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LocalHarvest Newsletter, July 29, 2010
Welcome back to the LocalHarvest newsletter.
"You're doing what?" my sister asked, not even trying to keep the horror out of her voice as I told her our weekend plans.
"We're going to learn how to butcher chickens," I said.
"Auggh. WHY?"
That is the question, and one I'm still answering a week after the experience.
Because a farm near us was offering a class. Because it seems like a skill
worth having. Because we eat meat.
This month I write about my afternoon at the chicken processing class, why
farms are beginning to offer this kind of event, and why people like me are
signing up. Also in this issue, we unveil the CSA management software Guillermo
has spent approximately 7,492 hours perfecting. And finally, in honor of the
long awaited blueberry season, we submit "Ellen's Blueberry Concoction" for
your consideration.
As always, take good care and eat well,
Erin
Erin Barnett
Director
LocalHarvest
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Processing Your Own
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Driving the half hour to the farm where we planned to learn
how to process chickens, my husband Ed and I were nervous. We had to talk a lot
about why we were seeking this particular experience. A number of reasons
sounded good, but the closer we got to the farm, the more our conversation
turned toward our discomfort about taking another creature’s life. Neither of
us grew up on a farm, nor have we spent time around hunters. Killing our own
meat is new. Could we do it? Would it be horrible? How could we justify it?
Read more.
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From the LocalHarvest Store:
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Mushroom lovers, take note:
chanterelle mushrooms are now pushing through the
forest floor in Southern Indiana, and Cathy Crosson, from Red Rosa Farm, is
busy collecting them for you. Last year Cathy told us it was her best year for
chanterelles ever. When I called her this morning, she was just coming in from
the woods and said this year is going to be at least twice as good as last.
Amazing!
The lavender harvest is in full swing, so now is the perfect time to
order this year's crop.
One of the most popular of all herbs, lavender is known for its
calming, relaxing, and antiseptic properties. We love having it around the
house just for its heady fragrance. Get yours today.
Speaking of herbs, LocalHarvest also offers a dazzling array of herbal
products, everything from
tinctures and
teas to
salves and
supplements.
We are
fortunate to work with several great herbalists who grow and wildcraft their
own herbs, and then make their own formulas. If you haven't browsed through our
herbal department, you should take a few minutes and see what's there.
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Announcing CSAware!
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Over the last two years, our founder and head engineer, Guillermo Payet, has
been hard at work with our team building a robust online CSA management system. We call it
CSAware and -- drum roll, please -- it's finally ready! We are thrilled to be
officially releasing it to the CSA farmers community.
Knowing that each CSA is as unique as the farm that runs it, we have worked
hard to make the software extremely flexible. Need weekly data exports, harvest
lists, bulk email capability, box customization, add-ons, weekly billing,
bi-weekly deliveries, support for drop points and/or home delivery, and online
account management for your members? CSAware has all that and much more. And,
having dug deep and broad foundations with maximum flexibility in mind, we are
able to further customize many parts of the software to fit each farm's
practices.
The CSAs that have already signed up are more than pleased with the service. Here's
what Thomas Nelson of Capay Valley Farm Shop says,
"Since launching the easy-to-use system, our members now self-manage their
account, renew automatically, and place add-on orders. On the administrative
side, streamlined management means we can focus even more on quality, service,
and growing membership. To boot, the LocalHarvest team has proven to be
exceptionally responsive and creative in adapting Internet technology to
improve the CSA experience."
Like an online tour of the software? Give us a shout. We'd be happy to show you around.
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Food from the Farm: Ellen's Blueberry Concoction
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It's blueberry season! We love all kinds of blueberry desserts, especially pie,
but we were delighted when Debbie Aldridge of
Hatch Knoll Farm
in Jonesboro,
ME, sent us this recipe because much quicker and simpler to make. Debbie
recommends using organic wild Maine blueberries, but any fresh or frozen
blueberries will work well.
Debbie writes, "My good friend, Ellen Farnsworth,
gave us this simple recipe that's great using either fresh or frozen
blueberries. It's always popular wherever I take it." This is especially
delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
Recipe...
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