Crop Talk October 2, 2017
CSA Week 18

Those are collard greens in your box this week -- another member of the brassica family. A typical Southern way to cook them would be to braise them with onions and bacon, in bacon fat, and then add broth and simmer them util they get quite soft. An alternative to that method would be to cut out the center rib and then use the leaves as you might use kale. There's a lot of nourishment in those big dark leaves! Here's a clip from the collard green article on the World's Healthiest Foods website:

"We get unique health benefits from collard greens in the form of cancer protection. The cancer-preventive properties of collard greens may be largely related to four specific glucosinolates found in this cruciferous vegetable: glucoraphanin, sinigrin, gluconasturtiian, and glucotropaeolin. Each of these glucosinolates can be converted into a corresponding isothiocyanate (ITC) that can help lower our cancer risk by supporting our body's detox and anti-inflammatory systems."

Click the image below for a recipe from Martha Stewart combining collards, raisins, and slivered almonds.

Fall Roosteraunt schedule: During the month of October, the Roosteraunt is open daily from 11:00 to 3:00.

Note: This is the last week your share will be packed in a box. The final two deliveries will arrive in thick plastic bags, which you may keep and re-use. Please be sure to return all empty CSA boxes to your driver, or bring them to the farm when you come. Thanks!

Week 18 Shares Include: buttercup squash, collard greens, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, apples, potatoes.

Pick-your-own bonus: 6 apples

One-time Seasonal Bonus: Each share includes 1 jack-o-lantern pumpkin and 1 neck pumpkin which you may pick any time between now and October 31, while supplies last. Please sign out your seasonal bonus on the CSA check-out sheet. Thanks
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival

Our annual celebration of the great squash continues this weekend. Festivities include Tony M and the Roosteraunt Band, P-Rex shows, pig races, visits with the Pumpkin Princess visits, along with apples and pumpkins.

The festival continues every weekend through October 29.

Visit our website for more information.

Bonus Value this week: $6.00
Year-to- Date Bonus Value: $190.08

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, 30 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.
Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | CSA@GreatCountryFarms.com | www.GreatCountryFarms.com