THE FARM STAND AT FOREST KNOLLS OPEN RAIN OR SHINE THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE THURS 11/09 FRI 11/10 SAT 11/11 SUN 11/12 MON 11/13 15 DAYS TO THANKSGIVING; YOU CAN STILL ORDER A FREE RANGE TURKEY NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST Also enjoy our fresh organic fruit, vegetables, greens, seafood

Dear Friends,

Next week you will be able to reserve cooked Dungeness Crab for Thanksgiving at THE FARM STAND ONLINE STORE . It is anticipated that our Dungeness Crab will be from local waters north of Point Reyes and Bodega Bay.   All our crab will be cooked the day it is landed to insure optimal extraordinary freshness. Crabs are graded for size and I anticipate we will have product ranging from 1.75 lbs to 2.25 lbs with an average of 2 pounds per crab.

We will sell our crab based on an average weight of 2 lbs each crab and a price which is to be determined by local fisherman before the season opens. When you pick up your crab, the actual weight and price per pound will determine your final cost. A small refund or additional charge may be necessary to insure the correct transaction total. A special email will announce when crab is available.

For those who have already pre-ordered a free range Thanksgiving Turkey, pickup will be available starting on Saturday 11/18 thru through Wednesday 11/22. You can pick up your turkey on any day that suits your convenience. We encourage you to consider picking up your turkey on Tuesday 11/21 and Wednesday 11/22 to take advantage of all the seasonal produce and additional products you will likely want for your holiday feast including selections from our fine wines and varietals that have been selected to pair properly with Thanksgiving fare. Take your holiday dinner up to another level with our "Perfect Pairing Package".

We are closed on Thanksgiving day 11/23 but will reopen on Friday 11/24 and resume our regular schedule.

New this week are Astec Fuji Apples from Hidden Star Orchards . Crisp, sweet, outstanding flavor! Thirst quenching with a spicy surprise! You'll love them for dessert!

There are now only 15 days until Thanksgiving! If you have not yet pre-ordered your Thanksgiving Turkey, consider ordering now while supplies last. Learn more about the BN Ranch free range turkeys that we feature. Our Thanksgiving Day turkeys are fresh, not frozen! This will be the third consecutive year that we have supplied our customers with outstanding turkeys for the holiday market. Our thanks to Bill Niman and the BN Ranch in Bolinas for making this possible. Please visit THE FARM STAND's website  for more information on how to place your order.

Remember, once you have pre-ordered your bird, you will be able to pickup your Thanksgiving Turkey only at THE FARM STAND in Forest Knolls a few days before Thanksgiving Day. All BN Ranch free range turkeys are: Always raised free-range, with room to roam both indoors and outside Always fed a non-GMO Project Verified, slow growth, vegetarian diet Never given subtherapeutic antibiotics, steroids or growth hormones Humanely raised and handled at every stage Provided enriched environments that enable natural behaviors  Provided shelter in low density barns BN Ranch Young Heritage Turkeys are a rare offering and the very best fresh Heritage Turkey for the holiday market. They have an unmatched rich flavor that develops over a lifespan almost twice as long as conventional white turkeys. All BN Ranch turkeys are bred, hatched and raised locally right here in Northern California.  You can visit our ONLINE STORE   and reserve your Thanksgiving Turkey yourself or ask Jim at any of our markets about placing your order.

Did you know Dolcini Ranch grass-fed cattle are raised locally in Marin and Sonoma Counties, live a free-range lifestyle and graze on open pastures? The lush green grasses of the valley combined with a perfect coastal climate provide a natural and stress free environment for Dolcini livestock.

Dolcini cattle are never fed antibiotics, animal by-products, or any grain-based feeds. Additionally, Dolcini Ranch never uses added hormones, growth stimulants, preservatives or artificial coloring. Dolcini meats are dry-aged for peak flavor and tenderness, just like a fine wine! The dry-aged Ribeye Steak is a masterpiece of flavor!

Butternut squash from Full Belly Farm, Guinda, C A, is the long, pear-shaped squash with tan skin and orange sweet flesh; the most popular variety of all the squashes. These are the variety of winter squash that grow on a vine and have a nutty taste similar to that of pumpkin. The squash has tan-yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp with a compartment of seeds in the bottom. You can bake a stuffed butternut squash with anything that catches your imagination.

