Dear Farm Friends,

The severe drought and heat wave we have been experiencing has been very challenging for farms, for the workers and the plants alike. At Newton Community Farm some staff and volunteers have started their days even earlier to get the crops most vulnerable to severe heat harvested before the hottest part of the day. Everyone needs more time to cool down and more water, including the plants. Coveted jobs involve anything that needs to be done under the tent or in the basement of the barn, dunking veggies in cold water to cool them post-harvest and putting produce in the walk-in cooler. But even with five consecutive days of near 100 degrees, our committed team of staff and volunteers are undeterred in their mission. These past weeks we continued to provide an abundance of produce for our 80-share summer CSA. Our on-site farm stand has been open Thursdays through Saturdays. We've been at the Newton Farmers' Market on Saturdays with vegetables, fruit, and herbs, and our produce donations to the Newton Food Pantry on Wednesdays and the Community Freedge have continued to grow. We held farm classes for kids in the mornings and afternoons, taught our high school student interns, and gave a tour of the Farm to staff from Boston Farms Community Land Trust. We started bringing in fruit from Autumn Hills Orchard, potatoes from Drumlin Farm, and corn from Verrill Farm. And progress is being made on adding heat and ventilation to the the greenhouses. It has been a very busy, very sweaty, very productive time at the Farm.

As, thankfully, the heat and humidity have declined the past few days, we continue to be on the hopeful watch for rain. I learned a new word recently; a "pluviophile'" is someone who loves rain. I truly appreciate rain now more than ever, and we will all welcome it gratefully here at the Farm.

With gratitude,

Sue Bottino

Executive Director

sue@newtoncommunityfarm.org

Staff and students have been finding black swallowtail caterpillars at the Farm, many of which have then been featured guests in our summer kids' classes.

Larva - Caterpillar

Pupa - Chrysalis

Adult - Butterfly

To see videos of how a swallowtail caterpillar dissuades predators and a monarch caterpillar metamorphosing from larva to chrysalis (filmed by Educator Tomoko Deeney), check us out on Facebook or Instagram. And follow our social media accounts for updates from the Farm.

Where can you buy Farm produce? You'll find Farmer Greg at the Newton Farmers' Market every Saturday, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, now through October 15. The Saturday market is at Newton North High School in the rear parking lot at 352 Lowell Avenue in Newtonville.

Visit our on-site farm stand on Winchester Street in the little red shed. Our hours are:

Thursdays and Fridays, 1:30–6 pm

Saturdays, 9:30 am–1 pm

We update our website each week with what we expect to have available for sale.

Summer Classes on the Farm

Now through September 2, by the week

9–⁠11:30 am for ages 5–⁠8

1:30–⁠4 pm for ages 8–⁠12

(Age groupings are flexible; let us know if you want to keep siblings or peers together, and we will try to accommodate requests.)

$250 per week; scholarships available

Calling all future farmers, scientists, chefs, naturalists, and gardeners! Join us at the Farm as we discover boundless connections between our food, each other, and the natural world. We explore a different garden-based theme each week on topics like life cycles, the food system, and garden creatures, and learn gardening skills. We use what we harvest to create a garden snack during each class to enjoy. We hold classes in our Learning Garden as well as the larger farm, giving kids valuable time in a natural space that they can call their own. Visit our website for more information.

Beekeeping Basics with Apiarist Sean Sanker

Saturday, August 20, 10–11:30 am

$20 per person, registration required

Local beekeeper Sean Sanker, who keeps hives at Newton Community Farm, will lead this class in a discussion of beekeeping basics. He will explain the general process of keeping bees and equipment needed as well as interesting bee facts.

Sean has been keeping bees as a hobby since 2013. He is a Newton resident and the founder of Bay State IT, an information technology company that services the biotech industry.

Gardening Circle

Do you have questions about plants you are growing in your garden? Want to share helpful information about a vegetable or flower that you love to grow? Come to our Gardening Circle Skill Share on Wednesday, August 24, 6–8 pm. This is a time to connect, share your knowledge, and help build a strong network of local plant enthusiasts. No registration required, but feel free to email Director of Education Matt Durham (matt@newtoncommunityfarm.org) to RSVP.

Sources of Help

Can't make it to the Gardening Circle? Here are several terrific resources that you can email with your inquiries. (It can be very helpful to send photos, too, if you have specific issues.)

Through the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, trained master gardeners are available to answer your gardening questions in partnership with the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at MHSHelpline@MassMasterGardeners.org or the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill at Hortline@NEBG.org

University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment offers advice via email to greeninfo@umext.umass.edu.

You can also click on the organizations' website links to learn more and do research on your own!

Every year since our inception, Newton Community Farm has donated produce to local organizations supporting clients experiencing food insecurity in our area. In 2022, NCF is increasing produce donations primarily to the Newton Food Pantry to a value of $14,000, thanks to generous donations from The Rebecca Pomroy Foundation, Cambridge Savings Bank, Cambridge Trust, and our newest supporter, Brookline Bank. We are so grateful for their support that enables us to make locally grown, fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit available to our neighbors in need.

Meet a Volunteer

Susan Tornheim's volunteerism at NCF dates back to the first days of the Farm. She was recruited by past Board President Peter Barrer to help renovate the farmhouse as part of setting up the community farm, and she helped strip wallpaper. Susan later signed up for a CSA share and then became the newsletter editor because she had done newsletters for local groups and enjoyed it and in addition had experience as a copy editor for national magazines. After 10 years as newsletter editor, Susan transitioned to proofreading the newsletter so it looks as polished as possible (including the very newsletter you are reading right now).

Susan and her family have lived in Newton for nearly 50 years. She is a fiber artist and member of Sign of the Dove, a fine-craft cooperative gallery in Cambridge. She also shows her work at Newton Open Studios every year. Susan's other interests include music, climate activism, and historic preservation.

Susan says "I am not a gardener, and our yard is too shaded to grow vegetables, but I love what I call basic processes like growing food, baking bread, spinning yarn, and making shoes, most of which I have done. The farm connects me with the earth and nature, and it’s very beautiful with all the plants growing." She enjoys learning new recipes from Farmer Greg, including finding out that unexpected parts of plants—like radish leaves—are edible.

Thank you, Susan!

Volunteer Opportunity

• Get your hands dirty, have fun, meet new people, and learn about farming on a summer Saturday morning working in the field with Assistant Grower Asher Lyon. Sign up online for a two-hour shift here.

Please note that to volunteer at the Farm, the minimum age is 12, and volunteers ages 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers must sign up or email us ahead of time; we are not able to accommodate volunteers who have not registered. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Bring a water bottle and a hat. Thank you!

Newton Community Farm is offering a weekly fruit share program in partnership with Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton, MA. Each weekly share consists of a 4- to 5-pound (approximate) bag of apples and occasionally may include peaches, grapes, nectarines, or pears. $100 per share (one bag each week for eight weeks). Pickups are at NCF on Wednesdays or Thursdays, 2–7 pm, August 24 through October 13, 2022. We have a limited number of shares available, so sign up soon. Registration Deadline: August 19, 2022, at noon. Read more at https://newtoncommunityfarm.org/produce/fruit-share/

Garlic Scape & Rainbow Chard Quiche

Preheat oven to 365 F. Using a premade pie crust, press dough into a pie dish. In a bowl, mix together 6 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Sprinkle 2–3 chopped garlic scapes and 1.5 cups finely chopped chard into the pie dish and pour the egg mixture on top. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese to the dish. Bake for 40 minutes until the center is set and cooked through. Cool for a few minutes before slicing to serve.

Herb Chimmichuri 

This is a great way to use fresh, summer herbs to make a flavorful, nutrient-dense sauce or marinade. Finely chop your choice of herbs. (Basil, parsley, cilantro, oregano, and mint are all excellent for this.) Mince 1 garlic clove. In a bowl, add the herbs, garlic, and 1/4–1/3 cup olive oil, as well as 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix together and use it on eggs, steak, or other proteins.

Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Husk several ears of corn and remove all silks. Cook on the grill for a few minutes on each side, until char marks appear. While the corn is cooking, in a separate bowl mix together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 tsp each of chili and cayenne powder (more if you want more of a kick), the juice of two limes, and salt and pepper. In a different bowl, stir together 1/3 cup cotija cheese (can substitute crumbled feta) and 1/4 cup total of chopped cilantro and parsley. Once the corn is ready, brush the mayo mixture on top and sprinkle with the herbed cheese, rotating the corn to get all sides covered. Be prepared to get messy.

Summer Squash Tater Tots

These tater tots offer a creative way to get your kids to eat more vegetables. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a box grater or food processor, grate 2-3 medium squash. Add 1/2 tsp salt to the squash and mix together. Transfer to a colander and squeeze as much moisture as possible out of the squash. In a large bowl, add the squash, 1 egg, 1/2 cup grated cheese of your choice, 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 finely chopped onion, and 1/4 tsp each of garlic powder, salt, and pepper, plus 1/4 tbsp chopped parsley. Mix all of these ingredients together and form tot shapes. If it is too wet, add more breadcrumbs to help it bind together. Arrange the formed tots on the baking sheet and bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce: ketchup, honey mustard, sriracha mayo, or a tzatziki yogurt dip.

Thank you to Inna Kagan, a local Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, for these recipes.

Five of our board members' families have shifted to electric vehicles, an important step in reducing overall greenhous-gas emissions and improving air quality. Read on for more information about why they love their cars.

Are you looking for vases for the beautiful bouquets you are making with your garden flowers? Newton residents can check out the Newton Swap Shop for a great, FREE, selection. Visit the shop at the back of the Newton Resource Recovery Center, 115 Rumford Avenue in Auburndale any Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from 7:30 am–1:30 pm, through October 29. Note that the shop closes for severe weather.

In addition to vases, we have found serving plates and bowls that are wonderful for presenting a freshly-prepared veggie entree or salad of garden greens for dinner or to share with a neighbor, interesting containers that we have converted to pots for plants with the simple addition of a drainage hole, supplies like dry-erase markers, paper sorters, plexiglass frames, and file holders for the farm office, and lots of other treasures. You never know what you will find!

Thank you to the hardworking volunteers who make the Swap Shop possible. More information is available on the shop's website and Facebook page, including a list of items accepted for donation.

From Anne in Newtonville: "a bit of our back porch railing herb garden from Newton Community Farm seedlings: parsley, basil, and chives with marigolds for a splash of color. Not shown: two kinds of mint at the top of the steps. I never pass up giving them a pinch coming and going to release their refreshing scent! Makes great tea, too, on these hot summer days!"

Send us a photo of your garden to share!