Thank you for the ice cream party
- Victoria & Randy Rogowski
- Aug 10
- 6 min read
STORIES & UPDATES
Hi members!
We'd like to start by thanking everyone for sponsoring our ice cream party this past Friday. We raised enough to even add on a party sandwich and chips. We hung out under the tent and shared a few laughs.
We periodically sponsor lunch, breakfast, or treats, but it means a lot for the staff to know how much the community loves them, too. Many of our harvest team members don't often get to see you, and it's validating for them to know that the work they do each day touches your lives.
Thanks for making them feel special!
In honor of National Farmers' Market week last week, we'd also like to highlight Steve. Steve faithfully attends the Monroe Farmers' Market every Friday from 3-6 and the Shelton Farmers' Market from every Saturday from 9-12 without fail. He is committed, reliable, knowledgable, and many of you seem to know and love him, too. Steve loads and unloads trucks; sets up tables, tents, and displays of veggies; and assists customers. We are very lucky to have Steve!
This week, we're featuring a really uncommon but amazing veggie - tomatillos!
A relative of tomatoes and ground cherries, tomatillos are also called husk tomatoes. Small round fruits are protected by a husk; peel it back to enjoy!
Tomatillos are often roasted and cooked, but can also be enjoyed raw.
Here's what I do with them:
I puree them in a blender with equal parts tomatoes, plus a hot pepper, an onion, and garlic. I then use that as a base for ground chicken chili. You can also freeze it as this puree and use it in the winter time. You can even simmer it until it turns a deep color, and then eat it as salsa or as a topping for tacos. They're incredibly easy to enjoy!
For this reason, your free choice option this week will be a bag of grape tomatoes OR a bagged tomatillo mix that includes garlic, a hot pepper, and an onion.
Here are some more ideas:
This week, you're also receiving a cantaloupe with your share! You can enjoy them right away, as they are ripe. We would recommend keeping it in the fridge if you don't plan to eat it right away, otherwise it will continue to ripen until it goes bad. Just remember to take it from the wagon out in front of the store on your way out!
Remember how we moved the melons to Waverly Road from Booth Hill Road so we could keep a closer eye on them? Well, the critters are finding and destroying them anyway. We've decided that despite our best efforts, this will be the last year for growing yellow watermelon as they're especially targeted. Taking a risk on the crop loss is no longer a smart idea.
At pickup, you can also grab a free pepper "second" - our bell peppers are starting to change colors, but the first round usually bakes in the sun and therefore gets this ugly "sun scald." We need to remove them from the plants, so they're yours to take!
Cut it away and enjoy as usual!
If you're feeling fatigued from eggplant, remember how versatile it is. I challenge you to post in our Facebook group a new-to-you eggplant dish this week!
Otherwise, please utilize the swap, and ask us if there is more availability if it needs restocking.
Here's your reminder to squash these invasive spotted lanterflies. They are very harmful to plants and trees in our area, and we've even seen one or two on the grapevines. They can kill an entire crop, so we need to be vigilant! You've probably seen notices in the news or posted in the community - they're no joke!
Finally, a note - this week's share items are valued higher than usual, which is why the number of items in your share is reduced this week. We promise that you always receive $1-2 in value OVER what you paid into your share!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pick-Your-Own flowers at 475 Booth Hill Road in Shelton.
Friday, August 15 - 4 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, August 16 - 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Bouquets of flowers are $30, which includes tax and a collectible transport cup for your blooms. Bring the cup to use on a subsequent visit for $1 off! Your bouquet must fit into one hand when grasped around the stems. After you finish harvesting, please see us at the checkout station for a complimentary water cup, to fit into your car's cupholder on the journey home.
The Shelton Farmers' Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 100 Canal Street.
The Monroe Farmers' Market runs every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m at 7 Fan Hill Road.
STORE INFORMATION
Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last (through Friday, August 15th):
Basil
Beans (limited quantities)
Bell peppers
Carrots
Celery (leafy variety)
Collard greens
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Grape/cherry tomatoes
Hot peppers
Husk cherries (limited quantities)
Kale
Onions
Parsley
Scallions
Shishito peppers
Tomatoes
Yellow squash
Zucchini
CURRENT STORE HOURS:
Monday: 10:30 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
MAIN SEASON WEEK 10 of 20
(Tuesday, August 12th through Saturday, August 16th)
Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
1 cantaloupe
1 lb. of tomatoes
1 lb. of cucumbers
1 eggplant
1 bunch of kale
1 bell pepper
1 choice - tomatillo mix or a pint of grape tomatoes
Bonus: 1 pepper "second"
Small:
1 cantaloupe
1 lb. of tomatoes
1 eggplant
1 choice - tomatillo mix or a pint of grape tomatoes
Bonus: 1 pepper "second"
Storage tips and recipes for all of the vegetables in this week's share can be located on our website, here.
Vegetable Subscription Pickup Policies
All pickups must take place within store operating hours. For many reasons, we can't leave shares outside the store. Pickup days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
If you need to skip your share for the week, or change your pickup day, you must provide us with 48 hours' notice for any of the options below. This is because we pack shares the day before pickup. Once your share has been harvested and packed, we can not change or 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 pickup day in a given week: we offer share pickup on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday only.
You can skip a pickup and receive a double the following week.
If you miss your pickup, we will hold your share for 24 hours after your pickup day, 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.
You can always send a guest to pick up in your place by simply notifying us of their name.
Please send us an email to laurelglenfarm@gmail.com 48 hours before your anticipated pickup in order to make a change. You must submit your request in writing in order to leave a paper trail. This allows you to show proof to our store staff at pickup in the event that we need clarification.
If a share is picked up outside of your scheduled time (aside from an approved change) or the 24 hour holding period, you will be billed for an additional share.
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