CSA Week 14, 2020

CSA Week 14

We’ve received some emails asking when the last CSA pick ups are. Week 16 (the last week of CSA) begins Saturday October 03. So, If your pick up day is:
Saturday, your last day will be October 10.
Sunday, your last day will be October 04.
Monday, your last day will be October 05.
Tuesday, your last day will be October 06.
Wedneday, your last day will be October 07.
Thursday, your last day will be October 08.
Friday, your last day will be October 09.

This week you MAY have beets, celery, apples, onion, peppers, hot peppers, kale, Delicata or some other winter squash

Molly Delicious and now appearing Molly Delicious, Redcorts, Cortland, Early Mac maybe Gingergold!

I think everyone is seeing Delicata squash – that’s the elongated, striped yellow with green one. The winter squash harvest is happening slowly and as it does, you may see other varieties like Carnival, Sweet Dumpling, Sunshine, Butternut, Honeynut…

So, how’s it going? There seems to be a little confusion at a couple locations about how the CSA is being packed this year. Part of our safety protocol for COVID has been to pack most everything here at the farm, mostly in order to reduce touches/exposure. This is different than we would typically do it at some locations where we might have spread out a bunch of choices to paw through and select…eg. ‘choose something green’. This year we feel it is best to pack as much as possible here, taking into consideration our diverse CSA community. Subsequently, the bags have been pretty packed and heavy 🙂

Nothing is different for those who pick up at one of our many grab and go locations…the bags are loaded as usual.

This is week 14 of our regular 16 week season…coming up: different apples, other winter squash, cabbage, celeriac? sweet potato?

All y’all been quiet about whatcha cookin these days.

Really, no sharing? Well, since you asked, this week I have made Southeastern style stuffed acorn squash (completely made up recipe), Sunshine Squash Soup, Caldo Verde Soup, Busy Farmer Instantpot Chili (lots of veg), Baked Delicata Rings, Leek and Potato Soup, Apple Crisp, Mac and Cheese with large side salad, sauteed veg with eggs…

Please feel free to share what you have been up to. You know I don’t publish any personal info and I’d like to think we all get a kick out of seeing what others are doing and inspiration these days is GREAT!

In case you get more Napa:

Quick Stir Fry Chinese Cabbage

• 2 TB oil (not olive)
• 1+ tsp minced ginger (optional)
• 2 cloves minced garlic (optional)
• few pinches red pepper flakes
• Shredded cabbage
• other veggies if you have on hand (shredded carrot, turnip, kohlrabi, thinly sliced onion or pepper)
• 3+ Tb soy sauce
• sprinkle rice vinegar

This is so simple to throw together! The cabbage is featured, but any other veggies you have laying about are supporting characters! Shred or slice very thinly everything. Heat oil in large skillet (by all means use your wok if you’ve got one!), add onion, ginger, red pepper flakes, stir around a minute, add cabbage, garlic and any other veggies. Stir around until wilted. Remove from heat, drizzle with soy sauce and rice vinegar, cover and let rest 2 minutes and enjoy!

My full complete “recipe”: Cook 1lb ground sausage; when browned, add oil if needed and continue with above recipe. Usually I serve with rice 🙂

Also check out my favorite Chinese Cabbage salad:

Chinese Cabbage Salad

Roasted Delicata Rings

OKAY, I’m pretty sure we don’t grow magic Delicata here, but I don’t think I have ever cooked a Delicata ring for 40 minutes, just saying. There’s loads of recipes out there for delicata rings and you can have alot of fun with coatings, dipping sauce, etc. Frankly, baked rings seasoned with a little salt is most excellent with any meal. yes, you can embellish with a little maple and chili powder, or dip in egg and breadcrumbs, but if you are new to it, them just go naked 😉 you can eat the skin and all, so simply slice, spray with oil, sprinkle with salt, bake. It’s that simple.

Wash the Delicata. Slice 1/2″ rings and clear out any seeds along the way. YES, you can slice off the ends and use a spoon to remove seeds before slicing – it’s up to you. Preheat oven to 400. place rings on greased baking sheet (greased foil?) and spray oil over tops. Sprinkle with a little salt. Bake until fork tender…15-20 minutes. Enjoy, skin and all.

