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Hello to everyone in the
Heavens Harvest Farm Network
We are semi desperate to receive fall share numbers from site hosts
as well as individuals so that we may plant properly and accordingly.
We had 350 fall share members in our first year last year and we
sincerely hope for a minimum of 400 shares this fall. We have planted beef
steak tomatoes in our greenhouse for fall tomato production past the frost
date! This is our first attempt to grow tomatoes at that time of the year
inside a somewhat controlled environment.
The
Theme of the week is “It is really good to have Tomatoes this year!”
Orange
Blossom Slicers
Red
Roma
Yellow
Pear
Matt’s
Black Cherry
Giant
Red Grape
Green
Zebra
Taxi
(small yellow)
And
more…
Tomatoes
are sent to you almost fully ripe and we have multiple different color tomatoes
so don’t wait for them to turn red. An
orange blossom is orange when ripe and a yellow pear is yellow. Green Zebras are green when ripe. More heirloom varieties to come.
Yum!
Yum! Yum! I smell a pint of sweet cherry plums! Yum! Yum! Yum!
We
also have the first apples of the season called Paula Reds. They are tart, tangy and incredibly
satisfying. They are from Honey Bee Orchards, which is 15 minutes from our
farm and have been washed and are ready to eat. Do wash again and if you have
any chemical allergies, do peel before eating if needed. They are IPM grown and locally raised.
Once
again we have gorgeous peaches from Joe C’s farm and they are truly IPM fruit
grown by a grower who is certified organic as well as a conventional farmer
for the past 30 plus years.
We
have a two week window where we will not have our own organic corn. Hopefully you have enjoyed our first ever
organic corn grown on plastic to suppress weeds in order for the corn to grow
it’s strongest and best. From Joe C
where we get our peaches we have organic corn this week. Totally sweet, delicious and good for you,
certified organic corn!
Interestingly
the order for our CSA exceeded the amount that he was picking for Trader
Joe’s in Hadley. We need 70 bags of 4
dozen each to grant our share holders what they will receive and enjoy.
After
this week there are only 4 more summer CSA weeks. It always amazes me, Ashley, how time flies
by after the first 10 weeks.
With
the membership of 700 plus, we have hoped to make a connection with more of
you individually than we have been able to. Once of the positive outcomes of
doing the Jamaica Plain farmers market on Wednesday afternoon and evening is
that we have been blessed to meet a number of our CSA shareholders. We need
more connection more regularly with more purpose between our consumer
partners and the farm family.
We
have offered a “Day at the Farm” which is coming up on Saturday the 28th
of August and have received only 1 RSVP at this time. For the other 2 days in September we have
received 3. We have offered these days
to come and visit the farm for us all to meet and for you to see where a
significant portion of your share comes from.
Have we overestimated the desire and need and willingness for
shareholders to come and meet us and see where their food is grown? We are
prepared to offer you a wonderful experience for you and your family but are
a little concerned that the hustle and bustle of this life may keep us from
making a truly important personal connection. This illustrates the true human
reality of the bumper sticker that says, “No farms, No food”. What it really should say is, “No farmers,
No food”
We
truly work here at Heavens Harvest Farm as a labor of love. But like anyone
we need affirmation that what we are doing is what you need and want.
Once
again we have more information than you probably ever need. Check out the share contents and be sure to
check out the recipes under the menu bar.
Also, please visit our facebook page to talk with each other!
You
might recognize that you received Dandelions this week. We did not pick these
in our front yard, they were grown specifically as a crop as they are so good
for you! This time of the year is a good time to do liver cleansing. Dandelions are the #1 ingredient for any
herbal liver cleanse. They are
delicious stir fried, placed in chicken soup or used as a salad ingredient to
add that certain bite and healthy bitter to the other sweet ingredients. Bon Appetite!
-Ashley
& Ethel
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