Serenbe Farms
  CSA Newsletter and Recipes 5-29

The last CSA pickup for full and half shares in Atlanta is November 16th.  The last pickup date for full shares at the farm is November 16th and November 9th for half shares.

Surveys will be out soon!  Time for you to tell us what you think!!


Early 2011 renewal info!  If you'd like to renew for next year, you can either place a nonrefundable deposit of $250 towards your share or pay in full.

Benefits of renewing early include:
-receiving a bonus Thanksgiving share (pick up on the farm on 11/23 or 11/24)
-locking in for 2011 at the 2010 price

November 2nd, 2010

Farm News from Justin-
 
Greetings from the farm!

   The winter time crops are looking amazing!  The last few rains have provided some much needed nitrogen release and the greens are sweeter every time we get another frost!  The tomatoes, beans, flowers, and other items didn't make it through the frost but that was expected.  It is kind of amazing to watch some healthy 5 foot tomato plant 'fry' into nothingness overnight. 
   As we roll into winter and it progressively gets colder I find myself enjoying each day more than the last.  I love cold weather and abhor those dry summer days of 110 degrees.  Some of the intense 'summer' farm task like irrigation, constant weeding, and harvesting turn into project type tasks of building, fixing, and getting ready for next year.  And most importantly I get to relax, climb, mountain bike, and go skiing.  That's right folks we do find sometime each winter to cut ties with the farm and entertain ourselves with winter activities. 
   I believe we have had a really great year!  This will be my last newsletter of the year and I want to personally say thanks to all of you for supporting us.  The CSA program is the cornerstone of our business and we strive to do a fantastic job for you guys. 
 
  
Survey- coming soon!
   Tell us what you think!  This is your chance to voice your opinion about what kind of job we did with providing your CSA shares this year.  The survey gives you a chance to tell us what you want more or less of and what kind of variety we provide.  The survey will be shorter this year by demand and we are going to have less overall questions.  This will allow someone to fill it out in less time than previous years. 
   What we do with the survey?  We use the surveys as a key component of deciding exactly what to plant next year.  About 70% of the food we grow ends up on your table so your feedback is so important!  We try please all of our CSA members and have improved year to year because of our survey tool.  We love suggestions of new things you may want to try or exciting green options or just your latest thought on how we can spice things up. 
   I feel like we have done a good job over the last few years as far as variety.  Do keep in mind we are limited by our hot summers and typical drought conditions so we do have to keep things within reason. 

Too much of a good thing -
   We know that many of you are too busy to cook everything in the share right away.  Many of the items will store. 
   To keep your sweet potatoes store them in a cool dark dry area that is around 60 - 70 degrees (but room temperature will work too).  We typically store about ten to twenty pounds for the winter and they easily last until at January or longer.
   Most of the the winter squash will also store in the same type of conditions as sweet potatoes.  They will store for months if not longer. 
   Lettuce is also able to be stored for a long time.  I personally wash cut and prep my lettuce and store in a glass container with a lid.  We have it last usually about two weeks or more in the fridge.  And it's so easy to grab a handful of prepped lettuce for a salad or a garnish!
    Peppers can be stored in the freezer for a few months.  We wash and cut them up into strips and store them in ziploc bags and thaw when ready to use them.  This may come in handy because you'll receive TONS of green peppers over the next two weeks.  Keep in mind if you aren't interested in them or don't want to freeze them, we'll donate all of the food that comes back to the farm!

   I encourage you to check out the movie GROW! if you haven't already.  It features many of our local young farmers.

See ya next year!
Justin


Find recipes here.
 
This week's share (prediction):

sunchokes (Jerusalem artichoke)

bok choi or Chinese cabbage

broccoli or cabbage or ??

chard or kale

green tomatoes

head lettuce

tomatoes

peppers

sweet potatoes and/or winter squash

and more!

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Links
www.serenbefarms.com

www.georgiaorganics.org
www.slowfoodatlanta.org
RECIPES

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