2009 Week 17

What delicious organic veggies are available this week at Valley Dream Farm?

In Your CSA Bag

Watermelon ~ 1
Potatoes (gold) ~ 1 qt
Green Cabbage ~ 1 head
Broccoli ~ 1 bunch
Brussels Sprouts ~ 1 pint
Romaine ~ 1 head ~ OR ~ Spinach ~ 1 xl handful
Peppers ~ 2 sweet
Onions ~ 1 1/2 lbs, paper bagged
Tomatoes ~ 2
Herbs ~ mixed ~ 1 bunch

Also at the Farm Stand

produced locally...*
Boyden Farm ~ beef
Green Top Farm ~ lamb & pork
Red Hen Baking Co. ~ organic breads, fresh Tu/Th/Sat
Free range eggs

* These items are brought into our farm stand to give you a larger selection.

Recipes of the Week

Mashed Gold Potatoes
Tricolor Potatoes with Pesto and Parmesan
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

News from the Field

It was a very busy weekend here at the farm. We had the whole family at home visiting, which means they were all helping on the farm too. We were trying to harvest the potatoes before the rains came, as the mud can get deep and difficult.

How do we harvest you ask? It takes 6 workers to harvest potatoes.

The first worker drives the tractor pulling the huge 2 row harvester. Her job is to stay in the rows and control the overall speed of the harvest.

The second worker drives the tractor pulling the potato wagon. This “V” shaped wagon collects the potatoes dropping from a conveyor belt attached to the harvester. Her job is to keep pace with the first tractor while evenly dispersing the potatoes in the wagon. Distractions are not an option for this worker!

The third worker controls the hydraulics to raise and lower the conveyor arm of the harvester over the potato wagon. He also controls the depth of the digging. Too deep can clog the harvester and too shallow can miss or chop up the potatoes. He also helps the others sort potatoes when not running the controls.

The harvester's many conveyors sort the potatoes from rocks and other debris. The other three workers stand on top of the harvester and remove any remaining debris so that only potatoes go into the wagon. They have to work fast to keep up with the tractors.

When the potato wagon is full, it is returned to the barn, and potatoes are unloaded into large wooden bins to cure. After warm curing, they are sent to cold storage for the winter. As orders arrive we wash the potatoes in the barrel washer (currently next to the greenhouse), pack them and then ship them throughout the winter.

Our workers labored hard and, thanks to them and our kids, we harvested most of the potatoes before the rains came!

Please enjoy our fresh organic SPUDS!
- Anne Tisbert

2009, Week 16

What delicious organic veggies are available this week at Valley Dream Farm?

In Your CSA Bag

Watermelon ~ 1
Potatoes (all blue) ~ 1 qt
Broccoli or Brussels Sprouts ~ 1 pint
Cucumbers ~ 2
Carrots ~ 1 lb ~ approx 6
Salad Greens ~ 1 XL handful
Peppers ~ 2 sweet & 4 jalapeno
Tomatoes ~ 2
Herbs ~ parsley ~ 1 bunch

Also at the Farm Stand

Sweet Corn, Zucchini, Broccoli, Broccoli rabb, Kale, Swiss Chard

produced locally...*
Boyden Farm ~ beef
Green Top Farm ~ lamb & pork
Red Hen Baking Co. ~ organic breads, fresh Tu/Th/Sat
Free range eggs

* These items are brought into our farm stand to give you a larger selection.

Recipe of the Week

Roasted Corn Cala with Tomato Salad

News from the Field

We had two frosts last weekend in our low spot at the foot of Mr. Mansfield. The cold air just slides right down on us.

Thank you to the members who helped with the squash harvest. All different types of winter squash are sorted and packed in bins in the cozy barn where they will stay above freezing until they are shipped.

On Monday, a nice and warm last day of summer, we harvested the rest of the watermelons. Some are a bit paler inside this year but taste just as sweet as the dark pink ones we had last year. Cantaloupes are still clinging to their vines and we are beginning to wonder if they will ripen in time.

We wish the warmth would stay a little longer, but it feels more sensible to have brisker weather when we start cooking soups and stews for fall and winter bluster. Autumn colors are blooming and we can all enjoy what people travel for miles to see in Vermont.

We love farming in Pleasant Valley! Please enjoy our fresh organic produce!
- Anne Tisbert

2009, Week 15

What delicious organic veggies are available this week at Valley Dream Farm?

In Your CSA Bag

Watermelon ~ 1
Potatoes (mixed) ~ 1 qt
Beets ~ 1 lb
Broccoli Raab ~ 1 bunch
Cucumbers ~ 2
Carrots ~ 1 bunch
Lettuce ~ 1 head
Spinach ~ 1 XL handful
Zucchini ~ 2
Peppers ~ 2 sweet & 4 jalapeno
Tomatoes ~ 3 small/med
Herbs ~ garlic ~ 1 bulb

Also at the Farm Stand

Sweet Corn, Blueberries, Broccoli, Broccoli rabb, Radishes, Kale, Swiss Chard, Fava Beans

produced locally...*
Boyden Farm ~ beef
Green Top Farm ~ lamb & pork
Red Hen Baking Co. ~ organic breads, fresh Tu/Th/Sat
Jericho Settlers Farm ~ free range eggs

* These items are brought into our farm stand to give you a larger selection.