Or you can simply toss butternut squash with olive oil and garlic in a large bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Arrange coated squash on a baking sheet. Roast in the preheated oven until squash is tender and lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Also, check out this Classic Butternut Squash soup recipe from Serious Eats .

From Full Belly Farm you can also try some sun-cured Acorn squash. This vegetable is usually baked but can also be sauteed or steamed. For a savory recipe it can be stuffed with rice, meat or a vegetable mixture. The seeds of the squash are also eaten, usually after being toasted. Acorn squash is a good source of dietary fiber and potassium.

Once cooked the sun-cured flesh is soft with a sweet, nutty flavor. Here is a featured recipe courtesy Full Belly Farm for Baked & Breaded Acorn Squash.

Delicata squash is a winter squash, a cylindrical fruit which is cream-coloured with green stripes. As its name suggests it has a delicate rind or skin. Delicata squash is also known as peanut squash, bohemian squash or sweet potato squash.

Did you know the flavor of a Delicata squash is half pumpkin and half sweet potato? If you slice it lengthwise you can stuff and bake this delicious organic food. Makes a great side dish with a pork chop or as a vegetarian main course. Here are some recipes. Full Belly Farm grows these organic beauties for our FARM STAND customers and we are happy to share these 4 special recipes courtesy Full Belly Farm.

From Stemple Creek Ranch, Tomales, CA we have Grass-fed Rack Of Lamb, Ground Lamb, Loin Chop, Shoulder Chop, Leg Of Lamb, Lamb Leg Steaks, Sirloin and Foreshanks. With all the rain that we received this year, grass-fed free-range lambs from Stemple Creek Ranch have feasted and grown to maturity on lush green grass and clover. Stemple Creek Ranch raises organic, grass-fed and grass-finished lamb on beautiful farmland right here in Marin County, CA. The animals eat organic clover and grass and are never subjected to artificial hormones, growth promotants or antibiotics.

Stemple Creek treats their animals with the utmost care using humane animal welfare practices. The animals graze on multiple pastures and are moved regularly to allow for replenishment of native grasses. This practice assures their process is sustainable. Here is the recipe for this delicious Rack Of Lamb courtesy Stemple Creek.

Our good friend Diane Matthew, the owner of Mt. Barnabe Farm in Lagunitas CA has in recent years always shared her vision of many small farms producing outstanding organic crops for local consumption. One example is "The Maria" heirloom tomatoe Diane has cultivated for the last 10 years. Just in from Diane's farm are the most unique heirlooms produced locally right here in the San Geronimo Valley.

"The Maria" heirloom crop Diane produces is derived from family heirloom seeds that were given to Diane by her long-time friend Maria Dondero who brought the seed for this tomato from Italy 52 years ago. Maria farmed this tomato for 42 years in San Anselmo and Diane has been farming the same heirloom for the past 10 years at Mt. Barnabe. We have 52 years of seed selection to produce "The Maria", now a true Marin County heirloom that is the crown jewel of taste, texture and flavor! Don't miss these while they are in season! You can taste the goodness of the organic soil of Mt. Barnabe Farm together with the spectacular flavor of these delicious heirlooms.

These taste as good as they look! You can learn more about heirlooms by reading The Importance of "Heirloom" Tomatoes.

We are once again freshly stocked with SMALL and MEDIUM Hog Island Sweetwaters. These are rich, sweet tasting Pacific Oysters with a slightly smoky finish. Plump meat sits in a beautifully shaped, deep-cupped, fluted shell. 1 Dozen Small Oysters are $22.00 and the Mediums are $24.00. First come first served.

Here are  9 recipes for preparing oysters  courtesy Hog Island Oyster.  Enjoy the goodness of a fresh oyster harvest at your weekend barbeque!

It was recently announced that Star Route Farm , the oldest continuously certified organic grower in California, has been sold to the University of San Francisco. Star Route Farm will continue farming the same two locations in Bolinas and Thermal CA. and their organic farming practices will remain as they have been since organic certification first became an option decades ago. Warren remains part of Star Route and has accepted a consulting position with the farm he founded and loves. Thank you Warren for pioneering the organic food industry right here in Marin County. The advice you have given to me over the years has helped grow THE FARM STAND into a thriving business located right here in West Marin.

