Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support of the Bashaw Farm.  They are down to approximately 25 turkeys and I think they will be gone by the end of the week.  If you need one for Christmas you should get it now (I get one for every Christmas....the McDermotts love turkey for Christmas...they are not "ham" people and they eat a LOT....all big strapping Irish boys...one is a Triathlete, one Custom Construction Worker and my Black Belt and Farmer Husband, and a sister that is almost as active as them!!).  The Bashaws only have only a few pork shares left too so I went ahead and picked up some more piglets so that shares will be available again in April for the CSA customers.  There are two sides available for that batch too.  We are scrambling to get caught up around here with getting the animals set up in their new pens, designing the poultry business takeover for next year and getting the lettuce going!!  It is amazing to watch how the seed knows when to germinate around here.  Lettuce is popping up everywhere outside, but inside the greenhouse the ground temps are still high so I am germinating more tomatoes than lettuce!! I guess I need to be a little more generous with the ventilation to get those ground temps down.  Automatic vents are on the list for next year and that will make a "no brainer", and save me time.  We found out that we are still on the list for Dynocore wind mills, but Edison went through the applications with a fine tooth comb and rejected over 80%....hopefully we were not one of them...say a prayer!!   We are constantly learning around here....no getting bored in that division, and it is fun playing "scientist" all the time.  My next experiment....plastic rain gutter over the rows of Arugula and radishes outside to see if they receive enough sunlight, but shelter from the wind and extreme temperatures.  Wish me luck....Moonstruck signing out!!

You have to look on Facebook to see my counter covered with 50 pounds of green tomatoes!!  I did a lousy job on my tomatoes this year due to the rush to get them planted outside in July (way too cold in June) and the new greenhouse still being added to the schedule!!  I can't wait to see how well they do next year!!  The tomatoes did not do well in the peak season in the new greenhouse so I am going to put babies out in July in the new greenhouse and so they are just producing in October, and hopefully will pull us through until late December next year!!  We will see how far we can push it with the new greenhouse.  We do have a few plants in the greenhouses, but not a lot.  We should pull a few pounds a week, but not much.  The old greenhouse tomatoes did well in the center of the greenhouse so that is where they will all go next year twined up to the top purlin.  They are all over the place now, but I stretched one up and it would have almost hit the 12 foot peak!  The one thing I did discover is the bees would not go in the greenhouses during the peak temps, but now that it has been a nice and cozy 80-85 that is where they all have been!  Well hopefully 10 or 20 pounds of these wil ripen, but the rest are either for fried green tomatoes or to the chickens and pigs who always greatly appreciate the garden gifts!! Moonstruck signing out.  

Thanksgiving as most of you know is my favorite holiday.  Great food, thanking the Lord for our blessings, and no stress over if we bought the right gift?? So as I am preparing for our Thanksgiving Meal at Church this year I thought of my customers and how grateful I am for your support and the other farmers have made similar comments so....THANK YOU from the McDermott family at Moonstruck, Felice at Brian Ranch, Meredith at Valhalla, Andy at Glen Cairn, Steve at Valle View and the Bashaw Family at Bashaw Meats for supporting your local farms.  We truly appreciate all that you do taking the extra effort to buy from us.  Happy Thanksgiving Season!!

Well just when I think I have hit the end of weightlifting season....tomatoes, winter squash, cucumbers, zucchini....here come the turkeys.  My first big delivery is this week, and I am doing some extra sit ups to strengthen my back tonight!!!!  Well, the light season is not too far away...Moonstruck Salad Mix.  I must admit I made a mistake this year that I will have to change next year.  I designated the new greenhouse for the cut lettuce and the old for head lettuce, but since the new one is so much hotter it was a mistake and the lettuce is just now starting to do an okay germination.  It is amazing how seed knows when it is its time. I had some pots in the shade outside my kitchen filled with dill seed I was trying to trick into summer dill, and of course it did not do a thing until last week, and then every last seed germinated.  Still amazes me, and so do my Fall roses.  With no wind and just right temps they are beautiful, but soon to leave since the winds are already picking up today with the change in weather this week, but that just means fried green tomatoes and Moonstruck Salad Mix!!  I love the change in seasons...Moonstruck signing out!!

