WEATHER ALERTS
Monday - August 31, 2020
The weather is looking pretty good this week, but keep an umbrella handy just in case folks! 

Cool early Morning harvest  

The first of September is tomorrow and with it comes the cool mornings and dry warm days. We are finally wearing our Bardwell Farm hoodies and it feels so good. It won't be long before the pumpkin harvest and Pumpkin Days begin, our favorite time of the year!

Fall is just around the corner and we are busy getting ready for a number of things. The last of the fall plantings are going in and we are cover cropping, but something really exciting is happening in one of our high tunnels. We are beginning to plant our first winter crop. That's right, it will be the first year we will be open for business year round! We are still working on the logistics of how these products will be made available to you but the groundwork is in place. Stay tuned.

Speaking of fall, we are including a taste this week with our spaghetti squash and Pine Hill Orchard apples, enjoy!
​
Harrison Bardwell

SPAGHETTI SQUASH 4 WAYS, EASY DINNERS FOR 2
YouTube | Tasty
4 easy, satisfying, and inexpensive meals for the busy work week!

more recipes:

• How To Cook Spaghetti Squash - Love & Lemons
• Chicken and Broccoli Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash - Katie Lee
• How To Cook Bok Choy - Jessica Gavin
• Braised Baby Bok Choy - Healthy Recipes
• Garlicky Green Beans & Crispy Onions - Delish
• Cheesy Green Beans - Peas & Crayons
• Upside-Down Apple Bacon Pancake - Taste of Home
• Apple Pie Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream - Taste of Home
  

WEATHER ALERTS
Sunday - August 23, 2020
Potential for thunderstorms and rain showers this week, be sure to bring your umbrella folks!

Fall settings are beginning to pop through the soil

As I write this we have thunderstorms to our north and south and we are hoping for much needed rain. The fields again have desert like conditions and we need that precipitation to move things along.   

On a happy note, we're so excited this week to be featuring our very own celery and yellow onions, two more firsts for our farm :) 

Week 13 begins tomorrow, see you all soon!

​WHAT TO USE FIRST 

• Tomatoes - turning ripe 3 to 5 days countertop, ripe 7 days in refrigerator
  
• Kale - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer, longer in water
• Squash - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Peppers - 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Onions - up to 2 weeks, peeled in fridge, weeks, unpeeled, cool dry place
• Herbs - up to 2 weeks, rolled in damp paper towel, ziploc bag, refrigerator
• Cabbage - up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Potatoes -  3 to 5 weeks in the pantry, 3 to 4 months in the refrigerator
• Celery - 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator

DID YOU KNOW
Celery helps lower cholesterol, lower inflammation, helps prevent high blood pressure, ulcers, and protect liver health, proven beneficial in weight loss, boost your digestion and may help prevent cancer. Sounds like a super food doesn't it!

The Food Lab: How to Roast the Best Potatoes of Your Life
YouTube | Serious Eats
These roast potatoes maximize the crisp-to-creamy contrast in each chunk of potato!

more recipes...

• Cheese & Herb Potato Fans - Taste of Home
• Five Ingredient Potato Gratin - Woman's Day
• Dill Pickle Potato Salad - Country Living
• Cabbage, Sausage & Potato Soup - Give Me Some Oven
• 30-Minute Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet- Kitchn
• Egg Roll Bowls - Delish
• Italian Stuffed Patty Pan Squash - Country Living
• Patty Pan Squash Fritters - Food
• Stir Fry Chinese Celery - The Spruce Eats
• Braised Celery - Food Network

Just finished a fall planting of beets with the MaterMacc

​​It's hard to believe but fall is just over one month away. Our winter squash and pumpkins are looking great and we've even begun turning over one of the high tunnels for fall/winter production. Even the weather lately has felt a little fall like. The last couple of days was actually a pleasure to work outdoors without sweating to death!

