Author: Core Group

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Farmer’s Note– Week 3

Full Vegetable Share
Red Sails Leaf Lettuce-1 head
Green Towers Romaine Lettuce-1 head
Butter Head Butter Crunch Lettuce-1 head
Encino Lettuce-1 head
Summer Spinach -1 bunch
Bright Lights Swiss Chard -1 bunch
Garlic Scapes-6 scapes
Golden Purslane -1 bunch
Kohlrabi-1bunch
Summer Squash-2

Half Vegetable Share
Odd gets Buttercrunch Lettuce and Red Sails Lettuce.
Even gets Romaine and Encino lettuces.

Mushroom Share
The Mushroom this week is Shiitake.

Please note that the Shiitake are a much more expensive mushroom so the quantity will be in keeping with the $4 price charged for the weekly Mushroom Share.

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What’s in the Bag — Week 3

Dear CSA Member

I have been posting new photos on the farm facebook page. You might like to take a look. I try to keep them updated on a weekly basis and you can keep up with what is going on in the field and around the farm through the photos.

A week for salads. The rain has been persistent and you will need to give the greens extra attention, but the cool, wet weather has kept the lettuces very tender and sweet tasting. Lettuces in all colors and shapes. There is also Golden Purslane this week. It is a succulent plant that adds a different taste and texture to a salad. Purslane is widely eaten in other countries and has just started to gain popularity in this country. The lettuces will yield to the hot weather so enjoy the salads while the lettuces are abundant.

The first Spinach and Bright Lights Swiss Chard. What a treat. Garlic Scapes for the share this week as well.  Kohlrabi for the first time in many years. The variety is Kossak which yields a larger Kohlrabi.  They look like they should be a root crop but really grow on top of the soil on a short stalk. They can be eaten raw or cooked. They taste a bit like broccoli stems. Peel them, slice and add to a salad. Or cube and roast. The greens are edible as well. Wash, slice and boil.

I wanted to make a note about the Fall Farm Festival. Seems like a long time until September but mark your calendars. This year the Fall Festival will be on September 7, the first Saturday in September. Much more to come.

Marketplace orders can be placed by logging into your account and then selecting Marketplace on the upper menu bar. Honey, Coffee by the pound, Maple Syrup and Mushrooms in larger quantities are all available for order. The Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms are from a smaller mushroom farm, The Hill Farm, Wiltbank family. They are just beautiful. You might like to try them from the Marketplace.

Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Farmer’s Note — Week 2

Full Vegetable Share

Bok Choy-1 head
Chinese Cabbage-1 head.
If you used the Chinese Cabbage last week in a stir fry, try slicing the Chinese Cabbage finely and use fresh as a Slaw. There is a good Cole Slaw recipe on the farm website, Recipe section, under Cabbage.

Red Sails Lettuce-1 head
Romaine Lettuce-1 head
Buttercrunch Lettuce-1 head
Mustard-1 bunch
Mizuna-1 bunch
Sorrell-1 bunch. This is a lemony tasting, little bit sour green. Use with Chicken.
Sage with Flowers-1 bunch The whole thing is edible.
Garlic Scapes-6 scapes

Mushroom Shares
Portobello
The Mushroom Share this week is for the members that originally signed up. The New Mushroom Share members will start next week.

The Bulich Mushroom farmers info: Portobellos are a large mushroom and the fresh picked Portobellos have the root end still attached. It has some of the soil still attached the root. Cut the root off and clean the mushroom. If you are going to use them right away, it is OK to rinse and then pat dry. If you are not, brush the excess soil away and store in the paper bag. Portobellos are very meaty and are great brushed with balsamic vinegar and grilled. Remove the stem and slice. The stem is a bit woodier and will not cook as quickly as the cap. If you are grilling the cap, it will only take a couple of minutes on each side. Grill the smooth side first and finish with the gill side.

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What’s in the Bag — Week 2

Dear CSA Member

Rain and more rain. You will see the difference in the size of the greens that come to you with all the moisture. Many of the same vegetables as last week we harvest for your shares. There are three heads of different types of Lettuce this week. The fresh lettuce is such a treat after the long winter. I know lettuce is available every season from the grocery store, but we just picked this for you and I think you can taste the difference.

Things will be a bit muddier this week. We have been struggling with the rain. We do give everything a rinse, but you will need to give the greens a good wash. I find the best way is to cut the leaves from the stem, wash in a bowl of water, repeat. There is nothing better than a salad spinner to finish the job.

Many members asked about adding a Mushroom Share. This is the first time we have offered the Mushroom Share and so we thought a second signup for Mushroom Shares would be helpful. The signup for the Mushroom Shares for those that would like to add a Mushroom Share is online. The Mushrooms will then start for this sign up on Week #3. To add a Mushroom Share log into your CSA Member Account from the farm website home page, click on Member Login under the center photo. Log in and then select CSA Shares on the upper left menu bar and then add the Mushroom Share. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail and I will be back in touch. Mushroom Shares will need to be ordered by Friday the 21st.

Marketplace orders are also added by logging into your account and then selecting Marketplace on the upper menu bar. Honey, Coffee by the pound, Maple Syrup and Mushrooms in larger quantities are all available for order. The Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms are from a smaller mushroom farm, The Hill Farm, Wiltbank family. They are just beautiful. You might like to try them from the Marketplace.

Enjoy the vegetables.

Deborah, for everyone at Stoneledge Farm.

