Fall CSA Week #9 Final Pickup 2024

Fall CSA Week #9 Final Pickup 2024

Thank you for all your support this season.

For supporting us as a farm, helping us to grow, enabling us to continue to produce and grow quality food and experiences, and for welcoming us into your kitchens. We so appreciate how you have all engaged with the farm this season. In the next few weeks we will begin planning for 2024! CSA 2024 news coming in January!

The donkeys have “new sets of winter boots” for the winter. Jav did an excellent job trimming their hooves and setting them up with solid footing as they move about. Matt snuggles helped Milton (about 29 years old) endure the pedicure. We trim hooves ideally every 2 - 3 months, to help them maintain healthy hooves.

Our fields at the Oxbow courtesy of Google Maps

We mentioned a few weeks ago the work being done at the Oxbow constructing a CAT tunnel to cover and protect some scallions for spring harvest. After checking the project off the list, the wind we had a week or so ago revitalized the project. Wind whips down the Ammonousuc and made a mess of the CAT tunnel. Implementation of some new ideas to keep it intact over the winter will take place this week.

In addition to our dedicated team, soil remains our most valuable asset on the farm. Over the past week, Jav, Uri, and Sam collected around 30 soil samples to help us gain a deeper understanding of how to nourish and support our soils for the upcoming season. The results offer detailed insights into key factors such as micronutrients, organic matter, soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, soluble salts, and more. Once we understand what each garden needs, we will use cover crops, compost, and soil amendments to enhance soil health and optimize crop growth next season.

The Soil Lab at University of Maine Orono also tests soil in home gardens too in case you are interested.

Remember we are open year round every single day from 8:00 - 5:30 even during the winter months. Thank you for being a part of the farm community this season!

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

WANT SOME RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Colin, Gal, Jav, and Uri)

Fall CSA Week #8

Fall CSA Week #8

Water lines in fields and greenhouses have been drained, so we have no frozen broken pipes before the cold weather decides to stay for an extended period of time. As a result animals were moved into their winter home if they were not in that spot already. Donkeys and goats are all by the farm stand now and the cows are all enjoying some fresh grass in the winter pasture. The cows all got trailered over to the pasture (about a mile and half from the farm) and Matt pretty much moved the donkeys by himself.

Remember Emmett? If you need a reminder, check out the Fall CSA Week #3.

Emmett hung out with Mikaela as he waited for Matt to return with the trailer for his turn over to the winter pasture. He enjoyed some snuggles and organic grain as he waited. He is pretty cute!

Rojo our Bull and Emily took the ride over together.

Milton had his own idea of what walking across the farm to the paddock by the farm stand would look like. He did not want to go with Matt who ultimately found success after some serious patience. Milton, Summer, and Buckwheat love Matt, and expect daily ear rubs and back rubs from him.

In the cold weather even crops in the greenhouses get some extra protection. Jav and Sam covered crops in 8 out of the 10 greenhouses this afternoon. Excited to still have that many things growing this time of year.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

WANT SOME other RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Jav, and Uri)

Fall CSA Week #7

Fall CSA Week #7

We, as a farm crew, celebrated the season with most of us present on Sunday. The dirty carharts were replaced by cleaner clothes, the food was phenomenal, and reminiscing about the farm was fun. You as a supporter of Meadowstone Farm, help us get to suport our community with local, fresh, high quality food. Thank you!

Our newsletter this week consists of our almost 10 minute video slideshow of the season. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

WANT SOME RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Week #6

Fall CSA Week #6

We are starting pickup at 2:00 this week so you have enough time

to get out there for some trick or treating!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

In case you missed the incredible Gathering of the Jack-o-lanterns in Littleton this past Saturday evening, started years ago by Dave Harkless of Littleton Bike and Fitness, you can view the remnants of the pumpkins that were on display here at the farm. The pigs have been enjoying the halloween jack-o-lantern creations, and will be doing so for quite some time.

Since this event started years ago, we have been taking the pumpkins after the event and feeding them out to our pigs. Instead of the usual 500ish pumpkins, this year there were over 800. A wonderful event for the whole family.

As you trick or treat on Thursday and are wondering what to do with your own jack-o-lantern after halloween, know you can bring it by the farm. Learn more about doing that here.

Before the plastic went on GH10, Evrald pulled out the Paper Pot Transplanter and dropped some already growing spinach into the ground. With 264 cells at 2” spacing, Evrald planted the 44 foot tray in less than a minute. The paper pot transplanter has become a very useful tool used by many many farms all over the world. Over the years we have used it to plant, carrots, onions, scallions, beets, spinach, baby kale, arugula, lettuce, and greens mix, however these days we mainly use it for scallions and spinach. We can remove a summer crop of tomatoes in the morning and by the end of the afternoon have a full greenhouse of spinach already 3 weeks old.

Tim and Sam learned of this technology from Youtube about 13 years ago and found a farmer in the midwest who was importing the equipment from Japan. We spoke to him and ordered our own paper pot setup. At the time we were the second farm on the east coast to begin implementing this human powered machinery. Watch a much younger Sam explain the Paper-Pot system in the videos below.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

Roasted Delicata Squash

Roasted Delicata Squash, Pomegranate, and Arugula Salad

Roasted Delicata Squash Autumn Salad

My family loves this simply roasted:

35-40 minutes at 375 degrees.

