Book Bugs on the Farm and a little snapshot into Cole & Kirsten's trip to NZ

If you have a little person hanging out with you on Fridays in the morning, consider joining Kira for our monthly Book Bugs on the Farm program. It starts at 10:30 and lasts for an hour or so. It costs $5/kid. Kira reads a fun seasonal book, does a neat craft based on the book and/or goes on a short hike to visit some part of the farm. Snacks are also provided. Our next book bugs program is happening this Friday, December 2nd so come down and see us!

As many of you know, Cole and Kirsten headed to New Zealand at the beginning of the month to hike and birdwatch and to farm! Don't worry, we haven't lost them, they will be back in March to farm with us again. They are providing us with updates and pictures of their adventures! They were not in the quake zone that rocked the south island in the middle of the month and have been trekking about seeing the beautiful country that brought the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit to vivid life. 

Cole: We are doing well here, took a break from hiking every day to do a little WWOOFing and now we are staying at a funny little farm in the middle of Rohan. Edoras is just down the road and our hosts have promised to take us horseback riding through the country and show us all of the filming locations. So far we've camped at Ithilien and trekked alongside the Anduin river... it's  actually a beautiful lake but it's filmed to look like a river. Also hiked up to the edge of the Fangorn forest and Isengard, as well as to the walls of Helm's Deep! Kirsten is tolerating my inner nerd very well and we have lots more in store for the near future. In all seriousness though we miss the farm like crazy and please tell everyone we said howdy.

The farm is slowly winding down and closing up for the winter. Our farmstore is mostly closed down, though there will be a cooler of eggs parked in front of the barn with a little tin inside for you to stick some cash in. I will probably have some things available for sale from the root cellar during the bi-weekly Meat CSA pick-up times with the first one on Tuesday, December 12th from 2-6p. I will try and post a reminder and a list of what I have available.
Save the DATE: We have a fun, historical winter celebration coming up on the farm- join us for Saturnalia on December 17th starting at 3 pm. We will not be doing all of the traditional aspects of the feast of Saturn (no sacrifices), but we will be reveling, making felt hats and campfire with s'mores and hot chocolate!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to support your local artisans, craftsman, bakers and farmers this holiday season!

Thanksgiving Boxed Shares & Farmstand Offerings

Hello CSA and Farm community! The warmth of this autumn has been a blessing for the veggies. We have a lot of gorgeous greens and roots for your upcoming holiday meal.
Leaf, butterhead and romaine lettuces, daikon and red radish, salad turnip, carrots, potatoes, bok choi, kale,

swiss chard, broccoli, romanesco, celery, cabbage, garlic, winter squash, herbs: parsley, sage, oregano.
Come visit us on Tuesday from 2-5 and pick up your local veggies for Thanksgiving. Or place an order for a special packed Thanksgiving Boxed Share (veggies grown by all of us farmers at the Trustees- so Appleton, Powisset and Chestnut) and I will have it packed and ready for you to pick up on Monday (or Tuesday since the farmstand will be open!).

I'm happy to announce a Thanksgiving CSA Share of great fall veggies: some grown right here at Chestnut Hill Farm, with the rest of the food coming from our friends and colleagues at Powisset Farm in Dover and Appleton Farms in Ipswich. 

• This share is a 1-time pickup on Monday, November 21: a mix of lovely fall foods, from potatoes, beets, and carrots to lettuce and kale, herbs, winter squash, and more, just in time for Thanksgiving! 
• Cost is $50 per CSA share.
• Additional local goodies (honey, maple syrup, etc.) can be ordered via the signup form for delivery with the CSA share.
• Please pay by check (make out to The Trustees) at the time of pickup. Please total the cost of your CSA Box, along with any additional items you may select.
• All vegetables are raised with care at our farms and grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
• We need your signup by Wednesday, November 16 so we can plan for harvest and deliveries. 

Shares will be ready for pickup at Chestnut Hill Farm on Monday, November 21, from 2-5pm. 

