Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Basil, Fingerling Potatoes, Beets, Yellow Onions, Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Carrots, maybe Shell Peas and/or Broccoli We just had another week of dreamy early fall weather. Warm and dry. The garden looks good and there are lots of things to come. The potatoes we are giving out now are "fresh" potatoes. Which simply means they are not long term storage spuds. The skins have not toughened up for storage. Keep them in your fridge in a plastic bag and they will hold well. We hope to have storage potatoes by the end of the CSA...but it is a bit weather dependent. I will keep you posted on all things potato as we progress into fall...would you expect anything less from an Idaho farmer? Beets and yellow onions!! I am so happy. These two crops have been a bit elusive the past few years as weeds over took . I may have cried in years past because I missed them so. This year they are here and they look great!! Onions are quite finicky to grow. We start them very early in March in the greenhouses, so they have a very long growing season. They need to be transplanted early spring when they are about as wide as a string of hemp, which makes them a bit hard to handle. They are sensitive to weeds being near them, so if they are not weeded in a timely manner they fail. People don't get as excited about them as the sexier veggies like tomatoes and sugar snap peas, but our crew members who have been with us for a few years are all fired up about these beauties. It took us many years to be able to figure out how to get our veggies to the Teton Valley Food Pantry. Logistically we couldn't commit to delivery and finding someone willing to pick up the shares was tough! In 2017 or 2018 we finally connected with Sharon Froberg who was in charge of the Pantry at the time. She volunteered to come to the farm and get shares if we could donate them. We started by giving the Pantry 3 shares that she would come pick up every week. in 2020 we upped it to 4 shares. Since then we have donated the Pantry 4 shares every year. This year we had 2 community members purchase additional shares for the Pantry. Weekly, the Pantry is distributing 6 shares of our veggies to our neighbors. I have said before, If I could feed the world for free I would...but I am not a Saint and I like having a home, doing some fun stuff with my kids and paying my bills. Even though I have not reached sainthood, I still earnestly believe everyone deserves nutrient dense food. Everyone deserves fresh real produce. This is why we donate 4 shares. For sometime I have been wondering how to give more shares. As I am getting myself organized for our fall membership drive, I figured it out! This year we are asking members to pitch in whatever amount of money feels right to donate towards purchasing shares for the Teton Valley Food Pantry. We will pool the money and see how many extra shares we can distribute. If your household feels great adding $20 (or $50 or $100) to your check, we'd appreciate it. Any amount helps. If you want to purchase a full or half share we can do that too. If everyone pitched in $20, we could collectively give 6 more shares. No matter what happens with this idea, we will still donate our 4 shares every year. The Pantry is now run by Sue Heffron, who is a joy to work with. I asked her how the veggies impact our community and this is what she said: "Our biggest days for distribution happen on the night following our CAG pick up. Many of our neighbors who come to the pantry are trying to eat well. Some have very specific dietary needs. Knowing that the Pantry has fresh vegetables from farmers, elevates the experience for them. It's so important to help the ones that need it the most. I wish you could see their smiles and gratitude on their faces. It would warm your soul! There is nothing better than nourishing our bodies deliberately with highly nutrient dense foods. Thank you Cosmic Apple and all the other farmers that grow delicious food for our neighbors at the Pantry! We are helping to make a healthy community in Teton Valley!" Sometimes I think about what would it be like to be in a position of needing help to put food on the table for my family. If I was sick and out of work or my sweetie lost a depended upon job. No matter the reason, I think about being in that position, wanting to feed my kids and being able to eat fresh food vs. only being able to eat ultra processed food. I know how healing a meal made with fresh ingredients is. I know that helping people have access to fresh produce truly helps people have energy to improve hard situations. When I am taking care of myself and eating well, I can get more done. When I eat convenience foods that are in front of me I simply don't have the energy to work towards my goals. Us (CSA members, farmers, employees and volunteers) working together as a group, providing produce to those who need it, improves OUR community. Please consider sharing the farm's bounty with those who need it when you purchase your share this year. If you are ready to donate now, follow the link below, or bring it to your pick up...Please make sure to let the site host know what it is for. Volunteer Special! Only 3 more weeks to volunteer! Have you wanted to try a day on the farm, but can't commit to one day a week? Let us know if you want to work for one morning. 7am-12:15. Monday-Thursday. We'll feed you lunch and give you a half share. You'll get to see where your veggies come from and what it takes to get them on the truck for share distribution. Please send me an email so we can plan for extra hands. Volunteer-If you (or someone you know!) is curious about high altitude gardening becoming a garden helper may be just right. We are only asking folks to commit to 1 morning a week for one month, that's 20-25 hours for one month! It feels really good to have volunteers back on the farm, we missed them!! Lunch and veggies are provided! Follow the link below to check it out! Lunch this Week: Pad Bai with Tomatoes, Broccoli and Basil; Burritos with carrots, potatoes and fresh tomatoes.
Recipe Ideas: Oven Roasted Beets & Potatoes; Carrots, Potatoes Roasted with Onions & Garlic; Roasted Carrot and Tomato Soup with Basil The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of the pork listed below. If you know you want something, please email me and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved for you. I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit! Hunters and Huntresses: We have pork fat for your wild game sausage making. Let me know if you want to order any and I can send it to your pick up location. Pork Available: Grandpa's Sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Pork Chops, Shoulder Roast, Spare Ribs, Neck Bones (make the real deal Ramen!) and Fat WASH YOUR VEGGIES!! Bring Bags to pick-ups! If you can't make it to pick up your veggies, send a friend! Missed shares are forfeited for the week. Members get 10% off at the Farmer's Markets! The Driggs Market: Fridays 9-1 (Last one 9/29) JH Farmer's Market: Saturdays 8-12 (Last one 9/30) The People's Market: Wednesdays 4-7 (Last one 9/27) Farm To Fork Festival: October 7th, Center for the Arts 1-4 pm Questions? Comments? Recipes to share? [email protected]
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