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Pennypack Pickings
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September 9, 2012
Volume 10, Issue 26
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Calling all Bakers!
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 Our Harvest Festival features a bake sale full of delicious delights made by people like YOU! We are looking for people to bake items for the festival and drop them off in the harvest house on the day of the festival between 9 and 11 am. Please contact Meghan at meghancoleman17@gmail.com and let her know what item you will be bringing.  |
Mid Season Survey Results
| Thanks to all who responded. Over 50% of current members completed the survey.
Here is a synopsis:
25% of respondents were new to the farm this year
84% members for 2-4 years
30% members for over 5 years
77% are very satisfied
21% mostly satisfied
2% not satisfied
88% plan to buy a share next year
80% said their share size is perfect
70% do U-picks pretty regularly
Highlights: members love the new weekly emails outlining what will be available that day
Members love the greeters.
Most have not yet completed share duty but have plans to do so.
We will be surveying at the end of the season asking more specifics about certain crops and other things. Please be sure to complete this survey when it comes. We would love to have an 80% response rate!
Thanks: PFEC Staff
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6 Secrets to Properly Washed & Stored Produce
| Ever wonder...
Should I store these veggies or fruit in the fridge?
Should I wash these veggies before I store them?
Click here for an informative blog post about washing and storing produce from DesignMom.com. This great site was shared by Farm member, Heather Hahn Sullivan.
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Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 6th   Musicians Hay Rides
Activites Food
Vendors
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Fulfill Your Share Duty
Volunteer for the Harvest Festival
Festival volunteering opportunities are available in three convenient shifts. Shift 1 is 10:45 am - 1:00 pm, shift 2 is from 1:00pm - 3:15pm and shift 3 is from 3:00 pm to 5:15. Set-up help is need from 9 - 11 am. Volunteers are still needed for the following activities and shifts which are indicated by the numbers in the parentheses.
Parking (1,2,3)
Ticket Table (3)
Food Table (1,2,3)
Hayride (1,2,3)
Pumpkin Painting (1,2,3)
Scarecrow (1,2,3)
Sand Art (1,2,)
Face Painting (1,2,3)
Eggcarton Caterpillars (1,2,3)
Bird Feeders (1,2,3)
Can't make it to the festival but still want to help? We have a few prep jobs that you can help with!
Sewing 40 scarecrow heads
Making and printing the event tickets
Distributing flyers
Contact Jocelyn at ppfharvestfest@gmail.com |
Notes from the Edible Classroom
Last week a CSA member stopped by the EC with a bug she'd found on the farm. It had a soft body the color of a mango with black, bristly hairs sprouting from its back. I figured it was the larval stage of a beetle, but wasn't sure which beetle. I didn't have my camera at the time, so I didn't have a photo from which to work. No worries, I snooped around the farm, looking for another sample. With a little help from my friends, I found not only the larval stage, but also the  adult of the mystery bug. Mystery no more - it was the Mexican Bean Beetle. It's a rather noxious member of the lady beetle family and one of the few family members that eats plants rather than pesky insects. For more info on the Mexican Bean Beetle, click here for a link from the University of Rhode Island.We had a number of caterpillar sightings this week! Some small, some not so small. I believe the "biggest caterpillar of the week" award  goes to the Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillar. These guys are not only long and robust, they are also beautiful. Like hornworms, these invertebrates are bright, leaf-green with black, yellow and white markings. If threatened, the caterpillars can thrust bright orange antennae from their heads, scaring away would-be predators. Thanks to Farmer Dennis for showing us how they do this - stop by and I'll show you, if we can find a caterpillar. It's pretty cool, and scary. Check out this link with photos and life cycle information for the Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillar.Sometimes people stop by and sit for awhile at the tables, under the canopy. It's shady there and affords a nice view of the EC. Right now, one of the seasonal interests you can check out, from the comfort of  our new brown chairs, are the asparagus plants. Next to the fence, you'll find male and female plants. The female plants are bushy and covered in beautiful red berries, the males plants are also bushy, but without berries. The berries are seed pods and each pod contains just a few seeds. If you wanted to, you could collect some pods, dry them and plant the seeds in the spring. Growing asparagus from seed is not for everyone; you won't get a single spear for several years, so most people prefer planting 1-year old crowns. A word of caution about the seed pods, do not eat them. They contain certain toxins and, if ingested, can make one ill so it's best to admire them from afar. If you tend to cut a few flowers when you are picking up your weekly share, stop by the EC and pick up a few asparagus fronds, they'll look great in your bouquet.Remember, look around when you're at the farm. If you find something interesting, please stop by the EC and share it with us! Have a good week.Diane
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Fall Calendar
 Little Seeds - Ages 3-4, 10:00am - 11:00am Little Sprouts - Ages 5-6, 11:30am - 12:30pm Children and their favorite grownup learn about vegetables and what makes the garden grow best. A themed story, craft and hands on activity in the garden make this an enjoyable afternoon outdoors. Siblings 2 and under are welcome to tag along free of charge. Register Here
9/18 Worm Bin
10/9 Hens
10/23 Fall Garden Project
 "Wildman" Steve - Hunt for Shaggy Mane Mushrooms at Pennypack Ecological Trust Saturday, October 6, 1pm, $20/adult $10/child
On Saturday, October 6, America's go-to guy for foraging, "Wildman" Steve Brill will lead one of his world-famous foraging tours of the Pennypack Trust in Huntingdon Valley, PA, a walking tour sponsored by Pennypack Farm. Register here  Ferment Your Food Tuesday, October 23, 7:30pm, $20 Fermented food is more nutritious than fresh food, it is full of beneficial pro-biotics and it tastes good! What else are you going to do with all that cabbage this winter? Prepare your own sauerkraut and ginger carrots to take home. Cabbage and carrots will be provided. Register here |
Hosted by the College Settlement of Philadelphia
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