Recipe of the Week

Watermelon and Feta Salad

News from the Field

The weather the last two weeks was just what we needed. Our sun- and warm-weather-loving crops are catching up. Watermelons are finally ready for you! They are sweet and juicy—well worth the wait.

The fall harvest has come quickly. We are harvesting squash, pumpkins, potatoes, brussels sprouts and many other delicious fall crops. If you are interested in helping with the harvest, please sign up in the store. Last year a few members brought their families in the evenings after work to pick squash and pumpkins and put them into bins. Fun was had by all.

We love farming in Pleasant Valley! Please enjoy our fresh organic produce!
- Anne Tisbert

2009, Week 14

FALL SHARES AVAILABLE NOW! Tell your friends!


What delicious organic veggies are available this week at Valley Dream Farm?

In Your CSA Bag

Potatoes ~ 1 qt
Beets ~ 1 bunch w/ greens
Broccoli ~ 1 bunch
"Veronica" Romanesco Cauliflower ~ 1 head
Cucumbers ~ 2
Carrots ~ 1 bunch
Lettuce ~ 1 head
Spinach ~ 1 XL handful
Zucchini ~ 2 small/med
Peppers ~ 2 yellow sweet & 4 jalapeno
Tomatoes ~ 1 med & 1 small

Also at the Farm Stand

Sweet Corn, Diakon Radishes, Broccoli rabb, Kale, Swiss Chard

produced locally...*
Boyden Farm ~ beef
Green Top Farm ~ lamb & pork
Red Hen Baking Co. ~ organic breads, fresh Tu/Th/Sat
Jericho Settlers Farm ~ free range eggs

* These items are brought into our farm stand to give you a larger selection.

Recipe of the Week

Roasted Cauliflower

News from the Field

Joe went out to the corn field on Sunday in mid-August and came back with the exciting news that we finally had a crop ready. We had to plow in the first two plantings this year because of the cold, wet spring. But when we went out on Tuesday morning to pick it fresh for our CSA members, it was gone -- carefully and expertly picked. Joe looked for signs of bear, coon or skunk. Wildlife usually leave a mess and our workers would have delivered the harvest to the farm stand if they were ahead of schedule.

Alas, we had to face the reality that someone had stolen 160 dozen ears of corn from our field. Who does that?? Was it for a big (really big!) corn roast? or to sell somewhere else? We are very sorry to have to share this loss with our members. We have purchased corn for you from our friendly organic farmers in the Deep Root Co-op.

Chin up and move on, we say. We hope to have the next planting ready by the end of September. Our trail biking friends have offered to camp out with their dogs and hunting gear to guard for us!

On a good note, Jay has picked a very unusual Romanesco cauliflower, named "Veronica". With its lime green spiraled pinnacles, it looks quite alien but tastes quite mild. Steam it upright for a conversation starter at the dinner table!

We have seen (and tasted) the first watermelons. They need a little more time to be sweet and juicy. Until then, please enjoy our fresh organic produce!
- Anne Tisbert

2009, Week 13

What delicious organic veggies are available this week at Valley Dream Farm?

In Your CSA Bag

Potatoes ~ 1 qt
Beets ~ 1 bunch w/ greens
Broccoli ~ 1 bunch
Cucumbers ~ 2
Fennel ~ 1 bulb
Lettuce ~ 1 head
Spinach ~ 1 XL handful
Zucchini ~ 2-3 small/med
Peppers ~ 2 sweet & 4 jalapeno
Tomatoes ~ 1 med & 1 small
Herbs ~ choice: basil

Also at the Farm Stand

Sweet Corn, Blueberries, Diakon Radishes, Broccoli rabb,
Kale, Swiss Chard

produced locally...*
Boyden Farm ~ beef
Green Top Farm ~ lamb & pork
Red Hen Baking Co. ~ organic breads
Jericho Settlers Farm ~ free range eggs

* These items are brought into our farm stand to give you a larger selection.

Recipe of the Week

What to do with Fennel
A few Italian ladies we know say they just cut up the raw fennel and toss into salad.

News from the Field

Where did our summer go? I spotted a leaf changing color this week. Forecast is promising, though, and we are hoping for another month of Indian summer.

We are harvesting potatoes now. Enjoy the rainbow before the All Blues and All Reds are gone. Golds, Red Skinned, Fingerlings and Russets are coming soon. The Russets need more good weather; here in Vermont they are somewhat smaller than in Idaho, but ours are tastier! Fennel is new this week and winter squash varieties are coming along nicely.

We have large quantities of many items at this time of year, so let us know if you need a case of veggies to can or freeze. We can give you a wholesale price.

Please enjoy our fresh organic produce!
- Anne Tisbert