Farm News
CSA Opens on 6/9
Hi all! CSA opens NEXT WEEK… pickup on 6/9 - 6/11. Due to a cool spring with cloudy days/ less sun a few weeks ago to weird, random 95 degree days, we are waiting on a few crops to come in. Hence, postponing the CSA pickup a week.
Where do I pickup my CSA share?
Pickup your CSA share on the farm. New building! We have moved the CSA pickup from the tiny old barn to a larger, more open space. This building will host our CSA pickups, U-Pick crops and events. Pull in driveway (one way in and out); signs will guide you to parking. We look forward to sharing this new space with you and creating lots of good memories!
Pick up days and times?
Choose a day below - you can change your day from week to week:
6/9 Thursday 10AM - 5PM.
6/10 Friday from 10AM - 5PM.
6/11 Saturday from 10AM - 2 PM.
Pickup Procedure:
Bring your own bags (just like the grocery store). Grab your share ticket (in alphabetically order at check in). Pack your share from around the tables (we call this “market style”). Pick-Your-Own (if you choose, from the fields, when available). Purchase extras (in Farm shop, when available).
What is in my CSA share? The farm will email members the harvest by Wed afternoon, and you will have until 6pm Wed to make changes. We allow customization of your share where designated items can be changed out if you so choose. There is no requirement to make changes - if no alterations are made, you will receive the standard share for that week. If you miss the customization window, most times we allow you to make changes in the Farm Shop. Friendly staff will be happy to assist you:)
For more, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What are we harvesting? Week 1 CSA share looks like: Arugula, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Kale, Radish, Hakurei Turnip, Garlic scapes and Kohlrabi. Also U-pick options from the fields: Calendula flowers and Strawberries. Lots of greens first few weeks. We will update you as we bring in the harvest. Looking ahead another few weeks… Spinach, Zucchini, Carrots, Broccoli and more.
PICK YOUR OWN. How does it work? CSA member exclusives to make a part of your share count for the week (when available) – flowers, herbs, cherry tomatoes and green beans. Bring your own scissors and containers for picking. Also, CSA member discounts for open to public/berry crops – strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
See you on the farm next week - OR stop in for U-Pick Strawberries! Follow our FB page for daily Strawberry updates.
Hammerbacher Bakery Shares 2022
Hammerbacher at Walking Bird Farm. Bakery Shares on sale, LIMITED QUANTITIES. Pickup ON-FARM, along with your weekly CSA Vegetable Shares.
BAKERY SHARES:
PICKUP Bakery Shares on 1 DAY ONLY, THURSDAY’S, 12– 5pm. (PICKUP CSA Vegetable Shares Thu, Fri or Sat). Can’t make it to the farm on Thursday? Send a friend! We cannot hold bakery shares for another day.
PICKUP ON-FARM, weekly, Jun – Sep. (Coincides with WBF Summer CSA Season).
NO swaps, NO special orders.
Payment due IN FULL at signup. No refunds for missed pickups.
Do I have to be a WBF CSA member? Bakery Shares open to ALL.
Can I still purchase additional Hammerbacher items on-farm? Pop up sales possible on Fri and Sat, as available. Guarantee your weekly Hammerbacher provisions with a Bakery Share!
Options and Pricing. Bread Share $336; Knish Share $384; Sweets Share $320.
ALSO…
Happiest Hour’s with Hammerbacher, ON-FARM.
2022 Events Schedule COMING SOON!
2022 CSA Signups OPEN
2022 CSA SIGNUPS ARE NOW OPEN!
100% of your CSA share grown on our farm (Crops We Grow.)
What’s New in 2022?
2 SEASONS! Summer share (16 weeks); Fall share (8 weeks). Choose 1 OR both, and extend the CSA season. 3 SIZES (We’ve tweaked the size of the shares too for a better fit and less food waste). Choose a season, size, pickup day and payment plan best for you.
