2022 CSA Season Week Twenty-Four

November 18, 2022

Welcome to the last week of the 2022 CSA Season! It’s been such a pleasure to join all of you on your food journey this year, and we’ve loved sharing the farm’s healthy harvest with you! We hope this last box will be just as exciting for all of you as it is for us.

Special Announcements:

We’ve made it to the last week! As you pick up your shares this week, please make sure you return all bins or anything you’ve borrowed from the pickup site. We will come around to all the residential sites early next week before celebrating the holidays to pick up any bins that may have been returned over the weekend. Still check your name off the list so we know you got your share, and be sure to thank your site host! It’s been so great working with you all this year, and our site hosts have been absolutely amazing!

This is the last week we’ll be at the King Market in Portland, but if any of our Portland or Coast members are craving Winter Green veggies during the off-season and will be in Eugene, come see us at the Lane County Farmers’ Market! We will be there until right before Christmas, then we’ll be back after the new year. We would love to see you!

A Huge “Thank You” to all of our members, site hosts, and crew!

This year has been wonderful, though full of its unique challenges. The weather has refused to cooperate most of the season, we’ve been a bit short-staffed at times, we started two brand new computer systems, and we had to step away from one of our markets. But through it all, you guys have been the best! We could not ask for better members, and we cannot tell you how much we appreciate your kindness and understanding as we figured our way through this season. Our wonderful site hosts have graciously donated their homes and time for the CSA, and each and every one of you was a pleasure to work with this year. We couldn’t have gotten through the season without you! And last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to the Winter Green Farm crew. They worked tirelessly this season, rain or shine (and now freezing cold!) to make sure we got you as many delicious veggies as we could this year. We are so blessed to have so many amazing people associated with the farm, and we look forward to many more years to come!

Since this is the last week of the season, today was our last packing day! From our box crew to all of you, we’d like to say thank you so much for a wonderful season, and we wish you all the best for the holidays!

Are you interested in joining us for the 2023 CSA Season?

We are making a list of current CSA members who would like to join us for the 2023 season! If you’re interested, send me an email or reply to this newsletter to let me know and I’ll add you to the list. If you would like to change your share type or delivery site for next year, please note that in the email, otherwise I will go ahead and reserve your spot for the same share as this year. More information will go out after this season, and then again after the new year as next season gets closer. Just remember, I can’t automatically hold your spot unless you say so, so make sure to let me know!

Still on the fence? Keep an eye on your email! I’ll continue to send out the weekly newsletter into the off season, which will contain information you’ll need to know regarding next season. We would love to have you with us again next season! Spots will fill up fast, especially at the Eugene Farm Stand or the Extended Season program, so if you’re interested in joining us next year, please be sure to let me know!

We’ll have apples in your final box this week!

We’ve partnered with Mt. Hood Organic Farms to bring you apples these next two weeks! Mt. Hood Organic Farms is located at the base of Mt. Hood in the Upper Hood River Valley. They’ve been around since the turn of the century, and their gorgeous grounds are perfect for both growing fruit and hosting beautiful wedding venues. Their pear and apple orchards boast near one hundred different varieties, and we’re so thrilled we get to offer you a taste of their magnificent, organic, biodynamic produce. If you’d like to know more, visit their website to learn more about their awesome operation!

A huge thank you to Mt. Hood Organic Farms! They have been absolutely wonderful to work with this season!

Would you like to be a site host next year? Let us know!

Tianna and Travis, our amazing site hosts, have let us know they will be moving from their Wingate Street home. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to work with us for the 2023 CSA Season. We truly appreciate everything they’ve done for us this season, and it’s been a pleasure to have them as site hosts. Thank you, Tianna and Travis, for stepping up this year and donating your time and home this season! It’s been wonderful working with you!

If you’re interested in becoming a Winter Green Farm site host in the Wingate Street or Bedford Way area (over near Oakway and Coburg Road), please let us know! We would love to hear from you!

What’s going on at the farm right now?

We have burdock out our ears! Right now the burdock harvest is in full swing, and our crew is working hard to get it ready for market as we wind down our CSA Season and head into the off-season. What do you use burdock for? Lots of things! Burdock can be sliced and cooked in stir fries, or used in herbal tea and home remedies for colds and sore throats. We should have burdock at our markets in the coming weeks, so if you’re interested in trying it out, come see us!

Handy Tips for Burdock Root:

Store unwashed burdock root in a plastic bag in your refrigerator for up to one week. Burdock root must be soaked and cooked before eating. Scrub the roots well with a vegetable brush (do not peel; the skin has lots of nutrients), slice thinly or grate, and soak for 10 to 30 minutes in water. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to prevent discoloration. Add sliced roots to soup and stews (a delicious and healthy addition to Miso soup). Grated burdock combines well when cooked with carrots, brown rice, and mushrooms. Grated or sliced burdock adds an earthy flavor to stir-fries or root roasts with several other vegetables. Burdock root can also be deep-fried in tempura batter alone or with other vegetables.

What’s in the box this week?

  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Potatoes
  • Leeks
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Celeriac
  • Apples
  • Parsley
  • Kale

Some sites only:

  • Red Kuri Squash
  • Butternut squash

We aren’t always able to harvest our veggies in equal share, but we’ve done our very best this season. Lots of rain, heat, and cold snaps have not helped us much, but our crew has worked hard to get you as many Winter Green veggies as possible this season. We hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as we have!

What we’re making this week:

  • Try this Kale Madeline for a cheesy addition to your Thanksgiving meal!

What are you making?

I made this beef pot pie last week with a bunch of Winter Green veggies. It turned out great! What are you making? Send us pictures or your favorite dishes and holiday meals, and you might see them on the blog or social media! You can follow us on Facebook (Winter Green Farm) or on Instagram (@wintergreenfarm), or send us an email at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you and see what you’re cooking up!

Quick question:

I’ve been kicking around the idea of creating a calendar and/or a planner with pictures from Winter Green Farm, that would also include important CSA dates and market days. Is that something any of you would be interested in for next season? Let me know!

Thank you so much for joining us this season! It’s been such a pleasure, and it was so wonderful to meet so many of you in person at the Eugene Farm Stand and our potlucks this year. We look forward to seeing you all again next season!

Many blessings,

Chelsea and your Winter Green farmers