Crop Talk September 11, 2017
CSA Week 15

We're taking a late-season break from greens, but that doesn't mean they're gone for the year. In fact, our crop of fall greens looks great. The next time you come to the farm, take a look at the field on your right as you approach the farm entrance. That beautiful stuff you see toward the western end of that field is broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, and beets. That stuff loves the cool weather. Some of it should be ready to harvest soon.

One of the great things about this week's Delicata squash is that you can eat the rind, which makes preparing them easy. The Eating Well Test Kitchen offers a couple of appealing recipes that combine the Delicata with pears and with onions.

By the way, we have a lot of pears in the orchard this year. We'll probably turn a lot of them into beer and cider, but we'd like to see a lot of them go home with you all. If you'd like to try your hand at canning pears so you can enjoy them through the winter, here's a link to the website Healthy Canning , which explains the process well. You might also want to try this pear crisp recipe from Dangthatsdelicious.com .

Fall Roosteraunt schedule: During the month of September, the Roosteraunt is open Friday through Monday (closed Tuesday through Thursday).

Please also take a look around for any empty CSA bins that may be hiding in the garage or pantry. We'd be glad to get those back before the last week of the season. Thanks.

Week 15 Shares Include: Delicata squash, peppers, leeks, tomatoes, pears, apples, potatoes

Pick-your-own bonus: 6 apples

Bonus Value this week: $6.00
Year-to- Date Bonus Value: $172.08

What is the YTD Bonus Value? Each week we total up the market value of the bonus pick-your-own items. The value to date includes 8 quarts of strawberries, two bags of spinach, four bundles of asparagus, three quarts of sweet cherries, a quart of tart cherries, two pints of black raspberries, 3 quarts of blackberries, 54 peaches, four nectarines, 24 apples, three bags of green beans, one bag of grapes, and six sunflowers.

Please note that bonus amounts do not carry over from week to week, and they are offered while supplies last. 

Wagon rides to the fields will start at 9:15 sharp and continue at the top of every the hour until 5:00. We update our Twitter @TheFarmerSays with the latest picking conditions, so be sure to follow us.

Group Site Members: 
Please remember that you must pick up your box on delivery day. All boxes contain perishable items that spoil easily, so any boxes that are not claimed within the designated pick-up window will be donated. Your host is not permitted to hold your box overnight.


Small Business Award Finalist

  Our sister beer-making venue, Dirt Farm Brewing, has been named as a finalist for the award of Small Business of the Year by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. We are proud and honored to achieve that level of success and recognition in just our second year of operation!

Judging includes a people's choice component, so if you like Dirt Farm, please go to the Chamber's website and show your support.

Thanks!


Vacation Plans?

  Our thanks to members who have logged into their accounts to request vacation holds for weeks when they will be away. May we suggest that you log back into your account before leaving to confirm that your request was accurately noted? If you see anything unexpected, send an email to CSA@greatcountryfarms and let us know. Thanks.

  
Dogs Like Good Food Too
  
  CSA members Eric and Julie Parkhurst understand that your dog's health depends on what he eats, just as yours does. That's why they started EJ's Meats & Treats, a family business that produces smoked and dehydrated natural pet treats. Each of their treats is hand-processed, with no unnatural preservatives, additives or fillers. Meat treats are made from all natural free-range livestock and poultry raised on family-run USDA certified farms in the United States. And they use produce from Great Country Farms. EJ’s Meats & Treats takes pride in the quality and love that goes into each treat that goes into your pet's mouth. Never before has spoiling your pet been so affordable.   

  A selection of their treats is now available in our market.
Cooking with Lee 

  Long-time CSA member Lee Draznin has embarked on a blogging project this year: it's called "What Do I Do With This Box?" , and the name speaks for itself. We invite all of you to join us in Lee's kitchen for the next few months, while we learn how he uses the bounty that comes to his door every week. 

Here's Lee's post from Week 13: 

  " Each week is a different highlight.  This week the treat is Asian Pears.  These are a sweet crunchy treat that everyone in my house will fight over until they are gone.  In a good year, Asian Pears last overnight….this wasn’t a good year and they were gone in the blink of an eye.  We will head out for you-pick at Great County Farms on Labor Day.  Hopefully there will be a few of these in the Farm Store.  Otherwise, we will be waiting with much anticipation to see if a few more come in the week 14 box."

  Read more here.
Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | CSA@GreatCountryFarms.com | www.GreatCountryFarms.com