Westfield Area CSA Blog

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – September 13, 2021

Hi Folks! So, as best I can tell we received between 12 and 14 inches of rain from the two storms over the last ten days. This is equal to a quarter of the average annual rainfall for our area! The damage has taken some time to manifest itself. We lost about a half an acre of sweet corn, a few thousand fall brassica plants, and virtually all the field tomatoes. We were unable to use tractors for cultivation until yesterday, so now we are battling the weeds that have overtaken a few crops. We lost the third planting of summer squash because it was in a low area that stayed saturated for too long. Fortunately the fourth planting is just starting to produce, so we expect to have zucchini for you over the next couple of weeks. (more…)

Celery Root Bisque

Celery Root Bisque

With fall definitely in the air, here is an earthy soup that can readily be doubled and frozen for even chillier days (or nights) ahead.  As presented from cooks.com, serves 4. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – September 6, 2021

Hello All! I hope you enjoyed the Labor Day long weekend. As I always say, here on the farm we just labor away, there is no time for rest or days off right now. My crew and I have been working seven days a week the entire season; we get to rest during the winter months! (more…)

Kohlrabi-Apple Slaw

Kohlrabi-Apple Slaw

This recipe, found in this month’s Food Network Magazine and which serves 4 as a side, is a surprising and refreshing alternative to regular coleslaw given most people’s lack of familiarity with this vegetable. Give it a try — that’s what a CSA is all about! (more…)

Vegetable Curry

Vegetable Curry

This recipe, courtesy of one of our CSA members, is a great way to use up all of your late summer vegetables.  Feel free to experiment with variations on the vegetables for your own take on this recipe. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 30, 2021

Hi everyone, Rain, rain, rain! What can you say? It is what it is, and anyway how can we complain, when there are so many other parts of the country that are getting hurt much worse. The farm is a muddy mess, and we are seeing various crops being damaged or killed by the weather conditions, but we will get through it, and we will still have plenty of great produce for you and your family. (more…)

Okra

Okra

In the south, it’s available year-round, but for the rest of us, summer is a great time to take advantage of fresh okra. While it looks like a ridged pepper, okra belongs to the same family as hibiscus and cotton, and likely came to the U.S. from Africa more than three centuries ago. (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

Farm News – August 23, 2021

Hello Everyone – I suppose that I don’t need to tell you that it’s been raining way too much! We are headed toward 4” for the week, but the farm is far enough inland that it is probably less than what most of you received. And of course, we were spared the drenching and high winds that pounded Long Island and New England. (more…)