Community Supported Agriculture
 

Farm Notes:
 
Many are surprised that we still have so many summer vegetables. First frost seems to vary widely anytime from mid September to late October. Years ago we would not take so many gambles and would rarely have any summer vegetables in October, because there was a high chance that they would not make it to maturity. Now we often plant enough corn and other frost sensitive crops to harvest at least until mid October. We are guaranteeing a share of all our vegetables in all of our vegetable shares.

This guarantee of a good diversity of our own grown vegetables pushes us to take more risks and to always plant extra. The thought of a week without having enough to harvest causes us so much angst that we keep planting to ensure a good continual harvest. Over the last ten years of our CSA there are probably less than 6 weeks that the shareholders did not receive more value than was paid. We strive to provide and to nourish our members' families with some of the most wholesome food that can be found. We expect the first frost this week if not next week. The diversity of summer time and fall harvests in the shares this week is so much richer than you will find almost anywhere in the area. Enjoy the bountiful October flavors before they are gone with the frosts. Soon to come will be post frost selections and the sweet flavors that the cold nights will bring to those crops that withstand the frosty nights.

Farmer Dave
Pick up Announcement: Please Return All Bins 
We're down to the final two weeks of the 2018 CSA main growing season.

We ask that you please take a look around your house for any of our plastic CSA bins that may need to be returned. Please plan to bring bags with you to the final CSA pick up next week so that we can collect all of our bins for storage and reuse next season.

Thank you.
Register for Late Fall !
There are only 2 weeks left of the main season vegetable and fruit shares.

Now is the time to register for your late fall share and enjoy all of your favorite fall treats like winter squash, sweet potatoes, and brassicas into December!

Small and Regular sized shares available!
What's In My Share

The season is winding down and many of the summer harvests are beginning to come to a close. In preparation for the coming frosts we harvested some of the remaining tomatoes and this week features the result. Fried green tomatoes are an easy to make treat. Bread and fry like you would for eggplant and serve with a sriracha or red pepper aioli for an updated take on a southern classic.

Don't forget to use the swap box! It's not just for trading for your favorite vegetables. If you won't use something in the share, have a busy week and won't be able to cook everything, or just feel overwhelmed leave your extras in the swap box and they'll be donated to one of our many hunger relief partners.

Vegetable Shares
  • Green Tomatoes (see below for some ideas)
  • Potatoes
  • Winter Squash
  • Tuscan, Winterbor, or Ethiopian Kale
  • Arugula or Swiss Chard
  • Peppers
  • Carrots with tops. (The tops are edible too!)
  • Lettuce
  • Corn
  • Husk Cherries or Tomatillo (harvest dependent)
  • Herbs
  • and more!
Fruit Share
  • Macoun Apples
  • Honeycrisp Apples
  • Cortland Apples
  • Pears
  • And possibly more depending on harvest conditions.
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.

VEGISODE™ BITE -   
VEGISODE™ BITE - "Let's Go Dutch, Baby!"

In this VEGISODE™ Bite, Stacey and Denise show you how to put your fruit to good use in breakfasts by incorporating them into the delicious Dutch Baby Pancake! 
Swiss Chard
Try These Recipes From Our Blog
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.  

Farmer Dave's Special Bulk Purchase for CSA Members

Love Farmer Dave's jarred and pickled produce?  Stock up for the off season and for making those "Eat Local" holiday gift baskets. 

Buy 5 jars and get a 6th jar FREE.  

Included in this sale:  Our applesauce (no added sugar), bread and butter pickles, crushed tomatoes and pickled beets. 

Quantities are limited, do not miss out!

Add-on Order Deadlines

All orders must be placed online before your order deadline listed below. If you are even a minute late CSAware (our ordering system) will attach the order to the next week's share. Please double-check the time before completing your order.

Pick-up Day
Add-on Order Cut-off
Monday
 Sunday - Noon
Tuesday
 Sunday - Noon
Wednesday
 Monday - Noon
Thursday
 Tuesday - Noon
Friday
 Wednesday - Noon

If you are having trouble placing an order online, make sure you are logged into your account. If you don't know your log-in information, send us an email, and we will send you an invitation to reset your password or create your account. Creating an account on the spot won't help; it needs to be the same account that is connected to your CSA shares.

CSAware will ask that you attach your order to a share. If you don't have a current share, you cannot purchase add-ons. If you attach your order to a share that is not activate it will not be sent to you.

If you do not pick up your add-on order, it will be donated or distributed, we do not offer
refunds for missed add-ons.


Pick-Your-Own Apples Every Weekend!
We are excited to announce Pick-Your-Own Apples are underway at both our Dracut and Westford locations:  

Farmer Dave's 
437 Parker Road, Dracut

Farmer Dave's at Hill's Orchard
4 Hunt Road, Westford

Your CSA member benefits include 25% off PYO apples as well as one free 1/2 peck of apples per CSA membership for the 2018 PYO season. 

We would love our CSA members to come and see their farm!

Farmer Dave's picking guidelines apply.
Please check our website below for picking conditions and times.
Groundwork Share-a-Share
Thanks to generous donations by you (our CSA Members) to the Groundwork Share-a-Share fund, we were able to subsidize the cost of shares in 2017 for over 30 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.
Helpful Links

Farmer Dave's LLC. | |   [email protected] | http://www.farmerdaves.net  (978)-349-1952