SUMMER SHARES. 16 Weeks (Jun – mid Sep)
Summer, Small (personal sized share - 4 items/wk)
$288 (Pay In Full Discount $270)
Summer, Medium (small family/veggie loving couple sized - 6 items/wk)
$432 (Pay In Full Discount $405)
Summer, Large (veggie loving family sized - 8 items/wk)
$576 (Pay In Full Discount $540)
FALL SHARES. 8 Weeks (Oct through Nov)
Fall, Small (personal sized share - 4 items/wk)
$128 (Pay In Full Discount $120)
Fall, Medium (small family/veggie loving couple sized - 6 items/wk)
$192 (Pay In Full Discount $180)
Fall, Large (veggie loving family sized - 8 items/wk)
$256 (Pay In Full Discount $240)
PAYMENT OPTIONS. These up front payments are incredibly important; allowing us to pay equipment loans, order seed, purchase fuel for greenhouses, hire staff and more in the spring.
Pay In Full (discounts available, expires Feb 28th).
Payment Plan. 4 equal payments, occurring every 30 days from signup.
U-PICK CROPS. In 2022, we will continue to offer u-pick green beans, cherry tomatoes, flowers and herbs, CSA members have priority, based on availability. AND CSA member discounts on u-pick berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries).
Creative partnerships (with Hammerbacher!) and More. Finally, our partnerships with Hammerbacher and others will continue in 2022. Stay tuned for details on how you can get your hands on their amazing breads and other provisions. CSA members will be first in line for limited tickets sales for special events like barn concerts, dinner and more. Shop for extras in our Farm Shop from our farm friends like meats, cheeses, fruit, corn and more.
Thank you for eating local and supporting small farms and businesses. See you in the spring.
2022 CSA Shares
Dear valued CSA members, customers and followers,
As we enter our 13th growing season at Walking Bird Farm, we continue to be driven by the support of our community. Now is the time for crop planning and laying the groundwork for the 2022 season; and on cold winter days, we are not only motivated by an intrinsic passion to farm, but also the interactions with our customers and partners. We look forward to your enthusiasm for supporting local agriculture, eating healthy and working with our fresh produce.
Reminiscing on 2021, our u-pick strawberry and blueberry season was really nice and hefty, and we made great progress with our u-pick raspberry field, opening to customers for the first time in 3 years of persistent cultivation. From vibrant carrots and tender, frilly lettuces and greens emerging in late spring, to a bounty of zucchini and tomatoes big enough to share with friends and family, topped with an epic watermelon harvest that’s got us dreaming the day away. Another big highlight for us was the return of on-farm events like our fall craft fair, barn concerts and the end of season dinner.
In farming (and life!), it goes without saying, you never know what will get thrown at you in the course of a year. 2021 offered up many challenges, from navigating another year of Covid, enduring rising fuel costs and supply chain strains to staffing shortages. Weather extremes and subsequent pest and diseases are kind of the norm and expected, but with improved technologies like growing under controlled conditions (using high tunnels), we are able to continue to produce high quality crops. As your farmers, we are beholden to our customers, and in the midst of adversities, our commitment is to farming sustainably and growing your food.
Your upfront investment in our CSA, and supporting our u-pick crops and farm events is essential to us. Whether it’s picking your own berries and flowers to being with friends and family in the open air, we know the act of being on the farm can be healing and peaceful. We take great pride in your connection to our farm! In 2022, we are introducing exciting updates that expand our season, offer new/more convenient opportunities for our customers and partners, while improving the quality of life for your farmers. CSA signups open later this week… look for a 16-week Summer AND a 8-week Fall season; choose 1 or both! CSA memberships open first to our renewing customers, then the waiting list. Pay In Full discounts (for a limited time). More info and links for signup on our website.
With grateful hearts, we thank you for your support.
Holiday Harvest Shares
Happy Holidays from Walking Bird Farm.
Holiday Harvest Shares… ON SALE NOW!
ORDER DEADLINE Tue, 12/21, 10 AM.
$40/SHARE
HOLIDAY HARVEST: Spinach, Lettuce mix, Brussel sprouts (baby), Garlic, Sweet potatoes, winter squash (mostly Buttercup, some Butternut), Radish, Hakurei Turnip, Kale, Cabbage (small/medium green). Get your veggies… grown on our farm.
PICK UP YOUR HOLIDAY SHARE: On the farm, Thu 12/23, 10 AM-5 PM. Bring your bags and fill up from around the tables in our Farm Shop.
POT PIES/ SAUSAGE/ GROUND TURKEY. Pre-order your favorites from Griggstown Farms. Chicken Pot pies, Chicken sausage (white wine/parsley), AND ground turkey. Limited quantities, first come first serve.
