Author: Core Group

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What’s in the Bag — Week 8

Dear CSA Member

Rain and slightly cloudy conditions have eased the drought pressure a bit. Watching the news we are thankful that we can irrigate our crops although the lack of rain does put pressure on the plants and the crew.  The crops are continuing to ripen and look and taste great and are a testament of the hard work and continuous care your vegetables receive.

Fresh Baby Carrots are being dug for the first time this season. They are tender and sweet. Cut the greens from the carrots, wash and steam them with a bit of the stem remaining. The skins are so tender that they do not need to be peeled.

Tomatoes are slowly ripening.  It feels that we wait and wait for tomatoes to ripen for your share.  There are rows and rows of tomatoes, staked and tied to keep the air circulating.  The first tomatoes are such a treat.

Starbor Kale will also be picked this week. It is a frilly early Kale. A nice change from the other greens we have been picking. Kale Chips are a favorite of many CSA members. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

There is still Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage that just has not ended.  There are new recipes on the farm website Recipe section that members have been sending. I think there is nothing better than crispy Cole Slaw.  Cabbage will also keep for weeks in your refrigerator. Easy Refrigerator Sauerkraut Recipe, Cole Slaw and also Braised Cabbage are new to the recipe section.

I have been doing quite well updating the farm Face Book page each Sunday.  Check out the new vegetables, field work and other photos from around the farm.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/StoneledgeFarm.

Market Place orders: coffee, honey, maple, sauce, pickles, preserves, will be delivered with the CSA shares.  To place a Market Place order just log into your account from the farm website home page. Click on Market Place under the center photo.

Enjoy the Vegetables
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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This Week’s Share — Week 8

This week’s full share is:
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage-2 heads
Summer Squash-1 pound
Cherry Tomatoes-1 basket
Red Onions-3 onions
Baby Carrots with Greens-1 bunch
Starbor Kale-1 bunch
Green Basil-1 bunch
Thyme-1 bunch

Fruit Share
Peaches-1 basket-local
White Nectarines-1 bag-local
Blackberries-1 basket-no spray

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What’s in the Bag — Week 7

Dear CSA Member

The huge storm that rolled through the metropolitan area last week completely missed the farm. We were waiting for rain but all that arrived was more heat and humidity. Friday, without warning, it rained. Finally. A good soaking rain that everyone welcomed. The air has cooled and the temperature is almost 40 degrees cooler than just two days ago. It may seem that farmers are always talking about the weather, but it is what fills our thoughts, our plans and our days.

Slowly the summer vegetables are ripening. A week of Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage and also Scallions. The Lemon Basil is fragrant and the Chiogga Beets sweet with such amazing rings. The Chiogga Beets are an Italian heirloom beet. They have concentric rings of pink and white and are a beauty. The greens are delicious as well.

If you have had your fill of Beet Greens and Bright Lights Swiss Chard, clean, steam and put them in a plastic freezer bag. Pop it in your freezer and it will be an amazing treat during the winter months when the last greens are long gone.

Enjoy the vegetables
Deborah
for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Farmer’s Note — Week 7

This week’s share is subject to change before Tuesday. Please check website for any updates.

Full Share
Summer Squash-1 pound.  The heat and dry conditions have really put a strain on the summer squash and production has slowed dramatically.

Chiogga Beets-1 bunch

Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage-1 head

Lemon Basil-1 bunch  A fragrant, lemon scented, small leaf basil.  The small leaved specialty basil varieties all flower very early.  Pick off the flower heads and eat if you would like or use as a garnish. The leaves can be used as you would green basil but with a lemony twist.

Scallions-1 bunch

Sage-1 bunch

Eggplant-2

Radicchio-1 head

Bright  Lights Swiss Chard-1 bunch

Fruit Share
Blueberries-1 basket.  This is the last week for blueberries.  Local, No spray.
Peaches-1 basket. Local
Nectarines-1 bag.  Local

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What’s in the Bag — Week 6

Dear CSA Member

New week, same weather.  I think if you were lucky enough to be on vacation, it would be ideal.  There may be showers on Sunday.  Time will tell.

