News from Waltham Fields Community Farm

Waltham Fields CSA <farmmanager@communityfarms.org>
Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 9:36 AM
Reply-To: farmmanager@communityfarms.org
To: Shareholders
August 28 - September 2
Waltham Fields Community Farm
CSA Newsletter
Distribution Week #12

In This Issue
What's in the shares this week
Pick your own crops
Crop updates
Comings and goings on the farm
We are looking for...
Quick Links
CSA Overview

Newsletter Archive

FAQs

Tips for Share Pickup

Harvest Schedule

Produce Info and Recipes
Whipped Kohlrabi and Potatoes
from Angelic Organics Kitchen (adapted from Victory Garden Cookbook). Serves 4.
1 lb. baking or russet potatoes (~4 potatoes)
2 lb. kohlrabi (~ 8 medium bulbs)
3 to 4 T butter
1/4-1/2 cup milk or cream, depending on how rich and creamy you like it
1/2 t salt plus more to taste
freshly ground black pepper
1. Boil the potatoes and kohlrabi separately (use two pots if needed) until tender, 20 to 35 minutes depending on size. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid from either vegetable.
2. Peel the potatoes and kohlrabi. Mash
them together in a large bowl. (Larger, more mature kohlrabi
should be run through a food mill to remove fibers.)
3. Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup of the milk or cream. Heat until almost simmering and remove from heat.
4. Pour the butter mixture over the potato mixture. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste and beat until fully combined and smooth. Add another 1/4 cup of milk or cream for more rich creaminess, if desired.

If you want a smoother texture, slowly stir in the reserved cooking water until it reaches the desired consistency. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
Third Sunday Gatherings

Third Sunday Gatherings are back this season! For those of you who are new to the farm or to Third Sunday Gatherings, they are a great opportunity to meet fellow shareholders and learn about various topics related to our mission. Each time, we will start with a farm-fresh potluck at five o'clock followed by a guest speaker.

September 16th - ***TBD*** Have Suggested Topics or Speakers? - send them to Alison Horton.

October 21st - Panel on WFCF Programs: Hunger Relief, Education, Volunteers

November 18th - Harvest Potluck - Details to follow.

December 16th - Winter Solstice - Details to follow.

For more information...

Welcome to the 2007 Harvest Season!

baskets at pickup

Share pickups at the farm are:

  • Tuesday, August 28, 3-7:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 30, 3-7:30 PM
  • Sunday, September 2, 3-7:30 PM

Share pickups in Somerville are Tuesday August 28 from 5-7 PM.

Bring bags for your pickup if you have them! 

We're waiting to hear from Autumn Hills Orchard, the provider of our fruit shares, about when the shares will begin. We'll let you know as soon as we hear.

Bring your own household compost if you don't mind the walk to the compost piles.  Thanks to everyone who has brought compost!

Many thanks to Eric Wlodyka who contributed to the newsletter photos this week.
What's in the shares this week

Please note: this list is prepared the week before we harvest your share. Some guesswork is involved: some things may be in the share that are not on the list, and some listed things may not be in the share.
Fairy Tale Eggplant Have you checked out our ideas on our Produce Info and Recipes page? Feel free to submit recipes and cooking ideas to us at waltham.csa.news@gmail.com!
Pick your own crops this week

Checking the list at the kiosk
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Plum Tomatoes
  • Hot peppers
  • Basil
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Cilantro
  • Epazote (final week!)
  • Flowers


CSA shareholders can visit the farm to pick your own Sunday through Thursday during daylight hours. Visit the red pick-your-own kiosk in the fields for a list of available crops and picking supplies.

Crop updates

yellow beans

Even in Colorado, I can't remember ever seeing crops wilt in the fields the way our tomatilloes, husk cherries and hot peppers are doing this week. While we hear that folks out in Western Massachusetts have been getting regular rain showers, we have had no measureable rain in the past two weeks, and only about half an inch through the entire month of August. This makes it an extremely challenging season for us, with our very well-drained soil. We are grateful for our overhead and drip irrigation, and for the tremendous work of our farm staff in maintaining our summer and fall crops as well as they have. The farm crew has been watering almost nonstop for the past week, focusing on germinating our fall greens and making sure that the crops we're supposed to harvest in September and October get a chance to grow. Our Lyman Field, of course, in addition to its other challenges, has no irrigation, so we've put the majority of that field into fall cover crops and are hoping that they get enough rain to germinate soon.

rows of beansWe are also very grateful to all our shareholders for taking a risk with us in this difficult season! There's no way to predict a crazy year like this one, and it is comforting to know that we are supported by a tremendous community of folks who let us know on a regular basis how they feel about the farm, the veggies, and the work we're doing. You rock!

Comings and goings on the farm

This week we sadly say goodbye to Anna Wei, who returns to Mt. Holyoke College for her junior year and an exciting adventure in Panama spring semester. Anna is an even- tempered and gentle soul whose curiosity and willingess to take on any task have made her a great asset to our farm staff this season. Anna was a key part of the success of our Children's Learning Garden program with the Waltham Parks and Recreation department. With her previous experience in permaculture in an eco-village in Brazil, Anna had not worked on a fast-paced production farm before, but she picked up many skills quickly this season, including seeding, transplanting, irrigating, harvesting, weeding, and leading volunteer groups. Her ecological perspective on each farm task was a great reminder to all of us about the importance of continuing to strive for true environmental sustainability, which can be a lofty goal even on ancukes and squash organic farm, and her amazing cooking, including a banana and chocolate pizza (with cheese) and tiny chocolate mice, sustained us all in a different way. My favorite memories of Anna will be of her on a harvest morning, walking towards the end of the row with an armful of rainbow chard, and her walking through the fields at the end of a long day, harvesting her own vegetables to take home, tired, dirty, and utterly at peace.

We also say goodbye to Danny MacPhee, our Sunday distribution coordinator and 2006 farm intern, who (along with his son Bennett) has joined Kate in expertly guiding folks through our busiest CSA pickup night of the week. Danny is taking a position as a geology instructor at the University of Maine at Machias, where he will also spend time with our great friend and erstwhile volunteer extraordinaire, Ben Noeske. We will really miss Danny and wish him the best in Maine.
We are looking for...

Someone to take over a workshare position as the Sunday distribution assistant starting Sunday, September 2. If you are interested, please contact our farm manager, Amanda Cather.

Warmly,

From all the staff at Waltham Fields Community Farm:
Meg Coward, Executive Director
Amanda Cather
, Farm Manager
Andy Scherer, Assistant Farm Manager
Kate Darakjy and Martin Lemos, Assistant Growers
Josh Levin, Vincent Errico, Anna Wei, and Sara Franklin, Interns
Mark Walter, Children's Learning Garden Coordinator
Waltham Fields Community Farm | 240 Beaver Street | Waltham | MA | 02452