Farm fresh turkey, no hormones, no antibiotics, no injections...just a simple formula of food, water and sunshine. I don't know why they had to mess with it.   My favorite product from the Bashaws.  Be careful they are fresh and naturally lean so they cook fast!  I cooked a 28 pound turkey that was brined in 2 hours!! I almost had a heart attack when I checked it and found it was done!!  It was so moist no one believed me it was done!! The whole family thought turkey had to be dry and tasteless in order to be cooked thoroughly. 

Sorry pick up at the Bashaw Farm Thanksgivign Week is sold out, but there are 30 left to be delivered frozen to your choice of CSA pick up location.  These will be harvested November 5th, and available for delivery starting on Wednesday, November 9th.  Pick ups are Wednesday, Hesperia Super Target Center 3:30-4:30; Thursdays, Phelan Community Center 2:30-3:30; Saturday at Moonstruck farms 9-12 a.m.

Once again thanks for the overwhelming support!! We could not do it without you!! Moonstruck signing out.

Last call for pork side deposits is coming up soon.  We will be "reloading" as soon as the current batch goes to butcher which will be by the middle of November.  A $50.00 deposit guarantees you a side for the March harvest.  The total cost is $200.00/side plus $35.00 harvest plus your cutting charges.  This is the most economical way to buy pork at this time and it is farm fresh delicious.  You decide what smoking is done for your hams and bacon and how thick you want your pork chops.  Now, this is the kind of shopping I enjoy!!!  Just let me know if you are interested and I will answer any further questions. Drop me a line at moonstruckfarms@verizon.net.

I have had a lot of questions about canning lately, and I had to write the news plus article tonight so I wrote this up below instead of doing a recipe like I usually do.I hope you enjoy and I can’t say enough about the ball blue book of canning if you are interested in canning…it is the bible of canning. J

Rowena

Moonstruck farms csa

Canning Apple Pie Filling Hints

Using a variety of cooking apples creates the best applesauce and pie fillings.When I make pies I use tapioca pudding and use the recipe off the box so when I decided I wanted to can it I used the same recipe, but only mixed the apples, tapioca, sugar and a little lemon juice (or you can use ascorbic acid) to stop the darkening.I then boiled some water in a separate pot for filling the jars.I stuffed each of the jars packing well, and then poured the hot water in leaving the appropriate amount of head space, and removing any bubbles.The Ball Blue Book is my favorite book for canning instructions and I suggest you use this for times and more detailed instructions.It is very easy to follow, and has instructions for just about any fruit or vegetable in it.I have had mine for over 20 years now, and it never fails me.My daughter was delighted the other day when she was able to pull a jar out of the pantry and make awesome farm fresh apple turnovers in a jiffy!!

I have had tomatoes in the greenhouses until December, but never outside in November, and it looks like we might make it!!   The temps are providing lush green plants with almost no cracking and they are loaded!! As I sit here I can hear the winds picking up due to the change of weather coming.  Forecast says it is going to be close again...nighttime temps of 34!!  Might have a green tomato scramble this week...anybody like fried green tomatoes!!  Molly is continuing to be one of the best decisions of the year working the livestock with so little training, but she is a bit spoiled.  She saw me put my overalls on in the morning and started doing her 360s in the house, and then I was delayed by my eldest and a few dishes calling my name in the sink, and I had to listen to a very VOCAL protest including a variety of whines, low rumbling growls and finally the body being thrown on the floor in complete disgruntlement!  I have never had a dog TALK to me so much.  Finally we headed outside to plant more turnips, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, rutabagas, green head cabbage, Tatsoi, spinach and Lacinato Kale.  Hopefully these will produce before the true dead of winter and/or overwinter well.  I want the outside field greens ready to go when the temps get too hot in the greenhouse plus I want room for EARLY tomatoes next year!!  BTW the Bashaws had a change in plans and had to take the first batch of turkeys for the smoker today, and so if you want a smoked turkey next Tuesday is the cut off and off I go to the smoker.  They are also having quite a few more requests for pick up at the farm turkeys just prior to Thanksgiving and are thinking about adding another batch.  Let me know if you are interested.  Another big day of planting tomorrow...it is cool enough for lettuce in the greenhouses!! Moonstruck signing off.

