Community Supported Agriculture
 

Farm Notes:
     
 
At Farmer Dave's we are consistently striving to produce the best possible mix of fruits and vegetables as well as the best possible quality. We greatly appreciate all of our members for being understanding of the hurdles that we go through to ensure we are providing the best we can. If ever we don't meet your expectations we ask for that feedback so we can either explain the growing conditions that we are facing or are given the ability to correct the situation.

A handful of members let us know that some of the yellow watermelons in the share last week were not good on the inside. This week in addition to the peaches, apples, plums and raspberries we will be giving some unplanned watermelons to each fruit share member as a bonus to make up for any bad melons that you may have received last week. Watermelons are one of the most difficult items to know if they are good on the inside by just looking at the outside. We are not certain why some of them were bad on the inside. It could have been the rainy period or the very hot weather we had. Most likely they were from a batch that were picked just after a lot of rain or on too hot of a day. Regardless of the cause, we do appreciate members that let us know when there are problems. You and your fellow members make the whole CSA community better. We appreciate you weathering the ups and downs with us. CSA is truly Community Supported Agriculture.

Thank you,
Farmer Dave
Register for Late Fall !
There are only 6 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!
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What's In My Share

This week features husk cherries. These fun little treats taste a bit like a tomato crossed with a pineapple. If they survive being eaten before you get home, they're great added to apple pie, salsa, and salads.

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 beans or Wax beans
  • Husk Cherries or Cherry Tomatoes
  • Tomatillos
  • Napa Cabbage or Tatsoi
  • Cubanelle or Sweet Cone peppers
  • Swiss Chard, Red Russian Kale or Tuscan Kale
  • Asian Eggplant
  • Lettuce
  • Corn
  • Plum Tomato
  • Slicing tomato
  • Herbs
  • and more!
Fruit Share
  • Mcintosh Apples
  • Honeycrisp Apples
  • Peaches
  • Plums
  • Watermelon
  • 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: Pepper Prep Pep Talk!
VEGISODE: Pepper Prep Pep Talk!

In this VEGISODE™, Stacey and Denise walk you through all the different kinds of peppers grown at Farmer Dave's.

-How to tell how hot a pepper is
-How to clean, slice, and store in the fridge or freezer
-Serving suggestions
-Stuffed Peppers
-Roasted Peppers and Onions
-Pasta with Roasted Veggies and Cheese

This week Stacey will be going to the following CSA pickups to answer any questions about the late fall CSA shares and any veggie
questions people may have (cooking, storage, preserving etc):
  • Monday - Burlington
  • Tuesday - Jamaica Plain
  • Wednesday - Somerville
  • Thursday - Tewksbury

     
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.  

Try our New Zucchini Pickles !

Made from Farmer Dave's zucchini at CommonWealth Kitchen, Greater Boston's nonprofit food business
incubator and food manufacturing social enterprise, located in Dorchester
MA.

It's peak season for Tomatoes for sauce and dehydrating!  Add some jalapenos for a large batch of homemade salsa!

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.
School tours are beginning in September!  School tours include apple and/or pumpkin picking along with a hayride through our orchard and fields in both Dracut and Westford.  Contact us for rates, days and times.
Group tours are also available.

School Tours at Farmer Dave's!
School Tours at Farmer Dave's!



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