Fall Shares Start 10/5, Farm2Table Tickets
You're not going to believe that I'm saying this, but last week was a perfect week weatherwise on the farm. It's rare when I'm happy with the weather, and although it got a little chilly a couple nights, I couldn't have asked for a more ideal week. The sun was shining and the fields dried out enough to be worked, weeded, and planted into, and then on Friday we got a well-timed rain to water the plants.
I've talked about this to a few people, but after that torrential end of June and first few weeks of July, we've had a good growing season with the weather. We need about an inch of rain a week to keep the crops happy and we've had that. The biggest problem was that we got so much rain in a condensed period of time, that for a few weeks after the downpours, everytime it rained was overflowing the cup. Now that the fields have had time to drain all that water, the weekly rains we've been getting have been perfect for the crops.
The farm is feeling under control again. Every August is the same--the farm is buried in weeds, the farmers are tired and hot, and the crops are entering their summer production. It's well known amongst farmers that August is one of the most difficult months to keep up with our endless lists, but then September rolls around, the crops peak, the air cools, the light changes, and the autumn winds start blowing in. A dry week was exactly what we needed to right the ship this week and be ready for fall cleanup. There's nothing better than farming in the fall!
Farm to Table Dinner Catered by Chef Arianne September 16th!
Our Farm to Table dinner is scheduled for September 16th and we have already started preparing for guests on the farm! We have 40 tickets available for the dinner, which includes a farm tour, live music, and local food and drinks.
We plan to serve the meal out in the field, with appetizers and refreshments offered in our barn to start the night. In the event of rain, we will host the dinner in the barn, as well. The schedule will go as follows:
4:45-5:15: Guests arrive, appetizers and refreshments in the barn with music
5:15-6:30: We tour the farm and point out specific beds where the nights produce was harvested from
6:30-8:00pm: Dinner is served. Guests are welcome to stay after dinner to keep chatting with the farmers.
The menu will feature:
Starters
▪Beet cream and parsley puree in nasturtium crisps
▪Corn and Saffron chips with celery chutney and black garlic cream
▪Grilled flank steak street tacos with pickled cabbage and cucumber salsa
Salad
▪Fresh corn and radish salad with raspberry vinaigrette over greens
Pasta Course
▪Goat cheese and sage filled homemade pasta with confit tomatoes
Main Course
▪White bean and herb puree with braised fennel and leeks
▪Beef tenderloin over zucchini cream and au jus
Deserts and Local Beverages Provided
Menu is subject to change. Please let us know upon signup if you have any dietary needs.
Dog Days Farm will be providing the beets, parsley, celery, garlic, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, radishes, salad greens, herbs, tomatoes, fennel, and leeks. All other menu items will be sourced from local farms wherever possible. Drinks and desert will be provided from local producers.
In addition to dinner, we will be raffling off a few gift baskets made up of items found at the Jaffrey and Keene farmers markets we attend. Diners will be automatically entered in the raffle when purchasing their ticket for the dinner.
The farms share of the proceeds will go towards the construction of a new propagation greenhouse that we are building this fall. There is a chance the ground prep has begun for construction. We will be showing the site of the new greenhouse on the tour.
Tickets are $125 per person. Please email me jack@dogdaysnh.com to reserve your spot and arrange payment. Space is limited.
Fall CSA Shares Start October 5th!
Our Fall CSA runs for 8 weeks from the beginning of October until the week of Thanksgiving. The fall share features all of the farmers favorite vegetables--potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, winter squash, spinach, lettuce, kale, broccoli, and plenty more sweet, cool weather crops.
We will be offering market style pickup for fall CSA shares on Wednesdays from 3:30-7:00pm.
There are pickup locations available for further out members in Peterborough, Harrisville, and Keene.
Space is limited to 75 CSA shares, of which we have 42 shares still available, so just over 50% of shares are remaining. Make sure to sign up while you still can!
Summer CSA Shares Week 12!