CSA GIFT CERTIFICATES: Have a veggie loving friend or family member? Consider a Walking Bird Farm CSA gift certificate; can be applied towards a 2022 CSA membership. Questions? Email Farmer Ryan, ryan@walkingbirdfarm.com
Thank you for supporting local farms… and have a Jersey Fresh Christmas!
Giving Thanks.
For the love of farming, forging collaborations and building community… AND the feelings of goodwill among everyone we work with! From chefs @hammerbacher to local brewers @theseedbeer who continue to thoughtfully source and showcase our farm products over the years, thank you for supporting us!
Thank you all for sitting down and sharing a meal with us at our annual Harvest dinner on the farm a few weeks ago. With a passion for high quality ingredients, Paul and Lauren Erbacher @hammerbacher go to great lengths to build connections with farmers and eaters and put amazing food on the table. They bring a level of skill, professionalism and heart to this event that is beyond compare. Love you both:)
The prep work that goes into working with a small scale, local grower like us is more than some care to deal with. Our farm friends know… the greens have dirt, not triple washed like they come from a big store, and calendula flowers are pick your own. Likewise for our customers who take home raw ingredients from the fields… we applaud ALL your transformations and are so glad to be your farmers!
And to our other value added partnerships, from the meats and cheeses to local artists, THANK YOU for being with us week after week, throughout the seasons motivating us, supporting us, and enhancing the quality of goods and services we provide on the farm. Be well farm friends! Hammerbacher, Fulper Farms, Misty Meadow Farm, Faith Flower Farm, Griggstown Farm, Cycle Farms, Mill Creek Apiary, Bee Cool,, Stockton Farm, Rancocas Creek Farm, The Seed Beer, Campe Studio, Pastore Orchards, and Nichols Orchards.
CSA Finale, Week 20
Another CSA season in the books! Week 20 is your final CSA pickup for the 2021 season. Pickup your shares Thu, Fri 10 AM-5 PM, or Sat 10 AM-2 PM. If you are not able to do so, please send a friend to pick up for you… serving up the best spinach, lettuce mix and kale in south Jersey!
THE HARVEST. Get your Greens! Spinach (smaller and more tender, not as big as last week), Lettuce mix, Kale (Tuscan and curly types), Sweet Potatoes, bell Peppers, Garlic, Radish, Fennel, Butternut and Buttercup winter squashes and U-Pick Herbs.
EXTRAS FOR SALE. APPLES, Nichols Orchard; BAKED GOODS, Hammerbacher, as available; MUSHROOMS, Faith Flower Farm; Sheep milk ice crème sale! Misty Meadow Farm. SAUSAGE, a few left, Griggstown. Sorry, no pot pies, due to their limited staff and supply issues. We will try again for a December veggie sale, likely around Christmas.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Thank you ALL for being a part of the farm experience with us this season. Mother Nature took us on a wild ride! From a bounty of tomatoes that filled our Farm shop for weeks, sweet sweet carrots and tender broccoli, to a few late summer crop losses that resulted in lesser fall diversity. Like, what happened to the piles of potatoes I used to get this time of year?! In farming, you celebrate the bumper crops and take advantage of the challenges. We are rethinking how to manage crops and harvest periods, pivot our CSA pickups and mitigate climate changes. Every year on the farm and working outdoors is a learning experience; it can make us or break us. It’s the driving force that goes into our next year’s crop plans. As we wind down a bit, I do look forward to winter months, analyzing harvest records and laying the groundwork for 2022. Growing your food is our privilege and we are so grateful for your love and support! Thank you for choosing us as your farmers and growing with us.
CSA Week 19 – back in the fields!
So happy to see you all again on the farm for another few CSA pickups.
THE HARVEST. Spinach (big and beautiful!), Lettuce (buttercrunch heads and loose-leaf mix), Arugula OR rainbow Chard (choose 1), Kale (Tuscan and curly types), Leeks, Sweet Potatoes, Peppers (full of color AND sweet!), Fennel, Winter squashes (Butternut and Buttercup), Garlic, U-Pick Herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, mint, parsley).
APPLES! Fresh picked, super crisp! Available for purchase.
One week to go after this… Week 20 will be our final distribution for the season. We will add a few new crops to our last pickup from other local farms for your Thanksgiving.
See you on the farm:
Thu, Fri 10 AM-5 PM, and Sat 10 AM-2 PM
Farm Dinner 2021
Hey Y’all!
