News and blog

Another week has passed since my last newsletter.  And the weather hasn't changed.  This heat is very challenging for your veggie farmers.  Our summer crops have either been cleaned out of their beds are are still eking out their last hurrah with a fraction of their glorious yields of a month or two ago.  We have planted fall crops that are suited for cool nights and a mixture of warm and cool days...not 85 degree days!  The change coming with tomorrow's front is very welcome.

The weather has played havoc with our crops this year.  Unseasonable warmth is making our fall crops mature more quickly than they should, thus reducing their quality.  We are also dealing with an insect pest that is rarely seen in western PA:  the cross striped cabbageworm.  We normally have the bright green cabbage worms and cabbage moths hanging around, which do minimal damage to healthy plants.  But it seems that the cross striped cabbageworm was driven further north by Hurricane Florence last month and is attacking all of our brassicas.  Most insect pests don't bother kale very much, but Glacial Till Farm lost a large crop of it as well as salad mix.  I'm sure you have noticed the black spots on the broccoli from Detweiler Farm.  That is not mold; it is damage from these worms.  Our farmers have never experienced this insect before, and we hope that it won't survive the winter to reproduce next year. 

We do apologize to those of you who received inferior broccoli.  Some of the plants look beautiful on the surface, and the insect damage is revealed when they are cut. I have been able to salvage most of my broccoli with some time and a knife.  It's not ideal, but it's what we have to work with when we avoid chemical pesticides.  The warm weather has also caused the broccoli to mature too quickly, so this first batch is already finished.  Let's hope that our later season plantings of broccoli aren't damaged by this pest.  Those of you who have been CSA members in past years know that Detweiler Farm produces beautiful monster broccoli every fall, so you know that this is abnormal.

As of late last week, Miller Farm had a large crop of beets in the ground, and I planned on putting them in Full Shares and Small Shares.  When they went to harvest them this week, almost all of them were unusable.  They did find some good ones, but not enough to fill the shares.  So we improvised at the last minute and substituted some other items for the beets in some shares (see below).  I know that some of you are just as happy with no beets, though. :)

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 2 broccoli from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. tomatillos from Detweiler Farm
• 1 inferno pepper from Detweiler Farm
• 1 spaghetti squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 8 oz. salad greens from Glacial Till Farm
• 8 oz. kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 lb. beets OR green beans OR cabbage OR 2 lb. onions from Miller Farm
• 3 choice from Detweiler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Miller Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, and Springfield Acres

Small Share

• 1 broccoli from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 8 oz. salad greens from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 lb. beets OR green beans OR cabbage OR 2 lb. onions from Miller Farm
• 1 onion from Miller Farm
• 2 choice from Detweiler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Miller Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, and Springfield Acres

Mini Share

• 1 broccoli from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 choice from Detweiler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Miller Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, and Springfield Acres

Recipes

Autumn Vegetable Grain Salad with Cider Mustard Vinaigrette:  I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious!  If you like roasted veggie bowls, you will like this.  I filled my broccoli pan too full so it wasn't as crispy as I wanted it, but that's what sometimes happens when I cook for my large family.  I subbed quinoa for the farro, a mixture of salad greens and lettuce for the spinach, and used goat cheese instead of feta.  And of course Springfield Acres' fresh-pressed cider in the  dressing!

Asian Broccoli Stalk Salad:  Don't throw out your broccoli stems!

Coconut Curry Broccoli SoupCoconut Curry Broccoli Soup:  something different from the standard broccoli cheese soup

Spinach Artichoke Spaghetti Squash Boats with Chicken:  We love spinach artichoke dip, so this one is on the menu at my house this weekend.  This recipe has suggestions for making it vegetarian and vegan (I plan on leaving out the chicken).

Spaghetti Sauce with Thai Peanut Sauce

Roasted Tomatillo and White Bean Soup

Chicken Verde Taco Bowls

Favorite Green Salad with Cranberries, Apples, and Pepitas:  I would probably sub a different nut for the pepitas because I don't always have them on hand.  Toasted walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds would all work well here.

