Hi everyone!
I wanted to share some common responses in the survey you completed so that you know we are listening to your feedback. Thank you so much for completing this. It is so helpful for us to see what members think - truly.
The biggest takeaways were that you love the quality, variety, and having items predetermined for you to challenge you to eat new things. We plan to always keep this a traditional CSA for those of you who love it as is, and if you decide to move on from the program and shop in the store because you'll get more choice, that is absolutely okay with us, too! We know that the traditional CSA model doesn't work for everyone's family. Your responses were so encouraging and made us smile.
The most common responses in terms of suggestions for the future were: keeping the choice option a more permanent, regular occurrence (noted and being heavily considered for next year), incorporating more fruit (fingers crossed for the future! Right now there aren't enough berries or grapes to go around, but when that day comes, we've thought about adding a fruit add-on option to the share), and someone mentioned having herbs be optional because a lot of you grow your own. We love this idea and Randy and we're thinking about some fun new ways to change up how we grow and give herbs for next year. There were more individual suggestions that we are noting, but these were the most common overall.
Thanks again for taking the time to tell us your thoughts. We couldn't grow without you!
If you'd like to and didn't complete the survey yet, you can do so here:
Looking back at the photos from the week, it was a tough one, but such a picturesque one. We got two months' worth of rain in one week. Two months!
Thank goodness for raised beds. This is the exact reason we grow on them: so water will pool between the rows instead of on top of the crops.
We apologize to the Saturday members who got a substitution of cauliflower in place of their broccoli. The broccoli was absolutely decimated mid-week. Just the heavy rain alone rots the heads instantly. In retrospect we probably should have harvested it sooner, but we took the chance and didn't want it to sit in the cooler all week where it has a short shelf life. Farming is a series of chances and risks. Sometimes things go well and sometimes you make the wrong decisions. Overall, we're so glad the cauliflower held on.
Farming isn't always rainbows and butterflies, but sometimes it is rainbows!
In addition to the mizuna, celery is another new crop that we attempted to grow this season. Celery is hard to grow from seed because it needs specific growing conditions. It loves the extra precipitation we're getting this season. Large share members will receive it in their share this week. The crew was so excited to see it pan out that they each took a turn showing it off. As with the cutting celery, the stalks and tops can be used.
Another GORGEOUS crop that we harvested this week was the ornamental corn. As we peeled it back, the crew members declared each one their favorite... until they saw the next one! Look at them!
When I went to close up the store for the night on Thursday, I found Felicia and Emily staying after their shift prepping to take some more photos of the corn. Who can blame them?
On Saturday from 9-4, we're having a build-your-own bouquet of ornamental corn. You'll pick any 3 ears of corn of your choice and bundle it together with a piece of wire to make a door hanger for $10 (while supplies last). We recommend coming early to have your pick of the crop.
Randy finally finished his planting for the season! September 15th is always his deadline, and the final beds of greens were seeded this past week. These raised beds are Tokyo bekana, radishes, and arugula for the late fall. Seed is "broadcasted" for these, meaning they're scattered on top of the soil at a certain density. They're then covered over with dirt, which is what the crew is doing here.
Randy actually ended up harrowing under the arugula, mizuna, and radishes that were finished so that he can now make one last bed for extra lettuce and escarole. None of this was in the plan, but it was left over from some of our earlier plantings, so it can be transplanted as a bonus this week.
We are so excited to welcome lettuce back into your shares this week. Were you missing it like we were?
This past Saturday, we held our annual Bonus Box Harvest. Members who enrolled for their subscription during our "Early Registration Period" last fall were invited to the event as one of the thank you perks of signing up early. Hurricane Lee held off, and a beautiful time was had. Members harvested grape tomatoes, shishitos, beans, chard, rosemary, and cutting celery or parsley, and most described the appreciation they had for harvesting all of the small items that comprised this bonus share.
We look forward to this every year, and next year will be no exception. Opening enrollment day for next year's program will be on Sunday, October 15th and you can absolutely bet that it will be another of the perks for signing up early.
Thank you to member Kate for sharing these photos with us and to everyone who came out. It's so lovely to spend time with you.
We're planning a pumpkin carving event for the morning of Saturday, October 28th rain or shine. If it shines, it'll be out in the field - in case of rain, it'll be under a tent. Details coming next week!
We are all set with box donations for now! This is just one of the mountains we received after our request and we appreciate your generosity. We'll let you know if we end up needing more, but we will hold off on accepting more for now. Thanks again!
Because it was such a picturesque week, we have so many photos to share. We'll wrap up the newsletter with them. Have a wonderful week!
In Your Share (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
1 bunch of celery
1 head of cauliflower
1 head of lettuce
1 lb. of sweet bell peppers
1/2 pint of grape tomatoes
1 head of Napa cabbage
1 onion
1 lb. of beets
Small:
1 head of lettuce
1 lb. of sweet bell peppers
1/2 pint of grape tomatoes
1 head of Napa cabbage
1 lb. of beets
Caring For Your Share (All of this information, plus long-term storage info, can also be found in our Vegetable Library of Resources).
Store peppers in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. Set the crisper drawer to low humidity to allow some of the ethylene gas that results from decomposition to escape. Ethylene gas will cause the peppers to rot sooner.
Keep celery in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Store grape or cherry tomatoes in a bowl with lots of airflow on your counter. If stems are still attached, don't pull them off until you're ready to eat the tomatoes. Wash before using and enjoy within a few days.
Store your head of cauliflower in an open plastic bag in the fridge. Wash and use within the week.
Beets can last up to a month if stored in a plastic bag in the fridge.
Shake out any excess water in the heads of lettuce and Napa cabbage, then store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Wash and spin out when ready to use.
Store dry onions in a cool, dark, dry place, such as a pantry, cabinet, or cellar. Ensure that they have plenty of airflow; you can store them in a mesh bag. Keep them away from potatoes.
The LGF Cooking Club (Recipes to try in addition to those in the Library of Resources!)
Large Share Additional Items
Please note that Victoria does not work on Thursdays this season. Emails received on Wednesday night through Thursday will be answered on Fridays.
How to Change Your Pickup Day
If you need to skip your share for the week, or change your pickup day, you must provide us with 48 hours notice since we pack shares the day before pickup. Once your share has been harvested and packed, we can not cancel your pickup.
For Tuesday pickups being changed, we need to know by Sunday. Wednesday pickups, we need to know by Monday. Saturday pickups, we need to know by Thursday. You have the option to choose another of those pickup days: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Or, you can skip a pickup and double the following week.
If you miss your pickup, we will hold your share for 24 hours after your pickup day (Monday for Saturday members), and then it will be donated to a local food pantry. With more members than ever before, we don't have the cooler space to hold onto shares longer than this. This is a great option if you accidentally miss your pickup - just come the next day.
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