Farm Dinner. Saturday Nov 6, 4:30-7:30. (SOLD OUT!)
We are excited to share with you on our Farm an evening of gorgeous local food, fresh air, libations, music, conversation, and laughs! A chilly night for sure, dress warm. Blankets provided.
THE SEATING:
Inside (open air) and out on the porch. Get warm next to a fire, and we have a few heaters for inside and out. Primary seating on hay bales/ with blankets at pallet “coffee tables.” Need a chair/normal height table? As per request, in advance.
THE FOOD AND DRINK:
By Hammerbacher. Paul and Lauren Erbacher have crafted and will execute an incredible menu. Starting with small bites, then onto a grilled item (meat and vegetarian options) and three sides, artfully assembled and harvested from our farm. All accompanied by fresh baked, artisan breads. Evening will wrap up with hot cider and amazing desserts.
*** BYOB (see below for local brews beer sales, if interested). ***
THE BEER:
As for beverage plans, The Seed Brewery will have 4 cans available for purchase, by the single can, through the link below so you can mix and match as you see fit! Due to some obstacles presented by the State of New Jersey ABC (Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control), there is a slight adjustment in how we handle beverage sales. Your purchased ticket includes your first beer, available in a can; additional beer will need to be pre-purchased ahead of Saturday’s event. Pre-purchased beer will be picked up via a proxy and WILL BE ON SITE, COLD AND READY FOR YOU, AT WALKING BIRD THIS SATURDAY. To reiterate, you will not need to pick up this pre-purchased beer from The Seed; it will be proxied to the farm for you.
The four cans available are (all cans are $4.50/16oz can including tax):
- First Root Galaxy/Waimea – 5.4% American Pale Ale
- As Simple As The Tide? – 4.8% Pale Spelt Lager w/ German Mittelfruh hops
- Stay Awhile – 4.8% English Dark Mild
- Moments – 4.2% Ordinary Bitter
*** Please place your beer orders online by Friday (11/5) evening at 9:00pm to ensure your beer makes its way to Walking Bird ahead of Saturday’s festivities! ***
We look forward to celebrating the fall harvest with you all.
Finishing CSA season strong.
Reminder… there are no CSA pickups this weekend. We will resume the season with our final CSA pickups of 2021 Thu-Sat, Nov. 11-13.
We’ve been hustling to get the last of our frost-susceptible crops out of the fields this week. The bonus is, everything tends to sweeten up as the nighttime temperatures drop. The 3 week break has allowed some really wonderful crops to mature, including Tuscan flat leaf kale, beautiful spinach, butterhead lettuce, plus more fennel and cabbage. The peppers we just pulled ahead of the freeze are some of the nicest of the season. We still have garlic, leeks, butternut and buttercup squashes for your Thanksgiving dinners, plus we brought in a load of freshly dug sweet potatoes from our local farm friends. Also, we plan to bring in some more Griggstown Farm pot pies to stock your freezers with for the winter, AND local apples.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate a challenging, yet educational, growing season. We look forward to feeding you fresh, local produce as we head into Thanksgiving. See you soon!
Farm Dinner; CSA Pickup changes
Annual Farm Dinner… Our theme this year is “Meat and Greet; Sit and Veg”. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 from 4:30PM to 7:30PM. In collaboration with our farm friends at Hammerbacher, along with The Seed: A Living Beer Project, we gather and celebrate with farm food, drinks, fire and music.
“Meat and Greet”: Mingle on the farm, and sip a drink; BYOB and Beer offerings (1 beer ticket included, then cash beer bar). Grab your meal from the wood-fired grills (meat-eater and veggie options) and a box of farm sides.
“Sit and Veg”: Cozy up to a hay bale and warm blanket. Pallet table picnic style (limited seating for those who need other accommodations, as per request, in advance). Indoor-outdoor seating, dress warm! Gather around the farm and enjoy food and drink grown on this farm and other NJ farms.
PURCHASE TICKETS. Preview sale to our customers. This event sells out fast, limited seating. Must be 21 or older to attend.