Have a great week!  And enjoy the cooler weather that is coming.

Amy

We have come to the final week of Peak-of-the-Season Shares.  If you are one of our half-season CSA members, we hope that you have enjoyed the bounty of the season that you have received.  You can still order from the Webstore through November, but don't be surprised if our Webstore offerings in the Veggie Department are limited, since we reserve the best for CSA Shares.  

However, if you have a Peak-of-the-Season Share and do not wish to order anything from the Webstore, let me know and I will remove you from the email list so you aren't bothered by all the email reminders.  If you click unsubscribe to an email, then you will unsubscribe from all future emails, including announcements about signing up for the next season.

Farm News

Grateful Life Farm

It seems another season has flown by on us, as we prepare to harvest our last batch of chickens for the year tomorrow morning (Note: This was written last Friday, so the chickens are processed and in the freezer).  Looking back at this year's photos, it is amazing to observe how short our growing season is, but yet how much growth is accomplished in only a few month's time!  Here is a photo of our first chickens of the season on their first day on pasture in early May.  The trees haven't leafed out yet and the grass growth is just beginning.    

And here are the last chickens yesterday evening with the woods full and the grass bright and lush from all the rain we've had.  It's hard to believe the first frost and garlic planting time are only a few weeks away.

Glacial Till Farm

Some of us farm full-time, while others hold day jobs and farm part-time.  Derek from Glacial Till Farm does both!  He works on his family's large farm operation by day, and he and his wife and kids are developing sustainable farming operations on their two acres of tillable land at their home.  That means some long hours, including using headlamps to till and harvest, especially with the shortening daylight.  Here is his view this evening from behind the tiller.

Bushel and a Peck Farm

We are in the midst of our busy fall festival season.  Last weekend we were at McConnells Mill State Park, and this weekend we will be at Applefest in Franklin and Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion.  Next week will find us at Zelienople's Country Fall Festival.

We have been anxiously awaiting more of our Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup to complete its aging process.  We had several batches earlier in the year that didn't have the flavor quite like we wanted it, so we have been sold out of our #1 product for several months.  We just opened the next batch of barrels last week and have been busy bottling it and our other specialty syrups for these festivals.

We also age green coffee beans in the bourbon barrels and have them roasted locally for some of the best coffee you will ever have.  At some of our festivals we serve hot and cold coffee and tea made in small batches beside our tent with our maple products.  

We love meeting people at the festivals and chatting about all things maple, sustainable farming, natural living, and more.  But after these three weeks we are exhausted.  Then we will turn our attention to planning for our holiday store at Grove City Outlets.

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 3 delicata squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 kohlrabi from Detweiler Farm
• 1 broccoli from Detweiler Farm
• 1 bunch carrots from Byler Farm OR 1 pt. cherry tomatoes from Miller Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 bunch radishes from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 romaine lettuce OR kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 3 choice from Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm, Glacial Till Farm and Byler Farm

Small Share

• 2 delicata squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 broccoli from Detweiler Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm
• 1 tomato from Detweiler Farm
• 2 choice from Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm, Glacial Till Farm and Byler Farm

Mini Share

• 1 delicata squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 broccoli from Detweiler Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 choice from Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm, Glacial Till Farm and Byler Farm

Recipes

Quinoa Broccoli Slaw with Honey Mustard Dressing

Asian Roasted Carrots and Broccoli

Broccoli Stir-Fry:  Quick and easy.  Add a protein to make it a complete meal.

Kohlrabi and Chickpea Curry

Kohlrabi and Carrot Soup

Roasted Delicata Squash with Tomatoes

Delicata Squash Tacos with Black Beans

Pasta with Delicata Squash and Greens

Happy fall!  Enjoy the beautiful weekend coming up.

