Clockwise from top: Bok Choi, Red Boston Lettuce, Green Boston Lettuce, Spring Salad Mix, Baby Arugula & Red Kale. Not pictured: Bonus Item.

Welcome to the CSA!  What a wonderful box to kick off our season!

Baby Arugula - This baby arugula is extremely tender.  It has already been washed once, but we recommend washing it once more when you get home.  Just be gentle and don't let it soak in water for more than 30 seconds.  Try a light vinaigrette (recipe below).  The leaves are so tender that they will bruise very easily and a heavy dressing will overpower its delicate flavor.
Storage: In the bag it comes in.  Uses: Best Raw  When to use: Right away! Within 3 days

Spring Salad Mix - This is Farmer's Matt's custom mix of 7 lettuce varieties.  Just like the baby arugula, these leaves are tender and are best dressed with a light vinaigrette. 
Storage: In the bag it comes in.  Uses: Best Raw  When to use: Right away! Within 3 days

Red Kale - This is my favorite kale variety because the leaves are tender and it works well cooked and raw in salads.  The key to kale (and a few other cooking greens) is to REMOVE & DISCARD THE STEM! Fine Cooking has an excellent photo tutorial and video to teach you how to easily do this. 
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw (Salad), Cooked or Juiced  When to use: Within 5 days

Green Boston Lettuce - A early season favorite.  This is also known as "butter" lettuce because the leaves are so soft. Again, don't use a heavy dressing on this lettuce. 
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Best Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.

Red Boston Lettuce -A pretty red-leafed variety. 
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Best Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.

Bok Choi - We have just a few small heads of bok choi to harvest for each member.  Unfortunately our first planting did not germinate well.  We think this was due to the heavy rain a few days after seeding.  We did have enough for a few small heads for each member, so a good way to use this amount is in a stir-fry with other veggies.  I also like it chop thinly in salads.  The whole thing can be eaten - leaf and stem.  Just cut off the very base.  Small brown spots on the stem are often only cosmetic and can be eaten. 
Storage: In an airtight (plastic) bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Cooked, Raw  When to use: Within 5 days.

Bonus Item - Farmer's Choice!

STORAGE NOTE
The baby greens can be stored in the bags they come in.  You should eat them first, before the head lettuce which will hold up in the fridge for a longer period of time. In general, greens should be stored in an airtight plastic bag or container.  They "go bad" when they dehydrate, so never put them straight in your fridge.  If you find that they have gone "limp", a tell-tale sigh of dehydration, you can try soaking them in a bowl of cold water for a period of time.  Often they will perk right back up again!

♥

Recipes

Basic Vinaigrette & Salad Instructions - Our go-to salad dressing.
Kale Salad with Lemon, Garlic & Parmesan - My favorite all-time kale recipe!

Now that you're committed to receiving 25 weeks of produce, you're probably going to be spending a little more time in the kitchen!  And what could be better, really?  Cooking is fun and creative, it's healthier for you and it's a great way to bring the whole family together.  To make things easier (and more enjoyable!) we recommend outfitting your kitchen with a few "must-have" kitchen tools.  These are the tools we use in our farmhouse kitchen on a daily basis, and I hope they help you make the most out of your CSA share this year.

MY TOP 5 MUST-HAVE KITCHEN TOOLS

1)  Salad Spinner - This will become your go-to kitchen tool!  I use the bowl of the spinner to submerge and wash all of my greens - from lettuce leaves to spinach, kale and swiss chard.  Place the bowl in your sink and fill with cold water.  Dump your greens in and swish them around.  If they're a little dehydrated or limp, letting them soak in the bowl of cold water will usually revive them in about 15 minutes.  Once washed, transfer the greens to the top of the spinner and dump out the water...then spin dry!  Make sure you dump out the water at least once during your spin and then spin again!  Making sure your greens are really dry means that they'll last longer in the fridge and in your salad!  

2) Produce Storage Bags - I typically hate using plastic, but storing leafy greens in an airtight bag (no, reusable mesh will not work here) is absolutely essential if you want them to last beyond a day or two in the fridge.  The key to keeping greens fresh is keeping the moisture locked in, so when you get home store your bunches of kale, heads of lettuce and bunches of parsley inside these bags.  They wash easily and can be reused indefinitely as long as you don't rip them.  A must-have!  