MOONSTRUCK FARMS

CSA

SHOPPING LIST

10/05-10/08/2011

Moonstruck Farms

Carnival winter squash $1.50/pound (beautiful green and yellow speckled Cinderella style. Picture on facebook)

Arugula $1.00/small bag.

Cherry belle radishes $0.50 (six)

Beets $1.00 (3 small)

Moonstruck Salad Mix $2.00 (almost there) (Triple Washed mix of baby lettuces, Swiss chard, beet greens, spinach, Arugula and whatever is in season …now nasturium flowers).

Rainbow Swiss chard $1.50

Braising Greens $1.50

(Mixture of cooking greens including mustards, kales, Swiss Chard, Collards, Beet Greens)

Red Russian kale $1.50

Raveena eggplant (white elongated) $1.00 each

Heirloom Slicing tomatoes $2.00/pound

Cherry tomatoes $1.50/sandwich bag

Cooking Celery$1.00 (i almost have to pb size!)

Jalapenos 5/$1.00

Carrots $1.00

patty squash 50 cents each

Red cipollini onion bags $0.75 (1/2 pound of small onions)

Shallots (4-5 cloves) $1.00

Basil $0.50 (approx. 3 stems)

Rosemary $0.50

Mint or chocolate mint $0.50

Chives$0.50

Herb bundle of sage, oregano, thyme and rosemary $1.00

Lavender sachet $1.00

Farm fresh eggs $3.75

Bashaws

Pork Shares Available…approx. 10 pound packages…please ask for details.Bacon, sausage, pork chops, lunchmeat, ham slice etc.Package E is now sold out.

Summer Preorder Turkeys (13-18 pounds) $2.50/pound…they are in the freezer and ready for delivery.If you need a small turkey for thanksgiving grab one of these before they are gone.

Whole turkey pricing

$2.50/pound Fresh, whole.

$4.50/pound Smoked, whole, cut in half or quartered.

Cut portion only pricing

$3.00/pound fresh, leg/thigh

Thanksgiving Turkey Preorder List I have a couple fresh pick up at the farm thanksgiving turkeys available…had a few cancellations. $2.50/pound….two days before thanksgiving. (Fresh are the biggest 20-28 pounds)

There are plenty of turkeys that will be harvested in the month of November and frozen and/or sent to smoker.$2.50/pound. (approx. 15-20 pounds)

Thanksgiving smoked turkey $4.50/pound. Must be ordered by November 1^st.

Chicken:

Whole by the pound in the 4-5.5 pound range

$2.50/lb.

Following Cuts: $3.00/lb.

Chicken Thighs (4 pack)

Glencairn Farm

Glencairn is no spray, no chemical fertilizers…noncertified organic.

Valencia navel oranges (small juice) $0.65/pound

red grapefruit (glencairn grapefruit is very sweet) $0.75 each.

Hass or pinkerton avocados $1.50 each.

More to come…find them at www.glencairnfarm.org

Valle View Ranch

Steve grows a few vegetables each year.This year he has the acorn squash and look for his beautiful Cinderella pumpkins soon.

Acorn squash $1.75/pound

yellow peaches $2.00/pound.

Yellow nectarines $2.00/pound

Brian Ranch Orchard

Congratulations to brian ranch for the following awards at the antelope valley fair.Three first prizes for golden supreme, royal gala and shinko asian pears.Two second prizes for rosi red bartletts and 20^th century asian pears.