Amy

The seasons are beginning to change.  Our farmers are harvesting fall crops, and we are looking toward winter.  It's time to sign up for your Winter CSA Share so you can continue to eat local, organically grown food during the winter.

Our Winter Share prices are holding steady again this year, even though you are seeing higher prices in the grocery store.  What comes in the Winter Share?  Storage produce such as squash, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, beets, cabbage, and more.  Plus fresh produce as it is available such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and lettuce.  You may also receive a non-produce item in your share some weeks, such as maple syrup, honey, lotion, soap, or other farmer-produced products.

You can also order add-on Shares of eggs, ground beef, sausage, chicken, and/or cheese.  Save at least 50 cents/pound of meat and cheese by purchasing a Share.

Pickup locations for Winter are planned for Butler, Franklin, Grove City, Hermitage, Meadville, Mercer, and Slippery Rock.  New Wilmington and New Castle area:  our Mercer location is only 5 minutes from New Wilmington, just like last winter.  We need enough members at each location in order to deliver there, so you will want to sign up early and encourage your friends and neighbors to do so as well.

As always, Winter CSA is delivered every two weeks (with a three-week break at Christmas).  Our Winter Share runs December through March.

We only ask for a third of the payment in advance, with the remainder due in January.  This helps the co-op avoid paying income taxes on money that we have collected from you but will be paid to our farmers during the winter.

Click here to go to the sign-up page.  Or click here to learn more about the types of shares and pricing.

Do you prefer the Webstore?  Here is the link for the Webstore info page.

Questions?  Just reply to this email, and we will do our best to give you answers.

Thank you for supporting local farms.  We know it's more convenient to just buy all of your food from the grocery store.  Food with the organic label has become common and continues to expand.  By purchasing a Farm Share from local farms, you not only support the local economy, but you can also be assured that your food is truly grown in a sustainable manner rather than by a megafarm that may or may not be true to the organic label.  So when you go out of your way to pick up your CSA Share, please know that we appreciate your effort and your support of our small farms.

Amy Philson

NWPA Growers' Cooperative

Hooray for the cooler weather that is starting NOW!  I love the cool nights and seasonable days of fall, colorful leaves, baking with squash and apples, and all that jazz.  Our animals are more active instead of hiding in the shade.  

We are starting to clean out garden beds from produce that has come and gone.  Others we are milking a little bit more out of, like cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, before they give up for the season.  We are continuing to harvest storage crops and tending fall plantings.  But it's much more comfortable work when it's cooler outside.  I know that most of us will be complaining all too soon about the freezing cold, but after our hot summer (and September!), we are loving this.

I forgot to tell you that some of our farmers would be at Slippery Rock's Village Fest last Saturday.  Did anyone stop by to chat with Herb from Hazy Hollow Farm or Derek from Glacial Till Farm?

What is up with some of those butternut squash?!?!  I was shocked when I saw the size of some of those monsters.  I'm sure that some of you chose the smaller squash, thinking "what in the world would I do with a squash that size?"  But some of you are probably like me and picked out the biggest one you could find in the box.

Here is a great tip for turning squash into pureed "pumpkin" if you have a high-speed blender like Vitamix or Blendtec.  You can do it with other blenders, too, but I can't promise that it will turn out as smooth.  Cook the entire squash, skin, seeds, and all.  You can bake it whole or cut in chunks, steam it, simmer it, or (my favorite) cook it quickly in an Instant Pot.  Let it cool a little, then throw it in your blender and let it do its thing.  It will puree the skin and seeds, with all their vitamins that you usually throw away.  The pureed squash can be frozen in zip-top bags to use later in recipes.  Or freeze it in ice cube trays or in globs on a tray lined with parchment or a silicone mat and transfer to a bag when frozen.