3) Vegetable Peeler -  This peeler makes short work out of slivering away the peels on your root veggies, cucumbers and other thick-skinned produce.  They make all sorts of fancy peelers, but Farmer Matt (who used to be a chef!) swears by this one.  It's inexpensive and easy to use, so what's not to love?

4) Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch Chef’s Knife - Farmer Matt said this should be #1 on this list.  You've gotta have a good sharp knife!

5)  Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Paring Knife Set, Black Poly Handles - Particularly when cooking with veggies, you could use 4-5 paring knives to create just one dish!  This is an excellent set. 

Not "essential", but here are my TOP 5 GOOD-TO-HAVE KITCHEN TOOLS

6) Garlic Press - This is a fancy (and albeit slight more expensive) model, but for the amount of garlic I use on a daily basis, a good press is a a must! 

7) Citrus Juicer - I use this to make my lemon water every morning, and daily to make lemon based vinaigrettes and dressings.  Inexpensive and extremely useful!  I bought my first juicer about 3 years ago and now can't imagine life without it.

8) Microplane Grater/Zester - This is a must-have for grating your own parmesan cheese and zesting lemons, limes and oranges. 

9) Vegetable Chopper - Confession: I added this to the list even though we don't have one in our kitchen!  Our friend, Emilie Raffa of The Clever Carrot blog (as well as many other great home cooks) highly recommend this tool, so I'm ordering one for our farmhouse kitchen as we speak!  I'm sure my kids are going to love it! 

10) Immersion Blender - No more pouring steaming hot soup into a blender to whizz up in batches.  This eliminates the need to transfer your soup into another container.  Genius! 

Now for some appliances....

11) Food Processor - I have my mom's old Cuisinart from the 80's and it works like a charm.  They come in all different sizes, but this is a good, basic model perfect for making pesto, hummus, chopping veggies, making cookie dough, pancake batter, nut butter....I could go on. 

12) Juicer - I bought our first juicer about 6 years ago, and it was a game changer in our kitchen!  Now, whenever we have leftover root veggies, greens, or pretty much anything else, we just juice it!  The kids love it too.  We have an Omega juicer, which we like better for juicing greens, but this one is a good entry-level juicer that will handle all sorts of veggies. 

Finally, make sure that you have a good-sized SALAD BOWL and TONGS. You're going to be eating a lot of salads!  A good quality, heavy-bottom SOUP POT and a quality ROASTING DISH are also must-haves that didn't make it on my "official" list.  Tell me, what's on your "Top 10" list of kitchen essentials?

Happy Cooking!  xoMaggie

Clockwise from top left: lettuce seedlings newly transplanted in the field (and irrigated since it's been so dry); seeding carrots by floodlight (because there just aren't enough hours in the day); leveling the vacuum seeder (A vacuum sucks up the seeds and deposits them from a rotating plate into the ground.  This keeps them perfectly spaced.); mulching strawberries to smother the weeds and keep the berries clean.

April showers bring May...vegetables!  Our focus has shifted from greenhouse work to field work this past month.  Most of our greenhouse seedlings (lettuces, kales, broccoli) are now happily growing out in the fields, and Farmer Matt and Orlando have been seeding our direct-seeded crops like carrots, spinach, lettuce mix and cilantro in the fields.  We will continue to prep our fields and fill them up with crops over the coming weeks. It's beautiful watching the farm come to life!

SEE US IN ACTION!
A picture is worth a thousand words.  Watch some videos of our recent work on the farm...
- Transplanting Lettuce into the Field
- Mulching Strawberries

FIRST WEEK OF CSA
Mark your calendars!  Our CSA Program begins the week of May 23rd.  We will be in touch again in a few weeks reminding you where and when to pick-up your share.  Please remember that your pick-up day of the week will depend on your chosen pick-up site.

