What's Happening at Burnt Roack Farm
by Justin Rich
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November makes me look up. Partially because there's no more food coming out of the ground, or because I really ought to arch my back. Maybe I just have to get visual confirmation that dusklight is in fact occurring at 4pm. I've always liked stick season and its exposure of the topography beneath the forest, and the bones of the forest that hold up the leaves. I'm not one for bright colored clothing, so perhaps I just appreciate that the sky and hillsides are now conforming to my general dress code of greys, browns, and blacks.
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Our tiny beet crop was the last root harvest 2 weeks ago, and now our time is spent in the packhouse and out on the perimeters of the fields, picking up irrigation lines, cutting trees, trimming branches, taking notes.
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Nicole and I spent 2 days last week up at the farm up the road that we bought last year, pulling ancient fenceposts and barbed wire that have outlived their usefulness. It was a good reminder of the decomposition zone that is the top 6" of soil - even the heartwood of a cedar post slowly rots in our well-watered topsoil if given enough time, while the wood 2' down looks remarkably unchanged after decades below ground.
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Overall we had an excellent growing season. Plenty of heat, no deluges, and avoided the worst of the potential insect scourges. I hope you all found juuuust the right amount of variety and quantity in your shares this year - we do try hard to strike a good balance.
I'm going to close with the final 2 paragraphs from last year's final newsletter. I really just want to say the exact same thing, so rather than re-word it, I'm going to enjoy reading it again:
"Thanks for weathering the ups and downs with us (hopefully not in equal measure), and for joining in this annual exercise in appreciation. We all enjoy things a little more deeply if there is an element of scarcity, if we know that the melon we're eating is really only this sweet - and this available - for a month of two of the year. Thick, succulent Fall spinach is only this way because of our cold weather, making it a seasonal delicacy not available in the always-California supermarket produce aisle. I'm glad we can go into the store and get a salad in February, but at that point the salad is just a salad. The salad you had last week with Aaron's greens was not just a salad, it was a product of skilled stewardship of the working landscape within your community. And that's something worth supporting.
"As we say every year, thanks for holding up your end of the grower-eater relationship. We love growing the food for you, and we hope you enjoy it just as much. Happy holidays, and we'll see you in 2019!"
Justin
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Thank YOU for Another Great Season!
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It is hard to believe that we have zoomed through another year! Our farmers did a great job feeding all of us again this season.Hannah and now Kara have done a great job taking care of members on pick-up days. I really feel that this has been the best season yet!
Like my Camino that I went on this October, the best part of the CSA for me is the people. I love picking up my CSA share each Wednesday because it is a chance to connect with friends and people I have met through Muddy Boots over the years. I especially love seeing young parents bringing their kids to CSA pick-up. Isn't that a great experience for this new generation that will carry the memory of going to the farm each week to pick up their basket of food? I am sure this will make a lasting impression for most of these children as they grow up and become adults.
Have a great winter and we look forward to seeing you again next spring!
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End of Year Member Survey
Keep an eye out for the end of year member survey! It will be in your in-box later this week.
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Genius Recipe: Smoky Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili
from Food52.com
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Better Black Bean Soup
from Epicurious.com
There is a great tip in this recipe to keep your beans black/dark rather than having them fade as they cook.
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Butternut Squash Pie
from TheSpruceEats.com
Butternut squash is a great alternative to pumpkin for your thanksgiving pie.
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Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
from epicurious.com
With the inside tip you will find in this recipe, you can make your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes up to two days in advance and they will be perfect when you serve them on the big day!
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Sweet Potato Gratin from Yotam Ottolenghi
from womanaroundtown.com
Do your family a favor! Swap out those marshmallow topped sweet potatoes with this amazing gratin that brings out (not hides) the sweetness of the potatoes and uses some cream to make it all come together and sage and garlic to make it interesting.
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Your share size is: <<2018 Share Size>>
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Member Feedback
Anonymous or not...your choice. Or, if you prefer, call Robin at 496-3567 or email me.
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Pick-Up Information
When, Where and How
- Pick-up is at the Kingsbury Farm just north of the iron bridge on Route 100 in Warren. When you pull into the driveway, go past the barn and the house. The pick-up area is in the wash house which is on the right-hand side of the building that is perpendicular to the house.
- You may pick-up your share on Wednesdays between noon and 6:30pm.
- Bring a bag or box - you will need it to put all of your goodies in. If you aren't heading right home after pick-up, bring a cooler to make sure that everything stays fresh - especially when it is really hot or really cold.
- Check your name off of the list so we know that you have picked up your share.
- Look on the large chalk board to see which items you should be taking for your share. Be sure you are looking at your share size and then methodically work your way around the semi-circle. If you do this, the lightest, most crushable items should be at the top of your bag.
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Share Holding Service
If you are unable to pick-up your share during regular hours
- We can pack and hold your share If you are not able to pick-up your share between 12 noon and 6:30 pm on Wednesday, we can pack and hold it for you to be picked up by Friday evening. We need to receive your request before 5:30 pm on pick-up day. Here is the Hold Request Form.
- Early Pick-Up The morning of pick-up day is busy at the farm. Trucks from the other farms are going on while we are setting up the washhouse for pick-up day. Please don't stop by the farm early to try and pick-up your share. If you need to pick-up your share early, submit a Hold Request Form by Tuesday evening requesting early pick-up. Your share will be ready for pick-up at 11am. Sorry, we cannot provide shares earlier than 11am and we cannot provide your share early if you do not complete a Share Hold Request form.
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Pick-Up Reminder Services
Get an Email Reminder at Noons on Wednesdays
Life can get busy and sometimes it is easy to forget about the share pick-up. If you would like a mid-day share pick-up reminder emailed to you on Wednesday just complete the Weekly Pick-Up Reminder form. You will receive an email reminder around noon on pick-up days. We hope that this helps.
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Get a Text Reminder at 3pm on Wednesday
To sign up, text EZFFQ85352 to 313131. You can quit at any time by replying STOP to one of the text reminders.
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