Final Week of Spring CSA! Thank You Members!
We're at the final week of our Spring CSA, which means the Summer CSA is next up! But before we get to that, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Spring CSA members! I say it every year, but without our CSA membership, this farm would not be possible. Y'all are the lifeblood of the farm. By signing up before the season, you are putting your faith in us to grow your food before you see it, and that trust means a lot to me.
Something that I have tried to be cognizant of as the farm expanded our farm store and into farmers markets is to make sure CSA members are getting the dollar value they pay for ahead of time in return, plus some. I never want someone to pick up their share and realize "I could have gotten this cheaper if I bought it in the store." It's shaped the way I approach our CSA over the years and how I decide what and how much goes into each basket.
The goal is to provide 10% return on the initial investment into our farm, and this spring I am happy to report that we far exceeded that target, in fact, we reached the dollar value of the share in week 10, which means the last two weeks have been bonus produce for our members! The average cost of each weeks basket if you were to have bought it at our farmers market booth would be a little over $32, which means each week you saved $5 by signing up for the spring CSA, and over the course of the 12 week season that is $60!
Returning the value you paid for your share plus interest is the least I can do for our CSA members for giving us the opportunity to grow your food. I think I can speak for Joe, Rachel and I when I say that this is a labor of love and we love doing it. Your support early on in the season makes it all possible, so from all of us, THANK YOU!
Farm to Table Dinner Saturday, June 29th
Buy Tickets Here!
We are hosting two more farm to table dinners on the farm this season, one for the spring palate and one for fall. Chef Arianne of Rindge will be cooking again. The menu prominently features produce from our farm, as well as local protein from neighboring farms. There is something special about eating a meal prepared and served in the very same spot it was grown, and we had a great time last fall doing it.
Spring Farm to Table
Saturday, June 29th 4:00pm - 9:00pm
$125 per ticket
Four courses accompanied by live music and preceded with a tour of the farm as we gear up for the summer harvest season.
Menu
Starters
Rhubarb chutney tartletts with Parmesan espoma
Beet Basil and olive bread with herb dipping oil
Radish butter toast topped with black garlic molasses
Golden beet carpaccio and sesame crunch
First Course
Roasted carrot ginger soup with pepitas and microgreens
Second Course
Sweet pea gnocchi with tarragon pea cream
Third Course
Spring vegetables with mint and housemate halloumi
Grilled chicken or mushrooms with spring onion chimichurri
Final Course
Strawberry tiramisu or Strawberry rhubarb almond tart (gf, vegan)
Menu Subject to Change
The Plant Stand is Open!
We've got a great selection of cool season annuals and bedding plants in the stand at the moment.
We've got temps in the 40's and 50's through the full moon in May, which bodes well for avoiding a late frost. I've always been told that the full moon in May brings low temps, so going off that we're ready to start offering up our warm season annuals in the stand. Tomatoes, Dahlias, Verbena, Peppers, Cukes, and so much more! The greenhouse is open for shopping out of, as well. Stop on by!
In the stand now:
Tomato Varieties
We specialize in heirloom and cherry tomatoes and have a wide variety to choose from including:
Brandywine
Striped German
Japanese Black Trifele
Yellow Brandywine
Moskvich
Black Krim
Green Zebra
Cherokee Purple
Sungold
Super Sweet 100
Sunrise Bumblebee
Indigo Cherry Drops
Sunpeach
Black Cherry
Flowers
Begonias
Dahlias - 9 varieties!
Geranium
Pansies
Petunias
Snapdragons
Sunflowers
Zinnias
and more!
Veggies
Peppers
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Squash
Zucchini
Melons
Watermelons
Broccoli
Lettuce
Brussel Sprouts
Chard
Kale
Celery
Onions
Cabbage
Beets
and more!
Herbs
Basil
Thyme
Lavender
Oregano
Parsley
Check out the Farm Store!
Veggies Stocked Fresh Every Friday!
Still lots of beautiful tulip bouquets plus lots of other delicious veg!
In the store this week:
Radishes
Chard
Carrots
Head Lettuce
Kale
Lettuce Mix
Microgreens
Spicy Salad Mix
Tot Soi
Turnips
Tulips
Eggs
Ice Cream
and More!
Find Us at the Market!
The Keene market has started up for the season! The other two will start up in June!
You can find our produce at:
Cheshire Medical Center in the Cafeteria
Thursdays 10am - 2pm
June through November
Jaffrey Farmers Market
Fridays 3pm - 6pm
June through October
Keene Farmers Market
Saturdays 9am - 1pm
April through October
2024 CSA SHARES
Summer CSA Starts 6/12!
Summer Shares are just three weeks away! Members should expect to see some more email activity from me as the date draws closer.
We were out hoeing and cultivating all of the early beds planted for the CSA, trellising peas, and we'll be planting more and more each week now that the temperature has warmed up!
There are still a few CSA shares available. Sign up while you still can!
Spring Shares Week 12
Spring Shares Week 12
The last week! We're going to have some asparagus in shares this week but it won't be much as its still picking up steam in the field. I know a lot of our Spring members look forward to it each year, so I am offering our members one free bunch from the store or farmers market once the spring CSA has ended and before the summer CSA begins!
Spring Week 12
*Asparagus -- Limited quantity
* Baby Kale
* Carrots
* Chard
* Dill
* Lettuce Mix
* Microgreens
* Radishes
* Spicy Salad Mix
* Salad Turnips
Workshare With Us!
Want to help out on the farm and get a free basket of veggies each week? The workshare progarm is th perfect spot for you!
Our workshares trade a day a week on the farm in exchange for a CSA basket with eggs and bread included! We also do half days if folks would prefer a half CSA share. Although it is a lot of weeding workshares get to experience all the differenet aspects of the farm from planting, to harvest, to trellising, and more! We love having new folks on the farm and meeting our neighbors. Many of our workshares have even been coming back for years at this point!
If you're interested, send me an email at jack@dogdaysnh.com and I will get you more details!
Help Make our Produce More Accessible!
Dog Days Farm tries its best to serve all members of our community, and our members often do the same! Many of you have already contributed to the Share Care Fund, which we use to offset the cost of CSA shares that we donate, provide at a lower cost through the Monadnock Farmshare Program, and draw from when members are unable to finish paying for their share due to emergency.
The Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association (our local food pantry) buys CSA shares from us each year and the farm matches the amount of shares they purchase. We also work with the Jaffrey and Rindge Food Pantries to provide fresh produce during their pickup days.
I am extending the match offer to any member that would like to purchase a share for any of these organizations, the FDNA, Jaffrey Food Pantry, or Rindge Food Pantry. A half CSA share would be matched to make a full CSA share donated to one of the pantries, and a full CSA share would become two shares to the pantries.
If you would like to donate a CSA share to any of these local organizations, please send me an email jack@dogdaysnh.com and let me know the size share you would like to donate and to which pantry. We have long standing relationships with each one of them, and every summer we get to hear how happy their patrons are to see farm fresh produce as part of their weekly pickup!