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 1 butternut squash from Detweiler Farm or Miller Farm Products
• 1 spaghetti squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 1 pt. cherry tomatoes from Detweiler Farm or Miller Farm Products
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 head romaine lettuce from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 bunch radishes from Glacial Till Farm
• 3/4 lb. ground cherries from Detweiler Farm
• 1 kohlrabi from Detweiler Farm
• 2 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, Glacial Till Farm, and Springfield Acres

Small Share

• 1 butternut squash from Detweiler Farm or Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 1 pt. cherry tomatoes from Detweiler Farm or Miller Farm Products
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 head romaine lettuce OR 1 bunch radishes from Glacial Till Farm
• 3/4 lb. ground cherries from Detweiler Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, Glacial Till Farm, and Springfield Acres
• The farmers ran short of cherry tomatoes, so we subbed 1 lb. of tomatoes or lettuce in some boxes. 

Mini Share

• 1 butternut squash from Detweiler Farm or Miller Farm Products
• 1 sweet onion from Miller Farm Products
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, Glacial Till Farm, and Springfield Acres
• There was a miscommunication about numbers, so some of you have an extra lettuce instead of onion

Recipes

What are ground cherries?  Read about them here with some ideas on how to eat them.  My favorite way is to just peel back the papery skin and bite the fruit off the stem.  

Ground Cherry Coffee Cake

Ground Cherry Clafoutis

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta:  I made a version of this for supper tonight, and I thought it was delicious.  Some of my children weren't as enthusiastic when they found out it had squash in it.  I say a version because I changed some of the seasonings and used manchego cheese instead of cream.

Butternut Squash Bread:  Think pumpkin bread, except better.  I almost always use butternut squash in recipes that call for pumpkin.

Maple Dijon Chicken with Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts

And here is one that I share every year, just because...The Absolute Best Pumpkin Pie...Ever

Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash Cake.  Yes, this sounds weird, but why not?  I use butternut squash or pumpkin in cake all the time.  I'm going to give this one a try, but I will probably adjust the recipe to be gluten-free.

Romaine Salad with Pears, Blue Cheese, and Pecans

Garlic Sauce Romaine Lettuce

Happy cooking...and eating!

Amy

This is Week 16 of our CSA season and Week 10 of our Peak-of-the-Season Shares.  That means that POS members have only two more weeks.  But POS members can still order from the Webstore through November after your 12 weeks are over.

I hope everything went well yesterday.  I did not work and relied on our other farmers to make sure all of the orders got to their proper places.  I haven't received any emails saying anything was awry, so it looks like they got along just fine without me.  All of our farmers had other commitments yesterday, so we had to be creative with delivery.  Our farmers delivered to some locations, and one of our CSA members volunteered to do the rest of our deliveries.  Here is what she had to say:  "I do have a whole new appreciation for CSA after seeing “behind the scene”!  God Bless all of you who do that every week (in addition to actually growing the food and animals).  No wonder why you look forward to December and January!"

Glacial Till Farm has been busy planting additional fall crops.  Here is a photo of newly planted beds from this week:

And a few days later we are already seeing sprouts!

They also have ready-to-harvest beds in their rotational planting:

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 2 delicata squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. beets from Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb carrots from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 lb. eggplant from Detweiler Farm
• 1 garlic from Trunnel Brook Farm
• 1 pt. cherry tomatoes from Detweiler Farm and Miller Farm Products
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 8 oz. kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 2 choice from Glacial Till Farm, Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm Products and Springfield Acres

Small Share

• 1 lb. eggplant from Detweiler Farm
• 1 garlic from Trunnel Brook Farm
• 1 pt. cherry tomatoes from Detweiler Farm and Miller Farm Products
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 head romaine lettuce from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 choice from Glacial Till Farm, Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm Products and Springfield Acres

Mini Share

• 1 lb. eggplant from Detweiler Farm
• 1 delicata squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 tomato from Detweiler Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 choice from Glacial Till Farm, Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm Products and Springfield Acres

Recipes

How to cook delicata squash.  Delicata are one of my favorite fall squashes.  They are sweeter than most squash and their skins are edible so that means no peeling or scooping out flesh.

