Catalpa Ridge News - Vol 11 No. 1 - First Delivery of the season CSF deliveries to: Hoboken Midtown - Hoboken West - Jersey City Hamilton Park - Ramsey - Vernon Valley - On-Farm Pick-up Wantage
CSA s’il vous plaît??
This is our 11th year delivering to CSA (community supported agriculture) members and the first year that we have received so many inquiries about CSA and where we deliver. Most of course have come from word-of-mouth and this year the internet played a big role. But many inquiries have also come from our events during the year, where a simple question from a customer about “do you have a farm-stand where we can buy produce” evolves into an explanation to them that we don’t sell at farmers markets or have a stand, but are supported by groups of people that come together to support the farm. This concept allows a small farm to be sustainable by guaranteeing the farmer a market and in return the members receive weekly deliveries during the harvest season. In this day and age, knowing where you food is coming from is so important. Without member support the farm may have been lost to development. We are always looking for ways to improve and encourage suggestions from the members. We continue to produce a newsletter each week to let you know what is happening at the farm as well as recipes for the weekly delivery. We also like to have a few trips to the farm throughout the year where the members can visit, tour & help out with a few projects. We look forward to a bountiful year! Thanks to Ellen from Vernon Valley for supplying the headline this year!
From the Fields The fava beans go ballistic! Farmer Rich planted them on March 15th and they are about shoulder height right now. Never in the last 11 years have they been this big! They are starting to “bean-up” as we speak. We also have a nice crop of peas developing. We should have strawberries next week from Hubbard Hill Farm. We were hoping for this week, but with the cooler weather they slowed down a bit. When we supplement our deliveries from other farmers, rest assured they are growing using the same practices as we do “pesticide-free”. For the fruit deliveries from Windy Brow Farm starting in July, they use IPM (integrated pest management) techniques.
Weather Report: We have received some much needed rain during the past week. The season started out very dry and we almost lost our pea crop after 4” of rain in two hours (about 3 weeks ago). This same rain storm wiped out our first planting of spinach. As of now we are receiving just enough rain with the night temperatures ideal for plant growth.
Animal Report: Who’s sleeping in the cabbage? Farmer Rich makes his morning rounds through the fields and greenhouses each morning. One morning he noticed some small eggs in a nest in the ground under a cabbage plant. About three days later the eggs had hatched and they are just squirming around right now. Sue was able to take a few pictures on Sunday. Perhaps by next week they will be a little livelier. We’ll keep you posted on their progress.
What’s Up & Growing: Last year we hired a part-time helper, Leslie. This additional help was very instrumental in our larger later deliveries and we are in good position for our early deliveries this year. She works about 3 days per week and is taking a great interest in the farm. Leslie has helped with transplanting in the greenhouse, planting the fields, weeding, mulching and general farm manage-ment. This was much needed help especially now that we have 5 drop-off sites! This is what has been planted & growing right now.
Pick of the Week:
Lettuce- seed saved by Debbie Dandelion but it crossed w/other varieties)
Arugula - Astra variety - great in salad - a nice nutty peppery flavor
Tokyo Bekana - oriental green excellent for stir-fry, soup & salad mixes
Red Mustard Greens - salad, stir-fry or boil
Mixed Oriental Greens - with bekana & mustard greens
Adolescent Shanghi Cabbage - stir-fry, salad mix
White Hailstone Radishes - with edible greens
Green Garlic - use like garlic
Herb of the Week: Rosemary
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