Hello and greetings from Fernbrook Farm CSA.  HAPPY FALL!  Funny how it is going to be warmer the next few days than it was for much of August....But Autumn it is and we are generally happy for it.  Great to have a full farm crew this week as Nick returned from his vacation.  Also great to have Lindsey's friend Vanessa with us this week.  We lose Lindsey next week as she finally takes her vacation (get some rest farmer...)  We got to see Dan and Sindhu (2016) this week as they were on their way north to get hitched!  And we had a quick visit from Sam Bryant (2015) in town for a wedding. Our busy busy September rambles on.  But we are checking some jobs off the list  -  cover crop field F5A  - done.  Harvest the remaining winter squash - done.  drip irrigate the fall greens for the last time (I hope..) - done. Finish clipping the garlic - done.  And that one was due to some great assistance from our shareholders.  GRACIAS!  And so it goes.  Still a ton of work ahead but we can start breathing a little bit.  However as you will see below, tis a busy and fun filled season! 

Oh - We raised 18 big old pigs on the farm this year.  12 have already gone away and the 6 near the shop are going on Saturday the 30th...FYI.  (See pork sale details below)

WINTER SHARES  -   They are now for sale!  Form is attached and there are forms in the shop.  This will be our fourth year distributing Fernbrook Food throughout the winter!   See below for details

THIS SUNDAY  the 24th is  the annual Fernbrook 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run!.  5K at 9:30 and fun run at 11:30.  It is always a blast.   You can get details and register at http://www.fernbrookfarmrun.org/  Or call 609 298 4028 for more information on participating.

AND WE HAVE A POTLUCK TONIGHT!   Come join us for some mellow farmy fun and food.  Starts at 6pm at the farmshop.  Details below

Apples, pears and another week of sweet corn at the shop.  And wait until you see the veggies this week! MANY new and exciting foods. We are excited to bring them to you.  Please remember to use the bags provided for mix and match.  You may not fit everything we offer into the bag so you will have to make some choices and see what bulk is available as well.   Thanks thanks thanks to all of our hard-working farmers who make this week's bounty possible.  We look forward to seeing you at the farm and we proudly offer you CSA week 18  -  - 

FARM SHOP HOURS ARE:
Saturday, September 23rd  8AM - 1:30PM
Tuesday, September 26th   10AM  -  7PM
Thursday, September 28th   
 2PM - 7PM (our short day)

You can come once a week and every Saturday starts a new week.
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WINTER SHARES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!!!
We are now selling shares for our 2017 winter share.
This is our fourth year doing it.  You will get a box of Fernbrook Veggies in December, 
January, February and March.  
Food Includes: Cabbage, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Garlic, Carrots, Beets, Greens, Squash and MORE!
We only have a limited number and we have always sold out so if you want one please don't delay!   Forms will be in the farmshop as well:

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FOOD  -   NEW THIS WEEK   - GARLIC -  You received some fresh garlic in July.  The garlic you will get this fall has been cured so it should keep for many months (room temp in a paper bag works great).   We will put the garlic in mix and match  - limit 2 bulbs.  We expect to do this for many weeks to come so you should accumulate a lot of garlic!   Our crop this year was tremendous!  We will save a few hundred pounds for seed and distribute the rest.  Enjoy!!!  BROCCOLI  -  We had a nice crop in the Spring and it is looking pretty good here in the fall.   The recent heat isn't super helpful but the crop looks generally strong.  Hope to have it for many weeks into the fall.  Enjoy!  ESCAROLE  -  Glad to have this back after a not great 2016 crop. A member of the chicory family, escarole is a slightly bitter green that can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Mix it into your salads for a healthy little, zesty bite or try the old classic of escarole and bean Italian Wedding Soup! High in Vitamin K, Folate and Manganese.  Crop looks pretty good so expect it for maybe half the remaining weeks (maybe more).  TOSCANO KALE -  aka 'Tuscan', 'Dino' and 'Lacinato'.  Why does this kale have so many names..???  Maybe because it is so beloved.  Toscano is an aqua green kale that is lighter and maybe a bit sweeter.  I know some shareholders who SWEAR by it.   Enjoy!  LONG PIE SQUASH  -  This is a CSA favorite.  Long Pie are an old-tyme winter squash. In the kate 1800s you would see these stacked in New England homes like firewood because they are sweet, healthy and great keepers.  The genetics of this squash are purported to have lines from squash grown by Native Americans.  Slice in half length-wise, scoop out the seeds, bake until soft and enjoy the flesh with salt and butter or use it in bread, muffins, and yes, PIES!    Crop was good so you will see it again after week 18. Doubt you will see this one in a supermarket.   WINTER RADISH  - aka 'Meat Radish'.  These are beautiful, large, cold tolerant radishes.    (Healthy too - great source of vitamin c, calcium and cancer fighting phenolic compunds).They have some spice but tend to get more mellow as the season gets cooler.  We grow FIVE KINDS Including green meat, watermelon, and 'China Rose'.   Great for dips, pickling and of course fresh in salads.   Crop looks strong so you will see them most weeks ahead.  BRUSSELS SPROUTS TOPS  - These are the greens, not the actual sprouts (those come later).  We pull off the tops this time of year to encourage better growth in the sprouts.  Tops are like a succulent collard green great steamed and stir-fried!  