We are featuring locally caught Rock Cod sourced out of nearby Bodega Bay through Anna's Seafood.  Did you know my preferred way to prepare Rock Cod is to bake them? A mildly seasoned Rock Cod fillet has an especially pleasing taste and texture and I consider this fish a gourmet dish when baked under high heat. See some Cod recipes  here.

Cod is a great source of lean protein. It is not high in saturated fats like other proteins. When poached, baked or grilled, Cod is delicious. According to the American Heart Association, Cod is one of the top 10 most popular fish in the United States and is high in omega-3 fatty acids.  Also, many of our FARM STAND customers have told me they are very happy with our prices as local Rock Cod makes a somewhat more economical fish dinner than many other seafood choices yet can be just as healthful and delicious.

Red Butter Lettuce from Paradise Valley Produce, Bolinas CA is a unique crop produced by a passionate farmer, my friend Dennis Dierks. It's always in short supply because the quality is outstanding! Did you know that Red Butter Lettuce is rich in calcium and a good source of iron, vitamins A and C? A single serving of Red Butter Lettuce is 15 calories total. You can use Red Butter Lettuce leaves as wraps and fill them with chickpeas!

Sandy and Dennis Dierks have been farming organically at Paradise Valley Produce since 1972. Located on 15 acres in Bolinas, Paradise Valley Produce is closely connected to the surrounding environment. The Dierks practice sustainable agriculture. Paradise Valley Produce is a real Marin County organic family farm.

We still have sweet spring strawberries from Swanton Berry Farm and they continue to wow with outstanding texture and flavor. Once you taste these you will agree they are superior and have no equal! Sweet and refreshing, they are also juicy, organic, and can be eaten unsweetened because their true flavor will be so much more appreciated! Did you know that you can toss them with 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar and dust with freshly ground black pepper?

The best way to store them is to refrigerate  fresh strawberries  in shallow containers as soon as you get them home. Be sure to wash these organic Swanton strawberries in cold water only when you are ready to use them.

We continue to feature Pasture Raised Free Range Farm Fresh Eggs from Bromwell Farms, Bolinas . Like a ray of sunshine, Mary Bromwell's Araucana chicken eggs have become an increasingly common sight at all Marin Community Farm Stands over the past few years. The pale blue shells never cease to delight our customers. But even more importantly, the small flocks that are on pasture are what I call the "Happy Hens" that produce the most amazing orange and red yokes that are like a ray of sunshine. Thank you, Mary, for producing such an amazing organic food so easy on the eye and so good to enjoy.

We have restocked Wild King Salmon this weekend! Our Alaskan Wild King Salmon is sourced through  Anna's Seafood based out of Petaluma.  Anna's network of fishermen delivers fresh line-caught Wild King Salmon to THE FARM STAND. You can enjoy fresh or smoked!

Many of our customers ask us for new ways to prepare Wild King Salmon. I have collected some exotic recipes and brought them together for a quick and easy read.

Also, this week we are restocked with more wholesome fresh seafood from  Anna's Seafood, Petaluma CA. We have r aw Ahi Tuna Poke which is especially refreshing as a mini entree! Cold, tasty, extremely delicious!

Our regular weekly schedule and hours:   Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays  OPEN YEAR ROUND (RAIN OR SHINE) THE FARM STAND 6700 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Forest Knolls, CA 94933 10:00 AM - 7:30 PM (Rain or Shine)   Marin Community Farm Stands is now on Nextdoor. If you are not yet a member of this community based social network you can sign up here.  We also invite you to visit our YELP page and leave your review of our seasonal, local, organic and artisan foods. You can also visit us at our  Facebook page  and get to know us better. Keep up with our news, latest offerings and special products! THE POINT REYES LIGHT recently published in the May 25, 2017 weekly edition my vision of a farm stand on every corner. Many thanks to Silas Valentino for spending time with me and bringing into sharper focus for Marin County my vision for bringing seasonal, local and organic food to our smaller communities.  You can read the article at this link.    Once again, many thanks to everyone for your continued support.  Best regards,  James Baum  MARIN COMMUNITY FARM STANDS & CSA PO Box 134 San Geronimo CA, 94963  (415) 497-9496 james@communityfarmstands.com