Westfield Area CSA Blog

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – November 18, 2024

Hello Folks, We have come to the end of another season. It has not been an easy one, but then they never are. We have done our best for you, through incredible heat and now a crazy drought. I am thankful for my fantastic crew, who have labored through it all with their perennial cheerfulness. And I am grateful for the support of you, the members. In spite of all the challenges, we have an excellent final share for you. We are tripling down on the root veggies and the brassicas and also have some nice greens for your eating pleasure. I wish you all Happy Holidays and a safe and healthy winter. (more…)

Sunchokes

Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes)

Sunchokes, of the sunflower family, are native to North America where the natives called them “sun roots” before European settlers arrived. Samuel Champlain, a French explorer found them in Cape Cod in 1605 and pronounced them similar in taste to artichokes. But why “Jerusalem artichokes”? They don’t come from Jerusalem nor do they look like artichokes. There are a few theories: (more…)

Roasted Sunchokes

Roasted Sunchokes

This recipe, found on allrecipes.com is an easy way to cook these vegetables.  Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem artichokes) are starchy tubers like potatoes and turnips. When roasted, the skin becomes flaky and the flesh becomes tender, but the taste of a sunchoke is slightly nutty and sweet. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – November 11, 2024

Hello All!  We received two-tenths of an inch of rain on Sunday night. It is not nearly what we needed, but still a help to the rye cover crop we have been planting. We are preparing for two very cold nights this week- mid-twenties for Tuesday and Wednesday. We are harvesting what we can and double covering as much as possible. This degree of cold can damage even the hardier crops such as broccoli and kale. We are doing as much as we can to preserve crops for the final weeks of the season. We are very heavy on the brassicas this week – with cauliflower and broccoli for all and Brussel’s sprouts as well, for most groups. (more…)

Winter Squash

Winter Squash

Winter squash is really a misnomer, as these delicious treats are grown in the summer. They are edible well into the winter, however, thanks to their ability to last for months in storage.  First, be sure to check for any soft spots. If there are any, cook that squash right away. Soft spots can easily be cut out and the rest of the squash is usually fine. (more…)