Cut in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, bake with the center upright. Add a little butter, a sprinkle of salt, and a drizzle of maple syrup then bake.

WANT SOME other RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Week #5

Fall CSA Week #5

The beautiful calm weather provided us the opportunity Monday morning to finally cover GH10. It took 5 of us just part of the morning to safely and securely affix 2 layers of plastic which will insulate the Kale and spinach there now and any other crops going forward. Doors and completing the roll up sides will enclose the greenhouse and then it will be final touches.

In case you have yet to read the post, or want a reminder, here is the history of GH10 here at MSF: Spring CSA week #3 Newsletter

Two layers of plastic allows for an air gap and thus increased insulation. We pump air into this gap in all of our heated greenhouses: GH1, GH2, GH3, GH4, and GH5. Another way we work to extend the seasons and grow tropical plants (Peppers, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Peppers) in northern NH.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

WANT SOME other RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Week #4

Fall CSA Week #4

Wonderful to welcome our youngest pigs into the front pig paddock, where they can explore, dig around, and enjoy a mix of mud and and dry. The work Matt and Jav did to redo this fence has really paid off. We have no worries critters will get in nor that the pigs will get out. They will be joined by an additional 8 (a little older) pigs at the beginning of next week.

Tim has been turning compost piles once every 1-2 weeks. This helps aerate the compost which assists the microbes in breaking down the material in the pile and distributes moisture, microbes, and compost pile contents. The steam is caused by the heat generated from the breakdown of material. Our piles reach temperatures to kill any pathogens, 135 degrees and above.

Hard to believe it is the same greenhouses, however Evrald began harvesting the mature spinach in GH4 this week. Planted back on August 25th we will get a few harvests before winter fully arrives and then cover and harvest again in the spring when the daylight hours lengthen and temperatures begin to warm up.

GH 4 spinach

The bed of spinach planted next to the cherry tomatoes on August 25th

We have Pork Lard available again! Shawn spent Monday in the commercial kitchen putting lard into jars.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

Kabocha Squash

This sweet, very orange winter squash does well in both savory and sweet dishes. It makes an excellent replacement for pie pumpkin in a pie, yet can also be used in soups or savory dishes.

Roasted Kabocha Squash Recipe

Sweet and Spicy Kabocha Squash

Roasted Kabocha with Maple Syrup and Ginger

Roasted Kabocha Squash with Miso Glaze

WANT SOME other RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Week #3

Fall CSA Week #3

Drainage in gardens, bed prep for 2025, harvesting, and work on GH10 has been the focus over the last week. Looking ahead at production over the next few months is also on our minds as we prepare for the impending colder weather, balancing covering and protecting crops along with harvesting. Peppers, carrots, some radishes and turnips, and all the sweet potatoes have come out of the ground. We are excited to continue sharing these crops with you over the next 7 weeks

With the copious amounts of rain there was a section of G5 we didn’t even consider planting in as the ground remained flooded or the soil too wet to plant in. Tim spent some time last week digging a trench and laying down some drainage pipe and then remaking beds. The recent rain proved the project successful! We will be able to utilize this garden space next season.

The tomatoes in GH4 are no longer and in their place Shawn planted Salanova Head Lettuce. We hope this lettuce will thrive and grow even a little bit before their harvest in late November. As temperatures begin to get colder, small hoops with row cover with closely cover the greens and the greenhouse sides will be closed.

Jaime and Mikaela put together some Dahlia bouquets for the Littleton Food Coop. The last of 2024 were delivered today!

Progress on GH10 continues. In addition to construction on the end walls, we added organic material into the pathways in hopes to begin raising the level of the garden beds within.

Remember those pictures of Emmett from last week? Matt walked Emmett across the road to Narnia to join most of the herd. It was a wonderful reunion. Emmett and the rest of the cows are all doing great!

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

WANT SOME other RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Week #2

Fall CSA Week #2

Incredible weather continues and as a result we have fresh produce typically not available locally in northern NH this time of year. It really is unheard of to be into October and not have had a frost yet. We invite you to take a walk around the farm while you are here on Thursday to check out all that we still have going on.

As mentioned last week, our greens are thriving at a time when folks are ready to start devouring “fall crops”. We are thrilled though to share with you what we are pulling in fresh from the fields, and greenhouses.

Mikaela has been rocking the packing table along with Jeannie and Jaime, preparing deliveries for the Littleton Coop, area restaurants, and customers.

After harvesting and washing, Shawn used one of our modified spinners to dry off fresh herb bunches.

Gal hanging out with Emmett!

Mikaela and Emmett enjoying some time in the sun!

Our future Bull, Emmett has been enjoying some time on grass before we move him in with the other cows in the pasture across the road from the farm: Narnia. We have been keeping Emmett close to familiarize him with us, so when his size increased by 4 times, we are his friend!