Well, we are back in the same boat and we are in desperate need of rain. The little bit we received today wasn't enough and we could really use a good soaking. We've been irrigating as much as we can but it's been difficult. You need moisture for seeds to germinate, seedlings to survive, and to sustain mature plants. Maybe put in a word or two with the big man for us, we could definitely use it.

WHAT TO USE FIRST 

• Sweet Corn - 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator
• Tomatoes - turning ripe 3 to 5 days countertop, ripe 7 days in refrigerator 
• Cauliflower - cut florets, 4-7 days in a plastic, refrigerator crisper drawer
• Eggplant - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer 
• Swiss Chard - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Scallions - up to 1 week, unwashed, in refrigerator crisper drawer
• Cucumbers - 1 week, unwashed, plastic bag, in the refrigerator crisper drawer​
• Herbs - up to 2 weeks, rolled in damp paper towel, ziploc bag, refrigerator
• Garlic - whole head of garlic unpeeled will last up to 6 months

DID YOU KNOW
Eggplant is part of the nightshade family, along with tomatoes, and potatoes, and all edible members of that family are actually fruit.

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER
YouTube | Tasty
This is an awesome buffalo chicken recipe alternative!

more recipes

• ​Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - Delish
• Cauliflower Leek Soup - Delish
• Cheesy Pull-Apart Eggplant - Cooking Light
• Eggplant, Tomato, and Pesto Stack - epicurious
• Eggplant Fritters with Honey - epicurious
• Tomato Pie - Simply Recipes
  

FARM2TABLE SPOTLIGHT

TOMATO SALE
All this week slicing tomatoes 20lb case GRADE A $25.00 and 20lb case GRADE B $20.00, call to order or speak with your Bardwell Farm rep!

SWEET CORN SALE
One dozen long day sweet corn $6.00 dozen or .75 ear!

BARTS ICE CREAM
We have 3 new Barts Ice Cream pint flavors, Local Peach (Apex Orchards), Local Blueberry (Burnt Hill Farm), and Local Strawberry (Warner Farm)! Amazing when all three are served together :)

WEATHER ALERTS
Monday - August 10, 2020
Not a hurricane or tropical storm in sight, we now resume our regularly scheduled program :)

Hurricane Isaias rolled through Western Massachusetts with tropical storm force winds

Tropical Storm Isaias threw a wrench into last week's CSA plans and we want to thank everyone for their support. We never served 100 shares before in a 3 hour period and it was a learning experience for all of us. We know there was a substantial wait in the queue and we appreciate everyone being so patient and kind. We are back on schedule this week and looking forward to some quality time with our favorite people! 

Our tomatoes are finally beginning to ripen and we're happy to offer specialties and slicers in the week's share. Our very own leeks will be featured too, they are another first for us, and you will be the first to give them a taste :)

See you all soon!

Owner Harrison Bardwell

WHAT TO USE FIRST 

• Sweet Corn - 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator
• Tomatoes - turning ripe 3 to 5 days countertop, ripe 7 days in refrigerator  
• Kale - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer, longer in water
• Scallions - up to 1 week, unwashed, in refrigerator crisper drawer
• Cucumbers - 1 week, unwashed, plastic bag, in the refrigerator crisper drawer​
• Beets - up to 10 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Herbs - up to 2 weeks, rolled in damp paper towel, ziploc bag, refrigerator
• Leeks - refrigerate in a closed paper bag, up to 2 weeks​​​

DID YOU KNOW:
Leeks have a mild, onion-like taste. In their raw state, the vegetable is crunchy and firm. The edible portions of the leek are the white base of the leaves (above the roots and stem base), the light green parts, and to a lesser extent the dark green parts of the leaves. The dark green leaves can be used in stocks and soups.