FARM TOURS
Your membership in our CSA means that you are an essential (and much-loved!) part of our farm community!  We encourage all members to come visit the farm to meet us, your farmers, and learn about how we grow your food.  We are located in Riverhead, which is on the North Fork of Long Island.  We're close to lots of vineyards and gorgeous beaches.  Make a day of it!  Tours are FREE for members and their guests.  Reservations are not required.  Our Farm Shop will be open Fridays & Saturdays during the month of June.
CSA Farm Tours - 2:00-3:00pm - Saturdays in June - 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25
Kids' Farm Tours - 11:00am-11:45am - Saturday, 6/11 and 6/25
Farmer Galen, age 6, will lead this special tour specifically for kids.  (Parents welcome, of course!)

We're looking forward to our first harvest in just 4 short weeks!  Grow plants, grow!

Clockwise from top left: Garlic coming up in the field, Seeding onions by hand, Onions germinating in the greenhouse, Tractor maintenance.

Spring has sprung on the farm!  We planted our very first seed in the greenhouse two weeks ago and now our two greenhouses are filled with hundreds of flats of baby plants. Zinny (the littlest farmer) and I tour the greenhouses every morning to check on our “babies”.  He is enjoying watching them grow bigger each day. (Photo below.) We started out seeding scallions and onions and have moved on to kale, lettuce, radicchio and fennel.  Not all plants start their life in the greenhouse.  Baby greens and root crops will be direct-seeded in the field.  But for the majority of our crops, the greenhouse is where it all begins.  Seeding will continue in earnest for the next several months.  We schedule successive plantings of many crops to ensure that we will have a steady supply of them to harvest for you over the course of the season.  

How do we plant our seedlings?  Our plastic flats (trays) are filled with soil, small holes are dibbled in each cell, and the seeds are dropped into the holes before being covered with more soil.  We have a vacuum seeder that helps us seed our pelleted brassica seeds by the flat, but the majority of seeds are planted by hand. (See photo above.) When you cut up your first Walla Walla onion this July, you can think about Noe, Mario, Orlando and Leah sitting in the warm greenhouse seeding these one by one during the early weeks of March.

Tractor field work has also begun! We are starting to rototill our cover crops to incorporate the organic matter into the soil.  It will take several months for it to break down completely, so it was good to get a head start and take advantage of the beautiful warm weather.  We don’t usually start any field work until April when the ground is fully defrosted.

Days are getting longer, and so is our to-do list.  There is never a quiet moment on the farm!  If you’d like to get a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to, follow us on Instagram!  -Maggie

Cauliflower & Beautiful Cover Crops

NEWS FROM THE FARM

This week marks the final week of our CSA program for 2015.  Our growing season stretches across 6 months of the year, May through November - many weeks longer than most CSA farms in the Northeast. Surrounded by water, our farm's climate is relatively temperate, allowing us to start planting outdoors in April and continuing to harvest crops through the month of November. 

We hope you've enjoyed your membership this season and all the of beautiful produce we've harvested for you. If it weren't for the support of our members, we would not be here, farming this land on the eastern end of Long Island.  This is an exceptionally expensive place to live and to farm, and the stability that the CSA provides us is the only way we are able to continue to do what we love -  farming organically & growing nourishing food for our local community with love and care.  So, THANK YOU!  

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2016!
Applications for our 2016 CSA are now available online!  We thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you back into our program next May!  RENEW NOW!

SUPPORT FARMERS, NOT DELIVERY SERVICES
The food marketplace is getting crowded with lots of "farm to table" delivery services.  They are not farmers, they are re-sellers.  We encourage you to always buy directly from your farmer either at farmers' markets or through an authentic CSA like ours.  No middleman, no warehouses, no mark-ups. Just the freshest organic produce grown for you by your farmers at the best price. 

Spots are still available for our...

EARLY WINTER CSA - SIGN UP NOW!
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December.

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES...