Fall Bliss Bowls with Pumpkin Goddess Dressing

Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Beets and Delicata Squash

Roasted Eggplant with Spinach, Quinoa, and Feta  (add onions and/or mushrooms for more flavor!)

Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

Lemon Caprese Salad

Baked Cherry Tomato, Goat Cheese, and Ricotta Dip

Spicy Thai Curry Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Cobb Salad

Easy Thai Carrot Soup

Parmesan Carrot Fries with Chili Mayo Dip

It looks like cooler temps are in store for this weekend.  That means baking and soup at my house.  I hope you have the opportunity to share a meal with family or friends this week.

Amy

Are you looking for a fun family event this weekend that is FREE?  Munnell Run Farm Day in Mercer is Sunday 11-4.  There will be children's activities, a quilt show, local crafters and artisans, farm market, wagon rides, live music, and more.  Did I mention it's FREE?  Unless you want to purchase items from local vendors or buy lunch to support local nonprofits.  They ask that you bring a nonperishable item to give to the Community Food Warehouse.  I will be there all day sharing info about our cooperative and CSA, and I will have a few items for sale on our table.  Stop by and say "hi" if you are there.

We need your help if you live in the Mercer County area.  Next Wednesday I will not be working, and Heather is still unable to lift boxes to deliver.  We have arranged for CSA delivery to some of our locations, but the people who we were counting on for the remainder of the deliveries have other commitments that they can't get out of.  If anyone is interested in delivering for us for a few hours (for pay), please contact me.  Heather can ride along to show you where to go and what to do, but you would have to drive our delivery van and lift all the boxes.  

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 1 watermelon or pie pumpkin from Detweiler Farm or Byler Farm
• 1 lb. tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb. beets from Miller Farm Products
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 8 oz. kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 head Romaine lettuce from Glacial Till Farm
• 2 green peppers from Byler Farm
• 1 lb. carrots from Glacial Till Farm
• 2 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Byler Farm, Springfield Acres, and Miller Farm Products

Small Share

• 1 watermelon or pie pumpkin from Detweiler Farm or Byler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb. beets from Miller Farm Products
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 8 oz. kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 green peppers from Byler Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Byler Farm, Springfield Acres, and Miller Farm Products

Mini Share

• 1 tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 green peppers from Byler Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Byler Farm, Springfield Acres, and Miller Farm Products

Recipes

Pickled Beets:  small batch with lower sugar

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Chickpeas

Cocoa Beet Chocolate Chip Muffins:  I understand that beets are a veggie that you either love or hate.  For that reason I tend not to put them in shares very often, and when I do it's more often in Full Shares or Choice.  So if you dislike beets, instead of letting them rot in your fridge or giving them away, disguise them with chocolate.  Beets make baked goods incredibly moist.

Beet Carrot Apple Salad

Garlic Butter Kale Rice

Kale and Apple Salad

Mushroom and Kale Garlic Herb Quinoa (use a healthier fat than the fake butter)

Mexican Caesar Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness."  --Edward Stanley

Have a great week, and I hope to see you at Munnell Run Farm!

Amy

The calendar tells me that it is September, but it sure doesn't feel like it!  We are doing as much outside work in the morning and evening, but there are still things that need attention despite the heat.  Some days it feels like we are melting away.  But the weatherman is promising relief in a couple of days.

Detweiler Farm

We will be picking acorn squash and butternut squash this week.  It will be left in the sun to cure for a few days.  This hardens the skin and makes it keep longer in storage.  We have a lot of squash, so eat lots of it!

Hazy Hollow Farm

The little pigs have opted to stay in the shade close to the water nipple on these hot humid August days.  They are grazing in the early morning and late evening,  but they prefer the shade in the daytime.

