Fall CSA Week #4

Thursday October 15th: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Greenhouse #11 work has begun. Ridge stripped the greenhouse, took off the back wall and has begun to pound in posts to extend it from 46’ to 150’. Jav and Ridge have raised bents and baseboards have been added. The hope is to finish construction and then get plastic on top over the next few weeks. Check out what GH11 looked like this past spring in the picture above!

GH11 from the outside

Basil was removed a few weeks ago and the back wall was taken down.

Soil and debris behind GH11 was flattened and a level line was stretched out on each side for ground posts and bents.

G6 lettuce will ultimately be covered up by the greenhouse and become part of GH11.

Sam recently went to Profile and talked with students and faculty about food waste collection and compost. The hope is to encourage some renewed energy around food waste collection at Profile within the student body. We have been collecting food waste from Profile, Bethlehem Elementary, and Laffayette Elementary School for a number of years, along with The Littleton Food Coop, Polly’s Pancake Parlor, Franconia Market and Deli, and a number of other local restaurants.

Anyone can come to the farm and actually see the entire process of food waste to compost. It starts as Food waste, then animal feed, then gets mixed into a compost pile with animal bedding, spent grain from Schillings, and some wood chips, and by turning the piles and adding oxygen, micro organismns followed by heat generating bacteria expedite the decomposition of the material eventually resulting in “black gold” otherwise known as compost.

We encourage you to collect your own kitchen food waste and either create a compost pile at home or bring it to the farm.

Jim has been monitoring our Jerusalem Artichokes over the years and over the last couple weeks has been harvesting them out of the Farm Stand Gardens and Kiosk Gardens out front. We are excited to have these nutty, sweet, tubors for you this week.

This article from Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners contains a number of recipe options as well as some history of Jerusalem Artichokes. Definitely check it out for some info and ideas.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

When you arrive at the farm, look for the CSA sign straight ahead and to the left.

Jaime will check you in and help you gather your share.

The Fall CSA is a set share chosen by your MSF Farmers. You will receive everything on the “basket” list. We will have a trade box available if you would like to trade one (1) of your items!

Your Farmer, Sam (For Tim, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Evrald, Shawn, Jav, Colin, Jaime, Franconia, Jennings, and Ridge)