Fresh Watermelons
Notes from the Farm
Hi Folks!

 

The last of the season's watermelon harvest, pictured above, will be in the Shares this week. This variety is Crimson Sweet---a very old, open pollinated (not hybrid) cultivar with wonderfully sweet bright crimson flesh. But these are the last until next August. Hope you enjoy them.

 

 
Also in the Shares this week: Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes, Kale, New Crop Potatoes, Wax Beans, Romano Gold Beans, Coastal Star Lettuce, the last of the Cippolini Onions, Gala and Ginger Gold Apples, plenty of fresh herbs for the cutting (why not cut some extras and dry them or freeze then in ice cube trays) and enough fresh cut flowers for a nice Summer Bouquet.

Tomatoes Display of Cherry Tomatoes    

This will be the last weekend for pick your own Tomatoes. If you want a few more for sauce or canning then "you'd best be making hay while the sun shines!"

 

 

 

CSA at Arrowhead Logo  Late Season Share
This is the Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Share that runs through November and December, with lots of good stuff. This is always voted the favorite Share by CSA Members, and right now, excuse me, RIGHT NOW, is the time to sign up for this Share. Thanks.
 

Apple Festival... Apples for CSA Members
At the Newburyport Farmers' Market this Sunday. This will be a fun day with Apple tasting and a hands-on Cider pressing demonstration, put on by Arrowhead's very own Patrick! Be sure to stop by and join the fun. Arrowhead has submitted the following Apple cultivars for tasting.

ROYAL GALA  A sport (natural mutation) of the original Gala. This apple was bred in New Zealand in the 1930's. It is a cross between Kidd's Orange Red and Golden Delicious.
 
Flavor is sweet and it is an excellent apple for eating out of hand. It's smaller size makes it perfect for school or office lunches.
 
 
GINGER GOLD  A wonderful all purpose apple from Virginia.
 
Ginger Gold has great flavor for out of hand eating. It also makes wonderful pies, crisps or sauce, either alone or combined with other varieties.
 

ROYAL COURT  This is a recent limb sport (natural mutation) of Cortland, discovered in an orchard in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.
 
The large, highly colored fruit are great eating quality and also make arguably the very best pies and crisps----Royal Court Pies often win baking contests. The fruit are the best for salads and fruit trays as they do not turn brown after slicing. And they make the best baked apples as they are large, hold their shape when baked and have perhaps the best flavor of any baked apples.
 
 
MACOUN  This apple is a cross between McIntosh and Jersey Black, introduced by the USDA Apple Research Station at Geneva New York in 1923.
 
The apple is unique to New England and New York as it prefers the growing climate here in the Northeast. This apple is often more expensive than other varieties as it does not yield well. But the flavor, when eaten out of hand in the New England Fall, is just unbeatable. Too soft for cooking.
 
 
BEURRE BOSC PEAR  An ancient pear cultivar, originally from France, now widely grown all around the World.
 
These particular pears are from a tree planted here at arrowhead by my Grandfather, Charlie Moulton, in 1897---and still going strong.
 
This is a multi-purpose pear, great eaten out of hand, also makes great baked pears, pies, crisps, jam and "Perry" or pear cider. Best harvested a bit on the green side and ripened at room temperature until the base color turns a golden russet. A truly great pear.
 



And Speaking of Cider

 

We will have the first of Frank Carlson's Sweet Apple Cider available for purchase at the Farm this weekend during CSA Pick-up hours, Saturdays 11 to 3, Sundays 3 to 5 and Mondays 9 to Noon. Frank's early Cider is quite good, but, of course, the best ciders come in late Fall and early Winter when the Winter Apples have developed plenty of sugar. Just as I warned you earlier about Apple prices being high this fall, the same will apply to Cider. Oh, I almost forgot, we'll have some of Frank's great Cider Donuts available at the Farm as well. And, also Cider and Cider Donuts will be available, at the Cape Ann Farmers Market in Gloucester on Thursday afternoons.

 
On the Email Trail.....

 

----- Original Message -----
From: Kat
To: Dick Chase
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 3:19 PM
Subject: Thank you so much!

Hi Paula and Dick!
Just wanted to let you know that canning went really well!
We all had a great time and about 16 jars of tomato sauce were made!
 
Thank you for letting me and Irina pick it provided for a really fun family time!
Irina and Kat

 


Volunteer Needed, Last Minute Request!

 

Jean is volunteering to do the Farmers' Market at the Harvest Festival in Linden Square in Malden tomorrow (Saturday 9/22) from 11a to 2p. She could sure use a hand if any of you would be interested. Jean will be leaving the Farm at 9a and should be back around 3:30. Might be kind of fun---any takers?

 


Arrowhead will be at the Harvest Farmers' Market at Linden Place in Malden for the next three Saturdays from 11 to 2. Hope to see some of you there.
 
Best be enjoying these last few hours of Summer, and let's look forward to what I predict will be a lovely, mild weather Fall Season. See you at the Farm or Market this weekend.
 
Cheers,
Dick Chase