Hi there!   October is here and, and it's time to begin winding everything down-- on the farm and in the office--as we prepare for Thanksgiving and the Winter Share . We still have a little time left, though--in case you'd like to set a reminder, the last pick ups of this season are October 24th-27th. This week's bag is really starting to look like fall-- squash, apples, string beans and potatoes, but also some end-of-season melons and red peppers. The Omnivores will have Smoked Sausage-- Andouille in all the bags, and also Kielbasa in the larges. Smoked links, as opposed to fresh sausages, just need to be heated all the way back through on the grill or fried up in a skillet to get crisp. They work really well in acid-based dishes (think Jambalaya, Gumbo, rich tomato sauces, etc), and will go great with the cabbage you all have in your bags, too. Keep reading to see what's coming your way!

New arrivals down at Wholesome Valley Farm-- Pekin Ducklings! Follow @wholesomevalleyfarm on Instagram to see more Fall happenings on the farm.

THE FARM AT THE END OF THE SEASON

While this week looks warm, we are expecting many cooler and wet days ahead. Frost is on the horizon and will quickly put an end to the produce season. At Wholesome Valley, the field work is winding down. The field staff is splitting their time between maintenance on the landscaping, picking the little bit of beans and okra that we have left, and working in the kitchen canning apple butter, making salsa, and pickling peppers.  For an organic farmer, we are looking at what can we do to set ourselves up for success in the spring. We brush-hogged the plants and pulled the weed barriers from the raised beds. We spread dry amendments like gypsum (calcium), chicken litter (nitrogen), and rock phosphate (phosphorus), before tilling the land. These minerals will be readily available by spring. We also plant cover crops, like nitrogen fixing legumes such as clover and tillage crops such as radishes and turnips that can help loosen the soil over winter. In the spring, this "green manure" will get tilled into the soil where it will compost and provide food for next year's vegetables.

Tilling the soil and spreading the soil amendments as we prepare for the end of this year's growing season and next year's crops. It's never too early to think spring on a farm!

Some reminders from our office

OCTOBER PAYMENT REMINDERS It's now time to sign into your accounts and make any remaining payments towards your balance. All accounts must have a $0.00 balance by the end of the season. We will be sending out a Payment Reminder email next week, but you can beat that by bringing your check to your stop this week, or signing into your account and making a payment online. Also as a heads up, during the last two weeks of the share (Weeks 21 & 22), no purchases can be made at the stop and put on account-- they all need to be paid for on the spot using cash, check or credits. END OF SEASON VACATIONS If you are taking a vacation during Weeks 21 and/or 22, please get in touch with us ( info@freshforkmarket.com ) so we can add your credits early. A reminder that credits do not transfer over to winter, so keep reading to see what delicious things you can pick up to spend them. COOKIES STILL $5 FOR ONE MORE WEEK! We sold out of our cookies so quickly last week that we decided to do our intro rate of just $5 per pack for one more week.

Featured Product

"STOCK YOUR FREEZER" MEAT BUNDLES

It’s the end of the season and time to stock up for the winter. The grass has been spectacular lately and we’ve recently harvested quite a few really nice grass-fed beef. For us, selling beef online is difficult. Each cut is a different weight, and sometimes they vary a lot from animal to animal. So we literally have to list one animal at a time so that we can accurately fill your orders. This is difficult to do and sometimes limits our availability. To solve this problem, we put together some bundles that allow us to sell to you in volume at a lower price, and reduce our cost to list and inventory the products. Below are some bundles we are putting together to help you stock your freezer. If you're still looking for ways to use up your credits, this is a great opportunity! THESE ARE PRE-ORDER BUNDLES AND WILL BE DELIVERED NEXT WEEK, WEEK 20 (OCTOBER 10-13TH.) BARNYARD BASIC BUNDLE This is a bundling of our most popular family-friendly meat options, including chicken, beef, and pork from our own Wholesome Valley Farm. Price: $60. Approx 16# Pork: Boston butt roast (approx. 2.5#), ground pork sausage (2#) Beef: beef pot roast (approx. 3#), stew meat (2#), ground beef (2#) Chicken: 1 whole chicken (approx. 4.5#) BARNYARD PREMIUM BUNDLE For those more adventurous in the kitchen, this bundle gives you a few cost effective challenges, including beef, pork, chicken, and duck from our own Wholesome Valley Farm. Price: $100. Approx 16# Pork: Pork Spare ribs (approx. 2.5#), smoked ham hock (approx. 2#), and salt and pepper plain sausage (1#) Beef: 2 crosscut shanks (approx. 3#), skirt steak (approx. 1#), 2 T-Bone Steaks (approx. 2.5#) Duck: 1 whole duck (approx. 5.5#) Chicken: 2, 4 packs chicken drumsticks and 2, 4 packs chicken thighs (approx. 3#) I AIN'T DONE GRILLING YET BUNDLE This package incorporates our best cuts for the grill. Fast cooking, high heat cuts that you can enjoy even after frost. Price: $100. Approx: 13 to 15# Pork: 2, 2-packs boneless loin chops (approx. 2.5#) Beef: 2 bone in ribeye steaks (approx. 2.5#), 2# ground beef Chicken: 2, 2-packs chicken breast (approx. 2.5#) Sausage: 1 package green onion brats (1.25#), 1 package chicken feta spinach brats (1.25#), and 1 package all-beef hot dogs (1#) BREAKFAST 3 WAYS BUNDLE Nothing wakes you up like the salty smokiness of our heritage pork bacon or the sweet notes of the maple breakfast sausage. Price: $65. 9# total 3# bacon breakfast sausage patties 3# maple breakfast links 3# nitrate free bacon WINTER WARMER BRAISING BUNDLE The rich flavors of a long braise paired with root vegetables will warm your body and your home on the coldest winter days. Price: $50, approx. 15# Beef: 2, beef chuck roasts (approx. 6#) Pork: 2 pork butt roasts (approx. 5#) 2 quarts of rich Animal Stock (a blend of beef, pork, and chicken stocks, great brown stock for all braises) STEAK& NOTHING ELSE BUNDLE No explanation needed here. Let’s get to the center of the steer. Price: $100. Approx 9# 2 Beef Ribeye Steaks (approx. 2.5#) 2 Beef T-Bone Steaks (approx. 2.5#) 2 Beef Sirloin Steaks (approx. 2.5#) 2 Beef Tenderloin Steaks (approx 0.75-1#)