Kikusi asian pears$1.50/pound

Rosi red bartlett pears$1.50/pound

Bartlett pears$1.50/pound

Bronze beauty bosc $1.50/pound (good cooking/canning pear)

Braeburn Apples $1.50/pound

Golden supreme apples$1.50/pound

To enjoy what is going on with the fruit at Brian Ranch before it arrives please visit their blog at or go U Pick on the weekend.

http://brianranchorchard.blogspot.com/

Dirt Creek Soaps

Goats Milk Soaps – All Natural Ingredients $3.50

Lavender Rose, Lavender Vanilla, Spearmint Patchouli, Lemongrass/Clary Sage, Green Meadows (basil and citrus oils, it smells very fresh), Summer Spice (Clove, Peppermint and Rose), Citrus, Spring Flowers (floral blend with rose, yiang yiang, palmarosa and lemon), Clean Cut (orange, lemon and geranium), Brianna’s Bouquet (a blend that Brianna put together of rose, bergamot, lavender, juniper berry, amyris and patchouli).

New Scents:

Winter Mint

Warm Woods

Peppermint

Chamomile tea

Valhalla Soaps/Goat Milk

Goat Milk Soaps $4.50

Lavender Rose, Lemon, Cinnamon, Herbs N Egg Shells, Irish Oats N Honey, Lavender Eggshell.

TONERS

Toners are designed to use on you face as a ph corrector but they double as a non-toxic hand sanitizer.I keep one in each car and use it after a dusty day working in the yard on my face with a cotton pad.Some are moisturizing with glycerin added.The scent comes from infusing with the flowers.

Lavender rose:witch hazel, alcohol, roses, lavender flowers, glycerin, hisbiscus

Chamomille:witch hazel, alcohol, chamomile flowers

Four oz spray bottles $6

Buzz-off spray $6.00

To fight those nasty insects:witch hazel, alcohol, glycerin, plus essential oils.I use this on my horse and my husband!

Dream Pillows

Little pillows that are pleasantly scented with herbs from my garden, essential oils, and seeds packaged in a silky cloth bag so you can keep them near and breath in the scents as you drift off to sleep.Mint, Lemon Balm, Lavender and Geranium essential oils

Approx 2 x 8 in$15

Lip balm

Sunflower, shea, coconut, coco butter, beeswax, vanilla bean, rosehip oil, vit C, E

In a twist off tub, $4.00

Montana Liniment

Rub into sore joints and muscles as needed, moisturizing also, Good for elbows and feet.

2 oz tub, $6.00

Coconut, shea, beeswax, arnica, eucalyptus, clove, lavender, rosemary essential oils

HangTen Skin ointment

.5 oz tins $4.00

Massage into wounds, sore skin, hangnails, etc for soothing healing.

Balm of Gilead, olive, beeswax, juniper, grapefruit oils

Wow it is hard to believe we are cruising so quickly towards Thanksgiving, but here at the CSA farms we are always having to think many months ahead to keep up.  The summer turkeys are almost gone.  There are just a couple between 11-13 pounds; buying these is the only way to get a nice small turkey for those who have small ovens or are having a candlelight dinner for two on Thanksgiving.

Starting the first week of November the first batches of turkeys will be harvested.  Some of these will go to the smoker to be ready in time for Thanksgiving for those of you wishing for a ready to go delicious turkey that just needs a llittle reheating.

We took the last smoked turkey leg/thigh we had the other day and combined it with the bean/lentil/pea mix you buy at Costco, added a few Moonstruck carrots, celery and onion in a crock pot and it made an easy and fantastic tasting meal.

The first of November batches of turkeys will be between 16-25 pounds harvested, and frozen to be picked up at the farm or delivered to a CSA delivery point. 

Now for those who enjoy going to the farm and picking up a fresh turkey a day or two before Thanksgiving there are two slots left.  You will show up when called and take your fresh turkey home...the freshest of all, but of course this is a small farm so only 50 are harvested two days before Thanksgiving.  Remember these turkeys are also for those of us (like me) that need a 25-30 pound turkey for a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.  They will range from 20-30 pounds and I feel 100% confident saying it will be the most delicious turkey you have ever tried, but don't forget these are farm fresh lean turkeys....they cook fast.  I brined one one year and our 28 pound turkey cooked in two and half hours!!  Just drop us a line at moonstruckfarms@verizon.net with any questions.    

