Farm News: Week of Saturday, November 5, 2011

Winter’s here!?
We had our first hard frost last Friday morning, the latest that’s happened since we’ve been farming. And the next morning, Saturday, it snowed several inches up here, the earliest that’s happened to us. Anything going on with the weather we should know about?

Well wasn’t last Saturday just a lot of fun? Up here they were calling for 5 to 8 inches of snow starting early Saturday morning, so I left home just after 2 AM to be able to make if over a nearby mountain pass before the snow started. I drove in slush and rain all the way down, arriving at 18th & Columbia about 5:30. I took a short nap, then went to The Diner for breakfast. It was still raining when I came out at 7:00, and I worked in the rain from then until the market closed about 1:00. Sales at market were the smallest in the last 6 months and the smallest October market in years. But with our CSA orders, we actually ended up with a decent bottom line for the day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Photo: One of our high tunnels — unheated greenhouses — this afternoon. Outdoor production is effectively over here on the farm after several 25 degree nights.]

Garlic trick
I got an email from one of the companies I get seeds from occasionally — Seeds from Italy — and what caught my eye was a link to a YouTube video on how to peel garlic fast. Being a garlic kind of guy, I checked it out, as you may want to do. It’s called “How to peel garlic in less than 10 seconds.” Seems to work. My only caution to you would be: don’t peel up more cloves than you need for the dish you’re making, as they won’t store well already peeled. May be a great idea for a big tomato sauce, but I’m not sure what else. Fun anyway, though!

This week’s planned produce list

• Apples: Fuji, Golden Delicious, Nittany, Stayman, Apple-a-Day mix.
• Greens: arugula, bok choy, cabbage, baby chard, cress, lettuce (4 kinds), red Russian kale, microgreens mix, salad mix.
• Veggies: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, onions, parsnips, peppers (green bell, Jalapeno), potatoes (Yukon Gold, Russian Banana), watermelon radishes, rutabaga, scallions, shallots, sorrel soup pack, sweet potatoes, tomatoes (hothouse, green fryers, romas), turnips (purple-top, sweet white, mixed specialty), winter squash (acorn, buttercup, butternut, delicata, kabocha).
• Mushrooms: white and yellow oyster.
• Herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, lovage, marjoram, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, sorrel, spearmint, thyme.
• Herb sampler pack: done for the season.
• Other food items: eggs, butter, cheese, preserves.

Harvest Box contents
This week’s box contents are planned to be Bibb lettuce, pea shoot sample, mixed cooking greens bunch, cabbage, onion, Yukon Gold potatoes, green bell peppers, Daikon radish, Confection kabocha squash, and 3 Granny Smith apples.

CSA volunteers
Many thanks to Markus, Lauren, Ryan & Susan for their help handing out orders at the truck last week during what was a rather unpleasant day. We really appreciate your help!

Thanks much to all of you for your support!
Randy, Chris & all at Star Hollow Farm

General farm info: starhollowfarm.com.
CSA-specific info: starhollowfarm.com/csa.
Online CSA store: store.starhollowfarm.com.

1 November Permalink

Farm News: Week of Saturday, October 29, 2011

Hi folks,

It’s been a long season. Many things have not gone according to plan. It was time for a break. But breaks don’t come easily on the farm. So we’re working on devising a new method: the mini-vacation. Sunday morning we do all the chores, I figure out what the farm plan is for the week, we gather eggs about noon, water the greenhouse, and away we go. We’re back by early afternoon Tuesday, just in time to do chores again, fix whatever went wrong in our absence, and build this store again!

West Virginia trip
So our 48-hour spree this week was a dash over the Potomac River and into West Virginia, down to the Capitol, Charleston. Sunday evening we saw a live performance of Mountain Stage, an NPR-sindicated radio show that’s been on for about 20 years. There were five bands that played over the three-hour show, the final one being who we wanted to see the most: Dawes. They’re an LA-based rock band that our son Jack turned us onto a year or so ago and that we like a lot. Good stuff.

The next day we drove over to the New River Gorge, famous for its white water rafting, spectacular views, and the amazing bridge that spans it. We’ve posted a few pictures on our website at starhollowfarm.com, if you’re interested. (Scroll to the bottom.)

[Photo: Chris and I at the Gorge overlook.]

High speed internet… NOT!
Last week I reported that we had finally gotten DSL available here at the farm and had signed up. They sent us the modem and said we could drop our other provider. Turns out the company’s database says we have capability, but when the technician came out he said NO. Not even. And not likely. Damn!

Produce list.

• Apples: JonaGold, Nittany, Stayman, York, Apple-a-Day mix).
• Greens: arugula, bok choy, cabbage, baby chard, cooking greens mix, lettuce, lacinato kale, microgreens mix, pea shoots, spinach, salad mix.
• Veggies: Romano beans, beet roots, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower (several types), celeriac, cucumber (hothouse), garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, onions, parsnips, peppers (green bell, snack, chiles), potatoes (Yukon Gold, purple), radishes (watermelon and bunched), scallions, shallots, sorrel soup pack, sweet potatoes, tomatoes (green fryers, romas, mixed cherry), turnips, winter squash (acorn, buttercup, butternut, delicata, kabocha).
• Mushrooms: crimini and shiitake.
• Herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, lovage, marjoram, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, sorrel, spearmint, thyme.
• Herb sampler pack: savory, spearmint, thyme.
• Other food items: eggs, cheese, preserves.

Harvest Box contents
This week’s box contents are planned to be Simpson lettuce, baby spinach, white cauliflower, garlic, green bell pepper, carrots, sweet white turnips, 2 Stayman and 2 Cortland apples.

CSA volunteers
Many thanks to Cynthia, Bruce and Sangeeta for their help handing out orders at the truck last week. We really appreciate it!

Thanks much for your help and support!
Randy, Chris & all at Star Hollow Farm

General farm info: starhollowfarm.com.
CSA-specific info: starhollowfarm.com/csa.
Online CSA store: store.starhollowfarm.com.

25 October Permalink