HOW TO CLEAN LEEKS FOR BEGINNERS
Food Network | YouTube
Leeks are a delicious vegetable, but they're grown in sandy soil, so they need a good cleaning before you use them in recipes.

more recipes:

• Creamy One-Pot Spaghetti with Leeks - delish.com
• Caramelized-Leek and Bacon Pizza - delish.com
• Marinated Cherry Tomatoes - Peas & Crayons
• Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta - Spend with Pennies
• Beet Latkes - Martha Stewart
• Red Flannel Hash - Taste of Home
• Mexican Kale Salad - IFOODREAL
• Summer Peach & Kale Salad - Mid Life Croissant

We've added more locally sourced fruit at the stand!

Yellow Peaches - Pine Hill Orchards - Colrain, MA
White Peaches - Smiarowski Farm - Hatfield, MA
Donut Peaches - Smiarowski Farm - Hatfield, MA
Nectarines - Pine Hill Orchards - Colrain, MA
Sugar Plums - Smiarowski Farm - Hatfield, MA
Bella Vista Apples - Pine Hill Orchards - Colrain, MA
Watermelons - Riverland Farm - Sunderland, MA
Blueberries - Sobieski's Farm - Whatley, MA

WHAT'S IN MY SHARE?

• Blueberries
• Bok Choy (choice)
• Peppers
• Lettuce (choice)
• Radishes
• Sweet Corn
• Cucumbers (choice)
• Herbs
• Flowers

​
DAYS & TIMES
Tuesdays & Fridays
3:00pm to 6:00pm

PICK-UP LOCATION
Bardwell Farm
49 Main Street - Hatfield, MA 01038

CAN'T MAKE YOUR PICKUP DAY?
Please call or message us and we'll make arrangements for you to pick-up your share at another time.
​
​(413) 800-5583
bardwellfarm@gmail.com

Hurricane Isaias barrels up the east coast | Weather.com

Hey there folks, there is still some uncertainty of the track of Hurricane Isaias and the effect it may have on Western Massachusetts. Out of caution and safety please stay tuned to social media and your email inboxes for info on pickup day cancellations and/or date changes.

On to the notes...

It's Week 10 and believe it or not we are halfway through the farm share. Where is this summer going? In less than 2 short months the pumpkins will be in and we'll be drinking our spiced lattes, and eating apple cider donuts, but I digress. We still have 10 weeks left to savor all of the farmy goodness!

Soil sampling has begun for our fall spinach, overwintering onions, beets, and storage crops. We've also been turning-over our spring fields and planting cover crops of sorghum and sudangrass, buckwheat, oats, and tillage radish, as well as sunflowers. These cover crops help build organic matter and preserve the soil as it rests.

The science behind cover crops is absolutely amazing. I know I have mentioned this before but for the people who have not heard about it yet, the next movie you should see is The Biggest Little Farm. Cover crops played a BIG role in bringing this farm's ecosystem back from the dead. Check out the 10 minute preview below! Awesome movie. Let us know if you like it :)

WHAT TO USE FIRST 

• Sweet Corn - 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator
• Bok Choy - 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Cucumbers - 1 week, unwashed, plastic bag, in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Lettuce - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• ​Radishes - 7 to 10 days unwashed, refrigerator crisper drawer, longer in water
• Peppers - 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Herbs - up to 2 weeks, rolled in damp paper towel, ziploc bag, refrigerator

​
TIP: BLUEBERRIES
Put your container of blueberries in the fridge, keep them from the crisper drawer, the air doesn't circulate too well. Depending on how ripe they were when you bought them, the blueberries will stay good for up to a week when stored this way.

BLUEBERRY BUCKLE
YouTube | Alton Brown | Food Network
We we want to wake up to Alton's Blueberry Buckle every day!

more recipes:

• ​White Balsamic Blueberry, Corn and Feta Salad - Taste of Home
• Lemon Blueberry Cornmeal Cake - Taste of Home
• How to Cook Bok Choy 3 Ways - Taste of Home
• Bok Choy Risotto - Letty's Kitchen
• Taco Pickled Radishes - The Sea Salt
• Loaded Radishes - That Low Carb Life
• Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers - Damn Delicious
• Marinated Roasted Red Bell Peppers - Cookin' It Real

6 THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK ​