Community Supported Agriculture
 
In This Issue

Tuesdays
3:00pm - 6:30pm (choice style shares)
3:00pm - 7:00pm (pre-boxed shares)

Farmer Dave's
437 Parker Road
Dracut, MA
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Farm Notes: Quiet Moments

The best spots on the farm are those furthest from any human noises where all you can hear are the sounds of the wind, the leaves moving, and the birds chirping. This weekend we hope you find some time to connect with the land at our annual CSA potluck. Take a hayride out to the orchard. Find a spot away from everyone else. Lie down on the grass. Close your eyes and listen to the peaceful sounds of nature. Open your eyes and marvel at the beauty of nature in the trees. Sit up and pick an apple. Take a bite and observe how juicy and crisp it is. Ponder how the apple was created and wherein lies its beauty. Notice the center of the apple with the seeds. What color are the seeds? White indicates that the apple is not fully mature. Black or brown seeds are mature seeds and could grow into a whole new tree. How big is the apple? Are there larger apples on the tree? Why are they larger? Do fewer apples lead to bigger apples? Note how the tree was pruned last winter. How much light and air is getting into the tree? Do the apples inside the tree never get direct sunlight? Is that why they do not have as much color to their skin? Are they less sweet? What is underfoot? Wonder how the roots look. Is the soil rich? Observe how much happens in the growing process of that apple that you just ate. Now pick another.

WAKE UP! You might miss the last hayride of the day. Time to get back to the barn for the potluck to see how others are enjoying your dish. And be sure to taste what others brought too!

We hope to see you on Saturday!
Farmer Dave
CSA Member Appreciation Potluck!  
Saturday, Sept 9th 2-5pm

 
It's that time of year again! You and your family are invited to the farm for our CSA Member Appreciation Potluck on Saturday, September 9 from 2-5pm (rain date Sunday, September 10).

We will have PYO apples, games, crafts, hayrides, food and more!

We hope you will join us!

With gratitude,
The Farmer Dave's Crew
What's in The Share:
Week 13      

We've reached peak season! Everyone's favorite vegetables and fruit are being harvested! The broccoli is loving the cool early fall weather. Tomatoes, peppers, peaches and melons are delicious in the shares this week.

Apple picking has begun at Hill Orchard! CSA Members receive 25% off apple picking with your Good Apple Card!
 

Vegetable Share: 
  • Arugula or Broccoli Rabe
  • Lettuce or Kale
  • Slicing or Pickling Cucumbers
  • Broccoli (Check out the recipes and Vegisode of the week for ideas to enjoy this bumper crop!)
  • Assorted Sweet Peppers
  • Chives, Rosemary, Mint or Basil
  • Tomatoes
  • and more!
Fruit Share:
  • Peaches
  • Nectarines
  • Watermelon or Cantaloupe
  • Apples (Paula Red, Zestar or Ginger Gold depending on harvest)
  • Pears
  • and possibly more
This is what we are planning and hoping to harvest this week.  Ultimately Mother Nature has the last word so the actual contents of your share will vary.
 
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Feeling the Abundance?  

We know this time of year can feel like a mixed blessing. On the one hand, so many crops are coming in, and we want you, our CSA members, to enjoy all that we can offer, and to receive a good value for the price of your share. And on the other hand, sometimes it feels like there is only so much produce one household can eat in a week.  
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the quantity of produce this time of year, we recommend:
  • Leaving any items you won't use in the swap box. They will be donated to a hunger relief partner organization!
  • Sharing the abundance with your friends and neighbors. Expose them to the joy of eating local and seasonal foods.
  • Saving some for the winter! We have Vegisodes which take you through the process of freezing or canning your produce, step by step. (Did you know that greens can be steamed and frozen without blanching?).
If we can help you figure out how to manage the abundance, please let us know! Ask the volunteers at your pick up, email the office at farm@farmerdaves.net, or call at 978-349-1952. We're happy to help!
Vegisode of the Week:
Broccoli and Cauliflower!



In this VEGISODE™, Stacey and Denise walk you through:
  • How to cut into florets
  • How to blanch
  • How to prepare and use broccoli stems
  • Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Parmesan and Garlic
  • Steaming broccoli and cauliflower in the microwave
  • Sauteing broccoli
  • Broccoli Tots
  • Buffalo Cauliflower!
   
Check out all our Vegisodes and subscribe to be notified when timely new videos are added. These videos are designed to help you make the most of your CSA share with tips on storing, preparing and preserving your veggies. 

As the summer progresses we'll be adding more local and seasonal products.  For the food preservers in the group, we will be offering bulk quantities of some of our vegetables and fruits, on weeks that we have extra available.   
Groundwork Share-a-Share Update
 
Thanks to generous donations by you (CSA members) to the Groundwork Share-A-Share™ fund, we were able to subsidize the cost of shares in 2016 for over thirty individuals and families, as well as shares for local food pantries.

Please consider helping us in our efforts to make the CSA accessible to more families by donating to Groundwork Share-A-Share.

 

To learn more about the program,  click here.

 

Thank you all for helping us keep this program going in 2017!  

 

C ontact Us:

Farmer Dave's CSA
437 Parker Road
Dracut, MA 01826

(978) 349-1952
farm@farmerdaves.net