I think this may be the first year we haven't ended our 26-week season the week of Thanksgiving.  This was good planning on our part!  This way you know well in advance what ingredients you'll have to share at your Thanksgiving table and pretty much everything in this week's box will hold up very well in the fridge.  (Except for sweet potatoes - keep those on the counter!)
Baby Salad Greens - A green salad on the table is a must. Try one of the kale salads in our recipe section.
Collards - Farmer Matt planned for these to be harvested before they got too large.  They are tender and don't need to be cooked for long. Southerners know how to cook collards- try the recipe links this week.
Sweet Potatoes - In pie or roasted with honey or lemon.  When in doubt, just bake 'till soft and mash them with butter and salt. 
Rutabaga - If you have a few more of these knocking around in the back of your fridge, you should definitely boil and mash them.  They are my mother's favorite part of Thanksgiving.  She could eat half the bowl herself.  I love them too!
Fennel - They're small, yes, but slice up the whole bulb and about 1" into the stem and throw in your minestrone soup.  It is delicious! 
Cauliflower - Roasted is my favorite way to eat cauliflower.  There are a couple recipes this week you could try. 
Watermelon Radish - Just a few in this week's share, but sliced and sprinkled with sea salt, they make a bright and fresh appetizer. 
White Turnips - Hey, add these to your appetizer platter of watermelon radish and sprinkle with salt.  Yummy AND pretty AND unusual!
Broccoli - I have been making lots of cream of broccoli soup for the kids. It's their current fave!  Or just steamed with butter.  It's especially sweet when harvested in the fall.

Bon appetit!  - Maggie

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KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

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WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian looks forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

November 17, 18, 19 & 20

Rutabaga - 1 piece
Baby Salad Greens (Arugula or Kale) - 1 bag
Collards - 1 bunch
Sweet Potatoes - 1 large bag (4+ lbs)
Cauliflower - 1-2 heads
White Turnips - 1 bunch
Broccoli - 1 or 2 pieces
Watermelon Radish - 2-3 pieces
Baby Fennel - 2 pieces

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Baby Arugula, Collards, Sweet Potatoes, Cauliflower, Rutabaga, Salad Radishes or Turnips, Broccoli, Watermelon Radish and Fennel.

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Arugula, Collards, Cauliflower, Rutabaga, White Turnips, Broccoli, Watermelon Radish, Fennel

In a warm, dry place
Sweet Potatoes

RECIPES

Lemon Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Southern Style Collard Greens
Vegan Garlicky Collard Greens
12 great Kale Salads
Caramelized Cauliflower with Fennel
Simple Roasted Cauliflower
Curried Roasted Cauliflower & Coconut Soup

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Just two more weeks of the CSA season!  A lot of our "winter" roots are coming in now, including the rutabagas you're getting this week.  Rutabagas are wonderful, especially when mashed like potatoes.  They will store well if you want to save them for your Thanksgiving table.  Everyone is getting at least 4 pounds this week.  Are you one of the lucky members getting a single rutabaga that tops 4 lbs all by itself?  They're the size of our heads!  What else is coming in this week?
Cauliflower - Our fall favorite!  You'll get one or two heads, depending on the size.  You can easily steam the florets, or try this week's recipe. 
Baby Salad Kale - Harvested when small and tender, these kale leaves are perfect for raw salads.
Savoy Cabbage - A wonderful ruffle-leafed cabbage variety.  Light enough for slicing thinly in a salad or coleslaw or try this week's recipe and saute with garlic & ginger.
White Potatoes- Light and fluffy when mashed.  Save these for Thanksgiving if you wish.  Just be sure to keep them in a dark place! 
Carrots - A full 2 pounds for everyone!  These are great roasted.  It brings out their super sweet flavor. 
Kale or Bok Choi round out the share.  Perfect steamed or sauteed.

If you're loving all these cold weather crops, be sure to keep the goodies coming by signing up for our....

EARLY WINTER CSA - SIGN UP NOW!
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  

+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

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KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian looks forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

November 10, 11, 12 & 13

Cauliflower - 1-2 heads depending on size
Savoy Cabbage - 1 head
Baby Salad Kale - 1/2 lb+
Rutabagas - 4lb
Kale/Bok Choi - 1 bunch
White Potatoes - 2 1/2 lb.
Carrots - 2 lb.

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Baby Salad Kale, Savoy Cabbage, Rutabagas, Potatoes, Carrots, Red Kale, Cauliflower

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Kales, Cabbage, Rutabaga, Carrots, Cauliflower

In a cool, dark place
Potatoes

RECIPES

Rutabaga Oven Fries
Mashed Rutabaga
Cauliflower & Chickpeas with Mustard Vinaigrette
Maple and Orange Glazed Carrots
Savoy Cabbage with Ginger & Garlic

NEWS FROM THE FARM

The weather forecast is amazing for the first week of November!  Usually by now we're freezing while finishing up our field work and last few harvests.  We're going to take advantage of the mild temperatures to get as much done as we can.  The most important item on our to-do list is planting next season's garlic!  I'll be posting photos of this in next week's newsletter, so stay tuned!

