Crop Talk, August 21, 2017: CSA Week 12

Crop Talk August 21, 2017

CSA Week 12

This week we're starting to pick the fall apples -- Honey Crisp rather than summer Pristines -- and the peach crop is beginning to wind down. Before you know it, we'll be picking winter squashes.

This would be a good week for the Nicoise salad from Cook With What You Have. It calls for several of the items in this week's box, plus the stray cucumber you may have left from last week.

And Here's a potato salad suggestion from Kate at Cookie and Kate :

"I honestly never met a potato salad I loved until I made this one. It’s a riff on classic French potato salads, which contain no mayo and lots of herbs. I opted for lemon juice instead of vinegar for a super fresh-tasting salad."

Read more here.

A few reminders as we reach the midpoint of the CSA season:

1. CSA shares are not available on Sunday or Monday.

2. The you-pick bonus for each week begins on Tuesday -- your bonus for week 11 won't be available until tomorrow, for example -- and bonuses are always contingent on supply.

3. To forestall confusion among non-members, please consume your bonus items only after you have exited the wagon and the market. And please remember to grab wristbands before getting on the wagon.

Thanks for your help in these matters.

Week 12 Shares Include: kale, corn, beans, carrots, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, potatoes, peaches, apples, onions

Pick-your-own bonus: 6 peaches, 6 apples, bag of beans

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.

Join us to Celebrate Bluemont Vineyard's 10th Anniversary~ August 25-27th

It has been 10 years since Bluemont Vineyard, our sister farm winery, first opened its doors, and we are excited to celebrate this special milestone with you! To kick off a year of festivities, join us for the ultimate end-of-summer Oyster Fest, with live music, wine slushies, and plenty of food to go around.

Get Food, Wine & Music Details

Virginia is for Lovers Corn Maze

Join us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the VA Secretary of Agriculture

The Virginia for Lover’s website notes that LOVE is the most powerful emotion; the most magical feeling. LOVE lifts us up, knocks us down, makes us laugh, makes us cry, makes us push harder and makes us tread lighter. But LOVE’s best trick is slowing the world down. The Virginia is for Lovers Slogan has endured for more than 45 years and Great Country Farms is proud to honor Virginian’s and all we LOVE with our Corn Maze theme this year.

Join us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony September 1st at 11am. We are pleased to welcome, Secretary of Agriculture, Basil I.Gooden and other Loudoun dignitaries to cut the ribbon and be one of the first to conquer the maze.

Get Details RSVP for the Ribbon Cutting

Stone Cottage ~ Couples Escape

Looking for a quick get-away to celebrate your anniversary, birthday or other special occasion? The Stone Cottage at Bluemont Vineyard is just the ticket! Nestled among the apple and cherry orchards just below the Tasting Room, the Stone Cottage offers a great escape to reconnect and celebrate with the one you love!

Get Details & Check Stone Cottage Availability

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 11:

" It is hard for me to believe that this week marks the half way point of the CSA season. The rare combination this week of Potatoes, Peaches and Apples marks what has been an unusual and wonderful growing year. Getting carrots (or at least 1) this week is another indicator of how special this year has been. The GCF newsletter talked about the amount of clay in the local soil, and how the carrot root will grow towards the softest soil. This makes carrots grow in odd formations. Ours this week looks a little like a small ball with a bunch of fingers growing out of it. It looked really funny but tasted delicious. It is further confirmation that just because a fruit or vegetable doesn’t look like what we see in the grocery store doesn’t mean it won’t taste good. In fact, most times it tastes even better."