Farm News: Week of Saturday, January 28, 2012

On-the-farm
We’re managing to keep ourselves busy this winter; never really a problem. Our packing shed lighting, heating and electrical project — meant to take about a month — has now been almost two months, and we’re probably at the halfway point. Sam and I are both a little burnt out on the project, just because of the time spent, but I keep assuring myself that it’s worth it and we’ll really appreciate it when it’s done. The lights already make a big difference, and the heater guy is coming on Monday to hook up the gas. Then we continue with the outlets, switches, work station lamps, etc.

[PHOTO: The new ceiling and lights in the packing shed.]

21st Century technology comes to the farm
We now have DSL (after a 4-year wait) meaning about a 5-fold increase in speed over our old satellite connection. Considering that we run an internet business, that’s a pretty big deal for us (and it’s actually cheaper than the satellite!). As a little bit of icing on the cake, we went to Radio Shack last week and bought a cable to connect our computer to our stereo receiver and now we can stream radio and listen in the living room with good sound. (Also a big deal, as we get virtually no radio over the airwaves here.) COOL! So far we’re digging WXPN out of Philadelphia.

Our new membership limit policy (repeated from a separate email several days ago)

Accounts with no activity or communication in over 12 months will be closed.

AND NOW FOR WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT…

This week’s planned produce list

• Apples: Fuji, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Apple-a-Day mix and seconds.
• Greens: arugula, cabbage, chard, lettuce (SALE!), microgreens mix, pea shoots, salad mix, spinach, and stir fry mix.
• Veggies: beets (red & Chioggia), carrots (orange & multi-color), celeriac, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, onions (red & yellow), parsnips, potatoes (Gold & Kennebec), radishes (Black Spanish & watermelon), rutabaga, shallots, sweet potatoes, turnips (purple-top, sweet white, turnip soup pack).
• Herbs: basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory.
• Mushrooms: crimini, portabella, shiitake, white.
• Other food items: eggs, butter, cheese (including several new ones: Havarti and Goat Gouda), preserves (including some awesome herb-infused jellies, great on crackers with goat cheese curd!).
• Firewood: kindling & logs.

Harvest Box contents
This week’s box contents are planned to be a half gallon of apple cider, bibb lettuce, small cabbage, carrots, small garlic, onions, sweet potatoes, tomato, basil, and JonaGold and Pink Lady apples.

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 store: store.starhollowfarm.com.