WINTER CSA - SIGN UP NOW!
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  

+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

IN YOUR BOX...

Golden Globe Turnips - This is the first year we're growing this variety.  They are delicious roasted or try this week's recipe.
Parsley - I've been mincing parsley and adding to all of our soups.  It's especially good in minestrone or chicken soup.
Broccoli - We're finishing up the harvest, so everyone is getting one head this week.  I'm using mine in a broccoli quiche - it's just the right amount!
Guy Lon - Also known as Chinese Broccoli - you can eat the leaves, the florets and the stems!  Chop up in 1" pieces in stir-fries or just steam and toss with garlic and olive oil.
Arugula - So tender!  Thank goodness we didn't lose this planting to a hard freeze yet.  It's quite special enjoying arugula salads in November...
Sweet Potatoes - Your shares include a mix of two different varieties.  You're probably very familiar with the orange flesh and skinned type.  The other is white fleshed with purple skin, and it's a special Korean variety that we tried growing for the first time this year.  We've been blown away by its super sweet and nutty flesh.  What do you think?  Should we grow it again next season?  Just wash the skin and pop these whole in the oven at 350F until soft.  It's the easiest and best way to prepare them.

Bon appetit! - Maggie

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian, Orlando & Leah look forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

November 3, 4, 5 & 6

Golden Globe Turnips - 1.5+ lb.
Baby Arugula - .38 lb.
Sweet Potatoes - Orange & Korean White Varieties - 5 lb.
Broccoli - 1 head
Parsley - 1 bunch
Guy Lon (Chinese Broccoli) - 1 bunch

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Arugula, Sweet Potatoes, Parsley, Golden Globe Turnips, Broccoli, Guy Lon (Chinese Broccoli).

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Turnips, Arugula, Guy Lon, Parsley, Broccoli

On the counter or in a coll (but not cold), dry spot
Sweet Potatoes

RECIPES

Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli Cheddar Quiche
Roasted Turnips with Balsamic & Thyme
Guy Lon Stir Fry

NEWS FROM THE FARM

The season will be wrapping up in 3 more weeks, but there is plenty to harvest before we reach the end! You'll be seeing a lot more greens in the shares, as well as root vegetables and colder weather favorites. 

WINTER CSA - SIGN UP NOW!
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  

+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

IN YOUR BOX...

Red Radishes - What a wonderful, bright surprise to see these beauties in the box!  Slice in salads, or enjoy with butter and salt and crusty bread.  Sounds weird, tastes delicious!
Japanese Salad Turnips - The bottoms are great raw or sauted or my favorite, roasted!  The greens are delicious too, so cook them just like spinach. 
Potatoes - This week we have a white variety called "Eva". It's excellent for mashed potatoes. 
Lettuce - I know you've been waiting a long time for more lettuce.  I have too!  Loving the Romaine this week with some homemade croutons. 
Radicchio - Farmer Matt and I have been enjoying this leafy radicchio non-stop.  I have to say that the bitter greens paired with garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and gruyere cheese is pretty addictive.  I'm dreaming about it again now...
Broccoli - I made a big batch of cream of broccoli soup with the broccoli and the white potatoes over the weekend.  Wonderful and warming.  The kids loved it too!

Bon appetit! - Maggie

---

KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian, Orlando & Leah look forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

OCTOBER 27, 28, 29 & 30

Lettuce - 1 head
Radicchio - 1 head
Broccoli - 1 head
Red Radishes - 1 bunch
Japanese White Salad Turnips & Tops - 1 bunch
White Potatoes - 2.5 lb bag

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Red Radishes, Broccoli, Romaine Lettuce, Japanese White Salad Turnips & Greens, White Potatoes, Radicchio

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Broccoli, Lettuce, Radicchio, Red Radish, Salad Turnips

In a cool, dark place
Potatoes

BRIERMERE FARM FRUIT SHARE

*****THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK OF THE FRUIT SHARE!******

THE FRUIT SHARE IS NOT ORGANIC!  PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH THE FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT. 

