LDF News: Apples are Back

Clare with a bouquet of parsley.

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TOMATO SALE on only for Romas and seconds!

2nds: Scratch and dent. An excellent canner's deal.
1/2 bushel for $15
Bushel (53 lbs) for $40

Roma (paste tomatoes):
1/2 Bushel $28
Bushel of $50

When ordering these, be sure to let me know which type of paste tomatoes you want:

• Amish paste- Big, meaty tomatoes that are usually 8-12 oz. They are a soft heirloom and a Slow Food USA Ark of Taste variety. Being heirloom means you can save the seeds, among other things.
• Grandero- similar to San marzano. Very firm and thick walled weighing in at 4-5 oz.

Pre-order by emailing or come pick out what you like at market! We have various boxes and bags to help you get them home. ​

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​Look at that milkweed spreading seeds! This is on our farm. I can't wait for how many more native plants will be dropping seed over the next couple years.

On that note, we have all the plant material for the native seed production trial we are doing. I am so excited. Picking the transplants up from Wildtype was so encouraging. Everyone I spoke with there had so patience and good information to share. I had a lot of questions about how to successfully grow Lupine from seed and all of them have been answered. It is such a gift that they are only 30 minutes from us and willing to share the wealth of knowledge collected over the decades of cultivating native plants.

Apples are back!

Initial: Gala/Red Free hybrid, sweet, juicy & crisp. Fantastic all purpose apple.

Ginger Gold: A sweet, mildly tart, crisp early-ripening apple. Slow to brown. (My favorite of the three. So. Dang. Delcious)

McIntosh: Tart-sweet flavor, softer flesh. Cooks down beautifully. First choice for caramel apples.

​Whoops! I got a flat tire! And then I scaled up my flat tire fixing knowledge. Thank you bike for giving me the chance to practice on something a little smaller. Thank you Terry for letting me borrow some of the specific tools that make this job easier and for sharing your encyclopedic knowledge of repair.

I got the tube replaced and the tire back on the tractor just as the sun was setting on Wednesday. I could choose to be disappointed that I didn't get to do the work I intended. But I am choosing to be happy that everything went smoothly. Not a stripped bolt in sight! 

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​Ahoy!

Native plants.
Fixing things.
Looking towards next year.
Witnessing the wild creatures in my life. 

Autumn Equinox!
Although it didn't feel it this week (hawt), the seasons are shifting. Autumn is inviting us to welcome shorter days, changing scenery, cooler weather, increased silence, increased stillness. We are still deep in the bustle of preparation for the stillness of winter, but it is coming. 
Of course, we could choose not to welcome the shift, and then just get dunked when the time comes. I think I will make time to lay on my back on the edge of the forest, shielded from the sun, and appreciate the sounds while they last. To appreciate the green. 

And let it rain as scheduled the weekend, for all that is good. 

Onward folks, doing the things we can do. 

Cheers,
Helen
she/her/hers
 
In this email:

• Generally important notes
  • Because of constant staff changes, we won't be at Stockbridge for the rest of the season. It was tough but the best choice for our ongoing success.
  • A link to our Stockbridge Community Outreach Project 
  • Here is link to a list of resources to aid in effecting positive social change. Keep your  chin up. 
• Fresh From the field
• Recipe: Kale Apple Slaw with Dijon Vinaigrette

Fresh From the Field- 

Greens:
Collards
Kale
Micros: Types to be seen!
Pea shoots

Herbs
Basil- on it's last legs! Make those tasty pestos to freeze while you still can! (Or take a cutting and keep it on your window sill)
Parsley

All Manner of Deliciousness
Acorn Squash
Beets
Cabbage: personal and LARGE for your kraut needs
Delicata Squash
Eggs!! From Hen House Farm- Clare!!
Eggplant (limited)
Garlic
Ground Cherries
Kohlrabi
Kabocha squash!
Melon- some like a cucumber, some so sweet you'll drown.
Onions
Peppers: Shishitos! Snackers, Bells, friers!
Potatoes!
Fingerling Potatoes
Red Radishes
Scallions
Big tomatoes: slicers, paste, heirlooms. 
Cherry Tomatoes
Watermelon

Coming Soon
Cone and Savoy Cabbage!
Broccolini
Napa cabbage
Watermelon radish!!

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​Kale Apple Slaw with Dijon Vinaigrette

From Minimalist Baker

Quick kale apple slaw with a zippy Dijon vinaigrette. A simple, plant-based side for fall and beyond! Just 1 bowl, 10 minutes, and 9 ingredients required!
 
Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 ½ Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp minced shallot
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, grated or pressed
• 1/4 – 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 4 loosely packed cups shredded kale (we like curly kale // 1 bunch yields ~4 cups or 100 g)
• 1 medium sweet, crisp apple (such as Fuji or Honeycrisp), sliced into thin matchsticks (1 apple yields ~170 g or 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional but recommended)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, shallot, mustard, garlic, salt (starting with the lesser amount), and pepper.
2. Add the kale, apple, and parsley (optional) and toss to coat with the dressing. Taste and adjust, adding more salt to taste, olive oil for richness, or parsley for herbiness and to balance the vinegar.
3. Best when fresh, but leftovers will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Not freezer friendly.

Notes From Helen

1. If I was short on time, I may rough chop the apple or shred it, whichever felt easier in the moment. I never have the patience for matchsticks. I may also use 2 apples...
2. I don't see any nuts in this salad. I would include (toasted or raw): pecans, walnuts, pepos, sunflower seeds, or if I am feeling totally fancy, pine nuts.
3. If you are lazy on dressing, get a bottled one or sub powdered garlic
4. It is okay to substitute a small red onion for the shallot, in my humble opinion.