WeeklyWeeder

Olin-Fox Farms Volume No. 7 Issue No. 35 November 9, 2006

www.olinfoxfarms.com Fall Season Week1

STANDARD REMINDER

Please be sure to wash your weekly share thoroughly before serving. To preserve freshness, it is NOT ‘table ready’ (i.e., pre-washed). We deliver your Olin-Fox Farms’ produce right from the fields to ensure highest quality.

This Week's News From the Farms

Welcome to Olin-Fox Farms' Fall CSA Program!  With more of our participating farms growing crops year-round and adding more varieties to the programs, we are really excited.

At the beginning of each program, it’s our policy to list CSA pickup and delivery information for the benefit of all our new members and as a reminder for  returning members. 

Farm Pickups:  Farm pickups are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 1 pm to 5 pm.  If you find that you cannot pickup on your regular day, you may reschedule for another pickup day by contacting us at least 24 hours in advance so as we can adjust our picking and packing schedule.

Deliveries:  Local deliveries are Wednesdays after 11 am.  The Paperback Writer closes at 5 pm and Kelsick Gardens closes at 5:30 pm.  Alexandria deliveries are Thursdays after 1 pm.  If you are unable to pick up your share, you may arrange to pick up at the farm on Friday or Saturday, with advance notice; otherwise, please arrange to have someone pick up your share since the distribution points are not set up to hold the shares overnight.  This will also ensure the freshness of the produce.

Weather Policy:  In the event of rain, sleet or snow, the farm will normally be open for regular pickups and deliveries, unless the roads are too treacherous for travel.  In the event of poor road conditions, all members will be notified of the change in pick up and delivery schedules. 

PLEASE READ OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER or check the on-line version as our most direct means of keeping you informed and updated on current and important CSA matters.  We will also email or call you with special notices, such as off-weeks (for example, the week of Thanksgiving).

During the past two weeks, we have been busy planning and finding solutions for the CSA to run more efficiently as well as to make each season's program more fun and enjoyable for everyone.  In coming weeks, we will continue featuring profiles of the Family of Farms started during the Summer Program.  Those profiles can be found in back issues of the Weekly Weeder posted on our website, www.olinfoxfarms.com.

Crop Report

Over the last two weeks, we as well as the Family of Fine Farms have been planting and tending to crops for the Fall and Winter Programs.  Crops showing good progress for harvesting this week and weeks to come are:  Arugula,  Bok Choi, Broccoli, Cabbage, Collards, Herbs, Horseradish, Lettuces, Potatoes, Radishes, Siberian Kale, Sweet Potatoes, Totsoi, Turnips, and some late High-Tunnel Green Tomatoes.  Note:  To ripen tomatoes, either set in a sunny windowsill for fast ripening, or wrap a newspaper and store in a cool place for slower ripening.

Weekly Weeder, November 9, 2006 Page 2

Other Farm News

With the addition of new laying hens to Emmitt Snead's flock, egg production is  picking up, which means more eggs, more often!

In Your Produce Basket This Week

Tatsoi, Red Meat Breakfast Radishes with Edible Greens, Siberian Kale, Free-Range Eggs, High Tunnel Green Tomatoes, Golden Amber Turnips, Red Russian Kale.

Note:  Greens on the radishes are edible - raw in a salad or lightly steamed.

Recipe

Fried Green Tomatoes

Southerners really do eat fried green tomatoes ,y’all; and they eat fried red tomatoes too. If you haven't tried them, you're in for a treat!

Native to Mexico and Central America, it's not clear how tomatoes came to the United States. A famous fellow Virginian, Thomas Jefferson grew them in the 1780s and credited one of his neighbors with the introduction, but Harriott Pinckney Horry recorded a recipe "To Keep Tomatoes For Winter Use" in 1770. There is a folk legend that they were introduced by African slaves who came to North America by way of the Caribbean, and some historians believe that the Portuguese introduced tomatoes to the West Coast of Africa.

There are plenty of ways to coat and fry your tomatoes; use bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, cornmeal, or flour. Some people dip them in beaten eggs before dredging, while some just dredge then fry. Salt and pepper them first, and use a little bacon grease for flavor if you have it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 to 6 green tomatoes

• salt and pepper

• cornmeal

• bacon grease or vegetable oil

PREPARATION:  Slice the tomatoes into 1/4 - 1/2-inch slices. Salt and pepper them to taste. Dip in meal and fry in hot grease or oil about 3 minutes or until golden on bottom. Gently turn and fry the other side. Serve as a side dish - delicious with breakfast!

Take some time to enjoy November’s Meteor Showers

The best way to watch for meteors is to find a place with a clear view of the sky and arrange for deck chairs or some other comfortable rest. Warm clothing and a blanket–even in summer–are advisable. Another factor to consider is bright moonlight, which can considerably cut into the potential number of meteors that might be seen. If a gibbous or full Moon is present during your meteor watch, it will generally obliterate all but the very brightest of meteors.

Newsletter and Recipes by Ethan Brent, Official Newsletter Focalizer

Bon Appetit!