Sign up here.

Next Tuesday will be the last regular farmstand of the season- though we will continue to have limited offerings on Tuesdays during Meat CSA pickups, including eggs, our honey, maple syrup and tomato puree.

And eggs- your cakes, pies, puddings and other eggie delights will be masterpieces using our high quality farm eggs from our pasture-raised hens. Dark orange yolks, stand-up whites (wow, meringue!) and incredible rich flavor. They truly make a difference for the better in recipes (and for eating, of course).

While we still have Saturnalia in December here on the farm. Please don't forget that your Trustees membership gets you free or reduced entry fees into workshops, classes and more ALL winter long at other Trustees properties. Don't miss this opportunity to take an art class, go on a hike with a specialist, or tour one of the gorgeous historic houses our organization maintains. Ski at Notchview!!!!! It is one of my favorite places in the world and it only has gotten better- the cross country skiing is amazing, but I've also attended beautiful weddings, gone on summer hikes and more.
This past weekend, Gwyn and I jumped in the car and headed to Rocky Woods down in Medfield to see Creature Teachers and their incredible animals. We got to pet a flying squirrel!!!!a porcupine!!!! and see a gray fox (rarely ever seen because they prefer the woods and are very well camouflaged) and more. It was fabulous and I have to say that I have yet to be disappointed by a Trustees venue (I get the member discount too).
So. Grab up the program guides that come in the mail or check out the website Trustees-Things to Do and find something cool and fun!

New Farmstand Hours

Morning silo, photo credit: Tony Davis

Thank you for such an awesome season and for sticking with us through drought and heat, rain and cold. It has been awesome getting to know this CSA community. We will be keeping our farmstand open for as long as we can to the week of Thanksgiving. We will have slightly different hours....and the produce will run to roots and cold-hardy greens such as kales and cabbage, salad greens and more. Our eggs will also be available and anything I can keep from freezing in the farmstand!

New Hours:
Tuesdays -3-5
Fridays 3-5 (FARMSTAND WILL BE OPEN DURING NOVEMBER'S FRIDAY MORNING BOOK BUGS NOVEMBER 4TH!)
Saturdays 10-1 (unless there is an event, in which case we will be open earlier or later as the case may be)

Fall ideas: Coming to the Farmstand? Walk our quiet, easy trails that meander through the woods before you come. The woods are soft this time of year with their new carpet of leaves, and acorns, mushrooms and fairy houses abound. The deer have returned to eat the acorns and slip through the young trees like secrets.
Bring the kids- even the steepest trail is easy for young children.

walk in the woods, photo credit: Tony Davis

 Come to one of our EVENTS this fall and winter. If you are a member you get free or reduced cost and they are so worth it. We have a lot of fun figuring out what to offer, but if you have any ideas, please let us know what you would like to see offered here. Open to series programs, homeschool programs, arts, etc. Contact me, ddubois@thetrustees.org or Kira, kbaker@thetrustees.org.
In the meantime:
Book Bugs is still happening on the farm on the first Friday of both November and December. Kira chooses an awesome book and then builds an hour of fun for young kids which includes a snack and a fun craft project. First Fridays from 1030-1130. These take place outside as long as the weather is fine- but will meet in the greenhouse if the weather is not!
November 5th is the Great Pumpkin Chuck! Come out from 1-3 and see how far our Trebuchet can pitch your old pumpkin! $5/each
We are reviving the Saturnalia Fest here on the farm in December- come join us for a totally different sort of winter holiday festivity! We will have our campfire going (with s'mores and more) while we learn about this Roman feast day in honor of the Titan of Agriculture. We'll light candles, play games, have a feast by the fire, and learn to make our own plieus, felt hats worn by all Saturnalia revelers! 

Meat CSA

Meat CSA sign-ups are still available. Don't miss out on some delicious meats raised on Trustees farms! For more information check the link above. 

Stay Warm everyone!!!