JUST 1 BAG THIS WEEK of mixed Apples

RECIPES

Seared Broccoli & Potato Soup
Radishes with Butter & Salt
Roasted White Turnips & Greens
Penne with Radicchio

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Thanks to everyone who braved the cold temperatures (and the snow showers!) on Sunday to join us for our Harvest Festival. We loved meeting so many of you and we hope you enjoyed touring the farm!

The farm parcel that was open for touring was where we planted the majority of our summer crops.  Now much of the land is being seeded with winter cover crops.  Our fall plantings are growing on the other parcel of land that we farm on Sound Avenue. 

UPDATE FROM THE FIELDS
Farmer Matt wanted to share some updates from the fields...

Our fall plantings of beets and swiss chard were damaged by "armyworms", which quickly defoliate the plants.  This is the first year we've experienced such dramatic damage from them, and the crops were not salvageable. 

Arugula is coming back this fall, but not as soon as we would've liked.  The current planting was grown in sandy soil and 2 heavy rains leached away the fertilizer so the leaves turned purple.  The next planting looks good, so you can expect to see that in the shares in a few weeks!  Also coming up should be some more baby salad kale and lettuce.  The weather this time of year makes the harvests a bit more unpredictable, so we'll be updating you each week to let you know what to expect in the harvests for these final 5 weeks of the season. 

WINTER CSA - SIGN UP NOW!
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  

+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

IN YOUR BOX...

Sweet Potatoes - We've been eating these daily!  Try my recipe for sweet potato pie if you want a real treat.  Otherwise the easiest way to prepare is to bake in the oven at 350F until soft.  Then scoop out the flesh and serve with a little butter and salt. 
Cilantro - We can't live without cilantro in the house.  Galen seeds it outside in our kitchen garden every few weeks so we have a constant supply.  If you don't already know what to do with this bunch, I urge you to try one of the recipes this week.  It's wonderful in soups!
Bok Choi - This is fantastic in stir fries.  The whole thing is edible, leaf and stalk! 
Broccoli - For steaming, for soup, for salad! 
Watermelon Radish - Slice one open and you're in for a surprise!  These are great in salads or roasted.  Try this week's recipes.

Bon appetit! - Maggie

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KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian, Orlando & Leah look forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

OCTOBER 20, 21, 22 & 23

Sweet Potatoes - 4 lbs
Broccoli - 2 heads
Cilantro - 1 bunch
Bok Choi - 1 bunch
Watermelon Radish - several pieces

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Bok Choi, Broccoli, Watermelon Radish, Sweet Potatoes, Cilantro

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Bok Choi, Cilantro, Broccoli, Watermelon Radish

In a warm, dark place (NOT the fridge!)
Sweet Potatoes

BRIERMERE FARM FRUIT SHARE

NEXT WEEK, THE WEEK of OCTOBER 26th is the FINAL WEEK OF THE FRUIT SHARE. 

THE FRUIT SHARE IS NOT ORGANIC!  PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH THE FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT. 

JUST 1 BAG THIS WEEK of mixed Apples

RECIPES

Cabbage-Radish Slaw with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Watermelon Radish, Orange & Goat Cheese Salad
Cilantro & Chicken (or Chickpea) Soup
Sweet Potato Pie

NEWS FROM THE FARM

We hope to see all of you at the farm on Sunday!  Please dress warmly!  The forecast is for perfect fall weather - chilly, sunny, lovely!  Bring jackets & blankets for cozying up and picnicking on the grass.  We'll have hot soup and tamales for sale.  Bring your family & friends!  No RSVP needed.  More details below...

CSA HARVEST FESTIVAL 2015 - PRIVATE EVENT!
Join us for our annual CSA Harvest Festival on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th from 11am to 3pm.  Good food, cooking demos, kids' activities, live music, walking tours and more!  Come meet your farmers and see how and where we grow your food.   
This event is held at our farm on the North Fork - 652 Peconic Bay Blvd, Riverhead, NY

Cooking Demo Schedule
11:30am - Emilie of the The Clever Carrot
2:00pm - Alexa of Sustainable Pantry

+ FREE for all current CSA members and their guests. 
+ NO RSVP needed. 
+ DRESS WARMLY!
+ BRING your picnic (some food available for purchase)
+ STROLLERS welcome & encouraged!
+ WEAR sturdy walking shoes for touring the farm.

