CSA Mid-September!

You can't say we don't go out of our way for CSA. Last night, after both working a full day (Farmer Boy at the farm and me at my job) we took a ride to Elkhorn, Manitoba to pick apples for CSA. What's in Elkhorn, you ask? Well, an awesome little organic orchard called Clayton U-Pick Orchard. Ed and Marilyn Clayton retired from city life to a little piece of heaven south of Elkhorn and started an organic enterprise. We were there last night for the apples, but Ed and Marilyn also have strawberries, raspberries, cherries, honeyberries and plums (plus meat goats and chickens). We were fortunate to get a good pick on 'Prairie Sensation' apple, a new release from the University of Saskatchewan. A delightful sweet, juicy apple, 'Prairie Sensation' is great fresh but also cooks well and stores well. Ed is plugged in to the fruit world and we were lucky enough to be able to taste some other varieties he has which don't even have names yet. One that will probably be released soon that will probably be called 'Prairie Rose' was a winner in my book. It's a little tarter than 'Prairie Sensation', but crisp and juicy. It was more fully red, quite good looking. Clayton U-Pick Orchards is available for tours as well as u-pick; well worth the drive for a fine day in the country, as well as some good eating. Call them at 204-845-2584 to get hooked up.

Also, a treat for today's CSA - Menno and Evelyn Isaac are supplying a good haul of tomatoes for everybody. Menno and Evelyn are kind of our CSA mentors - they brought the concept to Brandon over fifteen years ago and ran the program until 'retiring' a couple of years ago. Menno grows incredible tomatoes in a hoop house system. He's the most popular guy at the Farmers' Markets because he's always first to market with beautiful, chemical-free tomatoes. We're so pleased he and Evelyn could share some with our families today!

Linda Boys has come through this week with beautiful red cabbage for everybody. She had a little pick of Brussels sprouts, but not enough to share. There should be some to share next week, though, if the weather stays as good as the forecast says!

So, for the FULL SHARES: 2 lbs. 'Prairie Sensation' apples, large bag of tomatoes, 3 lbs. Bintje white potatoes, 1.5 lbs. of assorted other potatoes, 1/2 lb. assorted beans, 3 onions, big bunch of carrots (or bunch of big carrots, depending on how you look at it!), red cabbage, 1 Papaya Pear, 1 zucchini or Moroccan summer squash, 1 assorted winter squash, mix of green and sweet banana peppers, 4 cobs of corn, cucumber, lettuce, basil.

For the PART SHARES: 2 lbs. 'Prairie Sensation' apples, large bag of tomatoes, 3 lbs. Bintje white potatoes, 1.5 lbs. of some other potato, 1/2 lbs beans, 3 onions, bunch of carrots, red cabbage, 1 Papaya Pear, 1 zucchini or Moroccan summer squash, 1 winter squash, green bell and yellow sweet banana peppers, 3 cobs corn, a cucumber, lettuce and basil.

We've done a tally and next week, September 22nd, will be the final share of the season! Come prepared for big stuff and bonus stuff. We're going to load everyone up with good keepers like dirty potatoes (washed ones are more prone to mold), onions and winter squash galore! We'll also should have a nice share of what's ripe and ready like our own tomatoes and what ever else we find! So, don't come on your bike if you don't have to, bring a couple of boxes and we'll see you next week!