A block of lettuce and greens was ploughed under and Glenn spent the afternoon laying what might be the last plastic of the season to plant late beets (will they make it?) and next year’s garlic. Doing the “last” of anything on farm is a huge triumph and he celebrated by enjoying a glass of wine in the back yard watching Josie tear around with a pear. We all have to take those moments! It has been non-stop, out-straight here, so a greatly needed sigh of relief. We hope you are able to have those moments in your life too. It’s been different, for sure.

School started for us. Reid is back at FSU with just one lab on campus – though it’s the shortest lab I have ever hear of, and the rest online. No rugby yet, guess there won’t be 🙁 Faith, a sophomore in HS is back for a half day two days a week and the remainder online. We’ll see. With no band or chorus or in person AP chem lab, it is going to be rough for her and cohorts. They are talking about cancelling all sports too:(  BUT, because she is not really in school., she is able to run the New Braintree farmstand with her grandmother on Thursdays and Fridays this week, so there’s that. I hope all of you in the same boat are fairing well. If you have school age children, I extend a special invite to the farm for them (ya, you can come too). A great deal of schooling can take place here, but more importantly, a moment to experience something normal. no need to wear a mask while you enjoy the sun and pick a few veggies or fruits. I am profoundly worried about our kids during this pandemic and if this farm can provide much needed relief to run, play, eat, whatever, then PLEASE, hop in the car and come out. Pack a picnic lunch and luxuriate in our yard, the orchard or some other field. Bring a book to read aloud and remind our young ones of how a day trip was done pre phones and tablets.

Is this something I should schedule? You want me around to show your kids how to pull carrots or pick apples without breaking our trees? Let me know.

For inquiring minds, gleaning will happen – hopefully not soon! Stay tuned.

The Franklinia has bloomed for so long this late summer. It is a joy to behold and the hummingbirds love it. From Georgiaencyclopedia online:

They named the tree after their friend Benjamin and the species bears the name of the river it grew alongside. our Franklin Tree is nearing on 15 feet now!

Eat well,

Geneviève Stillman   

Two more weeks of CSA extension option!

CSA is going so awesome, why not keep things rolling until Still Life Farm winter CSA begins!!! Add two more weeks to your 16!! (we are on week 10 this week) We are offering an extension to current CSA members of an additional two weeks for $60. That way you will have your winter squash, Brussels sprouts, apples and other fall crops. It’s simple, just complete your purchase for 2 more weeks and we will keep you on your existing list. These two weeks will blend seamlessly filling the gap between our Summer CSA and Still Life Farm’s Winter CSA.

With all the payroll increases, we are increasing the regular 16-week, CSA price to $500…

This is still far more competitive, price-wise, than many other area CSAs, especially when one considers the variety (including fruit) and value of what we so enjoy providing to you.

Since it is almost time to start signing up for next year, we are offering some bundle options. Curt and Halley Stillman, at Still Life farm, still have a few spots open for their wonderful Winter CSA (5 deliveries, once a month) More here

Here are the bundle options (please note– you must purchase bundled options at SAME TIME to qualify for bundle discount):

• 2 week CSA extension + 2021 16-week CSA for $476 (early discount of 15% off both the 16-week CSA and the two week CSA extension (that’s $75 off CSA and $9 off the two extra bags :))
• 2 week CSA extension + Winter CSA for  $350
• 2 week CSA extension + Winter CSA + 2021 16-week CSA for $766 ($290 for Winter CSA + early discount of 15% off both the 16-week CSA and the two week CSA extension (that’s $75 off CSA and $9 off the two extra bags :))
• Just interested in the Winter CSA right now? Then sign up directly with Curt and Halley for ease. Still Life Farm Winter CSAl

Coupon 15OFFCSA will be automatically applied at checkout for 2 weeks + Summer CSA (with or without Winter CSA)
Coupon 15OFFEXTRA will be automatically applied at checkout for 2 weeks + Winter CSA

Woot!

Don’t want any more CSA bags this year and not ready to sign up for next year? No worries! We will still be offering our 15% off discount to returning members through November. The early sign up discount offer will go out to members later in October. Also, you can always sign up for Still Life farm Winter CSA or Stillman Quality Meats meat bucks whenever…we just wanted to offer a special deal for right now. The special bundle offer expires October 10.