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 1 spaghetti squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. carrots from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 pt. sungold cherry tomatoes from Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb. tomatillos from Detweiler Farm
• 2 inferno peppers from Detweiler Farm
• 8 oz. baby kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 1 zucchini from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 2 Choice from Glacial Till Farm, Springfield Acres, Miller Farm Products, and Detweiler Farm

Small Share

• 1 pt. sungold cherry tomatoes from Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb. tomatillos from Detweiler Farm
• 2 inferno peppers from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 1 zucchini from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 Choice from Glacial Till Farm, Springfield Acres, Miller Farm Products, and Detweiler Farm

Mini Share

• 1/2 lb. tomatillos from Detweiler Farm
• 1 inferno pepper from Detweiler Farm
• 1 tomato from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 Choice from Glacial Till Farm, Springfield Acres, Miller Farm Products, and Detweiler Farm

Recipes

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna (my family liked this...even those who don't normally like squash)

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Roasted Garlic and Kale Spaghetti Squash

Tomatillo Chicken Stew (you could easily sub any meat...or even beans and veggie broth to make it vegetarian)

Fried Green Tomatillos with Chipotle Sauce

Guide to Tomatillos

Quick Carrot Salad with Raisins, Cranberries, and Nuts

Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

I like playing around with recipes.  I generally use a recipe for the basic idea and make adjustments to suit our preferences and what is on hand.  I tend to stay closer to a written recipe for baked goods.  So here's a challenge for this week: choose a new recipe and customize it for your family.  Then take a photo or post a link to the recipe on our Facebook page and tell us about it.

Here's looking forward to cooler temps!

Amy

Today is Week 13 of our season (and Week 7 of Peak-of-the-Season).  I forgot to note that last week was our halfway point in the season.  While many people are seeing much of their garden plants fading at this time of year, we are clearing out old plants and sowing new beds for fall and winter harvest.  We still have many weeks left in our growing season when we use succession planting and change the type of crops that we grow.  

Many of us have been waiting for sweet corn to appear in CSA Shares. Sadly, we won't have any this year.  If you remember, we had a very wet spring.  Many of our fields flooded time after time.  Sweet corn was drowned out.  Our potato crop looks to be less than spectacular for the same reason.  Wet fields prevented planting, and we lost some of what was planted as it rotted in saturated soil.  This is the challenge that we face in PA with our heavy clay soil that doesn't like to drain when we have lots of rain.

When NuWay Farm left NWPAGC this year, we were wondering how we would fill their shoes.  Our farmers tend to specialize in certain crops that grow well in their particular soil.  NuWay grew a lot of greens, root crops, and heirloom tomatoes (among other items).  In stepped Glacial Till Farm.  This week's shares have carrots, mixed lettuce, arugula, salad greens, and some eggplant from them.  Look at these delicious veggies!

I bet some of you wish you had a Full Share to get some of these carrots!

Grateful Life Farm

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 1 watermelon from Byler Farm
• 1 lb. tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. eggplant from Detweiler Farm or Glacial Till Farm
• 1 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 8 oz. salad greens from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 lb. carrots from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 2 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Byler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Springfield Acres, and Miller Farm Products
• 1 herb choice from Springfield Acres

Small Share

• 1 lb. tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 3 eggplant from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 8 oz. arugula or baby kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Byler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Springfield Acres, and Miller Farm Products

Mini Share

• 1 tomato from Detweiler Farm
• 1 eggplant from Detweiler Farm or Glacial Till Farm
• 1/2 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Byler Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Springfield Acres, and Miller Farm Products

CSA Recipes

Eggplant Tomato Pie

One Pot Greek Eggplant and Rice

Eggplant Pasta with Caramelized Onion and Tomatoes

Warm White Bean Arugula Salad (you could sub other hearty greens if you want)

Peach and Arugula Summer Salad (again, sub other greens if desired)

Jalapeno Arugula Pesto (you could sub other hot peppers and other greens in this)

Fresh Green Bean Salad with Balsamic Dressing (sub chopped tomatoes for the cherry tomatoes)

Green Bean Fries

Sadly, I can't eat the delicious tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in your shares this week.  I get to drool over the recipes that I find and share them with you.  Show us what you do with your CSA veggies on our Facebook page!

