Forkful: August 2021 - Week 11

WHAT'S IN MY SHARE?

• Eggplant
• Cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Sweet Corn
• Cucumbers
• Salanova Lettuce
• Kale
• Basil

PICKUP LOCATIONS & TIMES
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​Hatfield Area Members 
​Bardwell Farm
49 Main Street - Hatfield, MA 01038

• Tuesdays & Fridays
• 3pm to 6pm
• Choice selected, curbside pickup & delivery

Center Fresh Chicopee Members
Center Fresh Chicopee Farmers Market
31 Springfield St - Chicopee, MA 01013

• Thursdays
• ​1pm to 6pm
• Pre-prepared tote pickup

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WEATHER ALERT
Monday - August 9, 2021
All-in-all it looks like it's going to be a nice week, but keep those umbrellas handy just in case folks!

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FIELD NOTES

Another dry week under our belts with plenty of sun. It helped move our tomatoes and eggplant along, so much so we are able to offer both in this week's share, but with good there is always a little bad. I can't believe I'm saying this after the July we had, but we can use a little rain to push our new fall plantings. It would be great for it to shower overnight maybe once every 3 days, just not 2 to 4 inches at a time. We shall see how the week unfolds.

I just did a quick walk through of our leek and brussels sprout fields and they pretty amazing right now. Brassica seedlings were planted not too long ago (above picture) and they are hanging in there. We also, seeded fall beets and spinach and this where the needed rain comes in, we need it for germination. Fingers crossed.

I'm not sure how many of you can veggies but we have 20lb boxes of tomatoes available now at the stand. They are perfect for sauce. There really is nothing like opening a jar during the winter months and making a big ol' bowl of spaghetti :)

See you soon!

Owner Harrison Bardwell

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WHAT TO USE FIRST​

• Kale - you want to eat your greens when they are at their darkest color, especially kale, you will always get the maximum benefit
• Sweet Corn - best eaten the same day, try to use within 2 days, husked corn should be refrigerated, stored loosely in plastic or brown paper bag keeping the end open
• Tomatoes - ripe, 1 to 5 days pantry and 5 to 7 refrigerator 
• Cauliflower - cut florets, 4-7 days in a plastic, refrigerator crisper drawer
• Lettuce - wash, dry, place in a container with a paper towel on the top and bottom, refrigerate in crisper, 5 to 10 days shelf life
• Cucumbers - don't wash until use, refrigerate in a plastic or paper bag keeping the end open, 5 to 7 days shelf life
• Eggplant - 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator crisper drawer
• Basil - up to 2 weeks, rolled in damp paper towel, ziploc bag, refrigerator

DID YOU KNOW: BASIL
Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese; a very good source of copper, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), and vitamin C; and a good source of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.

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​​LETS GET COOKING

5 RECIPES THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT EGGPLANT
Pasta Grammar | YouTube
5 Delicious Italian Eggplant Recipes, Full Course Eggplant Meal Plus Dessert!

more recipes:

• Smoky Eggplant Croquettes - New York Times
• Eggplant Pizza Rounds - Clean & Delicious
• Sweet Corn Risotto - New York Times
• Avocado Corn Salad - Natasha's Kitchen
• Creamy Corn Pasta with Basil - New York Times
• One-pot Basil Pasta - Tasty

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​​​​​WHATS GOING ON AT THE FARM

Cleaning another round of garlic!

Food Friday with Bardwell Farm burgers, lettuce, tomato and onion!

Prepping the field for planting!

Yellow and red plums hit the stand this past week!

Stacking heirloom tomatoes by variety in the wash/pack area!

Fall brassicas ready to be planted!

Picking lots and lots of field tomatoes by the five gallon buckets!

Balloons overhead during our last employee food Friday!

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CAN'T MAKE YOUR PICKUP DAY?
If you cannot make your pickup day a friend or family member can pick it up for you or for themselves.

Reminder: pickup days cannot be changed, the day that was chosen on the enrollment form will be your day for the 20 weeks of the program.

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7 DAY SUPPORT
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, need assistance or want to provide constructive criticism. Also, don’t be afraid to talk with your Bardwell Farm Representative in-person during a pick-up day. You can always contact us by using the links below. 
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(413) 800-5583
[email protected]