WINTER CSA
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  
+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

IN YOUR BOX...

Leeks - These are so versatile.  Use them in place of onions in soups.  Here's how to prep them. 
Radicchio - A lovely leaf chicory.  It's bitter, so I recommend pairing it with some hard cheese.  Our favorite salad is radicchio sliced in thin strips with shaved Parmesan, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh minced garlic and some homemade croutons.  This week's recipe for radicchio risotto is also delicious - cooking the radicchio mellows out the bitter flavor.
Carrots - We love these beauties every which way! 
Russet Potatoes - A great variety for baked potatoes.  They are flaky, not dense when cooked.  They also make light mashed potatoes. 
Toscano Kale - This kale is best cooked since it has a very sturdy leaf.  Think soups & stews.  Or try this week's recipe paired with lentils & pasta. 
Farmer's Choice - We're rotating through a few different crops that are coming in at different times.  We do everything possible to make sure that all members receive the same items over the course of a few weeks.  If you don't get an item this week, you can look forward to receiving it in future weeks. 

Bon appetit! - Maggie

---

KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian & Orlando look forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

OCTOBER 13, 14, 15 & 16

Leeks - 1 bunch
Russet Potatoes - 3 lbs
Toscano Kale - 1 bunch
Carrots - 1 bunch
Radicchio - 1 head
Farmer's Choice Item - TBD

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Leeks, Radicchio, Russet Potatoes, (Farmer's Choice - Broccoli in this photo), Carrots & Toscano Kale.

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Leeks, Carrots (remove tops), Kale, Radicchio

In a cool, dark place
Potatoes

BRIERMERE FARM FRUIT SHARE

THE FRUIT SHARE IS NOT ORGANIC!  PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH THE FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT. 

JUST 1 BAG THIS WEEK of mixed Bosc Pears and Apples

RECIPES

Radicchio Risotto
Pasta with Lentils & Kale
Radicchio Salad with Manchego Vinaigrette

NEWS FROM THE FARM

YOU'RE INVITED! 
Bring your family and friends to our celebration of CSA at our annual CSA Harvest Festival on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th from 11am to 3pm.  Good food, cooking demos, kids' activities, live music, walking tours and more!  Come meet your farmers and see how and where we grow your food.   
This event is held at our farm on the North Fork - 652 Peconic Bay Blvd, Riverhead, NY

+ FREE for all current CSA members and their guests. 
+ NO RSVP needed. 
+ BRING your picnic (some food available for purchase)
+ STROLLERS welcome & encouraged!
+ WEAR sturdy walking shoes for touring the farm.

See you there! 

WINTER CSA
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  
+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

IN YOUR BOX...

Green & Napa Cabbage - It's a cabbage box this week!  I happen to love cabbage and we eat it every which way - in soups, salads, roasted, shredded...  The green cabbage is new to the box, but we had enough Napa cabbage for one more delivery, so we thought, why not?  Is last week's Napa cabbage still sitting in the back of your fridge?  Have no fear...I've linked lots of cabbage recipes in our Recipe section below to help you make it through your box.  Hey, you may just start loving it as much as we do! 
Green Beans - Farmer Matt wanted me to tell you that the beans are on the large size because we had to wait a few extra days to harvest them after the fields dried out from all that rain.  Green beans with toasted almonds are such a treat alongside main dishes this time of year.
Beets - Forget roasting if you don't feel like turning on the oven.  I boil these beets until tender in a pot of water on my stove.  Throw them in with the skins on and boil for about 30 minutes.  Just watch the water level as they can boil dry quickly. Once they're cooked, you can slip off the skins easily.  I've been serving them sliced with butter, salt & pepper and a drizzle of fresh squeeze orange juice and orange zest.  So good! 
Sweet Potatoes - These will last a little while as long as they don't get cold damage, so be sure you DO NOT STORE THEM IN THE FRIDGE!  Keep them in a cool (but not cold) spot in your kitchen or pantry. 