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A throwback from a Customer Appreciation Potluck a few years ago. The big party is on Sunday, October 14th from 1-6:30pm at Wholesome Valley Farm-- mark your calendars, Evite coming out soon!

Bag Contents

THE MINI Cabbage Yukon Gold Potatoes - 3# Candy Onion Apples - 6 Green Beans - 1#

SMALL OMNIVORE Cabbage Yukon Gold Potatoes - 3# Candy Onion Apples - 6 Green Beans - 1# Cherry Tomatoes - 1 pt Spaghetti Squash Andouille Sausage*

LARGE OMNIVORE Cabbage Yukon Gold Potatoes - 3# Candy Onion Apples - 6 Green Beans - 1# Cherry Tomatoes - 1 pt Spaghetti Squash Andouille Sausage* Eggs - 1 dozen Cauliflower Kielbasa**

SMALL VEGETARIAN Cabbage Yukon Gold Potatoes - 3# Candy Onion Apples - 6 Green Beans - 1# Cherry Tomatoes - 1 pt Spaghetti Squash Melon Red Peppers

LARGE VEGETARIAN Cabbage Yukon Gold Potatoes - 3# Candy Onion Apples - 6 Green Beans - 1# Cherry Tomatoes - 1 pt Spaghetti Squash Melon Red Peppers Eggs - 1 dozen Cauliflower Small Apple Pie

VEGAN Cabbage Yukon Gold Potatoes - 3# Candy Onion Apples - 6 Green Beans - 1# Cherry Tomatoes - 1 pt Spaghetti Squash Melon Red Peppers

*Andouille Sausage- spicy Spanish-style smoked sausage, Pork & Beef, 1.25# in 4 links ** Kielbasa - garlic-forward smoked pork sausage, 1.25# in 4 links

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Recipes featuring this week's share ingredients

Summer Squash Jambalaya Ingredients from share: Andouille, Bell Pepper, Onion

Cabbage Chowder Ingredients from share: Cabbage, Potatoes, Onion, Green Beans

Spaghetti Squash & Green Bean Frittata Ingredients from share: Spaghetti Squash, Eggs, Green Beans

Garlic & Rosemary Cauliflower Grain Salad Ingredients from share: Cauliflower

For more of our recipes, click here .

More recipes online

Potato & Kale Soup with Andouille Sausage Oven-Roasted Potatoes & Smoked Sausage Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Roasted Cabbage Wedges with Onion Dijon Sauce Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Pumpkin Pie Spiced Apple Sauce Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion & Potato Hash Andouille Sausage & Cornbread Stuffing Spaghetti Squash Hashbrowns Caramelized Potato Gratin Spaghetti Squash Italian Casserole Baked Spaghetti Squash with Creamy Red Pepper Sauce Salted Caramel Apple Fritter Bread

Green Gumbo Spaghetti Squash Pizza Bowls Cauliflower Rice Skillet with Zucchini & Kielbasa Sweet Potato, Pear & Red Pepper Puree (Baby Food) Spooky Black Caramel Apples Apple Spice Sorbet (vegan) Egg Roll Cabbage Stir Fry Roasted Red Pepper, Garlic & Butternut Squash Soup (vegan) FFM's Two-Potatoes Gratin Twice Baked Potatoes with Kale Fried Cabbage with Kielbasa Cabbage, Sausage & Potato Soup One Pan Jambalaya Eggs in a Nest Apple Pie Muffins

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