May your food be blessed and your home be joyful.

Amy

I apologize for being later with this newsletter again.  Internet issues and family needs prevented me from working on it last night.  

Farm News

Glacial Till Farm

We are getting ready to plant additional greens for fall.  What varieties do you prefer?  Arugula, kale, mixed greens, mizuna, collards?  Others?  Your feedback can help determine what we grow.

Philsons' Bushel and a Peck Farm

Grateful Life Farm

This week has been something of a blur, as we move towards our third chicken harvest day for the season, in only a few short hours - tomorrow morning!  We will be replenishing our supply of some of the parts we are sold out of, such as chicken thighs.  We also processed a small batch of rabbits this week, so we have rabbit back in stock.  As each day has been quite busy with farm work, I've been trying to take a few moments to relish the sunshine and the abundance of this time of year.  This week my favorite flowers of all, sunflowers, are showing their beautiful smiling faces for eager bumblebees.

CSA Shares

Full Share

• 1 cantaloupe from Detweiler Farm
• 3 zucchini from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 2 green peppers from Byler Farm
• 2 lb. tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 8 oz. baby kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 3 choice from Detweiler Farm, Byler Farm, Miller Farm Products, Glacial Till Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, and Springfield Acres

Small Share

• 1 cantaloupe from Detweiler Farm
• 2 zucchini from Detweiler Farm
• 1 lb. sweet onions from Miller Farm Products
• 1 green peppers from Byler Farm
• 1 lb. tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 1 head lettuce from Harmony Grove Farm
• 2 choice from Detweiler Farm, Byler Farm, Miller Farm Products, Glacial Till Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, and Springfield Acres

Mini Share

• 1 cantaloupe from Detweiler Farm
• 1 zucchini from Detweiler Farm
• 1 tomato from Detweiler Farm
• 5 oz. baby kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 choice from Detweiler Farm, Byler Farm, Miller Farm Products, Glacial Till Farm, Harmony Grove Farm, and Springfield Acres

Recipes

One Pot Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta with Baby KaleOne Pot Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta with Baby Kale (this would be great with the salad greens that were in Choice boxes, too)

Baby Kale Salad with Parmesan and Crispy Roasted Chickpeas (again...the salad greens as an alternative)

Fresh Tomato Salsa

Parmesan Tomato Zucchini Bake

Sweet and Spicy Zucchini Refrigerator Pickles

Zummus (Zucchini Hummus):  Some of you will be excited to try this recipe...others will say ewwww.  :-)

Enjoy this cooler weather for a few days.  It sure feels like fall!

Thank you all for your understanding about this newsletter being late.  I know that some of our members never read this, while others anticipate it every week.  It will most likely come later in the day for the next several weeks.  Our driver Heather hurt her back (not doing deliveries), so she is out of commission for a while.  She could use your thoughts and prayers, as she is not a sit-still kind of person and the pain is making her do just that.  I am filling in for her at the moment, so this newsletter will have to wait until evening after I get home from deliveries.

This week has been extra-trying for me because some of my family's closest friends are moving back to California today.  We spent the day with them on Tuesday helping them pack and just hanging out, but that meant a very late night and an early start yesterday.  So by the time I got home from deliveries I was spent and just needed to chill before turning in early.

Farm News

Detweiler Farm

The recent rains and warm weather have been good for the farm crops.  August is often hot and dry, so the rain is welcome.  It is interesting how it can rain at our farm but remain dry just a mile down the road.  Our tomatoes are ripening beautifully.  Fall crops are coming along, with dots of squash among the green vines.  Potato plants are starting to die off, so it will be time to dig the tubers before we know it.