CSA PICKUPS, PLEASE NOTE CHANGES: NO CSA PICKUPS IN OCT. The remaining 2 CSA pickups will be Nov 11-13, and Nov 18-20. Just in time for your Thanksgiving plans. Crops… spinach making a BIG comeback, lettuce, arugula, cabbage, sweet potatoes and more. Greens taste amazingly better after a frost! As a farmer, I am a planner and constantly evaluating my farming system. Given the pandemic-related shortages and bottlenecks, and changing weather patterns, this year taught us to pause and rethink how we do things. Disruptions in our crop production have opened up new possibilities for us. As your farmers, we look forward to extending our CSA season into the fall and continuing to grow your food. The potatoes will be sweeter and brussel sprouts fresh picked for your holiday! Thank you for all your love and support of NJ agriculture.
CSA Week 18; CSA pickup changes; Annual Farm Dinner
THE HARVEST. Green Beans (U-Pick, VERY nice quality!), Eggplant (last of summer, Pastore Orchards), Cabbage and Cauliflower (more coming in this week!), Winter squashes (Butternut and Buttercup), Garlic, Leeks, Beets, Peppers, Kale, Swiss Chard, Fennel, Radish.
CSA PICKUPS, PLEASE NOTE CHANGES: After this week, the remaining 2 CSA pickups will resume in mid-Nov. Just in time for your Thanksgiving plans. Crops… spinach making a BIG comeback, lettuce, arugula, cabbage, sweet potatoes and more. Greens taste amazingly better after a frost! As a farmer, I am a planner and constantly evaluating my farming system. Given the pandemic-related shortages and bottlenecks, and changing weather patterns, this year taught us to pause and rethink how we do things. Disruptions in our crop production have opened up new possibilities for us. As your farmers, we look forward to extending our CSA season into the fall and continuing to grow your food. The potatoes will be sweeter and brussel sprouts fresh picked for your holiday! Thank you for all your love and support of NJ agriculture.
ANNUAL FARM DINNER: SAVE THE DATE, SATURDAY NOV 6! Tickets go on sale exclusive to CSA members at first. Then sales open to the public, if available. “Meat and Greet; Sit and Veg”. Strolling cocktail hour (BYOB). Your choice of a grilled item (including a vegetarian option); 3 Farm Sides; Dessert. Farm chic:) Haybales and warm blankets, bonfires and live music under the stars (weather permitting). More details AND ticket sales to follow soon.
CSA Week 17
Welcome Back CSA Members!
THE HARVEST. Peppers, Kale, Leeks, Beets (ours and local source), Potatoes: mix of sweets and whites (ours and local source), Butternut and Buttercup winter squashes; Garlic; Green Beans (nice U-Pick!) Cauliflower OR Cabbage (limited quantities); Radish, and Herbs (U-Pick).
EXTRAS FOR SALE. Apples (Nichols Orchard). Eggs (Cycle Farms and local source), Potpies, chicken sausages and ground turkey (Griggstown Farm), Sheapsicles and Ice crème (new flavors, Misty Meadow), Breads and baked goods (Hammerbacher, as available).
FARM UPDATES. Crop losses due to extreme summer weather events, and reduced crop production due to supply chain disruptions and labor shortages are issues for many farmers this fall. It became quickly obvious that these issues were nothing like we have ever experienced. On the positive, smart policies and innovations are helping farmers deal with adverse weather conditions and hopefully signals a more bountiful harvest for the coming years. And while some aspects of pandemic disruptions are temporary, some appear to be longer lasting.
FALL CROPS… aiming for 3 more weeks. As your farmers, we can navigate around the challenges. Thus far, despite the usual ups and downs, our CSA is a relatively predictable model and has been for 12 years. So, it is frustrating to have any gap in our production. Although based on conversations and market research, many CSA’s had to switch up their pickup models this year too. In good faith, we are collaborating with other farms to source a variety of fall crops based on availability as best as we all can. For us, our resilience is rooted in our connections to the community. We do feel confident our CSA base and partnerships are strong and eager to stand behind us. Things have come a long way for us in the last few years, and we look forward to seeing the future unfold.
CSA pickup changes and barn concert
Hi all.
PLEASE NOTE CSA PICKUP CHANGES FOR SEPTEMBER:
CSA pickups will be ON HOLD for the next 2 weeks; CSA pickups will resume Oct 7-9, continuing through Oct 30 (final pickup for season).
Pest and disease issues, weeds and staff shortages, paired with high heat and humidity have affected the usually predictable harvest schedule. Farms in NJ and throughout the region have felt the impacts of climate change, some worse than others this season. But good farms and farmers help each other out. We’ve made arrangements to supplement our crops and procure additional vegetables in the form of trade and for purchase from our local farmer friends. Also, we recently transplanted new crops that will need a few weeks to mature. All of this will just take some time as other farms are dealing with similar situations.
