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Yellow Stonehouse Farm CSA

Coexisting Harmoniously with the Native Wildlife

Yellow Stonehouse Farm CSA

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Tag Archives: Membership

Looking forward to farm fresh vegetables on a snowy morning

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Connie
Reply

  Looking out the window in the middle of March 2017 – this is what we see … a beautiful snowy day at the farm. 

But it’s almost Spring, the days are lasting longer and we are dreaming of warmer days and the farm’s first early vegetables – asparagus, peas, young lettuces and tender radishes. 

After the carb fest called Saint Patrick’s day (so tasty as our bodies crave carbs this time of year) we yearn for fresh vegetables and are frustrated; they aren’t especially fresh having been trucked in from Florida and Georgia and then sitting on grocery shelves a little too long. We’re hoping those of you who were members last year, managed to get a few items in your freezer to remind you of the deliciousness of farm fresh organic produce.  I know when John and I open a container of my homemade garlic scape pesto or squash, pepper and tomato soup base we are transported back to the warmth & sunshine of last summer. 

Healthy eating is a big benefit of CSA membership in our USDA certified organic farm and a primary reason for the creation of our CSA five years ago.  We wanted to share farm fresh organic food with the local community.   CSA means Community Supported Agriculture.  Shareholders join before the start of the season so farmers can plan what & how much to grow – ordering seeds is a big project as there are many choices, and it helps with the cost of seeds and labor to get the season started.  CSA members are later rewarded with the fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers of our labor.  Our CSA is set up to run for 20 weeks beginning the week of June 7, 2017 (weather permitting) and ending in October.  Two options are available – an Every Week Share for $650 and an Every Other Week Share for $450.00. 

Members pick up their share at the on-farm market style distribution area, where that week’s produce, picked fresh for them at the peak of ripeness, is arrayed in bins for shareholders to select from.  Each week’s produce is accompanied by recipes, nutritional information and preparation suggestions customized to that week’s unique share.  An added bonus are Pick-Your-Own crops such as peas, cherry tomatoes and beans not to mention the beautiful flowers and aromatic herbs included with every CSA membership.

We carefully balance each weekly share to provide a variety of vegetables and field fruits to support a healthy diet for you and your family.  You’ll receive coveted items such as asparagus, strawberries and rhubarb, corn, garlic scapes, delicate lettuces, juicy melons and a myriad of tomatoes.  If you receive too much in one week, you can always freeze or can it for that distant winter day when you’re craving a summer treat.

Here are the specifics for Yellow Stonehouse Farm’s Spring/Summer CSA 2017

  • New shareholders are being accepted until the program is filled
  • Season runs from early June through October 2017
  • You select your preferred pick-up date:  Wed., Thurs., or Friday from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm or Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • You can elect to “share” a share with another family.  See details on shareholder application.
  • If you cannot pick up your share, you can make arrangements to pick up at another time or have someone else pick up for you —  if you send us an email a few days in advance.

Stay warm and Happy Spring.  I know that’s a contradiction … do enjoy this picture of Spring daffodils.

Best,

Connie

Posted in Farming Matters, Uncategorized | Tagged certified organic, csa, Farm Share, Local Vegetable, locally grown, Membership, Organic, Shareholder, USDA, USDA Certified Organic, Westfield | Leave a reply

Farm 2017 goals & pledges

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Connie
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John and I just finished the first 2017 share distribution consisting of many root vegetables plus several recipes.  A Yellow Stonehouse Farm CSA member, Melissa, made my coq aux vin recipe & posted a terrific picture of the dish on our Facebook page – see picture left.  We are lucky – our CSA has many supporters & involved members – which brings me to our farm goals for 2017.

The foundation of our farm goals for 2017 is gratitude – which we will express by showing gratitude and returning kindness to members and supporters.  We have much to be thankful for and will keep this top of mind in 2017 – and demonstrate by doubling down on appreciation for our members!  So – Melissa, thank you for making the recipe and sharing it with us.

We also are excited and thankful to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAP) for awarding us a matching enterprise grant of $10,000 for barn repairs and improvements.  Not only are they helping us repair our 1840’s timber built barn, they are providing us with technical farm planning assistance.

Food trends are important to us so we were fascinated to see 2017 being touted as “vegetable-centric” and featured by many chefs, restaurants and cookbooks.  Multi-colored vegetables are a big trend, with radishes usurping kale as the new favorite and squashes becoming the new favorite staple!  All reasons for us to feel rather smug as last summer we anticipated these trends by growing many radishes, lots of colored vegetables and many types of squash – which we plan to duplicate in 2017!

Two more 2017 themes are Nourish and Nurture — realized through recipes encouraging health & wellness through food & herbalism.  This is a labor of love, combining many interests and simultaneously enhancing the membership experience for the farm’s shareholders.  We’re going to provide seasonal herbs as well along with information on health benefits and daily use as part of a healthy diet.

As an organic farm, we’re environmentally focused, and realize 2016’s drought was partly a result of the changing climate.  In response, we have decided to become advocates for the protection of a scarce and precious resource – water.  We are fortunate to have ample and accessible water – however, this can change anytime – so we’ll assert ourselves as stewards of these vulnerable resources.  Westfield’s own water troubles are a red flag and we will be vigilant to protect the farm against contamination, pollution and climate impacts.

New research shows that organic farming – through crop diversity, cover cropping and low till practices – is one of the best ways agriculture can counter lack of rainfall versus monoculture’s susceptibility to drought.  We will continue learning best practices to ensure our crops stay bountiful, delicious and healthy – despite droughts and other adverse conditions.  And because we take our job of providing local organic food to our neighbors and members seriously, we plan to implement new ways of providing vegetables to more CSA members in 2017.

Finally, we pledge to share our farm – and the chance to relax and enjoy the lovely fields, hills and dales, smell the newly turned soil and mowed grass, watch the bees, birds & butterflies, revel in the beauty of the flowers, grasses and trees, and taste a freshly picked tomato or snap pea.  We invite you to slow down and be mindful of the miracle of our planet, the farm’s place on it and how wonderfully amazing nature is.

Practicing mindfulness – being aware of your thoughts, emotions, & experiences on a moment-to-moment basis – is something you can do anywhere, but we invite you to do so here, at Yellow Stonehouse Farm.

Posted in Farming Matters | Tagged certified organic, csa, CSA in Westfield MA, Easthampton, Farm Share, Membership, Organic, Southampton, Westfield, Yellow Stonehouse Farm | Leave a reply

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  • Thinking about Mom’s – and making CSA membership convenient for them May 14, 2018
  • The many benefits of being a member of Yellow Stonehouse Farm – April 28, 2018 April 28, 2018
  • A presentation on why Yellow Stonehouse Farm thinks organic is the way to go March 5, 2018

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354 Root Road, Westfield, MA 01085

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