MOONSTRUCK FARMS

CSA

SHOPPING LIST

09/28-10/01/2011

Moonstruck Farms

Heirloom Moons and Stars Watermelon $1.00/pound (3-5 pounds each)

Red kuri Winter squash $1.50/pound (only the little 1 pounders left…slice in half add butter/brown sugar wrap in foil and in the oven at 350 until a fork goes through)

Carnival winter squash $1.50/pound (beautiful green and yellow speckled Cinderella style. Picture on facebook)

Moonstruck Salad Mix $2.00 (almost there) (Triple Washed mix of baby lettuces, Swiss chard, beet greens, spinach, Arugula and whatever is in season …now nasturium flowers).

Rainbow Swiss chard $1.50

Braising Greens $1.50

(Mixture of cooking greens including mustards, kales, Swiss Chard, Collards, Beet Greens)

Kale mix $1.50 (Beedys Camden kale, red Russian, lacinato and curly kale)

Red Russian kale $1.50

Raveena eggplant (white elongated) $1.00 each

Tomatillos $1.00/half of produce bag.

Heirloom Slicing tomatoes $2.00/pound

Cherry tomatoes $1.50/sandwich bag

Cooking Celery$1.00 (i almost have to pb size!)

Lemon cucumbers $0.50 each (small)

Jalapenos 5/$1.00

Carrots $1.00

zucchini 50 cents each (6-8 inches)

patty squash 50 cents each

Sweet yellow Onions $0.50 each

Red cipollini onion bags $0.75 (1/2 pound of small onions)

White onion bags $1.00 (1 lb. small onions)

Shallots (4-5 cloves) $1.00

Lemon grass $1.00

Basil $0.50 (approx. 3 stems)

Rosemary $0.50

Mint or chocolate mint $0.50

Chives$0.50

Herb bundle of sage, oregano, thyme and rosemary $1.00

Lavender sachet $1.00

Farm fresh eggs $3.75

Moonstruck granola $1.00 (8 ounces) (oatmeal, butter, salt, brown sugar, coconut) (my daughter eats it by the spoonful…perfect fiber addition to your yogurt).

Bashaws

Pork Shares Available…approx. 10 pound packages…please ask for details.Bacon, sausage, pork chops, lunchmeat, ham slice etc.Package E is now sold out.

Summer Preorder Turkeys (13-18 pounds) $2.50/pound…they are in the freezer and ready for delivery.If you need a small turkey for thanksgiving grab one of these before they are gone.

Whole turkey pricing

$2.50/pound Fresh, whole.

$4.50/pound Smoked, whole, cut in half or quartered.

Cut portion only pricing

$3.00/pound fresh, leg/thigh

Thanksgiving Turkey Preorder List I have a couple fresh pick up at the farm thanksgiving turkeys available…had a few cancellations. $2.50/pound….two days before thanksgiving. (Fresh are the biggest 20-28 pounds)

There are plenty of turkeys that will be harvested in the month of November and frozen and/or sent to smoker.$2.50/pound. (approx. 15-20 pounds)

Thanksgiving smoked turkey $4.50/pound. Must be ordered by November 1^st.

Chicken:

Whole by the pound in the 4-5.5 pound range

$2.50/lb.

Following Cuts: $3.00/lb.

Chicken Thighs (4 pack)

Valle View Ranch

Steve grows a few vegetables each year.This year he has the acorn squash and look for his beautiful Cinderella pumpkins soon.

Acorn squash $1.75/pound

yellow peaches $2.00/pound.

White peaches $2.00/pound.

Yellow nectarines $2.00/pound

Brian Ranch Orchard

Congratulations to brian ranch for the following awards at the antelope valley fair.Three first prizes for golden supreme, royal gala and shinko asian pears.Two second prizes for rosi red bartletts and 20^th century asian pears.