After this year, we are making changes to how we manage our crops and CSA. As the weather continues to be hotter, wetter and more humid, farmers must adapt to extreme weather events. Climate change is playing out every season. In my 12 years farming, a short period, I have experienced changes in rainfall that are more intensive, rising summer temperatures and altered patterns of pests, diseases and weeds. In this environment, we continue to strategize and learn new practices such as changing our crop selections and timing of plantings.
Another curveball this season has been the staff shortages. Our farm crew made the best of it, yet we had no control over other services we rely on to pull it all together. Plants and other supplies needed were unavailable due to others’ staff shortages therefore disrupting our systems. It’s been a crazy year.
We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate these realities.
OTHER FARM HAPPENINGS…
BARN CONCERT THIS SATURDAY, SAT 9/25… READ MORE HERE.
PURCHASE CONCERT TICKETS – must be purchased in advance, no walk up sales.
ANNUAL FARM DINNER… details forthcoming in Oct as we develop our plans!
CSA week 16
EVENTS ON THE FARM THIS WEEKEND… Arts & Crafts Festival, Sat 10 AM-3 PM. CSA Pickup as usual: Thu, Fri 10 AM-5 PM, AND Sat pickup 10 AM-2 PM, concurrent with Arts & Crafts Festival.
THE HARVEST. From our Fields… the Squashes - Butternut, Buttercup and Spaghetti; Sweet Peppers (colorful bells and “Italian” reds); Hot Peppers (jalapenos, cherry bombs and long hots); Cucumbers; Leeks; Onions (on the smaller side now, still great flavor for your culinary needs); Garlic; Tomatoes (reds and heirlooms); Greens - Arugula and Kale; Radish; Broccoli - just coming in, offerings will be light at first. We will likely supplement from other farms as needed in coming weeks. From our Friends Fields… more Tomatoes to supplement our fields (Pastore, Hammonton); more Kale to supplement our fields (Vineland, NJ), Eggplant (Pastore, Hammonton).
EXTRAS FOR SALE - ALL LOCAL. APPLES! Nichols Orchard, Franklinville; MUSHROOMS (lots available this week! Beautiful product.) - Faith Flower Farm; POT PIES (chicken , Sheppard’s), SAUSAGES (chicken, new varieties!), GROUND TURKEY - Griggstown Farm; CHEESE (Mozzarella, Feta) - Fulper Farm; EGGS - local; BAKED GOODS (as available), back from a break, Hammerbacher; FRESH PRODUCE - from our fields (based on availability) and local farms.
FARMER UPDATES. Thus far, we are happy with the season, summer was plentiful - cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and lots of good eats on the table. With limited staff, it has not been easy; we managed, and farm crew did a pretty awesome job! However, due to things beyond our control, we are trailing a few weeks behind on the fall crops. Farmers prevail though, our CSA is resilient AND creative! For example, our sweet potato supplier was unable to deliver us plants… no worries, will be trading/harvesting from a friends field! Greens, like spinach and lettuce are slow to the table as our seedlings supplier has been behind several weeks, therefore pushing our transplanting schedule several weeks. SOLUTION: BREAK/HOLD ON CSA PICKUPS… first time ever in 12 years of running this farm. BUT, on the bright side, this will allow for other crops to mature, and us time to offer a wider selection of crops to top off another great (and always challenging!) season. We plan for 20 weeks and you pay for 20 weeks! We will send another email next week with details. As always, thank you for your support!
CSA Week 14
THE HARVEST. Tomatoes - still coming in - mostly reds this week. Winter squashes - Butternut, Spaghetti and Buttercup. Watermelons - last week? Arugula - cutting new field, more tender, less spicy. Cucumber, Zucchini, Peppers, Carrots (loose), Beets (loose), Garlic, Leeks, Onions. Looking ahead a few weeks… more lettuce, spinach and kale. Fingers crossed rain is not too hard on broccoli and cauliflower! And U-Pick Flowers? Depends on rain this week.