Jaime and Mikaela harvested our “other” storage crop, Flowers! Once dried, the flowers will be used to make ornaments, wreaths, and dried flower bouquets.

Jim has been prepping for the upcoming chicken harvest. Gathering and washing containers, tables, propane and pot, etc.

We anticipate Thursday will be a big day here at the farm. In addition to CSA pickup, old laying hens will be harvested and we are hoping to put plastic on GH10.

Evrald and Jav worked on baseboards and hipboards in GH10. Fabric mulch was removed off the beds and while working on the greenhouse, we are prepping the beds for future planting.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

When you arrive at the farm, look for the CSA sign straight ahead and to the left.

Jaime will check you in and help you gather your share.

The Fall CSA is a set share, you will receive everything on the “basket” list. We will have a trade box available if you would like to trade one (1) of your items!

Spinach

Originating from Persia, this leafy green is packed with vitamins and nutrients and is delicious both fresh and cooked. Popeye was a huge fan, and we hope you are too.

Spinach Salad

Spinach as an appetizer

Image Source: Popeye Spinach / King Features Syndicate

WANT SOME other RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Week #1

Fall CSA Week #1

We are thrilled to welcome you all to the first of 9 pickups for the Fall CSA. Spanning for most of the Fall season, this CSA will provide you with fresh greens and the last of summer crops as well as fall hardy crops and storage crops that will bring farm flavors into the holiday season.

We have been busy the last few weeks bulk harvesting storage crops. Onions, carrots, cabbage, pumpkins and winter squash have all made their way onto the farm for storage or curing. In anticipation of a frost, we make protecting these crops crucial in September as the days shorten and the weather begins to get colder.

Transitioning the greenhouses as we move from summer to fall has also been in the works. Summer basil was pulled in GH4 and fall/winter spinach was direct seeded in the side beds. We will harvest spinach as it becomes ready and then double cover to protect as temperatures drop this winter. As daylight hours increase come February and March the spinach will wake back up and harvesting can resume.

With a direct seeding date of September 3rd, the spinach has progressed nicely.

You will notice the lettuce interplanted with the tomatoes, which we will continue to harvest as long as possible. Interplanting allows us to maximize greenhouse space. Before this lettuce we had bell beans, a nitrogen fixing rockstar! The grafted cherry tomatoes on the other hand are ready to come out after a very productive season. Tim began grafting cherry tomatoes back in January, using seedlings started at the end of 2023. He attached the top of the fruiting tomato (sungold orange cherry, and super sweet 100 red cherry) to a strong, vibrant, prolific, disease resistant root stock (maxifort). The result being the tomatoes we want to harvest with “better” roots.

We are swimming in greens right now after a wet summer where greens perished in the very wet gardens. Obviously the recent sun and dry weather has attributed to the green growing success, however also the work we have been doing with cover cropping and prioritizing soil health. Check out this summer CSA newsletter to get some of the back ground info on greenhouse #2, however this Salanova head lettuce, transplanted into the ground around August 20th followed a successful cover crop and is thriving. For perspective, the distance between the blue lines on the fabric is 12”.

We share 809 Brook Road with Woodland Community School. CHILDREN AND PARENTS MAY BE STILL IN AND AROUND THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CSA PICKUP BEGINS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL NAVIGATING THE PARKING LOT.

Pickup
Come anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday.

Please bring your own bags or box to gather your choices.

 Remember to contact us in advance if you will be unable to pick up on Thursday, so that we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can email or call us to let us know. Thank you to all of those who have already arranged another time to pickup!

Here's what you will find in this weeks share:

When you arrive at the farm, look for the CSA sign straight ahead and to the left.

Jaime will check you in and help you gather your share.

The Fall CSA is a set share, you will receive everything on the “basket” list. We will have a trade box available if you would like to trade one (1) of your items!

WANT SOME RECIPE IDEAS?

CHECK OUT THE CSA RECIPE PAGE!

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture. See you Thursday if not before.

Your Farmer,

Sam (For Tim, Matt, Mikaela, Jeannie, Jim, Jaime, Evrald, Shawn, Colin, Gal, Jav, Uri, and Stephen)

Fall CSA Welcome

Fall CSA Welcome

Spanning for most of the Fall season, this CSA will provide you with fresh fall hardy crops and storage crops that will bring farm flavors into the holiday season.

We have already been busy the last few weeks bulk harvesting storage crops. Onions, some carrots and beets, cabbage, and winter squash have all made their way onto the farm for storage or curing. In anticipation of a frost, we make protecting these crops crucial in September as the days shorten and the weather begins to get colder.

The first Fall CSA Pickup is in a few weeks:

Thursday September 26th from 3 - 6 pm

Look for the CSA sign by the shed roof ahead and on the left once you drive into the farm. Jaime will be present eacvh week to help you gather your share.

Remember please contact us in advance if you will be unable to pickup at the designated time on Thursdays, that way we can store your share in our walk-in refrigerator to keep it fresh for you to come and pickup at a convenient time. Also remember: Pickup is at the farm between 3:00 and 6:00 pm on Thursdays for 9 weeks from September 26th until November 21st.

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting local agriculture!