Kikusi asian pears$1.50/pound

Rosi red bartlett pears$1.50/pound

Bartlett pears$1.50/pound

Bronze beauty bosc $1.50/pound (good cooking/canning pear)

Braeburn Apples $1.50/pound

Golden supreme apples$1.50/pound

To enjoy what is going on with the fruit at Brian Ranch before it arrives please visit their blog at or go U Pick on the weekend.

http://brianranchorchard.blogspot.com/

Dirt Creek Soaps

Goats Milk Soaps – All Natural Ingredients $3.50

Lavender Rose, Lavender Vanilla, Spearmint Patchouli, Lemongrass/Clary Sage, Green Meadows (basil and citrus oils, it smells very fresh), Summer Spice (Clove, Peppermint and Rose), Citrus, Spring Flowers (floral blend with rose, yiang yiang, palmarosa and lemon), Clean Cut (orange, lemon and geranium), Brianna’s Bouquet (a blend that Brianna put together of rose, bergamot, lavender, juniper berry, amyris and patchouli).

New Scents:

Winter Mint

Warm Woods

Peppermint

Chamomile tea

Valhalla Soaps/Goat Milk

Goat Milk Soaps $4.50

Lavender Rose, Lemon, Cinnamon, Herbs N Egg Shells, Irish Oats N Honey, Lavender Eggshell.

TONERS

Toners are designed to use on you face as a ph corrector but they double as a non-toxic hand sanitizer.I keep one in each car and use it after a dusty day working in the yard on my face with a cotton pad.Some are moisturizing with glycerin added.The scent comes from infusing with the flowers.

Lavender rose:witch hazel, alcohol, roses, lavender flowers, glycerin, hisbiscus

Chamomille:witch hazel, alcohol, chamomile flowers

Four oz spray bottles $6

Buzz-off spray $6.00

To fight those nasty insects:witch hazel, alcohol, glycerin, plus essential oils.I use this on my horse and my husband!

Dream Pillows

Little pillows that are pleasantly scented with herbs from my garden, essential oils, and seeds packaged in a silky cloth bag so you can keep them near and breath in the scents as you drift off to sleep.Mint, Lemon Balm, Lavender and Geranium essential oils

Approx 2 x 8 in$15

Lip balm

Sunflower, shea, coconut, coco butter, beeswax, vanilla bean, rosehip oil, vit C, E

In a twist off tub, $4.00

Montana Liniment

Rub into sore joints and muscles as needed, moisturizing also, Good for elbows and feet.

2 oz tub, $6.00

Coconut, shea, beeswax, arnica, eucalyptus, clove, lavender, rosemary essential oils

HangTen Skin ointment

.5 oz tins $4.00

Massage into wounds, sore skin, hangnails, etc for soothing healing.

Balm of Gilead, olive, beeswax, juniper, grapefruit oils

Moonstruck took a "Plantcation" week this week and no CSA orders were taken.  We are going to be adding these every three months or so to spend a solid week turning over crops or just catching up on projects around the farm.  The old greenhouse is closed up and the new one is next.  The weeds are gone from the East and West fields.  The new greenhouse was begun, but we are holding most of it for cooler days...hopefully tomorrow.  If I am lucky after the Tri Community Coop delivery I will be spending the rest of the day in the new greenhouse clearing/planting.  The green beans are staying that are now producing again thanks to the "non 100s" weather and new ones have been planted to see how long we can extend into the season.  We are also keeping a few of the following to see how long the season can be extended though most of it will end as soon as the bees go to bed for the season...okra, tomatoes, squash and basil.  Romaine, Winter Bibb, Dancine (mini butterhead about the size of a baseball) and Sangria (red tinged butterhead) are all started in trays, which will be housed in the old greenhouse with the new being reserved for the Moonstruck Salad Mix.  Trays of cabbage have been started...wish us luck they are going outside to see what we can do with a layer of Agribon.  Rows of German Giant Radishes and Arugula were completed yesterday along with an addition of Mums to the back of the herb garden.  They have been doing so well I decided to make them the tallest row in the back thus establishing color from April to November hopefully along with the yummy herbs.  The cellar location has been reserved along with the tree spots and now we just need a good rain and a backhoe rental!  Don't forget we are in the final stretch with the Bashaws.  There are just a few pork CSA shares left, the last batch of chickens have been harvested and there are turkeys in the freezer and more to be harvested for Thanksgiving....just contact us at moonstruckfarms@verizon.net.  Moonstruck signing off.