Delivery CSA Shares
Beets
Cherry Tomatoes
Eggplant
Garlic
Micro Greens
Onions
Peppers
Radishes
Spinach
Tomatoes
Bread: Honey Multigrain
Market Style Pickup
Members pick eight items for their basket + 1 herb + Jalapenos + 2 Garlic
Beets
Beans
Cabbage
Carrots
Chard
Celery
Cherry Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Greens Mix
Kale
Lettuce (Limited)
Microgreens
Onions
Peppers
Radishes (limited)
Squash + Zuchini
Tomatoes
Herbs
Basil
Dill
Parsley
Oregano
Sage
Thyme
Find us at the Market!
In addtion to our CSA and farm store, we also setup at three farmers markets throughout the week starting on Thursday mornings!
You can find our produce at:
Cheshire Medical Center in the Cafeteria
Thursdays 10am - 2pm
Jaffrey Farmers Market
Fridays 3pm - 6pm
Keene Farmers Market
Saturdays 9am - 1pm
RECIPE LINK:Roasted Beet and Radish Salad
Ingredients
2 red beets peeled and diced
1 cup radishes diced
2 Tbsp olive oil
Pinch each salt and pepper
½ cup feta cheese crumbled or diced,
2 Tbsp pesto
½ lemon
Instructions
Roast: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Dice beets and radishes, and spread onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper, tossing around a bit to evenly coat. Roast for 20 minutes, or until radishes are a bit tender (beets will still have some crunch)
Serve: Toss to combine roasted beets, radishes, feta, pesto, and the juice from half of a lemon. Serve warm or cold.
RECIPE LINK:Beet, Spinach, and Tomato Pasta Salad
Ingredients
▪2 Cups Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, Halved
▪1 Medium Gold Beet, Peeled and Spiralized
▪8 Ounces Rainbow Radiatori Pasta, Cooked, Rinsed in Cold Water, and Thoroughly Drained
▪4 Cups Baby Spinach
▪3 Scallions, Thinly Sliced
▪1 Clove Garlic, Very Finely Minced
▪1/4 Cup Avocado Oil
▪3 Tablespoons Sherry Vinegar
▪2 Tablespoons White Miso Paste
▪1/2 Cup Fresh Basil, Roughly Chopped
▪1/2 Teaspoon Salt
▪1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
As you might imagine, this pasta salad comes together very quickly and easily. If you’ve gone through the trouble of prepping the ingredients as listed, you probably aren’t even reading this instruction right now. That’s okay; I wouldn’t bother either. Simply toss everything together until well blended, and either enjoy immediately, or chill for up to 4 hours. Savor a taste of summer all over again.
RECIPE LINK:Spiced Baby Eggplants
This was a member submitted recipe to use the fairy tale eggplant that we offer in shares!
Ingredients
▪6 baby eggplants
▪1 tablespoon olive oil
▪1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
▪1 teaspoon ground cumin
▪1 teaspoon ground coriander
▪sea salt flakes
▪1 lemon
▪extra virgin olive oil, for serving
▪fresh parsley leaves, for serving
Instructions
While your oven preheats to 400°F (200°C), drizzle a tablespoon of ordinary olive oil over a baking tray. Sprinkle the coriander, cumin and chilli directly over the oil.
Slice the eggplants in half and place them cut side down into the oil, sliding them about a bit to pick up the flavourings. When the oven is ready, turn the eggplants cut side up and roast for 25 minutes.
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over, sprinkle with salt and some chopped parsley and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil just before serving.
In The Farm Store
Through the Summer the store will be stocked up on Thursday mornings!
Open to the Public.
Dawn - Dusk
Honor System
In the store this week:
Cherry Tomatoes
Turnips
Onions
Microgreens
Lettuce
Cabbage
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Squash & Zucchini
Fresh Herbs
Bread
Archway Farm Meats
Ice Cream
& Eggs!
Pickup Location for Archway Farm Meat CSA
I heard back from a few of you interested in an Archway Farm meat CSA share, so Mark has added the farm as an additional pickup location. Now if you want to sign up, you can pick up your meat share from the same place you get your veggies! It makes choosing what to make for dinner a breeze!
Visit www.Archway.farm to explore options and order a share delivered to the farm!