This years’ garlic harvest is in the barn and hanging to cure and dry.  It looks like some of the best garlic we have grown.  We were uncertain how the warm winter would treat the garlic bulbs, but so far, the bulbs look wonderful.

The garlic will now hang and cure in the barn for the next couple of months.  The outer cover will become dry and the cloves will break apart easily.  At least one third of the bulbs will be saved for seed for next year.  If you come to the Farm Festival  in September, you will be able to see how we hang and dry the garlic. The annual Farm Festival is the second Saturday in September, the 8th.  Mark your calendars and we hope you will be able to make the trip.

We are still taking Market Place orders online so if you would like to order coffee, honey, maple, preserves, sauce and salsa, please log in and place your order.  It will be delivered with the CSA shares.

A special thank you to the members that made the trip to the farm this last Friday and helped harvest garlic: Kristen, Anne,Kathy and Alan.  It was a hot and humid day, but everyone held tough and were a great help.

I do try to post photos of new vegetables on the farm Face Book page by Sunday.  So far I have each week.  Look for them this Sunday as well.

Enjoy the vegetables
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Farmer’s Note — Week 6

Full Share

Summer Squash-2 pounds

Boothbly Blonde/Poona Kheera Cucumber — 2.
Both are heirloom varieties mixed in the crate. They are hard for us to separate so just take two total. The Boothby are yellow and the Poona Kheera Cucumber can be any color from brown to yellow. Boothby were from Maine and the Poona Kheera Cucumber are from India. Both are delicious.

Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage-another heirloom — 1 head
Small, pointed cabbage that is not very dense, but very sweet.

Leeks-1 bunch

Curly Parsley-1 bunch

Red Leaf Lettuce-1 head

Spinach-1 bunch

Dill-1 bunch

Fruit Share
Sugar Plums-1 basket
Nectarines-1 bag
Peaches-1 basket
Blueberries-1 basket

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What’s in the Bag — Week 5

Dear CSA Member,

The heat and sunshine have been relentless. It is summer. Thankfully we have a irrigation pond that is spring fed with the precious resource.  With out irrigation, the crops would have been exhausted in the heat. It is the endless challenge that we face each season trying to work along side Mother Nature as best we can as farmers.

FARM WORK VISIT HARVESTING GARLIC JULY 13, 10am-3pm
This upcoming Friday, July 13th, we are inviting members to come and help harvest the garlic for the first Work Visit. It will be hot and it is not the best time for small children and dogs to visit the farm.  We will be working in the sun and if Friday follows our weather pattern, it will be sunny and very hot. Bring a lunch and plenty to drink along with a hat, gloves if you do not want to smell like garlic and sunscreen.  We start early in the fields but for members 10-3 is the time frame to help harvest garlic.  We have a port o let but you might want to stop at the last rest stop, Malden, before exiting at Thruway Exit 21, Catskill.

If you are planning on coming to help, please use the West Farm Address 145 Garcia Lane, Leeds, NY 12451 address. You will find a map and directions on the farm website, Contact and Directions link.  If you coming to help, please send an e-mail to the farm in case there are any last minute changes. The address is info@stoneledgefarmny.org.  I will also post any changes on the Farm Blog portion of the Stoneledge Farm’s website.

The Scallions are young and tender and the greens are as tasty as the white bulb.  With such young scallions you will be able to use the entire scallion.

Parsley is the herb this week. So packed with flavor. If you happen to have any remaining, chop and put in a freezer bag. Pop in the freezer for use later.

THIS IS THE FIRST FRUIT SHARE DELIVERY FOR MEMBERS THAT HAVE PRE-ORDERED A FRUIT SHARE.

COFFEE SHARE MEMBERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE THEIR MONTHLY COFFEE SHARE.

Enjoy the Vegetables,
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm