Thursday, June 16, 2016

Notes from Your Farm: Harvest, Pests, & Distribution Opening




Hello from the Farm, 



An update about last weeks incident when Small Farm Central was hacked. No ones personal information or payment information was reached by the hackers.  All shareholder information is safe. 

Our Second Harvest week is here!  We are extremely excited to get in the routine of harvesting on Thursdays and Fridays.  As you will see the vegetables from this week are similar to last week.  There will be Asian Greens that will spice up any salad, with some freshly cut Lettuce heads, and some Kale that could make a nutritious smoothie!



What Happened on the Farm this Week?
Weeds have been getting a bit out of control.  Organically removing weeds at a low cost price means mechanically or physically removing the weeds.  The trainees and farm help has been hoeing cut lettuce, dill, and beets.  They are the newly planted vegetables that need the extra help until they become big enough.
  
The Colorado Potato Beetle has made their appearance on our potatoes and eggplant.  This beetle at the larvae stage can do great damage to the leaves of plants.  They will eat the leaf down to the midrib.  We have been physically removing these pests from the plants. Let us know what you have done in your own gardens. 
   
 
Adult Colorado Potato Beetle


















Help Spread the Word about the Farm!
We want to reach a goal of 185 shareholders for the 2016 Season.  And we want you to help!  At the sign in table this week we will have a stack of brochures and fliers for you to grab.  This is so you can share them at work, with friends, neighbors, gym, church, etc.  It would be great for more of the public to understand our mission here at the farm and give them a chance to support it!



Distribution Host / Hostess Position Open
This is a part time position that works 12 hours a week during distribution hours.  Thursdays 4:00pm-7:30pm, Fridays 4:00pm-7:30pm, and Saturdays 8:30am-1:30pm.  This position will start in June and go till mid-November.  Host/Hostess will greet shareholders, restock vegetables on distribution shelves, wash vegetables, sanitize distribution area and take care of other products in distribution area.  If interested please apply by clicking here.


Farm Shares - Sign Up NOW for the 2016 Season!
2016 Shares are still available!  For current shareholders and new shareholders please follow this link: http://goodwillathomefieldsfarm.csasignup.com/members/types


Cheese Share 
Hillacres Pride is again offering their popular cheese share at Homefields. With the CSA you will get 11 deliveries (every other week) of 2 cheeses each.  You will get to sample and enjoy 22 different cheeses throughout the season.  These will include cheddars and colbys (some flavored), fresh mozzarella, artisan cheeses, ricotta, quark, fresh cheese spreads, and feta-just to name a few.   

The hard cheeses are all vacuum sealed and most of the soft cheeses freeze well.  The cheese is made from the milk of our Jersey cows, a milk that is high in protein and perfect for making cheese.  It naturally contains beta-carotene and in the summer the cows graze on our lush pastures and they naturally have a yellow tint to their milk.  
Hillacres Pride is a small family operation in Southern Lancaster County.  To sign-up go to http://hillacrespride.com/?q=content/csa-shares


Fruit Share
Would you like to pick up a CSA Fruit Share when you come to get your vegetables at the farm? It’s time to sign up NOW with North Star Orchard for their weekly CSA Fruit Share, which is available for pickup here at Homefileds for 15 weeks starting at the beginning of August.

CSA Members here have been enjoying the Fruit Share for years, and we encourage you to take a look at what the share has to offer here: http://www.northstarorchard.com/csa_fruit.php
To reach North Star directly with any questions, email Lisa@northstarorchard.com


Harvest List
Asian Greens - Can be used in a stir fry by adding chiles, garlic, peanut oil, and possibly adding some salt. Also, the greens could simply make a yummy salad.

Kale - Kale chips are delicious and easily done.  Just put some olive oil and salt on the raw kale.  Next they will stay in the oven on a cookie sheet until the edges are brown.  They can also be made into a smoothie.

Lettuce Heads - Made into a salad or put into a sandwich.

Bok Choy - this Asian green can be sauteed by adding ginger, red pepper, and garlic.  A healthy side dish! 

Collards - can be cooked down and used in many recipes.  Use it as a wrap instead of a tortilla.  

Rhubarb - make it into a sauce or a pie.

Swiss Chard - used as a side dish by being sauteed, made into a soup, or a pasta.

Cutting Lettuce - salads, sandwiches, steamed dishes, or soups

Cilantro - use in baking, curry, or soup




Happy Fathers Day Dads,  

Your Farmers

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