Sandy Spring CSA

The week of October 13, we got sweet corn, sweet potatoes, Chinese cabbage (it is really nice), peppers, head lettuce, apples and radish.

Hi All,

After this week, we will not send any more weekly emails until close to season’s end. Instead the weekly newsletter will be here. We attempt to provide this info to you by Sunday evening. Sometimes we just don’t get the produce list until Monday morning. Your site coordinators contact info is repeated below as well as on the website.

Each year we survey our members about their participation. You can answer the 10 simple questions here online. It will soon be available on paper at the pickup sites. You can complete the survey either online or on paper anytime before November 24, the last pick-up. It is very important for us to get your feedback as it guides the farmer’s choices for the coming year.

The 2009 Spring/Summer season will begin on Monday, May 11. The price will remain the same at $545 for repeating members and $595 for new members. The 2009 application is available now. If you plan to rejoin, please pay in full by January 15.

Sites and contact information - repeat of info

Pick-up is always on Mondays, including holidays.

If you don’t remember where you asked to pick-up, please contact the coordinator for each site below. The shares come pre-packed in boxes and the correct number of shares is delivered to each of our three sites. You must pick-up at the site you selected for the season. If you go to a different site, there will not be a share for you.

The boxes are part of your share price so we ask you to take care of them. If we run low on boxes because you don’t return them or break them apart, then we will have to purchase more and that money will reduce the amount of produce you receive. Ask someone to show you how to open and flatten them for storage, without destroying them. Each week you should return with your box from the previous week.

Sandy Spring
Hours of pick-up: 1PM to 7PM If you come late to pick-up at Sandy Spring, I recommend you bring a flashlight in case the lighting is low.
Location: See email.
Contacts: Meg Pease-Fye at meg.peasefye AT fda.hhs.gov or 301-796-1130 to check that this is your site. For Sandy Spring logistics questions, please contact Gene Klinger at 301-260-1635.

Rockville
Hours: 2PM to 7PM
Location: See email.
Contact: Vanessa Strunk at vandiva AT comcast.net or 301-424-9142.

Kensington
Hours: 3PM to 7PM
Location: See email.
Contact: Winnie Holbrooke at winniekh AT aol.com or 301-509-8097.

Recipes

Amish cabbage dish from Farmer Pam:

“Chinese or Napa Cabbage is a regular at Amish weddings. October & November are traditional months for Amish weddings - usually held on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The Chinese cabbage is shredded (julienned) and then layered with carrots, radishes, onions etc & dressed with a creamy style (the olive oil is emulsified) dressing – an outstanding dish.”

I found this recipe for Napa cabbage slaw at Epicurious.com. You can add sliced radishes and apples to this as well. If you add the apple, you won’t need the sugar.

I found this Ajiaco or Columbia chicken and corn stew on Epicurious. Sounds delicious. You could substitute white potatoes with sweet potatoes and Hubbard squash, if you are comfortable with improvisation.

Here is a good article on heritage turkeys from Edible Chesapeake. In case you want to buy one for Thanksgiving, you can find a local source for it at Local Harvest.

Food for Thought

Michael Pollan’s letter to our Presidential candidates about our food policy – a must read.

You might be interested in a family or school outing to the Airlie Foundation in Warrenton, VA. Their Local Food Project was created to demonstrate the benefits of sustainable agriculture and local food systems. The Local Food Project at Airlie hosts seminars, tours and conferences to promote sustainable food production using natural methods designed to protect air and water quality while improving soil fertility. More on what they have to offer at the web site.

Have a bounteous fall,

Erin
Sandy Spring CSA