MEADOWLARK FARM CSA NEWS

Dear community of meadowlark,                                                                     

                                  We wish you a Happy Equinox as the wheel spins into fall.  Leaves change color, the light is different and the air is warm and luxurious.  We are grateful for these warm days and nights as they continue to push the tomatoes into ripeness.  What a glorious gathering we had here on Sunday!  The annual harvest party was a roaring success and we hope that if you were here, you had fun and filled your bellies and hearts with flowers, cider, good food and pumpkins.  When a large group comes together to appreciate one another and their surroundings, magic happens.  There were kids running up the hill and grabbing melons for the watermelon toss and people wandering through the flowers feeding their eyes and souls with the beauty to be had therein.  Neighbors reconnected and new friends were made.  The heirloom tomato tasting was huge fun and the winner was "lillian's yellow" one of our favorites.  There was love all around.......thank you to everyone who made a dish and made the effort to be here.  We were proud to NOT use any paper plates this year, which makes us all feel good.  Our hearts are full and we are also tired, but today's boxes include beautiful and delicious foods.  Boxes include: delicata winter squash, orange sunshine winter squash, sweet onions, garlic, sangre potatoes, fresh beets with lovely greens that we encourage you to enjoy as well as the roots of autumn,zucchini, sweet red peppers, lots of tomatoes including many heirlooms, cilantro, salad mix and curly green kale.  Premium shares receive broccoli, eggplant and dino kale.  Fruit shares receive grapes.  Flower shares are finished for the year and we anticipate our garlic thank you bunches going out in next week's boxes.

          We still have winter shares available, and we encourage you to extend your veggie eating pleasure on into the cold weather.  The winter share is a copious amount of food, enough to feed many for a long time.  Many of the roots are easy to store in a cool spot and the greens are like eating green gold at a time of year when local greens are a thing of the past.  Send in your sign up form or contact jenny at meadowlarks4@yahoo.com.  We also still have canning tomatoes, so it's not too late to consider filling your pantry or freezer tomatoes.  A half bushel is $18 and a bushel is $35.  Also, we have reordered the a-z cookbooks yet again.  This makes an even 100 that we've sold!  Can you believe it?  Consider ordering one for your winter cooking pleasure.

                                                WINTER SQUASH SALAD

-2 medium or 1 larger winter squash               -1/2 c. olive oil      -1/3 c. minced fresh cilantro

-6 TBL orange or tangerine juice                   -3 TBL maple syrup            -2 TBL candied or fresh ginger

-1/2 tsp salt                                                 -1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

-salad greens

Preheat oven to 375.  Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds.  Brush cut squash with olive oil. Place halves cut side down on a baking sheet and bake until tender, 30-45 minutes.  Cool completely, scoop out soft flesh and roughly chop.  Place in a bowl and set aside.  Combine olive oil, cilantro, oj, maple syrup, ginger salt and cayenne in a blender or food processor, blending well.  Pour the dressing over the squash and toss gently.  Chill at least 1 hour to let flavors meld.  Serve on a lightly tossed(with olive oil) bed of salad greens.

          For your info, we will continue on with boxes into October.  We play it by ear depending on the weather from now on out(first frost etc.), but anticipate at least 2 if not more boxes still to come.  Keep posted by reading this letter.  Thanks!  Love, the meadowlarks