Order by: October 20th
Delivery on: October 26th
www.csalewiswaitefarm.com
Nancy’s Note:
We had a full series of activities of really various natures last week. Friday we were interviewed first thing in the morning by Andrea from Inwood for her article in their upcoming newsletter. It is always fun to talk about our farm and life with those of you who are far away from us and have a vastly different lifestyle. It seems that many of the folks we do get to talk with do have a farming background in their past or their family past. Maybe it will be posted soon at http://www.inwoodcsa.org/. Check it out.
Then Dave our NOFA_NY Organic Certification inspector came for his annual visit, tour, and discussion of our projects of the last year and new project ideas. Our applications are due each March and then in the summer, the inspectors make their rounds to the farms and make sure we are doing all things described in the lengthy applications and supplemental forms of practices we fill out. After the initial interview, he and Alan inspected the pastures and hayfields, barns where we store our hay and our purchased hay. They also toured the new fields of our friends Meno and Betty who have been having us hay their seven fields for three years now. These new fields need extra documentation to begin the 3 year period of application of organic certification. These fields already have had no non-organic treatments but the 3 years allows for a resting period in any case before certification is given. Dave spent about 3 hours here and left us with a few additional forms to fill out to complete our certification requirements for this year. We are so glad that we have done this each year.
Then in the afternoon I started my rounds of the cheese makers, farmers market, apple orchard and vegetable patch for the snacks we offer at the annual ASA fundraiser called Landscapes for Landsake. Many artists from the region apply to be in the show each and this is the ninth year of its existence. This year there were over 300 paintings shown to a giant audience of over 800 people over the three days of the event. There was a Friday night catered preview party and the giant Saturday opening with wine, cheese, kielbasa, bread, apples, and carrots snacks. The weekend was brilliant days with peak foliage and a ready audience who purchased over 70 paintings. Each year I help to gather the ingredients for the Saturday snack table including cheese from the Washington County cheese makers who are part of the annual cheese tour here. It is a very fun community event. The ASA land trust’s mission is to preserve the farmland in our region. The event is full of great landscape and animal paintings, sculptures and pottery inspired by our scenery.
So we got our delivery down the road on the following Tuesday and are grateful for the small rest period we get between then and next Thursday when we go again. Although yesterday was hardly restful when Caroline, Doris and I took in and catalogued, packed and put away a ton of beef!! Our backs were tired and I for one went to bed pretty early!!
Today is a round up of the herd just to keep us limber!!
We hope you are having as much fun as we are and welcome you to come and visit someday. On Friday afternoon the Farmer Outreach group from Just Food is coming for a tour! Have fun and enjoy the lovely weather and colors and sunsets of Fall.
Nancy and Alan
Turkeys:
We are gearing up for Thanksgiving, and have opened up Turkey orders on our website. Please use the special menu item for placing Turkey orders, and place you regular orders the regular way! See the Turkey flyer at the bottom of this email for more instructions.
Product Updates:
Lewis Waite Farm—Well, we’re going to try out some bulk beef sausages! We are getting the new beef back yesterday, and will have it on the website before the end of the week, which means skirt steaks and hanger steaks will be available for ordering too.
Joint Venture Chickens-We’ve restocked on Joint Venture Chickens, so if you missed them check again.
Beth’s Farm Kitchen- We just got in more Jams and Jellies, too, so if we were out look again.
Goats’ Milk Cheeses—Jeffrey is winding down for the season, so order your chevre while it lasts
Lamb Sausage—West River Creamery has just gotten their sausage back in stock, so take a look for the lamb, red wine and feta, the pork and garlic parmesan, and the pork and VT maple breakfast sausage.