Dear CSA Member,

This time of year the weeks slip by so quickly.  The fall season share is very rewarding for us.  We are pulling out the crops that we carefully harvested, cured or dried and tucked away until fall.  The garlic has been curing by hanging in the eaves of the barn for months, the dry beans have been dried in the greenhouse.  Both will be in your share this week.

The dry beans are picked when they are just dry, spread on screens in the greenhouse until fully dry.  They are packed in bushel baskets and wait until fall.  They come to you in the shell.  Just break open the brittle shell and collect the dry beans.  The beans should be washed and soaked for at least an hour or I just leave them overnight.  To cook, cover with water and cook until tender. Fresh dry beans will not take as long to finish cooking as dry beans from the store. Don’t over cook them or they will be very soft.

Enjoy the vegetables - Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Vegetable Share (full share quantities)
Garlic - 2 bulbs

Turnips - 1 bunch  They are really good cooked and mashed on their own or mixed with potatoes

Potatoes - 2 pounds

Carrots - 1 pound

Collards - 1 bunch

Parsley - 1 bunch

Dry Beans - 1/2 pound

Fruit Share
1 bag
Stamen Apples
Winesap Apples
Mutsu Apples
Bosc Pears

Of special interest is the discussion of protected bike lanes on the Upper East Side.   The full city council is looking at redesign for 1st Ave transportation including rapid bus service and 2-way protected bike lanes.  The city has been making admirable strides in recent years to encourage safe and responsible biking.

My personal opinion is that a tremendous amount of public land, meaning the streets, have been given over to a small minority of residents and non-residents creating noise, pollution and safety issues.  We are dependent on cars and trucks for moving goods and labor and ourselves in and out of town, but the balance seems off when you see the number of vehicles on the road with only a driver and no passengers.

Whatever your opinion of the issues, make your voice heard by your elected and appointed officials.  If you cannot make the meeting, send an email to info@cb8m.com.

Full Board Meeting
Date: October 21, 2009
Begins: 06:30 PM
Ends: 10:00 PM

Type: Full Board Meeting
Location: Ramaz School, 125 East 85th Street, Auditorium
Ramaz School 125 East 85th Street, Auditorium
1. Public Session – Those who wish to speak during the Public Session must register to do so by 6:45 pm

2. Adoption of the Agenda

3. Adoption of the Minutes

4. Manhattan Borough President’s Report – Dan Benjoya

5. Elected Official’s Reports

6. Chair’s Report – Jackie Ludorf

7. District Manager’s Report-Latha Thompson

8. Selection of Nominating Committee

9. Committee Reports and Action Items:
• Transportation Committee-Jonathan Horn and Charles Warren, Co-Chairs
• Budget Committee-Roy Carlin and Barbara Chocky, Co-Chairs
• Landmarks Committee-David Liston and Jane Parshall, Co-Chairs

Dear CSA Member,

A bit of snow fell last night and the mountains are white.  I guess as this summer has gone, so will the fall.

Beautiful Kale in your share this week along with the sturdy root vegetables: potatoes, beets, carrots.  This will be the last of the winter squash.  We quickly harvested the last of the hot peppers before the frost.  If you would like to freeze any, this will be the last week that there are optional hot peppers. Some are very hot, so be fore warned.

The forms on line have been updated so you can order coffee along with the honey and maple syrup all on one form.  I know I write this every week, but please don’t wait until the last couple of weeks to order honey, maple and coffee.  Sometimes the mail can be a bit sluggish and we need to receive your order and send it with the vegetable deliveries.  The Winter Share Coffee Order form to accompany a Winter Sun Share is also on line at the farm website under the Coffee Share link.

Members have been inquiring about registration for 2010.  We are working on updating the web site registration and should be ready to start on line registration before the end of the 2009 season.  I will send the information to your site coordinators so they can pass the information on once we are ready to open registration.  We are so happy that there are so many members that are eager to register for the next season.

Bundle up and enjoy the vegetables-Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Vegetable Share (full share quantities)
Beets - 1 bunch

Carrots - 1 pound

Potatoes - 2 pounds

Shallots - 2

Winter Squash - 1

Kale - 1 bunch

Sage - 1 bunch

Broccoli - 1

Hot Peppers - take them if you like

Fruit Share
1 bag
Golden Delicious Apples
Empire Apples
Bosc Pears