THE RAIN! BEFORE YOU DRIVE TO THE FARM THURSDAY… CHECK YOUR EMAIL AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES ON POSSIBLE FARM CLOSURE. We will make the call Thursday AM whether we can open or not. Heavy rain is projected, as of now; the driveway and farm shop may be too flooded to enter. IF WE NEED TO CLOSE THURSDAY DUE TO HEAVY RAIN, WE WILL BE OPEN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
FARMER HIGHLIGHTS. Thanks to farmer friends at Rancocas Creek Farm for supplementing our tomatoes this week. We traded our pepper abundance for extra tomatoes (grown organically, not certified). Prior, we worked with Stockton U Farm to supplement our eggplant; a portion of proceeds from upcoming event sales being donated back to Stockton U Farm. Despite weather issues and being short staffed, we are getting creative and making it work!
EXTRAS FOR SALE.
Corn and Peaches (maybe Blackberries?) - Pastore Orchards.
Chicken Sausages, Ground Turkey and Pot Pies (chicken, beef shepherd’s, veggie) - Griggstown Farm.
Mushrooms - Faith Flower Farm; and Microgreens - Jersey Joe’s.
Dairy: Eggs - Cycle farms and local sources; Cheeses and Yogurt/Sheapsicles - Misty Meadow.
Walking Bird’s farm-grown produce AND Raspberries (limited quantities, see Shop for details).
No Hammerbacher/baked goods this week - our hardworking friends are on vacation.
EVENTS
CSA Week 13
THE HARVEST. Buttercup squash - if you like sweet potatoes, you will love this! Leeks, Potatoes (baby), Carrots (loose), Beets (loose), Watermelon (red/yellow), Cucumber, Zucchini, Lettuce mix, Arugula, Tomatoes (mix and match), Peppers (bells/hots), Spaghetti squash, Garlic. Also, U-Pick Flowers, Herbs. A few eggplants on sale from the Stockton Farm harvest… all proceeds go back to the Farm.
EXTRAS FOR SALE. Potpies (chicken, Sheppard’s and veggie), Cheeses (new products), Yogurt, Eggs, Mushrooms, Baked goods (as available), Chicken sausages and ground turkey, Farm-grown produce, Peaches, Corn, Blackberries.
FIELD UPDATES/ HIGHLIGHTS. Sept. is on our doorstep, hoping for cooler weather! Tomatoes are winding down; we will have some for another week or 2. U-Pick fields are getting light; still flowers to pick though. As flowers fade, the green beans will be ready to pick again. Beautiful butternut coming up, just began harvesting. Broccoli and Cauliflower fields look nice for mid-late Sept. Lots of spinach and kale for fall too. Potatoes are light this season, but we are working on a trade with another farm to bring in more.
Eat well and be happy! See you on the farm.
UPCOMING EVENTS.
Portion of the proceeds to benefit Stockton U scholarships, including the Stockton Farm.
CSA Week 12
THE HARVEST. Greens! Lettuce mix AND Arugula. PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR REUSABLE BAGS! Tomatoes (red/heirloom/cherry types), Watermelon (red/yellow), Peppers, bells and hots – lots of color! Eggplant (Stockton U Farm to the rescue!), Cucumbers, Zucchini, Spaghetti squash, Onions (red/yellow), Garlic. Maybe potatoes, will be a last-minute decision. U-Pick Cherry Tomatoes, Flowers and Herbs… Basil making a comeback!
EXTRAS FOR SALE.
Peaches, Corn, Blackberries – Pastore Orchard; Potpies are back! AND Chicken sausage and ground turkey – Griggstown Farm; Eggs and whole chickens – Cycle Farms and Local eggs. Baked goods - Hammerbacher, as available. Cheese – Fulper Farms; Microgreens – Jersey Joes; Mushrooms – Faith Flower Farm; AND Walking Bird farm-grown produce. Keep Loyal to Local!
The farmer and her eggplant… a BIG thanks to Stockton U Farm for the save this week!
Our eggplant had serious issues with a pest that we were unable to manage successfully, which ultimately took down this crop (Colorado potato beetle). At times, we lose crops beyond our control. If feasible, we do our best to replace it. Fortunately, we arranged with the Stockton U Farm to supplement our eggplant and in turn, offered to raise funds for their farm program. OUR GOAL: to match a portion of the proceeds from upcoming events, like our barn concert, Art show and Farm Dinner to help Stockton U Farm purchase plants, supplies and hire staff, upwards of $1000 or greater – help us get there by purchasing tickets to our barn concert (with Goodnight Moonshine) - ON SALE NOW! For years, our farm is primarily staffed with Stockton students – we are thankful for the Stockton Farms’ initiatives and hard work growing future farmers. Happy to say this eggplant story has a “fairytale” ending!
