Summer Summer Here We Come

I can't stop with the Anne Brown calf photos. This week, I give you Barbara, our oldest dairy cow (born in 2014) and her new baby Jersey heifer, Babs, who will join the milking string in about two years if all goes according to plan. Here, we put a lot of value on the genetics that work well in our system. With that in mind, we don't get too fancy in managing pedigrees. We just breed on the animals that have done the best for us at Essex Farm. Barbara is a perfect example. She has thrived here for twelve years -- which means she resisted all the common infections that cause chronic mastitis, and kept a healthy weight on grass alone, while producing a lot of milk; she got pregnant every year, and calved successfully every year. Because she's such a good match for our systems, getting another new heifer from Barbara is a cause for celebration. Babs will be this year's golden child of the calf nursery. Before we turn to this week's share, check out Barbara's udder. That bag has seen some action, I tell you, and it is currently giving a ridiculous amount of milk. 

Another cause for celebration? Strawberries have begun to ripen. There will be a few handfuls of ripe berries over the weekend in case you need a walk with a sweet treat when you pick up your groceries. Look out for signs by the farm store to direct you to the berry patch. These hot wet days will mean quick ripening/quick rotting so please stay tuned for announcements about picking. For new members: we open the patch for you to pick your own as soon as we have enough to make it worthwhile. If the patch ever exceeds the membership's ability to keep up with picking, we open it for limited public pick-your-own. But members come first. If you are physically unable to pick, we get 'em for you. If physically able members can pick a bit extra for those who can't do so, we greatly appreciate it. 

Beth says to tell you that we are officially in BIG LETTUCE now. The heads doubled in size in about four days. Eat your salads, people. Did you know the phrase salad days comes from Shakespeare? Act 1 of Antony and Cleopatra. She is talking about her youthful affair with Julius Caesar. "My salad days, When I was green in judgment, cold in blood."  Let's minimize the cold bloodedness where we can and lean into the Cesar (salads).  

We are trying to do better managing the limited asparagus distribution. We have run out over the weekend the last couple weeks. Please look for limits and be kind to the members who come after you. 

We won't distribute rhubarb this week, so we'll have enough for everyone once strawberries hit. :) And we're looking forward to our first garlic scape harvest, probably next week. 

Now, the meat update. We are slaughtering the year's first chickens as I type, and we will have them fresh (not frozen) for distribution this week. We got a nice load of lamb back from the butcher shop so have lots of that available. I'm very excited for lamb burgers this week. This is my windup to tell you we will not have beef available until we get our steers back from the butcher. We're sending them on the 17th, so we don't have too terribly long to wait, and lots of good things in the meat department between now and then. As always, please eat everything you have at home in your freezers before taking more meat from the farm. It is our most precious resource, and our free-choice share works because everyone is so conscientious. We really do have the best members.   

Butter is limited this week. Please check the labels. And as a reminder for everyone and especially our newest members, I'll paste the details of our color code system here again: 


GREEN tags mean take what you want, unlimited. For vegetables, this means we have enough for you to take extra for the freezer or for canning if you want to. It's great to get some of those hearty greens and herbs in the freezer at their peak! For meat and butter, we always ask that you only take what you need for the week, and eat anything you have in your freezer or fridge before taking more. 

YELLOW tags mean we have enough for everyone to take a reasonable amount for the week, but not enough for your winter stash, and if you go crazy we will run out. 

RED tags mean the item is limited and you should take only enough for one reasonable meal for your household this week. 

Talk to us if you need clarification. 

Here's more news you need to know: 

-Crown Point Bread and pastries will be here Friday afternoon. And remember, we are now on the summer bakery schedule, with Drifters Loaf delivery on Tuesdays, usually in the early afternoon, and Crown Point breads and pastries delivered on Fridays, usually around 5PM. 

Now I'm off to take Jane to her driver's test. Wish her luck! 
 

With love and gratitude, 
Kristin 

PS, If you are picking up over the weekend and notice we're out of or critically low on something, would you please send me a text at (518) 645-4658 so I can refresh it? Thank you! 

---

Estimated Availability for Members This Week 

• Green = abundant, eat with abandon

• Yellow = Somewhat limited supply, enjoy but don’t go nuts

• Red = Limited supply, take just enough for one meal

Vegetables

• Green group, abundant, eat with abandon

  Beets - Red and Gold
  Cabbage - Green, Red
  Carrots
  Celeriac
  Escarole
  Onions, Red and Yellow
  Parsnips 
  Potatoes - Gold, Red, White
  Rainbow Chard
  Rutabaga
  Salanova Lettuce Mix
  Shallots
  Winter Squash - Kabocha
  Herbs:
  Sorrel
  Lovage
  Chives
  Thyme
  Oregano
  Sage
  Peppermint
  Dill
  Cilantro
   

  Yellow group, somewhat limited supply    

  Basil
   

  Red group, limited availability this week  

  Asparagus

Value-Added Products  

• Kimchi
  Kraut
  Hot Sauce
  Frozen Tomatoes
  Lard
  Tallow
  Schmaltz

Eggs

• Unlimited and abundant 

Farmer Only Raw Dairy 

Our raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization.

Buttermilk
Skim Milk
Whole Milk
Yogurt
Fresh Cream
Sour Cream

Red group, limited availability this week  
Butter

Grassfed and Pastured Meat

• Meat:
  Pork - assorted
  Lamb - assorted
  Chicken - whole fresh
  Bones - beef
  Offal - pork, chicken, beef

• Grains, Beans & Dry Goods: 
  Everything not grown by Essex Farm is certified organic.
  Note: we have more products than we have room for on the grain table so check the buckets under the table if you're looking for something. Cornmeal and Pancake Mix are back!
  Beans- Black and Pinto
  Chickpeas
  Steel Cut Oats 
  Rolled Oats
  Essex Farm Popcorn
  Sea Salt (Cargill)
  White Bread Flour (Sutton)
  White Pastry Flour 
  Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
  Whole Wheat Bread Flour 
  Buckwheat Flour
  Cornmeal
  Pancake Mix

• Please be advised that consumption of raw or undercooked foods including meats, poultry, dairy, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

---

This Week's Share is Brought to You By: Seth Allen, Anne Brown, Gracie Broughton, Beth Davis, Will DeHaven, Catherine Eskilstark, Nicholas Johnson, Kristin Kimball, Mark Kimball, Barbara Kunzi, Joanie McMahon, Will Glaser Wilson. Thanks to Ted, Ken, Ben, Jackie, Will, Harmony, Sergei, Kathleen, Gwen, Charlie, and Barb for the help this week!