Trunnel Brook Farm

Harvesting beans and peas is very labor-intensive.  This represents a lot of time for the two of us.

Grateful Life Farm

I learned that poison oak is not common in our area, and poison sumac is a wetland plant, so most likely poison ivy is the culprit here.  There are many good resources on the internet for learning to identify the plant, but I think it looks similar to wild berry plants, but does not have prickly stems.  The urushiol oil in the plant causes the rash and you can spread the rash to other parts of your body or other people prior to washing it off.  Many people can keep from getting a rash if the oil is washed off within one hour of contact.  Once you have washed off the urushiol oil, if you do get a rash, the fluid from the rash blisters is not contagious and cannot spread the rash.  You can treat it with calamine lotion or if you prefer a natural remedy, try the juice from the leaves and stems of jewelweed.

Amy here:  A funny story from my farm. Several years ago my nephew was visiting for a few days.  My sons and he took a hike through the woods, and the next day he returned home to Michigan.  My sister called me to ask if the boys had been near poison ivy because his whole body was covered with an itchy rash.  I asked my sons, and they said, "Sure...we were sitting in a meadow filled with it in the woods."  Thankfully, my family isn't very sensitive to the oils in poison ivy, because we would have it constantly with the amount of time we spend in the woods. 

Another name for jewelweed is "touch-me-nots" because the little orange flowers that you see now will turn into seed pods that explode when you touch them.

Glacial Till Farm

Baby kale harvest.  Do you recall the photo from last week's newsletter that shows really tiny greens in the beds?  They grow quickly with sun, rain, and warm temperatures!

CSA Shares

Some of you got monster cabbage this week!  I assure you, it is not pumped full of chemical fertilizer.  That variety of cabbage grows large naturally.  It is often used to make sauerkraut.

I was thrilled to see some cantaloupe in the Choice boxes.  I'm sure it was snatched up by the first people there!  We should have enough to put in all the shares next week.  Yum!

Full Share

• 1 spaghetti squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 cabbage from Miller Farm Products
• 1 lb. tomatoes from Detweiler Farm
• 4 pickling cukes from Byler Farm
• 8 oz. arugula from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 bag sugar snap peas or tricolor beans from Trunnel Brook Farm
• 1 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 2 green peppers from Byler Farm
• 2 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm Products, Grateful Life Farm, Trunnel Brook Farm, Springfield Acres, Byler Farm, and Glacial Till Farm

Small Share

• 1 spaghetti squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 cabbage from Miller Farm Products
• 1 tomato from Byler Farm
• 8 oz. baby kale from Glacial Till Farm
• 1 bag sugar snap peas or tricolor beans from Trunnel Brook Farm
• 1 lb. green beans from Detweiler Farm
• 1 green pepper from Byler Farm
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm Products, Grateful Life Farm, Trunnel Brook Farm, Springfield Acres, Byler Farm, and Glacial Till Farm

Mini Share

• 1 spaghetti squash from Detweiler Farm
• 1 tomato from Detweiler Farm
• 8 oz. salad greens from Glacial Till Farm
• 1/2 lb. green beans from Miller Farm Products
• 1 Choice from Detweiler Farm, Miller Farm Products, Grateful Life Farm, Trunnel Brook Farm, Springfield Acres, Byler Farm, and Glacial Till Farm

Recipes

Spaghetti Squash Taco Boats

Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein

Lemon Butter Green Beans

Too many beans?  How to Freeze Fresh Green Beans

Asian-Style Cabbage Wraps

Creamy No-Mayo Coleslaw

Make some sauerkraut with your giant cabbage!  This recipe was recommended by one of our CSA members:  Lemon Dill Sauerkraut

Greek Cucumber and Arugula Salad

Greek Kale Salad with Lemon Olive Oil Dressing

Check out our Pinterest page for lots more recipes.  And share how you use your CSA veggies (and meats, too!) on our Facebook page.

Amy