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What’s in the Bag — Week 1

Vegetable Share
Rhubarb-1 bunch.
Boc Choi-1 bunch
Chinese Cabbage-1 head
Red Leaf Lettuce-1 head
Romaine Lettuce-1 head
Spring Time Kale-1 bunch
The first time we have grown Kale in the Spring. It has been perfect Kale weather.
Garlic Chives-1 bunch
Mustard Greens-1 bunch
Mizuna-1 bunch
Oregano-1 bunch

Mushroom Share
Cremini

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Farmer’s Note — Week 1

Dear CSA Member

The first delivery has finally arrived. The activity level around the farm increased by 100-fold today as we started picking. Each season is new all over, and we are full of anticipation and excitement as we start.

The greens are very nice this spring. It was rather cold for a long spell and the greens just loved the weather. Your share is overflowing with greens. We transplant all of our early greens and cover them immediately with floating row cover. It is a sheet that covers the plants and keeps most of the insect pests out and allows the sunshine and rain to go in. You will find some holes in the leaves of the early greens. The row cover does a good job but some of the insect pests find their way to the plants despite our best efforts.

I find the best way to wash greens is to remove the leaves from the stem end and give them a cold water bath. You may want to repeat and then spin dry in a Salad Spinner. Plastic bags work fine to keep the greens fresh. The most tender greens should be used first as you work your way through your share. There has been a lot of rain the last couple of days. We do give the greens a rinse but they will need a good wash.

Please remember to pickup any optional shares that you have ordered. Mushrooms Shares will be delivered each week and Coffee Shares the first of each month. If you placed a Marketplace order, your order will be delivered with the Vegetable Shares. You can check your orders by logging into your CSA Member account from the farm website home page. Click on CSA Member Login under the center photo. The My Account link has all of your order information. We are also sending tote bags [for the site]. Hope you like them.

Welcome 2013.
Deborah
for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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A Note from the Farmer — May 29

Dear CSA Member

The start of the CSA delivery season is coming quickly now. We have been working toward this day since last December and it is with great satisfaction that we can finally harvest your share. Farming is patience and commitment. Seeds planted months ago, tended daily are now ready to yield a harvest. Wednesday CSA sites will start on June 5, Monday CSA sites on June 10 and Tuesday CSA sites on June 11.

The Marketplace is now open for weekly orders if you are interested. To place a Marketplace order for Maple, Honey, Coffee by the pound or Mushrooms, please log into your account by selecting CSA Member Login under the center photo on the farm website home page. Orders will be delivered with the CSA delivery and can be placed up to the day before delivery except for Mushrooms. We must have Mushroom orders from the Marketplace by Friday at 11 AM so we can notify the Mushroom farm.

For members with Optional Mushroom and or Coffee Shares, the Mushroom and Coffee Shares will be delivered with the first CSA delivery. Mushroom Shares will be delivered each week and Coffee Shares once a month at the beginning of the month. Please make sure that you pick up all of the shares you have ordered. If you don’t remember what your compete order is for this season, log into your CSA Member account and click on My Account.

If you would like to add an optional share of Mushrooms, Coffee or Fruit, please log into your CSA Member account from the farm website home page and add the shares. Optional Coffee and Mushroom Shares can be added until the Friday before your first CSA delivery. Fruit Shares can be added until the second week in June.

We are looking forward to a great CSA season. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail and I will be back in touch. We have been posting photos on the farm Face Book page over the winter and spring time. Take a look.

To a bountiful CSA season.
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm.

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A Note the Farmer — May 2013

Dear CSA Member

We have been transplanting, seeding and more seeding all month. The weather has been beautiful and the plants are soaking up the sunshine. The Spring Farm Visit is scheduled for May 18 from 11-3. It is a great day to visit the farm and see who, where and how your vegetables are being grown. Please bring your own drinks, picnic lunch and dress to be outside in the field. There is so much activity in the spring as the garden is being planted. Come and walk the fields, meet the farm crew. We look forward to the day. If you would send me an e-mail just to let me know you will be coming it helps us plan the day. Send the e-mail to info@stoneledgefarmny.org.

There is only about a month before the shares start to be delivered. There are still shares at most CSA sites. Please pass the word on to others that you have contact with that might be interested.

The schedule for the first delivery follows:
Tuesday CSA Locations first delivery will be June 11th:
    *CARNEGIE HILL CSA*    
    Yorkville CSA
    West Village CSA
    Greene County CSA
    East 88th Street CSA
    Chelsea CSA

Wednesday CSA Locations first delivery will be June 5th:
    Wilton/Norwalk CSA
    White Plains CSA
    Upper Westchester CSA
    Sustainable Hastings CSA
    Stamford CSA
    Southport/Fairfield CSA

Monday CSA Locations first delivery will be June 10th:
    Rye Soundshore CSA
    Mt. Sinai Farm Share CSA
    Locust Point CSA
    Jan Hus CSA
    City Island CSA
    Bronx 811 Walton Ave CSA
    92nd Street Y CSA

The online Marketplace will open two weeks before the first delivery for CSA members to order Coffee by the pound, Maple Syrup, Honey and Mushrooms. The delivery of the online Marketplace orders will be with the first CSA delivery and then each week as members place their orders. Mushrooms must be ordered by Friday 11AM so we can notify the Mushroom farm of the upcoming order amounts.

Coffee Shares and Mushroom Shares will also be delivered with the first CSA delivery. Fruit Shares start the 5th CSA delivery when local fruit becomes available. If you would like to add one or more of the optional shares, log into your CSA account from the farm website home page, select the CSA Member Login option and then add the optional shares to your existing CSA order.

Last season there were a number of CSA members that contacted us requesting produce in bulk for preserving. We are working on the details for online orders through the Marketplace of some vegetables in bulk for canning and freezing. There will be a limited number of vegetables that we will be offering, some of the favorites for home preservation such as tomatoes. If you have any suggestions, we welcome your input. There will be more about this new project as the season begins.

Happy Spring
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm