne with Tomatoes, Eggplant, and Mozzarella. If you have other suggestions, please send them our way.

Lady Liberty Corn Maze Now Open!

Celebrate our freedom and the 130th Birthday of the Statue of Liberty with a challenging excursion in this year's corn maze. We've moved the maze to a new location this year so veteran maze-walkers can cover new ground.

We will be doing apple cider pressing demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays through September at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Come and meet Farmer Jake and Pawpaw, and learn about making apple cider.  

We'll also have live music each weekend in September. This weekend we welcome Pete Carlone on both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00.  
Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | CSA@GreatCountryFarms.com | www.GreatCountryFarms.com