Bon appetit! - Maggie

---

KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian & Orlando look forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

OCTOBER 5, 6, 7 & 8

Sweet Potatoes - 3.5lbs+
Beets - 1 quart
Green Beans - 1 bag
Green Cabbage - 1 head
Napa Cabbage - 1 head

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Green Cabbage, Red Beets, Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Napa Cabbage

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Napa Cabbage, Cabbage, Green Beans, Beets

In a dry, medium-warm place
Sweet Potatoes

BRIERMERE FARM FRUIT SHARE

THE FRUIT SHARE IS NOT ORGANIC!  PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH THE FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT. 

JUST 1 BAG THIS WEEK of the Fruit Farmers' Choice...See check-in sheet at your pick-up site!

RECIPES

Roasted Cabbage with (or without) Bacon
Another Roasted Cabbage Recipe
Rustic Cabbage Soup
Green Beans with Toasted Almonds
Sweet Potato Coconut Soup

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Your farmers have been gearing up for winter, believe it or not!  We're seeding winter cover crops in the fields that we've finished harvesting.  These cover crops will grow over the next few months before it freezes, and will then protect the soil from erosion over the long, cold winter.  In the springtime, we "turn in" the crop, which incorporates the biomass into the soil and increases soil organic matter.  Cover crops are an essential part of our sustainable farming program.

WINTER CSA
We've now opened up our registration for our Early Winter CSA Program!  This program is separate from our 26-week Full Season CSA.  It consists of 3 deliveries (spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart) starting in December. We have pick-up available at two Long Island locations, Jamesport (Farm) and Port Washington.  Due to the potential for freezing temperatures in the winter, we are only able to offer pick-up at indoor locations.  The winter share boxes consist of our own CERTIFIED ORGANIC root vegetables and storage crops like Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Carrots, Beets, Rutabaga, Winter Squash, and possibly Broccoli, Kale and Cabbage.  Exact contents may change.  We also offer a Cider and Apple Share from Briermere Farms that is not organic.  
+ LEARN MORE & SIGN UP HERE!

IN YOUR BOX...

Napa Cabbage - This is a great cabbage for salads.  The leaves are tender, but they have a nice crunch to them.  We're supposed to have a stormy few days, so it's perfect weather for making soup! I'm going to be making our family's favorite Tuscan Kale & White Bean Soup with an Arugula Salad on the side. It's nice to have some baby greens back in the shares- they love this cooler weather.  The Butternut Squash will last on your counter or in a cool dry place for a while (maybe a few weeks to a month) but the Sweet Dumpling Squash should be eaten immediately.  It is not meant to be stored.  Finally, the Nicola Potatoes have a wonderful waxy texture.  They are excellent roasted in the oven with some herbs and olive oil.  Be sure to store your potatoes in a cool, dark place away from any light! 

Bon appetit! - Maggie

SAVE THE DATE! 
Bring your family and friends to our celebration of CSA at our annual CSA Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 18th.  Good food, cooking demos, kids' activities, live music, walking tours and more!  Come meet your farmers and see where your food comes from.  We hope to see you there!

---

KIM'S HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Check out Kim's blog here>>Read here

---

WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES?  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more! 

VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies?  Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members!  Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map!  Brian & Orlando look forward to seeing you there!

THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES

SEPTEMBER 29 & 30
OCTOBER 1 & 2

Baby Arugula - 1 bag
Toscano Kale - 1 bunch
Napa Cabbage - 1 head
Sweet Dumpling Squash - 1 piece
Butternut Squash - 1 piece
Nicola Potatoes - 1 lb. bag

*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.

Clockwise from top: Yellow Potatoes, Napa Cabbage, Sweet Dumpling Squash, Baby Arugula, Butternut Squash, Toscano Kale

STORAGE TIPS

In a bag in the fridge...
Napa Cabbage, Kale, Arugula

On the counter...
Winter Squash

In a cool, dark place...
Potatoes

BRIERMERE FARM FRUIT SHARE

THE FRUIT SHARE IS NOT ORGANIC!  PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH THE FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT. 

1 bag of Peaches
1 bag of Bosc Pears

RECIPES

Napa Cabbage Salad
Tuscan White Bean & Kale Soup
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes