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Waltham Fields Community Farm
CSA Newsletter #14
September 6, 2010
In This Issue
CSA Summer Schedule
What's in the share this week
Pick-Your-Own Crops
Beets with Walnut Vinaigrette
Notes from the Field
Upcoming Programs/Events
Please join us...
 
 
Check out our 2010 Program Brochure!!!
 
Fun on the Farm/ Agricultural Journaling
Thursdays 3:30 - 5pm
Kids of all ages, join us for free play and occasional old-fashioned games on the farm, while your parents pick up their shares and chat with other members. Bring a nut-free snack to share if you're so inclined. Mobile meet up: Just look for the kidpack!
 
Agricultural Journaling  Have a yen to capture the unfolding of the agricultural season from week to week? Bring sketchbooks, drawing implements, watercolors, camera or what have you. (Also a camp chair, if you don't like standing or sitting in the dirt.) All ages. Meet-up: Check in with Natasha; she'll know where we are.
 
Check in with Natasha at the distribution shed. 
 
Questions? Contact Anastacia.
 
Jointly organized by A-OK Home Learners, Purple Giraffes 4H and Waltham Fields Community Farm CSA. Any member of these three groups is welcome to attend!
 
For more information about all our programs, see our website.
Recipes
Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? It's okay if you've found it on another website, we'll give that site credit! :) Don't be shy -- let us know!

Looking for ideas on how to prepare Farm produce?! We have a wealth of possibilities for you! See our Recipe pages.
Compost at the farm
Pease add to our compost pile! Just look for the pile labeled "Add compost here"!
 
You know the drill: please bury your scraps and/or cover them with leaves from the nearby leaf pile. No meat scraps, no whole bread loaves. Biodegradable serving-ware from picnics or parties needs staff approval.
Summer CSA Distribution Days 
 
Tuesdays 3-7 PM
Thursdays 3-7 PM
Saturdays  8 AM-12 noon
Quick Links
What's in the share this week...
 
PotatoesPlease note:  this list is prepared the week before you receive your share.  Some guesswork is involved! We do our best to predict which crops will be ready to harvest, but sometimes crops are on the list that are not in the share, and sometimes crops will be in the share even though they're not on the list.  
 
  • Kale
  • Collards
  • Beets
  • Summer Squash
  • Zucchini
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes (from Picadilly Farm)
  • Greens
  • Okra
  • Bell Peppers
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Eggplant
  • Tomatoes
 
Need recipe ideas for some of the farm produce listed above!? See the Produce information and recipe pages on our website.
 
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Don't forget your apple share (from Autumn Hills Orchard), that is, if you've signed up for one!
 
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Reminder: Dogs are welcome on the farm but please keep them leashed, away from the distribution shelter and out of the PYO fields.


Pick-Your-Own Crops
 
purple astersYou are welcome to harvest the PYO portion of the share during any daylight hours, 7 days a week. Please check the board at the little red kiosk for information on amounts and locations. Remember, you can pick one time per week but it doesn't necessarily have to be at the same time you are picking up your share.  
 
  • Basil
  • Parsley
  • Tomatillos
  • Husk Cherries
  • Edamame
  • Herbs
  • Flowers
  • Hot peppers
  • Beans

Reminder: Please check the PYO board before picking
 
Please return any pint and half pint containers you have at home, we are happy to reuse them.
Beets with Walnut Vinaigrette
from Greens Cookbook

 
Shareholder/member Annie wrote that she "w
ould like to share a beet salad recipe while they are so fabulous".
 
1 pound beets trimmed but leave on skin
Roast whole with 1/4" water in covered dish for 30-45 minutes until tender but with a little resistance when pierced with a knife. Cool, peel and 1/4 or 1/8 depending on size.

Add beets to vinaigrette while still warm:
1 T sherry vinegar
1-2 t balsamic vinegar
1/4 t salt
1 T walnut oil

Toss and top with fresh chopped parsley and ground black pepper to taste.
Notes from the Field

In my opinion, I would call this season "late summer." Most simply, it has elements of both summer and fall. There are so many changes occurring, some seem like they happen overnight, while other changes happen slowly until one day they stand right out.

Light is probably the most noticeable. Whether it's when that alarm goes off in the morning, or when we're cleaning up after the CSA distribution in the evenings, the days are definitely shorter! There are a couple sugar maples around the farm that have begun to turn, but the vast majority of the trees still have green color. But increasingly the bright green has begun to take on a brown hue. Similarly, the leaves have a drier rustle to them when blown in the wind. Just recently, we've begun noticing dew on the ground in the mornings. Not used to it being damp, I've made the mistake of heading out into the fields to harvest without my waterproof boots. Wet pants and shoes are a little annoying, but soon enough the warm days dry out the clothes and burn off the dew. So it is with vegetables as well. eggplant and green peppersI'm afraid cucumbers may have made one of their last appearances at the distribution. But in its place, kale and collards will stand shoulder to shoulder with tomatoes and eggplant as regular fixtures for the coming weeks of the CSA. As we move from summer into fall the changes may be subtle or obvious, but without a doubt we are moving into a new season.
 
For the Farm Staff,
Andy
 
Office/Admin Staff:
Claire Kozower, Executive Director
Marla Rhodes, Development Assistant
Debra Guttormsen, Administration and Bookkeeper 
Amanda Cather, Special Projects Coordinator
Dede Dussault, Student Intern
 
Farm Staff:
Andy Scherer, Farm Manager
Erinn Roberts, Assistant Farm Manager
Amy Cook, 1st year Assistant Grower
Dan Roberts, 2nd year Assistant Grower
Weed Crew: 
Kenny Darling, Ruby Geballe, Jeremy Gillick, Caitlin Watson
Field Crew:
Darin Faber, Brad Leatherbee, Marcy Taubes, Becky Tisbert
Ruby Geballe, Outreach Market Intern
 
Education Staff
Jericho Bicknell, Education and Outreach Coordinator 
Alex Lennon-Simon, Learning Garden Educator
Paula Jordan, Learning Garden Educator
Rebekah Carter, Learning Garden Intern 
Waltham Fields Community Farm | 240 Beaver Street | Waltham | MA | 02452