Dear Farm Friends,

As summer draws to a close, we find ourselves settling back into our autumn routines following a bustling season. We're excited to announce that registration for our Late Fall CSA is now open, and we eagerly anticipate our Fall Family Fun Party on Sunday, October 6. Also, keep an eye out for our Harvest Bags, perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday, which is just around the corner!

Our summer crops are giving way to vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures. The farm stand is bustling, offering a wide array of vegetables grown right here. In collaboration with neighboring farms, we also provide a selection of produce not grown on our premises. Additionally, we often feature fresh fruit, eggs, and flower bouquets. Be sure to visit us from Thursday to Saturday at the farm stand, or catch us at the Newton North Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings. Your visits are always a delight, and we are immensely grateful for your continued support.

Allyson MacKenna

Director of Administration and Programs

Late Fall CSA Coming October 29

Newton Community Farm is offering a Late Fall Produce CSA consisting primarily of our own produce with additions from regional farms. The contents of the share will be determined at harvest and may vary over the four distributions. Shares may include arugula, spinach, lettuce and/or salad mix, kale, chard, garlic, onions, leeks, carrots, beets, radishes, cilantro, parsley, hot peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, popcorn, or winter squash. Pickups will be every other week for four weeks.

Note: Each CSA applicant must be a current 2024 Friend of the Farm (FOF). You are a Friend of the Farm if you have donated $50 or more since November 2023. If you are not a current Friend of the Farm, please add on your donation when you register.

COST: $242 per share

There are only 40 shares available, so don't be left out! Click here to sign up!

You can buy fresh, locally grown produce every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Our farm stand is open, selling produce grown right here on the Farm as well as from other local growers. The farm stand is located on Winchester Street.

Farm Stand Hours:

Thursdays and Fridays, 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For updated hours and to see what is available at the farm stand each week, make sure to check our website.

Please note that in order to keep you and our staff safe, the farm stand will close temporarily during periods of extreme weather (thunderstorms, temperatures above 95 degrees). Please plan accordingly.

We are also at the Newton North Farmers' Market at Newton North High School on Saturdays.

Newton North Farmers' Market Hours:

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Minimizing food waste is an effective strategy to conserve money and protect the environment simultaneously. Consider these straightforward and actionable tips:

- Plan Your Meals: Draft a weekly meal plan and prepare a shopping list to purchase only the necessities.

- Store Food Properly: Understand the proper storage methods for fruits and vegetables to prolong their freshness. For instance, store potatoes, tomatoes, and onions at room temperature.

- Use Leftovers: Be inventive with leftovers by transforming them into new dishes. Soups, stews, and casseroles are excellent for utilizing miscellaneous ingredients.

- Freeze Excess Food: Preserve food you won't consume immediately by freezing. This method is suitable for bread, fruit, and even prepared meals.

- Compost Scraps: By composting food remnants such as vegetable peels and coffee grounds, you can decrease waste and improve your garden's soil.

- Understand Expiration Dates: "Best before" labels typically indicate quality rather than safety. Trust your senses to assess the edibility of food.

- Repurpose Food Scraps: Employ vegetable remnants to craft broth, or use citrus rinds to concoct cleaning agents.

- Buy Imperfect Produce: Patronize retailers or markets that offer "imperfect" produce, which is consumable but fails to meet aesthetic standards.

- Serve Smaller Portions: Opt for modest portions initially and return for more if you're still hungry, aiding in the reduction of plate waste.

- Donate Excess Food: Should you possess nonperishable goods you won't utilize, think about donating them to a local food pantry.

Implementing these measures can significantly curtail food waste in your household. Which tip are you inclined to try first?

Preparing your garden in the fall is essential for a flourishing spring planting season. Here are some vital steps to ready your garden:

Cleanup and Maintenance

- Remove Debris: Eliminate any dead plants, weeds, and fallen leaves to prevent diseases and pests from surviving the winter.

- Prune Trees and Shrubs: Cut back any dead or diseased branches to promote healthy growth come spring.

Soil Preparation

- Add Compost: Enrich your garden beds with a layer of compost to nourish the soil and enhance its structure.

- Mulch: Lay a thick layer of mulch to safeguard the soil against erosion and temperature changes.

Planting and Planning

- Plant Cover Crops: Cultivate cover crops such as clover or rye to boost soil fertility and structure.

- Plan Your Spring Garden: Outline what you'll plant in the spring and its placement, ensuring you're prepared with the necessary seeds and supplies.

Tool Care

- Clean and Store Tools: Sanitize your gardening tools and store them correctly to avoid rust and damage.

- Inventory Supplies: Review your stock of seeds, fertilizers, and other supplies, and note what you need to buy for spring.

Additional Tips

- Protect Perennials: Shield the roots of perennials with mulch to prevent freezing.

- Winterize Raised Beds: Clear out dead vegetation, enrich with compost, and cover beds to protect them from frost.

These steps will pave the way for a vibrant garden in the spring. Enjoy your gardening!

Roasted Fall Vegetables

Here’s a delightful fall vegetable recipe that brings out the best of the season’s produce.

Ingredients

• 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch wide by 2-nch pieces
• 1½ pounds multicolor baby potatoes, washed and halved
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into 2–3 inch pieces
• 5 shallots, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• 1½ tsps. pepper
• 2 tsps. salt
• 2 Tbs. fresh rosemary or thyme, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In a large bowl, toss the carrots, parsnips, potatoes, butternut squash, shallots, and garlic with olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary or thyme.
3. Spread the vegetables evenly on a baking sheet.
4. Roast in the oven for 35–45 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the vegetables are tender and golden brown.
5. Serve hot and enjoy!



This recipe is perfect as a side dish or even as a main course when paired with a hearty grain like quinoa or farro.

Sunday, October 6

Fall Family Fun Party

303 Nahanton St., Newton

9:30 a.m. to noon

This popular event is lots of fun for the whole family! There will be a farm scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, seed matching game, and more!

Register here for this free event! And make sure to mark your calendars today!

A huge thank you to our event sponsor, Wegmans! Thanks to their generous support, we are able to offer this event free of charge. Thank you!!

We are still looking for volunteers to help on the Farm on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon. If you like getting your hands dirty, we'd love to have you! Due to our small size, we are unable to accommodate drop-in volunteers.

Please click here to sign up for available shifts.

We also need event helpers for our Fall Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 6. Click here to sign up.

Thank you!

Newton Community Farm is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, EIN #20-2482452. If you would prefer to donate by mail, please send a check payable to Newton Community Farm at the address below. Please also check with your employer if matching funds are available.

NEWTON COMMUNITY FARM

303 Nahanton Street

Newton, MA 02459

617-916-9655

www.newtoncommunityfarm.org

information@newtoncommunityfarm.org