August through October are busy months around here at Moonstruck.  The onions are being cured.  The tomatoes are coming in and being frozen or canned.  It is the beginning of apple season and thanks to Brian Ranch Orchard we are canning applesauce already.  Peaches from Valle View Ranch were made into peach jam and the jalapenos are being frozen for Jalapeno Burgers or my favorite green salsa recipe!! This is not to mention the root crops are being squeezed in everywhere they can be and the greenhouses are being prepped for lettuce and the doors will be shut soon with the approaching Fall weather.  I woke up this morning and it was 62...time to close up the old greenhouse I told Michael.  I will vent with the front door and the above head irrigation for the remaining hot days.  We need to preserve as much of the ground temperature as we can and if we don't close up at night we will lose tons!!  The pigs are feasting on the extra large zucchini, patty pans, cracked tomatoes and lots of eggs...their absolute favorite!! Filet is becoming friendlier each day and her tongue is now licking me every chance she gets...it actually abraised my hand today....maybe she is seeing how I would taste!!  The chickens are laying like crazy so eggs are being frozen for winter baking so that more eggs will be available to the customers and eggs are being tucked in the refrigerator for hard boiled...yes they have to get old to be easily peeled!! We also found a great spot for the cellar and just prior to the 50 new fruit trees arriving in January we will dig the 50 holes and the cellar hole...basically we have decided to build another small basement.  We know how to do block walls so might as well stick with what we know best.  Thanks for all your support...we would not be where we are without everyone's support....customers and fellow farmers!!  Moonstruck signing out!

Well the changes are coming fast still.  This change was a very sad one, and is really knocking me through a loop.  The Bashaws are closing their doors effective Thanksgiving.  I am sure the chicken will be gone by then too.  People are preordering every last batch that is available at this point to try and maintain them as long as they can since it will be a year before Moonstruck can fill in the blank.  We have switched pork and beef operations here, and lamb is slated to be filled in in the Spring, but poultry is a huge undertaking with a processing plant and brooder houses required so unfortunately it will just have to wait.  We also need to finish prepping the beds out front where all the onion, garlic,shallots are being moved to this next year and the cellar has to be dug this year...I am out of room.  The good news is the Chanterais cantaloupe is looking great along with the Raveena eggplant, and the Moons and Stars watermelon sound hollow, but the tendrils are still green.  The red Cipollini onions were all pulled in so that more Fall planting could be completed, and the old greenhouse is showing signs that lettuce may be okay to put in as soon as this heat wave passes.  Our prayers go to the many facing the hurricane on the East Coast including my best friend Janet in Portland Maine who has not faced a hurricane since she was pregnant with her 20 year old.  My heart is heavy but the sweet voice of my 13 year singing the Star Spangled Banner is truly music to the ears.  Moonstruck signing off.

Wow summer has been spinning by so quickly that I cannot remember the last time I blogged.  We have been so busy fine tuning irrigation everywhere, adding animal pens, animal watering systems, and planning for the new beds out front and the cellar and harvesting for a growing business that blogging did not even come to mind!! Lemon cucumbers, Red Kuri squash and lots of zucchini and patty pan squash have kept me busy harvesting along with our kales and Swiss chard that have been producing through the summer.  The new rhubarb and asparagus bed (sorry it will be a few years for customers) are producing beautifully. Lemon grass has been a new hit, but the artichokes are not producing...way too cold of a summer I guess.  Everyone is waiting for Moonstruck Salad Mix including me!!! We have Sangria, Dancine and Little Gem Romaine lined up for head lettuce.  It is so nice now to buy seed by the pound!! No worries about running out and a lot less ordering time.  Speaking of time, which is so desperately needed we made the decision to drop the Wrightwood Market from our agenda...hard decision to make, but the right one.  Starting tomorrow we will be announcing that we will be servicing our loyal Wrightwood customers with every other week home/business delivery in the Wrightwood downtown area.  We will be there to deliver to the Wrightwood Coop baskets at 8 am and then take off from there performing deliveries between 8 and 9 am every other Friday beginning 08/26/2011.    Any questions just email us at moonstruckfarms@verizon.net.