Author: Bryan Housel

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – September 25, 2023

Hi Everyone! Oh, Ophelia!  What more do I need to say?  As Dylan wrote – “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”. We are doing the best we can for you, despite all the challenges raining down on us.  We continue to slog through the mud to bring in the crops. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – September 18, 2023

Hello Folks! We had four rain-free days last week and by Sunday it had dried out enough for me to plant some seeds. It is coming to the end of the season for planting – even for crops that tolerate the cold, they just grow too slowly. This is especially true of spinach – it likes cool weather, but it grows much better in the spring as the days are getting longer. This is why I planted a quarter of an acre of spinach in late August. It germinated nicely, but it was almost all killed by the wet soil conditions. If this last planting fares better, it will be ready in November! I will continue to plant radishes, arugula and other mustard greens for another two weeks. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – September 11, 2023

Hi Everyone! I just checked the rain gauge and today’s deluge brought us to nearly 5 inches for the week! Believe it or not, I don’t enjoy complaining, but seriously all this water is hurting the crops. I’d like to cry, but the ground can’t soak up any more water! (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – September 4, 2023

Hi Folks, Happy Labor Day! It is the unofficial end of summer, but the summer heat is back with a vengeance this week. It’s okay though, we still have a lot of heat loving crops in the field. It has been so cool at night that I have been fretting about an early frost. We usually don’t get hit with a freeze until Mid-October, but it has happened in September, and it is not pretty. (more…)

Rainbow Carrot Stir Fry

Rainbow Carrot Stir-Fry

This colorful stir fry comes courtesy of the New York Times.  The list of ingredients in stir-fry recipes can look long, even daunting.  But the actual cooking goes very quickly, so it’s important to have everything prepped and within reach of your wok.  Read through the recipe a couple of times before you begin cooking, because once you start, you won’t have time to refer to it.  Serves 4. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 28, 2023

Howdy Y’all! About 2 inches of rain fell last Thursday night into Friday, ensuring that the puddles stay full, and the fields remain muddy. There have been short windows of opportunity to get some seeds sown and beds prepared for transplanting. We are coming to the end of our brassica planting for the fall and are nearly through with the direct seeded crops. I have been planting arugula, tatsoi, daikon, salad turnips and spinach. I will be sowing these crops, as well as cilantro, dill, radishes, and mustard greens every week for the next month. (more…)

Lemon Zucchini Cake

Lemon Zucchini Cake

This Lemon Zucchini Cake, found on the Mom on Timeout food blog, is definitive proof that lemon and zucchini belong together! Beautifully moist and undeniably delicious, this easy cake is topped with a lemon glaze that will keep you coming back for one more slice. An excellent way to use up that zucchini from your CSA shares!  Serves 10. (more…)