Dear Farm Friends,

The shifting weather over the past month has been a challenge here at the Farm as the temperatures reach into the upper 90s and it seems we either have spells of little rain or intense thunderstorms with downpours. But we have been lucky in comparison with others in our farming community. In the first half of July, farms in parts of western Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York were hit with torrential rains, resulting in flooding, overflowing rivers, total crop loss for some, and an uncertain future. Saturated soil suffocates plant roots, and flood waters can spread contaminants, deposit silt on leaves, and block sunlight. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources states that "if the edible portion of a crop is exposed to flood waters, it is considered adulterated and cannot be permitted to enter human food channels in any way, including but not limited to, sale, donation, or offering to anyone in any manner." It is devastating that all the hard work of planning and preparation, seeding and planting, tending, cultivating, and growing crops can be wiped out in less than 24 hours. And this after we witnessed the driest four months in 138 years in Boston from May to August in 2022 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, extreme cold in February that damaged many fruit trees, and a late frost in May this year.

Our hearts go out to the farmers, their families, the farm employees, their customers, and their communities. We thank our community for your continuous support and encourage you to shop and buy local and support your local farms.

With gratitude,

Sue Bottino

Executive Director

Newton Community Farm is offering our 2023 Late Fall Produce CSA, consisting primarily of our own produce with additions from regional farms such as Drumlin Farm (Lincoln, MA) and Picadilly Farm (Winchester, NH). The contents of the share will be determined at harvest and may vary over the four distributions. Shares may include arugula, spinach, lettuce and/or salad mix, kale, chard, garlic, onions, leeks, carrots, beets, radishes, cilantro, parsley, hot peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, popcorn, or winter squash.

Note: Each CSA applicant must be a current 2023 Friend of the Farm. You are a Friend of the Farm if you have donated $50 or more since November 2022. If you are not a current Friend of the Farm, please add your donation when you register. 

COST: $230 per share



DURATION: Four pickups on Tuesdays between 3–6 pm: October 24, November 7, November 21, and December 5 in the lowest level of the big red barn. Shares that are not picked up will be donated. Remember to bring bags. Please park on Nahanton or Winchester Streets, not in the farm driveway unless you have mobility issues.

Click here to register!

Register Now for the 2023 Fruit Share Program

Newton Community Farm is pleased to offer a weekly fruit share in conjunction with Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton, MA. Each weekly share consists of a 4–5 pound (approximate) bag of apples and occasionally may include grapes or pears. As with all things agricultural, what is available is highly dependent on the particular growing conditions. (Please note that due to winter/spring weather conditions, there will not be any peaches, nectarines, or plums in the the shares this year.)

Duration: Eight pickups starting Wednesday, August 30, through Thursday, October 19. Share distributions will be available for pickup at Newton Community Farm under the white tent near the barn each week during the program on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 2 and 7 pm. Fruit will be held until 7 pm Thursdays, after which time unclaimed shares will be donated.

Cost: $108 per share (one bag each week for eight weeks)

Registration closes on August 22 at noon. Sign up here.

Tuesday, August 8 Dance Me a Story with Special Guest Lisa Giancola of Joanne Langione Dance Center

Tuesday, August 22 A Chicken Adventure!

10:30–11:30 am, outside, weather permitting, otherwise in the big red barn

Free and open to all. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. (This is not a drop-off program.)

Preregistration required on our website. Street parking available.

Worms at the bookstore! Program Coordinator Lucy and NCF's vermicomposting worms will be visiting Newtonville Books on Friday, August 11, from 12–2 pm. Come and join us for a hands-on exploration of the role that worms play in composting at 10 Langley Road, Newton Centre.

Click here to register!

Meet Dorothee Metz, High School Field Crew Summer Intern Supervisor. Dorothee grew up in Germany and lived in Ireland for three years on an organic community farm where she worked with young people with disabilities. She received her MA in curative education and her MFA in puppeteering and spent most of her life in professional theater as a puppeteer and director. She is passionate about the fusion of acting, puppetry, dance, and opera. As her work grows to feature more political and environmental themes, she believes that many burning issues can be addressed by changing the way we grow our food. A stroke of luck brought her to Newton Community Farm, and she feels honored to lead the internship program. Things that thrill her include the beauty of a chard leaf, living near the Atlantic, and curiosity about life. Thank you for bringing your talents and curiosity to NCF, Dorothee!

Shop at:

Our on-site farm stand on Winchester Street, near the intersection with Nahanton Street. We are open Thursdays and Fridays, 1:30–6 pm, and Saturdays, 9:30 am–1 pm. Click here to read our weekly updates of what produce we plan to have available and check to make sure we are not closed for inclement weather or other reasons. At the farm stand we welcome WIC, Elder checks, cash, check with ID and phone number, and credit cards.

Newton Farmers' Market on Saturdays at the Newton North High School rear parking lot at 352 Lowell Avenue, 9:30 am–12:30 pm. At the farmers' market, we welcome SNAP/HIP, WIC, Elder checks, cash, check with ID and phone number, and credit cards.

Fennel Coleslaw

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 fennel bulb with outer layer removed and tops trimmed. Reserve 2 Tb chopped fronds

1 carrot, peeled and julienned

1 small Savoy cabbage, cored, outer leaves removed, thinly sliced

1/2 tsp fennel seeds, toasted and ground

1/2 c mayonnaise

2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Tb chopped chives

1 Tb basil chiffonade (which just means finely shredded)

Coarse salt

Freshly ground white pepper to taste

Thinly shave the fennel crosswise. In a bowl, toss the fennel, carrots, cabbage, and fennel seeds. Add the mayonnaise and toss to coat the slaw. Add the lemon juice, chives, and basil and toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Optional flavor builder: Add 1 Tb mustard, mustard seed, or whole-grain mustard to the slaw along with the mayonnaise to punch up the flavor.

From Simple Pleasures by Alfred Portale. Submitted by CSA member Kim Godsoe

Please join us to discuss We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness by Mary Reynolds with wonderful illustrations by Ruth Evans on Thursday, September 14, 7–8:30. We will meet in person at the Farm with the option to join virtually, too. To get more details and the Zoom link to attend online, email sue@newtoncommunityfarm.org

Special thanks to several key volunteers this month:

• Lori Eanes for her beautiful calligraphy
• Board member Madelyn Sorensen for writing many thank-you notes to supporters
• Board member Laura Bishop, Nicole, Oliver, and Findlay for weeding

NEWTON COMMUNITY FARM

303 Nahanton Street

Newton, MA 02459

617-916-9655

www.newtoncommunityfarm.org

information@newtoncommunityfarm.org