Author: Core Group

Dear CSA Member

We walk the fields often to observe. The health of the plants, the growth of the vegetables, what is ripe, what will soon be ripe. The fall time vegetables after tempting such a bounty of summer but we must resist for a bit. Soon the sunshine taste of summer will be replaced with the hearty tastes of fall. The vegetables of summer must be picked or they will be lost. Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes. They are ripe and delicious. It has been a good season this year for tomatoes and we are happy to have a nice share again this week. Peppers of all colors, Walla Wall Onions, Summer Leeks, Basil and Bright Lights Swiss Chard.

I hope you have made note of the Farm Festival on September 8. It is an unique opportunity to come and experience your CSA vegetable farm. You will walk the fields and look over the crops that fill your share. We will be digging carrots for you to help pick and take home. There will be a pork and corn roast and we ask that you bring a dish to share for a huge pot luck luncheon and your own place setting. We planted about 1/4 acre of flowers for the Farm Festival and I hope they will still be in really good shape so you can pick a bouquet to bring home. Heather Ridge Farm will be attending with yarns, socks made from fibers from their own flock, pasture raised meats and poultry, bees wax candles. All from their farm. I will be posting their list on the farm website if you would like to take a look and even pre-order. Winter Sun Farm, the Winter CSA share folks, will also be attending. They will have info about their Winter CSA shares. Hope you will be able to make the trip.

This week I am planning on posting our Farm Family Photo Album on the Farm Face Book page if I can get everyone to stand still long enough for a photo. The photos will be posted Monday.

Enjoy the vegetables.
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Dear CSA Member

The sounds outside are changing and, although the calendar says it is summer, we can already hear that the insects know that the seasons are rolling along.  There is a constant chirp in the air and it is so constant that you do not notice the sound unless you stop and listen. I’m not sure what insect it is, but it is the sound of late summer.

The heavy rains that come with intense heat have been pounding the farm during the last week.  It has been so dry that the rain is rather quickly drawn into the soil but with such downpours it makes for some muddy going.  The creek has been very low and now is flowing  quickly. The summer vegetables have been soaking up the sun and probably also the intermittent rains. The flavors are intense this year as they seem to be in a dry, hot season. Tomatoes, onions, peppers and basil. Could it be any better?

We are working on plans for the Farm Festival to be held on September 8 for all CSA members. Heather Ridge Farm, farmer our friend Carol Clement, will once again have a display with items for sale from her farm. Long time friends and CSA members Bonnie and Lori will be manning the Heather Ridge Farm booth for Carol. Heather Ridge Farm is a pasture based livestock farm. At the last Farm Festival there were a number of CSA members that were discussing yarns, knitting, and spinning. Carol will have a beautiful supply of locally raised and spun yarns as well as socks from her own alpaca fibers.

If you have suggestions of what you would like to see included at the Farm Festival, please send me your ideas at info@stoneledgefarmny.org. We will be concentrating on the vegetable production at our farm and our farming practices. If there is something you would be especially interested in hearing about, seeing or participating in, we would like to hear from you. Peter is planning on digging carrots for members to pick up and take home. There is nothing like getting your hands in the soil to pull out a beautiful orange carrot. We will have a pork roast, corn on the cob, fresh fruit, walks around the fields and tractor pulled wagon rides as well. We ask members to bring a dish to share along with your own place setting. Mark your calendars, load up the family and come to the farm for the day.

New photos that are posted each Sunday on the farm Face Book page https://www.facebook.com/StoneledgeFarm. I make a circle around the fields and catch a glimpse of our week.

Enjoy the Vegetables
Deborah, for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Dear CSA Member

August and the tomatoes are ripe. They are sweet and delicious. The smaller varieties ripen first and so there are Cherry Tomatoes and also small slicers this week. The Walla Walla Onions are a large, sweet summer onion. Peppers for the first time and String Beans. Summer is great.

Please make a note that the Farm Festival is September 8th from 11:30-3:00. It is a day of fun on the farm. Our neighbors Kim and Mickael Paradis will be manning the roaster this season. Their second home is their restaurant located at 114 Fourth Ave, Manhattan, Paradis to Go. We will have roasted Corn on the Cob and pork and fresh fruit.  We ask members to bring a side dish to share and their own place setting. There will be wagon rides around the farm as well as walks around the farm with Peter or myself. It is just a day of visiting with each other and also getting a first hand look at where and how your vegetables are grown.

This week is the August delivery of the Coffee Share for members that have ordered a coffee share. Market Place orders will also be delivered with the CSA shares.

Welcome August. Looking forward to all the great flavors that the summer brings. I have been updating the farm Face Book page each Sunday with photos of what is happening on the farm and also any new vegetables that are coming in your share.

Enjoy the Vegetables
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm