It’s the last fall distribution! It came early this year. We started the spring share a week early, maybe two weeks early? And it shifted everything forward. We are grateful to be close to the end, and it’s really the end for us this year. No Winter Share. We just didn’t have enough land to grow it . . .
But we will be at the Hopkinton Winter Market at Weston Nurseries on Saturday, 11/21 from 9am-1pm. Stop by for all your Thanksgiving needs!
Thanksgiving is going to be different this year. We usually spend it with family from Texas, Nevada, North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Obviously, that’s not going to happen. We will video chat, and it won’t be the same, but we will count our blessings none the less.
I finally got to manage a Thursday distribution last week. It was great to see so many of you. I’m sure you’ve heard me say it, but actually interacting with customers makes such a huge impact on my well-being. This year was a particularly challenging growing season – and I went a little too long without catching up with you all at a distribution. I’m so grateful for all of you, but I’d especially like to say thank you to members who have stuck with us through this transition year. It was a big change, and it meant everything to have your continued support. Tuesday members, I’m not sure I’ll be able to be there tomorrow, but let’s just take a moment to be thankful for Shannon (the lovely person who helps in the CSA stand on Tuesdays). She stepped up for us BIG TIME this year and made such positive impact on our operation. We are so grateful for Shannon.
What about next year, you ask? Well, we are just going to have to send another email about that. We are 95% certain we are buying a farm that will allow us to continue operations next year, bring back our winter share and expand to include greater food access and food justice work. And we’ll be able to continue our current CSA pick ups, hopefully with additional days and sites! Also, don’t worry about signing up for a share. We’ll give current members a chance to register first to make sure you don’t miss out.
We managed to do a child-free “retreat” in our kitchen to do some major planning this past week. Kevin and I are an excellent team. We’ve settled into our roles, trust each other, and see enough of each other that we usually are on the same page. Believe it or not, we don’t spend very much time together, it’s more like many moments of overlap throughout the day. It feels like such a luxury to sit together and plan/brainstorm without also doing other work, talking over a yelling child, falling alseep . . . We are hopeful we can take Upswing Farm to a whole other level next year.
Thank you for supporting us, for committing to the realities of not only seasonal production but also to a farm in flux. We couldn’t do this without you.
What’s in the share:
Potatoes (Sparrow Arc Farm) 4 pounds
Sweet Potatoes (Riverland Farm) 2 pounds
Onions 1.5 pound
Carrots (Copper Kettle Farm and Riverland Farm)
Cabbage (red, green or savoy)
Greens Choice: Kale, Frisee, Escarole
Arugula bunch
Head Lettuce: 2
Spinach: 1/2 pound
Mix and Match roots: Carrots (limit 2 pounds), watermelon radish, beets, rutabaga, sweet turnip, kohlrabi
| WATERMELON RADISH, ORANGE AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD | https://alexandracooks.com/2014/12/24/watermelon-radish-orange-goat-cheese-salad/ | This GORGEOUS salad was recommended by a fellow member. I will definitely be trying it! |
| CINNAMON BROWN SUGAR CARROTS | https://damndelicious.net/2015/11/18/cinnamon-brown-sugar-carrots/ | A perfect side dish for Thanksgiving. Sweet and cinnamony with a hint of orange. |
| WHOLE ROASTED CARROTS WITH FRESH GINGER | https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/whole-roasted-carrots-fresh-ginger | If you prefer a savory carrot dish, try these whole roasted carrots with a gingery kick. |
| RUTABAGA, CELERY ROOT AND POTATO GRATIN | https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/rutabaga-celery-root-and-potato-gratin | A fun twist on a traditional gratin. |
| CHEESY POTATO CASSEROLE WITH BUTTERY RITZ CRACKERS | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cheesy-potato-casserole/ | Take your mashed potatoes to a whole new level. This is a go-big-or-go-home Thanksgiving side dish. |
| EASY CREAMY AU GRATIN POTATOES | https://www.foodiecrush.com/au-gratin-potatoes/ | Not only are these easy, but they can also be made ahead! |
| THANKSGIVING KALE SALAD WITH MAPLE-ROSEMARY PECANS | https://loveleafco.com/thanksgiving-kale-salad/ | SO GOOD! A hearty kale salad with scrumptious maple-rosemary pecans, roasted butternut squash, feta, pomegranate seeds and mouthwatering maple-shallot vinaigrette. |
| ARUGULA STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN | https://www.giangiskitchen.com/recipe/arugula-stuffed-pork-tenderloin/ | Pork tenderloin stuffed with arugula, basil and mozzarella and topped with a creamy red wine sauce. |
| TATSOI WITH OYSTER SAUCE | https://www.pbs.org/food/recipes/tatsoi-oyster-sauce/ | Elevate your sauteed tatsoi with this umami packed oyster sauce. |
| FRISEE AND ESCAROLE SALAD | https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/antoni-porowski-frisee-escarole-salad-recipe | This light salad is a perfect side to balance out your Thanksgiving table. |
| ESCAROLE, BACON AND ROASTED SQUASH SALAD WITH DRIED APRICOTS AND PEPITAS | https://heatherchristo.com/2017/11/07/escarole-bacon-and-roasted-butternut-squash-salad-with-dried-apricots-and-pepitas/ | This is like Thanksgiving in a salad. |
| SWEET POTATO AND TURNIP MASH WITH SAGE BUTTER | https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250177/sweet-potato-turnip-mash-with-sage-butter/ | Sweet potatoes and turnip are the perfect match, especially when drizzled with sage butter. |
| KOHLRABI AND LEEK GRATIN | https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/275789/kohlrabi-gratin/ | Kohlrabi and leeks combine in this lighter gratin. |
| BEET FRITTERS WITH BEET GREENS YOGURT | https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/beet-fritters-with-beet-greens-yogurt | Crispy beet and potato fritters with a creamy yogurt sauce. All the yumminess of beets without the long roasting time. |
| ROASTED CABBAGE WITH WALNUTS AND PARMESAN | https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/11/roasted-cabbage-with-walnuts-and-parmesan/ | These are AMAZING. Crispy wedges drizzled with a lemony vinaigrette and dusted with parmesan cheese. My whole family complained when they heard what we were having but then gobbled them ALL down and asked for more. |
Upswing Farm 