ALSO THIS WEEK -     Sweet Potatoes, 'Blue Gold' Potatoes, Italia' Peppers; Bell Peppers; HOT Peppers - Poblano, Jalapeno, Hungarian Hot Wax, 'Havasu'; 'Anaheim'; Cayenne; Cutting ('cooking') Celery; Parsley; Lemongrass; Okra (it is starting to wind down); Eggplant;  Maybe a few others in the mix. (May or may not have beets this week)  - TOMATO ISLAND  - Slicing Tomatoes and Plum Tomatoes KEEP COMING!!  So prepare to use more  (don't hate me)  For GREENS we will have the toscano kale, green curly kale, brussels sprouts tops and escarole.  And for SQUASH  you can choose a Butternut or Long Pie

U-PICK  -   *** Check the U-Pick Blackboard for amounts, updates and info. about all u-pick crops***    CHERRY TOMATOES - 'A' Field. NO LIMIT! STILL some out there but they are going down pretty fast.  After thisweek won't be many left! AND the "smarties" by the tomatillos in 'D2' have a lot of nice fruit.  BEANS  -  U-pick -  in 'C3'. Some beetle damage but there are still good beans to pick.  One quart this week and it may be the last week.  TOMATILLOS - Field 'D2' Pick when they have filled out their husks.  Some rows are pretty done but where you see nice green foliag you will find god tomatillos.    PERENNIAL HERBS  - These are in the perennial bed in the middle of the 'A' field  - This week: Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Lavender, Thyme, Mint, Sage, Sorrel, Sage, Catnip, and Oregano (which is by the fence).   And check out the perennial herb binder at the u-pick table.        FLOWERS -  Some varieties are in delcine but there are still a lot of beautiful flowers out there! Sunflowers are about done.....  Fields 'C2', 'A4' and 'B1' 'D1' and 'D2'   Please take a large bunch this week (up to 20 stems).    You will find beauties like Salvia, Orlaya, Verbena, Scabiosa, Ageratum, Celosia, Snap Dragons, Zinnias and more!  We have some scissors but if you can bring a pair we recommend it.  RASPBERRIES  -  Check the board to see how they are doing.  (Ususally after mid September they start to slow considerably)

BULK  
When we have a surplus of a certain crop, we will often offer it for sale in the farmshop.  We do this as a way for shareholders with bigger families to get more produce and for those who want to stock-up.

This week:
Sweet Potatoes - $1.25 / pound
Eggplant  $1 / pound
Tomatoes - $1.25 / pound
Bell and Iatlia Peppers  -  75 cents each
Hot Peppers 3/ $1

Maybe some others as well.

