Heirloom Harvest

It ain't over

Trays of the last planting of lettuce for the 2005 season sit ready to be transplanted out to the field in the back of the greenhouse.

Egged On

Squash cure

Farmhands laid out Butternut squash to cure in the greenhouse. The squash will be distributed in the next week or two. More boxes of Butternut are stacked underneath the benches.

Know Beans

Madeline and Haley Dorazio picking beans on a recent Sunday.

Hat trick recipe: Anyone game?

Editor's note: Found this recipe on Epicurious -- uses scallions, turnips and fresh parsley. That's three items you may have received in a recent share. Testers? Tell us if it's good?   

Music for toddlers

Heirloom Harvest CSA member Sharon Goldstein is teaching a music for toddlers and their parents class, ages 15 months to 3 years,  at the Westborough Jewish Community Center.
Sharon describes the class as follows: “Music brings children to life!  You and your toddler will sing, chant, move, dance, listen and play simple instruments in a nurturing environment. Music stimulates so many areas of your child’s development: language, self expression, social interaction, motor skills, creativity, bonding, emotional growth and so much more.”
The class runs for 12 weeks from October through January, Tuesdays, 9:30-10:10 am. Contact Sharon at 508-435-7951 or email sharon@twin-islands.com.

Drumming in autumn

Solar ovens were set up at the Fall Equinox celebration to make solar-heated s'mores.

Joshua Fecteau helps bring in the irrigation pipe for winter storage at the Fall Equinox celebration.

At the Fall equinox, members sang, drummed and played various instruments along to renditions of John Denver's "Country Road" and Woody Guthrie's "This Land is your Land..."

Several CSA members helped move pipe from the field to the barn during the Fall Equinox celebration.

Hot Stuff

Fresh farmhand

There have been a few changes around Heirloom Harvest recently as college students return to school. Stephanie Fletcher has been promoted from workshare to fulltime farmhand, so you will be seeing a lot more of her around the farm.

For those of you who pick up produce at the farm, Stephanie is the artist who created all of those attractive, helpful new signs that give information about the various crops. If you have a need for an artist to create some signage, she is taking on new projects.

Fresh Princess

Karen Masterson and her daughter visited Heirloom Harvest recently to pick up cases of collards for her Framingham restaurant, Big Fresh Cafe. We provide her collards all season long, as well as surplus salad greens and other vegetables--when we have a surplus.

Big Fresh is the only restaurant that Heirloom Harvest sells to. Karen is committed to locally sourcing as much of her organic produce for as much of the year as possible. She also is adamant that organic food should be reasonably affordable, and the prices at her restaurant reflect that.

Her commitment to organics and to helping to create a sane local food system manifest in other ways, such as her volunteer work as a board director at the Natick Community Organic Farm. Next time you are in Framingham stop by Big Fresh and spend your dining-out dollars enjoying great food and supporting her efforts.

Katrina's Message

Heirloom Harvest CSA member Ross Gelbspan recently wrote a Boston Globe op-ed piece about the relationship between Hurricane Katrina and global warming. Read about opposing viewpoints from Fox News and others here.
For a more in-depth article by Ross on the intersection of weather disasters, global warming and US policy, read his latest article, Global Denial, at The American Prospect.

Rock the 'nox

This year, the Heirloom Harvest community and all of its friends and family members are invited to attend a Fall Equinox and harvest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 24th, starting at 2 p.m., at the farmsite in Westborough near the barn (park where you would when you pick up your produce for the CSA). Directions to the farm are on the website.
Celebration events will be guided by our friends at the Crystal Spring Earth Learning Center.
Plans include a simple ritual of gratitude for the harvest followed by a drumming circle, solar-cooked S'mores (if we get sun, that is) and a pot-luck meal. Bring your favorite dish to share, a lawn chair or blanket, and any kind of percussion instrument you have (a coffee can with stones is great!). The Equinox celebration is nondenominational.

Cooking Classes

COOKING CLASSES:  The following classes are on Saturdays, 9:30-2, at Crystal Spring.  The cost of each is $45 and includes samples, recipes and a delicious vegetarian lunch.  Sign up by calling 508 699 7167 or emailing cryspr@comcast.net.
GREAT GRAINS: Sept. 10. Whole foods cook and proprietor, Chris Brown will teach ways to prepare and cook wholesome and delicious whole grains.  Chris has experience in planning and preparing healthful foods for those living with cancer.
HARVEST LOAVES:  Oct. 8.  Barb Harrington who bakes the organic loaves available every Tuesday at Crystal Spring will share valuable baking techniques for producing marvelous bread and rolls.
PIZZA PARTY:  Oct. 29. Private chef and author Cathy Walthers teaches how to make an easy pizza dough in the food processor and lots of quick, prepare ahead toppings including broccoli rabe with fontina cheese, carmelized onions and roasted tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella.