Westfield Area CSA Blog

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…)

Easy Fingerling Potatoes

Easy Fingerling Potatoes

Fingerling potatoes are quick and easy to prepare on the stove-top.  Because of their size, they cook quickly, and don’t need to be peeled.  Try any of these variations! (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…)

Fresh Herbs

Fresh Herbs

Everyone knows that a sprinkle of fresh herbs turns that ordinary family dinner into something extraordinary. But did you know that fresh herbs have a high antioxidant activity?  According to a US Department of Agriculture study, fresh herbs, in particular oregano, beat out fruits, vegetables, and even garlic! (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 Carrots

Rainbow Carrots

Did you know that carrots are not originally orange?  That’s right.  The original carrot, which dates back more than 4.000 years to Afghanistan, was purple.  The orange carrot didn’t come into being until about 400 years ago, when Dutch farmers bred the carrot to be orange – their country’s color.  Today, carrots have been bred in a rainbow of colors, which makes them much more fun to eat, not to mention, more nutritious. (more…)