FARM SHOP
As you are getting your CSA share you'll see we have a lot of products for sale in the shop including pastured milk, poultry, cookbooks, soap, organic coffee, fresh eggs, homemade pot-pies, and so much more.    Also we are selling our reusable CSA produce bags for $3 each!  And of course CSA  T-shirts!!  Say hello to Paula who manages the shop.  *** Also please do not park on the grass near the split rail fence. If our lot by the shop is full, please park in the secondary parking lot just past the Inn. Thank you! *** This week's shopkeeper is Nicholas 'Nicky Noodles' Delmar (just back from the pacific northwest) -  He is fresh off a week of harvest managing so he knows his produce!   If you have questions, comments, suggestions about the products in the farmshop, please email Tracy Kuser [email protected] or Paula Hughes [email protected]

Plants for sale  -  Larry 'Farmer Q' Kuser runs Fernbrok Nursery and has been growing beautiful plants for over 30 years!  He will be selling some of these plants, trees and shrubs at the farmshop.  If you are looking for something specific, leave a note in the shop with Paula.  This week's selection will include beautiful azaleas, hydrangeas, viburnums, mountain laurels, rhododendrons and herbs!  

Contact Tanya Gregory at [email protected] for palnt questions or requests.  
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UPCOMING EVENTS

FALL  POTLUCK  AND  SPUD  ROAST

Friday, September 22nd  6pm at the farmshop
Bring a dish, enjoy some fire roasted Fernbrook Spuds and take a wagon ride in the late summer twilight!  We will be fire roasting some Fernbrook potatoes and we will have a fixins bar.   Please bring a main course, side, salad or dessert to feed 8-10 people.  Please bring a list of ingredients as we have any members with various dietary needs.  We strive to make these events TRASH FREE - so please bring your own plates, cutlery etc.  BYOB.  We will do a wagon ride following dinner.   Hope to see you there to welcome in Fall!!!


Fernbrook 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run

Sunday, September 24th.   5K is at 9:30 and the Fun Run is at 11:30

This is a terrific annual tradition at the farm.  the course winds through the fields and woods and the money raised goe to support the Fernbrook Farm Education Center!  
For info. and to register please visit www.fernbrookfarmrun.org
Or contact: [email protected]    609 298 028
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FRESH PORK SALE   
Saturday, October 14th 8AM
We will be selling our own pastured pork with cuts includinh chops, sweet sausage, breakfast sausage, spare ribs, country ribs and more.  Stay tuned for pricing and availability.  

The smoked pork sale (bacon, hams, kielbasi, smoked shoulders, scrapple etc) will likely be November 4th or 11th.  Stay tuned for details.  
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And looking ahead - We are looking at Saturday Nov. 4th or 11th for the smoked pork sale.  And Possibly Nov. 11th for the end of the year harvest dinner and potluck celebration at the Inn.  Stay tuned.  

RECIPES

EASY BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR SOUP  www.wholesumyum.com
  • 4 cups Broccoli (cut into florets)
  • 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 3 1/2 cups Chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 cup Heavy cream
  • 3 cups Cheddar cheese (pre-shredded)
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, saute garlic for one minute, until fragrant.
  2. Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and chopped broccoli. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-20 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
  3. Add the shredded cheddar cheese gradually, stirring constantly, and continue to stir until melted. (Add 1/2 cup, simmer and stir until it melts fully, then repeat 1/2 cup at a time until all the cheese is used up.) Make sure to keep it at a very low simmer and avoid high heat, to prevent seizing. Remove from heat immediately once all the cheese melts.
Sweet Potato Fries
1medium sweet potato, cut into "French fry" sticks
1/2 teaspoon canola oil
Salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, to taste
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In medium bowl, toss sweet potato sticks with oil and seasonings. Put sticks in baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes. From www.epicurean.com
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Also,  just a reminder that peppers freeze wonderfully and are one of the easiest things to stock-up.  For Bells and Italias just wash, core and slice.  Put slices in a freezer bag and there you go.  
We have a lot of gorgeous peppers coming in and they are now in bulk.  So don't wait!  Stock up today!!

See you at the farm!

Jeff for Dan, Erik, Jess, Lindsey, Nick, Paula, and the Kuser family

Picture Of The Week:  Congratulations Sindhu & Dan!  Our 2 Farmers From 2016 Just Tied The Knot.   Fernbrook Flowers Were Part Of The Show.  All The Best You Two.

Jeff Tober
Farm Manager
Fernbrook Farm CSA
PO Box 228
Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 298-0029 - office
(609) 298-4391 - fax