CSA Week 11
THE HARVEST. On the table in Farm Shop… Arugula – beautiful! Watermelons (red/yellow), Tomatoes (reds/heirlooms), Cucumber, Zucchini, Spaghetti squash, Peppers (bells and hots), Onions (red/yellow), Eggplant and Garlic. In the U-Pick fields… Flowers, Herbs and Cherry Tomatoes. Hot one out there! Stay hydrated and take care of yourselves. Farmers going strong!
EXTRAS FOR SALE.
Peaches, Blackberries… AND Corn is back! Pastore Orchards, Hammonton.
Baked goods (as available), Hammerbacher. If you miss them, check out the bakery in EHC, it’s worth it!
Mushrooms: shitake, lions mane, oysters, pioppino – not going to find these gems in the grocery store!
Cheeses/Yogurt/Eggs: Fulper Farms, Misty Meadow, Cycle Farms/Local farms.
Meats: Chicken sausages/ground turkey, Griggstown Farm; Whole Chickens – this is what REAL farm-raised chicken tastes like! Priced accordingly. Cycle Farms.
Support Beginner Farmers! Our own Walking Bird Farmers are branching out and furthering their careers in agriculture. Help get them started! Available for purchase:
MICROGREENS. Versatile in any dish! In the fridge on the farm, or contact Joe Kalksma, aka Jersey Joe.
PORK SHARES. Half and Whole shares (priced accordingly). Customize your cut sheets. Payment and cut sheets required BEFORE 8/27 (off to the butcher 8/31). Pigs are forest raised, fed non-GMO grain (7th Heaven Farm), non-GMO sheep’s milk whey and cheese/yogurt (Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy), organic produce (not certified organic, Walking Bird Farm), and baked goods (Hammerbacher). Know your farmer, know your food! TO PLACE AN ORDER OR HAVE QUESTIONS… Contact Riley Blankenship, rileybship222@gmail.com, or call/text 609-705-2654.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER:
CSA Week 10
THE HARVEST. Watermelon (red AND yellow seedless) – “icebox” sized, perfect for the refrigerator; Tomatoes (red, heirloom, cherry types and tomatillos); Zucchini (green/yellow); Cucumbers; Peppers – bell and hots (jalapeno, cherry bombs, long hots); Eggplant; Garlic; Onion (red/yellow); Spaghetti squash; Carrots and Beets (topped); Cabbage; Flowers and Herbs. Eat what’s in season! Greens? Back next week with Arugula. Others, like lettuce, spinach and kale are a few weeks away, as they prefer cooler weather.
U-PICK CROPS. Open to the Public
TOMATOES. Mix and Match quarts – super sweet oranges and deep purple/red types. AND tomatillos – look for green ones just breaking the husk.
FLOWERS. Mix and Match bouquets – mini Sunflowers! AND lots of color in the fields.
HERBS. Looking for basil? We accidently mowed it! You might find some out there though. Basil will regrow – in the meantime, try oregano, thyme or parsley.
EXTRAS FOR SALE. Open to the Public.
PEACHES! Pastore Orchard, Hammonton, AND blackberries; Walking Bird farm-grown produce; Local Eggs. Hammerbacher baked goods (as available) – If you miss them Thursday, please stop by their bakery in Egg Harbor City for more! Mushrooms, Faith Flower Farm; Misty Meadow’s sheep cheese/yogurt/sheepsicles; chicken sausage/ground turkey, Griggstown Farm; Honey, Bee Cool. Corn? Light this week, please check back.
FARMER TIPS: spaghetti squash caramelized, topped with cheese; zucchini/onion pie with fresh tomatoes; watermelon/cucumber/mint salad; stuffed hot peppers; fresh salsa; bell peppers – slice and freeze for winter use, no need to blanch first. And I can never get enough eggplant in the freezer either! Bread and bake it, then freeze it for eggplant parms all winter. Time to start saucing – I use many different types, from red “slicers” to heirlooms and cherry types. Add paste to thicken; the flavor is outstanding and farm fresh.
Thank you for your business and supporting local farmers.