This is the FINAL WEEK (Week #25) of deliveries this season!  Please note that there will be a make-up delivery for a few sites next Tuesday, including Forest Hills, Douglaston, Syosset and Astoria.  

THANK YOU!  We are so grateful for your membership and ongoing support of our farm.  You'll be hearing from us again later in the week with our Season End Farmer Letter and response to your feedback on the survey. We're also opening up renewals for 2018 this week, so stay tuned to your inbox!  

WINTER CSA - A few spots still open on LI...
We're now accepting online applications for our CSA Winter Share.  Four monthly deliveries, December through March.  Sign up here...

This week in the shares...

Happy holiday box!  We try to harvest crops that we think you'd like to include on your Thanksgiving table next Thursday.  Everything will hold well in the fridge until next week as long as it's stored properly.  See storage instructions for each item below.

Sweet Potatoes - 2.5 lbs of various sizes!  These are unwashed to maintain their freshness. Wash just before preparing.  
Storage: In a cool (not cold), dry spot. DO NOT STORE IN THE FRIDGE!  Uses: Cooked. When to use: Within 10 days.

Carrots - A huge 4lb bag of our sweet early winter carrots!  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked. When to use: Within 10 days.

Butternut Squash - A classic for the holiday table.  I love this as one of my mashed side dishes.  Simple and delicious!
Storage: On the counter. Uses: Cooked.. When to use: Within 10 days.

Leeks - The final harvest from this last planting. Just in time for the final share this season!  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked. When to use: Within 10 days.

Watermelon Radish -  If you haven't tried this radish before, you'll be surprised when you cut through the skin!  These have become a staple on our fall and winter table.  Perfect sliced raw and sprinkled with sea salt as an appetizer or sliced thinly in salads. Equally delicious cooked, but note that the spectacular color fades when cooked.
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked When to use: Within 10 days.

Collards - Another favorite on our holiday table.  Here's a great NPR story on the southern tradition of collards for Thanksgiving.  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked When to use: Within a week.

Parsley - To add fresh flavor to all of your holiday dishes.  A must ingredient for stuffing!  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked When to use: Within a week.

FRUIT SHARE
Please remember just one bag per fruit share member.
1 mixed bag of Bosc Pears and Jonagold & Granny Smith Apples
(for fruit share members ONLY)

Recipes

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chile Yogurt and Mint
Braised Leeks with Lemon & Parsley
Apple, Leek & Butternut Squash Gratin
Butternut Squash Mash
Watermelon Radish Salad with Citrus & Goat Cheese
Watermelon Radish with Cilantro & Garlic
Collard Greens with Fennel and Orange Butter
Classic Southern Collard Greens
Sauteed Carrots

Tons more recipes, cooking tips and photos from fellow CSA members on our
FACEBOOK CSA MEMBERS PAGE!

This is the second to last box of the season!  Next week is the final week of CSA.  We're sad that the season is ending, but happy to get a much-needed break and start preparing for next season!  There's a lot to do around the farm during the winter months, from bookkeeping to tractor maintenance, crop planning and more!  Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with farm happenings all winter long....

End of CSA Season...Mark Your Calendars
Our program runs through week #25, which is the week before Thanksgiving.  Tuesday Queens groups and Astoria CSA will receive a make-up delivery the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  (Please note that this make-up delivery is for Queens sites only.)

WINTER CSA - Sign-up for Long Island members online NOW!  
We're now accepting online applications for our CSA Winter Share.  Four monthly deliveries, December through March.  Sign up here...

CSA RENEWALS FOR 2018 - Coming in November!  
Renewing members receive priority sign-up for our 2018 CSA season.  New this year!  Online payment with credit card or direct deposit.  Save time & hassle!  We'll be sending out renewal reminders beginning in November, so stay tuned. 

FRASER FIR CHRISTMAS TREES - From our sister farm in Vermont!  
We'll be sending out a separate e-mail with more information soon.  In short, we will be offering pre-ordered, fresh-cut Fraser Fir Christmas Trees & Wreathes for pick-up at the farm in Jamesport this December.  The trees are grown at our sister farm in Springfield, Vermont by our VT farm crew without the use of any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides on land that is currently being transitioned to organic production.  Stay tuned for more details!  

JOIN THE CSA MEMBER GROUP!   Please share your Recipes, Cooking Tips & other ideas for getting the most out of your CSA on our FACEBOOK CSA MEMBERS PAGE!  (It's a private group.)

This week in the shares...

Fennel - I've been watching the feathery leaves on this fennel out in the field for the past two months.  Its bulb has finally grown big enough to harvest!  Here's how to prepare fennel...
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked When to use: Within 5 days.

Carrots - Sweet, crunchy carrots.  This is a variety called Mokum.  We think it's the best variety!  Remove the tops for best storage.  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked. When to use: Within a week.

Rutabaga - A cold weather favorite, I know that many of you wait all season for these.  The rutabaga oven fries recipe below is a winner.  Also fabulous mashed like mashed potatoes.  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked.. When to use: Within 5 days.

Cabbage - We have a few different types of cabbage to harvest this week, so your variety will change depending on your pick-up day.  I'm going to be making a hearty minestrone with cabbage this week as well as a cabbage, red onion and orange salad.  Both are great uses for this versatile and SUPER healthy veg!  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw/Cooked. When to use: Within 5 days.

Baby Red Kale - Perfect size for raw kale salads.  It's extremely tender and you may want to snap off the lower stem so just the leaves are in your salad.  Farmer Matt is pickier than I am about eating the stems...  I promised him I would offer his suggestion!  :)
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw When to use: Within 3 days. 

Swiss chard -  Wonderful in fall stews...try the recipe below for a Greek flavored dish!  
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked When to use: Within 3 days. 

White Potatoes -  These are THE BEST variety for mashed potatoes.  Light and creamy when whipped.  
Storage: In a cool, dry, DARK place. Uses: Cooked When to use: Within 2 weeks.

FRUIT SHARE
Please remember just one bag per fruit share member.
1 mixed bag of mixed Fuji & Jonagold Apples
(for fruit share members ONLY)

Recipes

Braised Fennel
Stewed Swiss chard with Tomatoes, Mint & Fennel
Fennel Mashed Potatoes
Rutabaga Oven Fries
Pureed Rutabaga with Pan-Fried Leeks