Week #12 - 2014 FFF CSA - What's in the Box - Final Treats

Well, twelve weeks have rolled by and we find ourselves on the last week of our CSA share for 2014. We have enjoyed feeding you all, new customers and old (or should I say returning :). Its been a growing season of extremes.. wet start and wet finished sandwiched between a very dry spell. As usual some plants enjoyed the season and others didn't. We hope that despite any of the challenges that you ate well, learned something new and expanded your eating experience. 

The final box will bring a few final treats: 

• Eggplant - this purple people pleaser is yummy fall treat. Slice it up and roast or fry it or make our favorite baba ghanoush - a Mediterranean dip.  
• Tomatillo - you will find these gems inside the paper bag. This is the best way to store them. Tomatillos are often referred to as the Mexican tomato and grow with a papery husk around them that you remove. (similiar to ground cherries). A tomatillo is the main ingredient in many salsas such as salsa verde.
• Spaghetti Squash - as many of you know our squash experiment using straw bales did not do as well as we would hope. Between this new growing technique and the weather conditions this growing season, most of our squash are delayed and are not yet ready. We have tucked in a special treat from our friends from Almost Urban Farm who had some spaghetti squash to share. Please be assured that they too grow their veggies in a natural, sustainable manner with no pesticides or herbicides. A huge thank to them for helping us out! 
• Pumpkin - Fall would not be fall if it didn't have pumpkins! This year we grew both the traditional orange pumpkins as well as a yellowish "ghost" pumpkin variety. We wanted to be sure that you all got your pumpkin before the end of the CSA so we have tucked them in the box. If your pumpkin is still green, do not fear it will ripen up over the next few weeks in time for carving or eating - whatever your pleasure! 
• Finally, we've also tucked in a small potted cilantro plant for your windowsill. May the fresh, fragant smell of this yummy herb extend your summer just a little. 

So... What's all in the Box this week?

• Swiss Chard
• Romaine Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Spaghetti Squash - New!
• Tomatoes
• Eggplant - New!
• Beans
• Tomatillos - New!
• Ground Cherries
• Melons 
• Kale
• Carrots
• Peppers - Hot and Sweet
• Onion
• Leeks
• Potatoes
• Rhubarb
• Pumpkin - New!
• Dried Basil - for full shares only
• Potted cilantro plant - New!

Please keep in touch! As you may know we sell eggs, meats and selected other products all year round so check back here regularly for updates. We are gearing up for Open Farm Day this Sunday from 11-4 when we, along with many other farms, open our farms to the public. As always you are welcome to come for a visit, either on Sunday or any other day. Just let us know. Thank you so much for your confidence and trust in our products... we look forward to feeding you in the future. 

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Week #11 - 2014 FFF CSA - What's in the Box - Marvelous Melons

As we contemplate the frosty weather forecast, we have decided to harvest the majority of our melons this week as they won't make it through the projected frost on Thursday. Some are fully ripe and ready, while others may need to ripen a little in your fridge. Better that they are safely with you, then risking losing them all! We grew three types of melons this year, watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melons - mainly as they are typically the three most popular. Below I have tried to give you some pointers on how to tell if a melon is ripe: 

Cantaloupe - You can use three of your five senses to see if a cantaloupe is ready to eat. First smell it, a ripe cantaloupe will smell sweet and musky. If it is not ripe.. you won't smell anything at all. Then push with your finger (gently) on the opposite side to the stem. Use your thumb and press down. You want it to give a little. Finally take a look, cantaloupes are unripe when the skin beneath the textured 'web' is green and ripe when orange or golden. 

Honeydew Melon - The best way to tell when honeydew melons are perfectly ripe is to feel the melons. Ripe melons have some very fine veining that you can only detect by touch. The melon should not be soft or scarred in any areas and should be somewhat fragrant. Again, the side opposite to the stem should give a little when you press on it and the skin begins to take on a creamy yellow/cream appearance.

Watermelons: It is extremely difficult to tell if a watermelon is ripe by just looking; it must be examined. Store the harvested fruits at 50 degrees to 60 degrees F. Here are indications you can look for: 

1. Thump it. If the watermelon sounds hollow (if you hear a dull thump/thud), the melon is usually ripe. This is difficult for less-gifted ears. The unripe melon will have a tighter, metallic ringing sound. 

2. Look for the spot where the melon rested on the ground; a yellow-white, yellow or a cream-yellow color spot suggests ripeness and a white or pale green spot indicates immaturity. A green watermelon will have a white bottom; a ripe melon will have a cream- or yellow-colored bottom. . 

3. The rind where the fruit laid on the soil should toughen and resist denting with a fingernail when the melon is ripe. Scratch the surface of the rind with your thumbnail. If the outer layer slips back with little resistance, showing a green-white color under the rind, the watermelon is ripe.

4. Press on it. If the watermelon feels like it gives a little, it's ripe.

5. Rely on your nose, and check for a melon with strong fragrance. Breath deeply and follow your nose to a sweet ripe melon. Next, look for a melon that is heavy for its size, because if you have two melons of equal size, the heavier one is almost assuredly the riper and better tasting melon.

6. Still confused? Guess. All indicators will not always work. Take your best shot and go with it. 

So... What (else) is in the Box this week?

• Rhubarb
• Swiss Chard
• Cucumber
• Tomatoes
• Beets
• Turnip or Kohlrabi
• Beans - for full shares only
• Ground Cherries
• Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon) New!
• Kale
• Carrots
• Peppers (sweet and hot)
• Onions
• Leeks
• Potatoes
• Peas - for the half shares only
• Herbs (oregano, chives, rosemary, cilantro)

Note: As next week (September 16th & 17th) is the last week of the CSA, please ensure that all boxes are returned and that you bring with you bags to pack your last delivery of vegetables into. 

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be prudent to wash all vegetables when you get them home. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (ice cream pails, plastic containers, etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

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Week #10 - 2014 FFF CSA - What's in the Box - Soup for September

September is here and whether we like it or not, fall is in it's way. The mornings are getting nippy and the evenings noticeably shorter. To cheer your end of summer blues, we are suggesting some yummy soup! 

In our CSA box this week, you will find some leeks and of course some potatoes (along with other things!). Thus, you have the makings of potato and leek soup! The recipe we like to use is here and the result is a hearty, creamy soup along with a salad and some bread would be a wonderful fall supper! 

While I have your attention.. thought I would pass along two important notes: 

1) We are again participating in Open Farm Day on September 21st. While our CSA share holders are always welcome to tour/visit the farm... if you haven't made it out to visit us, feel free to come on the 21st. There are many other farms participating... for more info check out this website. 

2) For those who have been waiting... our beef is ready as of today. If you are interested in fresh beef, check out our products page and send an email to order. For those that have ordered, we will be in contact shortly to arrange to meet up... or "meat up" :) 

So... What's (else is) in the Box this week?

• Swiss Chard
• Cucumber
• Tomatoes - large and cherry
• Beets
• Turnip or Kohlrabi
• Ground Cherries
• Kale
• Carrots
• Peppers - Hot and sweet varieties
• Onion
• Leeks - New!
• Potatoes
• Herbs - oregano, rosemary, curled parsley, cilantro, chives

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be prudent to wash all vegetables when you get them home. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (ice cream pails, plastic containers, etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @FenezFollies