CSA Week 5
How's it going so far?
We hope you've enjoyed the first four weeks of the CSA season as much as we have. We're trying to deliver the best possible product, and we hope you'll help us do that by letting us know what we can do better. If you have suggestions, please send an email to csa@greatcountryfarms.com and let us know what changes you'd like to see. Your feedback is our best chance to improve our product, so thanks in advance for helping us out.
The first green beans of the season are coming in this week. We planted beans in waves, so we should be able to harvest them periodically over the next several weeks. I usually eat my beans lightly steamed and then mixed with some fried onion or with toasted almond slivers.
Please note that we will be open regular hours on July 4, and deliveries will proceed as usual this week.
Week 5 Shares Include: 6 nectarines, 6 peaches, 1 bag of green beans, 1 bag of potatoes, 1 bag of chard, 1 bundle of spring onions.
Pick-your-own bonus: 2 pints of blackberries.
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.
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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.
Bonus Value this week: $7.98
Year-to- Date Bonus Value: $94.72
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, two pints of blackberries, and 12 peaches.
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Cook With What You Have -- Buttery Green Beans and Onions
Katherine says, "Green beans are incomparably good when they are fresh and have not traveled far from plant to table. I always eat the first of the season, simply blanched (for 3-4 minutes in well-salted water) dipped into homemade mayonnaise or aioli. Summer!"
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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 4:
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It is always a treat to get farm fresh, organic potatoes.
I learned a long time ago from Farmer Mark that store potatoes are almost always from the previous season and suffer from a long wait in a dark place before they reach the store.
That causes the sugars to turn to starch and reduces the flavor of the potato.
Fresh ones have a slightly sweet flavor, and have noticeable moisture.
They are delicious plain, with a little butter and just sprinkled with a little sea salt, or any way that you like to eat them.
Store your fresh potatoes in a dark, cool place.
If you are fortunate enough to dig them up yourself, do not wash them until you are ready to eat them.
This helps keep the potatoes as fresh as possible while they are being stored.
We often eat potatoes in the spring that we pulled that past summer…and they are almost as good as the day we pulled them out of the ground.
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Blue Door Cottage ~ Farm Stay
Ever wish you could stay on the farm for a few days? Now you can experience country living, with a stay at our newly listed Blue Door Cottage. With up to 3 bedrooms available, the cottage sleeps 6 and is great for families or groups of friends looking for a little R&R. GCF is just around the corner, and there is great hiking and river tubing just 10 minutes away. Book your Getaway today!
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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!
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Learn Life Skills while Playing Games at Great Country Farms!
The same skills that you and your dog use for fetch, freestyle, and agility help you navigate everyday life challenges and situations. We’ll mix it up, while you and Fido work and play in the rich farm setting. Our workshops include:
• Canine Parkour – July 8
• Love the Leash – July 22
• Silly Games – September 9
Each workshop runs from 4 – 6 p.m., with a mid-class break. If you buy a
3, 4, or 5 session punch card before your first class, the cost per session is $50. Alternatively, you may purchase individual sessions for $60.
Farm admission for one person is included in punch cards and individual session fees. Come to train, and spend the day! If you’re a Member of the Farm, please email
info@joyfuldogllc.com to receive a member discount code.
For more information on our special Great Country Farms workshops, visit our
Great Country Fidos page.
Joyful Dog also offers private lessons, Training Pairs, and special events at the farm during the May through October harvest season!
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Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | CSA@GreatCountryFarms.com | www.GreatCountryFarms.com
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