Abbe Hills Farm CSA

Greetings shareholders,

This week, we have potatoes, onions, kale, mustard greens, cilantro, garlic, a little arugula, and squash.  I also hope to have daikon for you.  We dug it, but didn't get it out of the garden before the rain began.  Not sure if we can get close enough to it today to get it out of the field.  I hope so, because it is delicious, very sweet and crunchy (but you have to take off the skin; it's bitter and a little hot).  Like last week, we aren't going to have the big armload of vegetables I like to give you this time of the year.  Too bad, because I think the fall things are the best.

I've given up trying to get the garlic planted for next year, so I'm going to give you the bulbs we saved for seed from this summer.  Garlic is usually planted sometime in October and dug in July.  We had a ton of winter kill last winter, so rather than giving any of the very small harvest to you, I was saving all the bulbs to use a seed for the 2010 crop.  But, there's just no way to get it into the ground in time, so we're going to eat them.  I'll buy some fresh seed in October of 2010 and start over then.

As usual, wear your mud clothes on Saturday.  As I write this, I've got 2.75" of rain in the bucket, but it looks like we might get a bit more before it goes away for a few days.

The squash will mostly be bonbon, acorns, and sweet dumplings.  "Bonbon"  http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/p-3735-squash-bonbon.aspx  is a really nice buttercup type and is one of my favorite squashes.  It's tastes a little nutty, not so sweet.  Another good one is "Sunshine"  http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/p-543-squash-sunshine.aspx  , similarly nutty and very dark orange flesh.   We went to the field this week to pick up the last half of the squash crop, but were extremely disappointed to find out that nearly all the remaining butternuts, spaghettis, Sunshines, and heirlooms weren't good enough to harvest.  Too bad.  There was A LOT of very nice squash out there.  The hard freeze on Oct 11 (about 4 weeks before it should have happened) caused the tops of the thin shelled squashes to soften.  Then, the deer and mice took a few bites out of some of them (but only the nice big ones), bugs drilled into some of them (notice, the bugs were not killed by the 22 degree night!), and fungus coming up from the wet soil started to dissolve them.  We picked up a few of the best of them, but left lots of squash behind to become fertilizer for next year.

If you haven't looked at or eaten the squash you got the last two Saturdays, you better check it immediately.  I'm guessing that you could have some problems, especially with the thin-skinned butternuts and spaghettis.  To salvage squash, bake the parts that are still good and then put the flesh in ziplocks in the freezer.  I baked 3 messy butternuts this week and they were surprisingly good, but wouldn't have lasted another week.  Now, they live in the freezer and will be good for side dishes and baking over the winter.  If you find any soft spots on the squash you get this week, either from cold or deer or rodents or bugs or fungus or a broken stem, COOK IT and enjoy!!!  It won't keep.

There are still a few things in the lost and found.  Some Monday person left his/her (can't tell!) sunglasses here about 2 months ago.  There's also a green grocery bag, like the kind they have at Gary's, that somebody left here two weeks ago that has some squash and red peppers in it.  I've been keeping it cool, so the fresh things inside might still be good.  If you couldn't find your acorn squash one time, it's here.

Three kitties still don't have homes.  Please spread the word that they are available and as cute as any vertebrate can possibly be.

Remember the CHILI AND SOUP SUPPER AT SOUTHEAST LINN Saturday night.  Serving begins at 4:00 and will run until 8:00, or whenever we run out of soup and sandwiches.  Adults $6, kids $3, little kids free.  Put on your costume and come over to Lisbon for all the fun.  It's a GREAT time for the kids.

Also remember, THANKSGIVING TURKEYS can be ordered now.  The details are in last week's newsletter.  Call Susan Jutz (929-5032) to make your order.  Pickup will be here at the farm on Tuesday, November 24th, 4:30 to 6:30.

Thank you very much for your participation in the CSA in 2009!!!!  It's been an interesting year, full of challenges and stress, but also full of some really good food.  Thanks for sticking with me though all my farmer whining and griping about the challenges.  You've all been great, very supportive and accommodating.  I hope you had a good experience and learned some more about eating locally and seasonally, and I hope you'll let me grow food for your family again next year.  

See you Saturday,

Laura