Share # 17, October 9, 2010

Here is your Feedback Form for this year's CSA. Thanks for taking a little time to fill it out. And thank you for your support throughout the season. Sorry to say, next week will be our last share distribution.

In the box:

Spinach
Carrots
Potatoes
Arugula
Chinese Cabbage or Pac Choi
Celery
Green Leaf Lettuce
Radishes
Winter Squash: Sweet Dumpling and Acorn or Delicata
Hakurei Turnips
Salad Mix or Lettuce/Parsley

Join us for Hollerween! Saturday, Oct. 30
4 pm - farm walks
6 pm - potluck
7 pm - bonfire
8 pm - live music in the barn
9 pm - costume parade and dancing to dj dracula
rain or shine - the barn is enclosed and will be warm!
hope to see you!

Notes from the field: Well, we didn't get frosted! Really not even close, although it has been cool enough that the basil is sulking and the tomatoes have gone on strike. But the greens and roots are happy and we have spent most of the week harvesting various crops. One day was spent digging sweet potatoes, an experimental crop for us. We did discover that we have been sharing these sweet spuds with an extensive mole population. So the sweet potatoes don't look too pretty, but we're curing them in the greenhouse this week and will hopefully be able to distribute a sampling next week.

Notes from the web: Here are some photos taken at the Mill Pond "Taste of Italy" last Sunday night. It was a fantastic event filled with exquisitely prepared local food and shared community spirit. The Frog Holler salad mix was featured in one of the courses and the Frog Holler farm crew all pitched in to help make this a successful event and hopefully new tradition! If you haven't ever sampled any of the delicious baked goods at our Farmers Market neighbor's stall, check them out when you pick up your share!

And here's another link to a blog posting from our intern Dorothy's friend Rebecca, who visited for a day, pitched in with good spirit, and took beautiful photos of her experience on the farm. Rebecca's web site is Big Things Ahead and her post does a great job of depicting a day on the farm - check it out!

Notes from the box: The farm crew picked apples last week at Wasem's Fruit Farm. Even though the word is that it's not a good apple year, they came home with bags and bags of crisp and tasty fruit. We have canned some as applesauce, slated others for apple butter, and Waldorf Salad is also on the menu. Use that tasty Michigan celery in your box!

Use more of your share items plus other yummy ingredients with this recipe for a White Bean and Arugula Soup.

Intern Kirstin suggests this flavorful fall salad: Equal parts spinach and arugula, toasted sliced almonds or walnuts, apple chunks, dried cranberries, goat cheese or feta (optional but not really), and dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

And intern Angie wowed us tonight with tempeh cutlets marinated in tamari and wine, mashed potatoes with garlic and parsley, and mushroom gravy. Get your fresh Michigan mushrooms from Tantre Farm at the Farmers Market!

Any way you slice it, the harvest is here and it's delicious! Have a great week!