Yuck. What a terrible back to back couple of weather weeks. The heat last week made it hard to get done what we needed to get done while the soil was dry, and then it rained 6 inches over the last two days . . . and now I fear the soil won't dry out for a month - if it ever dries out again this season.

How very pessimistic of me to say that. After Wednesday it might not rain again until Thanksgiving. It somehow works out just well enough that we haven't quit this insane undertaking yet . . .

We were hoping to get in one last, late planting of greens in the field, but we may need to just rely on our tunnels at this point. In this era of climate change, with unpredictable and extreme weather events, the greenhouses feel more and more essential. We plan to finish the 5th high tunnels in the next few weeks, after we finish the 3rd cooler we will need for curing and storing winter squash and sweet potatoes.

Kevin, with the help of my Dad and our friend, Matt, has made some significant forward progress on the last cooler we plan to build in the foreseeable future. If we can ever get to the point where we have a legitimate farm stand, we will want another cooler over there, but we will hopefully be in a place where we can get a prefabricated cooler, or an insulated trailer that we can retrofit.

Transitioning an old station barn with variable ceiling heights and other oddities into our wash/pack has been the most cost-effective choice for us, but it has been challenging and very often frustrating. It will feel very good to reach the end of this cooler project. We will miss having the sun come in those windows that we needed to cover up, but we have an application in to a grant to help cover the cost of putting in better lighting.

It's definitely sunrise season. On Friday mornings I sort the produce that returns from Weston Nurseries and Pepperell distribution into: market, donation and compost. Very little gets composted on our farm, we have a very good system for keeping produce fresh and many outlets during the week, both for distribution and donation, but on 95 degree weeks, sometimes that radish bunch that sat out too long as CSA waiting to be choosen gets pretty wilted. Even then, a little cold water will perk it up, so we try to give it one more chance through donation. Sometimes what is composted probably shouldn't have made it through to begin with.

I definitely didn't set out to write about compost this morning . . . it's early, it's been a long season, and man, that rain really put a damper on things.

We still have a lot of tomatoes! We'll be asking everyone to take one pound this week, with the chance to take more in the mix and match. I got back on the tomato sandwich train with all that heat last week . . .

We will also have large quantities of seconds tomatoes for $2/lb or $1.5/lb if you buy 30# or more.

Fall Flower CSA - Week 1 of 5

It's a dahlia heavy share this week! They are coming in strong and the hot weather last week really pushed them along! We also have a beautiful basil called "Amathyst" which we planted back in late June and have been wait for it all season! The smell is lovely and the flower buds are Truely striking.

There is still time to sign up! Please send us a quick email if you plan to sign up this week and then click here to register online.

Special Floral Event

Saturday, September 23rd 5:30pm-7:30pm

(Rain date, Sunday September 24th, 5:30-7:30)

At Upswing Farm 65 Brookline Street, Pepperell, MA

Let’s Celebrate the Beauty of Nature Together through Seasonal Fresh Flowers! We will spend the evening together touring the flower beds and discussing the art and best practices for tending, cutting and arranging flowers. Participants will have time to cut flowers for their arrangements with some additional pre-cut stems to choose from.

Our flower manager, Kerry, will lead the tour and then demonstrate creating a beautiful and balanced arrangement with a diversity of blooms. We provide you with all the tools you need, including a lovely vessel to create and display your arrangements in. There will be a catered buffet style selection of farm-focused refreshments from The Lazy Bubble, and plenty of time for laughs, questions and enjoying the beauty of an evening out in the fields. Please note, all participants should arrive dressed to be outdoors in whatever weather nature brings our way. We will be spending most of our time in the field, where there is the potential to get a little dirty. Boots or sturdy waterproof shoes are highly recommended. Meet in our parking lot by the High Tunnels at 65 Brookline Street We have a limited number of spots available, so please contact us to reserve your place.

This event is $125 per person and includes all the materials you will need to create and take home a lovely floral arrangement, plus refreshments made from our seasonal organic produce. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions when booking.

Space is limited, register today.

Don't forget to sign up for Fall Shares!

Fall share is shorter this year. It ends the week before Thanksgiving, so we don't have to pick up vegetables in the cold rain (trust me, no one regretted having the fall share go too far into December last year more than me, standing in the dark, cold rain in the parking lot of Weston Nurseries for hours with soggy customers picking up drenched vegetables).

Fall Share is just 8 weeks, our fall crops are amazing, the weather is cooler so cooking feels wonderful - it's my favorite share. It's a similar size share as summer, every week, with LOTS of choice. No one will make you eat turnips, I promise. Think: sweet spinach and carrots, savory leeks and shallots, delicious sweet potatoes and delicta squash . . . soups, roasted vegetables, fresh salads . . .

Ok, So What's in the Vegetable Share!?

1 pound toamtoes

1 pound sweet peppers

Mix and match 3 pounds: delicata squash, red and yellow onions, beets, potatoes, the last of the zucchini and cucumbers, green and purple peppers, extra tomatoes, maybe a few other items by the end of the week.

Choose 3: AMAZING CAULFLOWER!!, napa cabbage, mt magic tomatoes, lettuce mix, arugula, micro greens, carrots, some pints of things like shishitos, mini sweet peppers and hot peppers, dill, parsley, cilantro, radish, kale, chard . . . and maybe a few other items by the end of the week.

FOR SALE THIS WEEK!

Our own hot sauce! $9/bottle. It's a vintage batch, but I've been forgetting to send it out and we are about to make more this year.

Tomatoes, both firsts for $25/box, 3 boxes for $60 or seconds, $20 for 10 lbs, $45 for $30 pounds

FLOWERS!!!

*Please note* we do our absolute best to estimate what our customers will prefer when it comes to choices based on years of CSA and market experience and data collection. That said, sometimes a crop is more popular than anticipated and we do run out of that choice. We try to avoid this, but have determined this is a better alternative than not giving choices.

Know someone that would like to receive weekly CSA emails but can't join the CSA? Click Here to add their name to the weekly CSA list for updates on what's going on at the farm, and to get an idea of what we will have available for retail sales!

Recipes

Hi! Jessica Girotti here. If you have a recipe that you love that you'd like to share with other members, or if a recipe link isn't working for you, feel free to email me at jgirotti@live.com. (Please note that I can't re-print a recipe from a cookbook that isn't already online.) Don't forget to check out the recipe pages on the Upswing website if you need more ideas.

HOMEMADE FRESH TOMATO SALSA

You won't find this one in stores! in addition to your traditional salsa ingredients, this salsa also calls for bell peppers and cucumbers so you can really get your veg on.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, POTATOES, PEPPERS & ONIONS

If you want even more veggies, you can easily add carrots, cauliflower, broccoli or brussels sprouts to this.

THAI CRUNCH SALAD WITH PEANUT DRESSING

As soon as I saw Napa cabbage at pick up last week, I knew I'd be making this family favorite. It also calls for cucumbers, carrots, peppers, cilantro and scallions. I make up a giant batch of this and store it separately from the dressing and it keeps for days. It’s a great go-with for anything you’ve got on the grill or on it’s own for a lunch or snack.

SPANISH-STYLE GRILLED BREAD WITH TOMATO

A super simple celebration of summer tomatoes. Great as a side, snack or part of a tapas-style dinner.

STUFFED PEPPER SOUP

All of the flavors of stuffed peppers but in a soup! Let everyone make it their own with a toppings bar!

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND TOMATOES WITH OLIVES & GARLIC BREADCRUMBS

This gorgeous mediterranean dish is great on it's own or served over pasta or rice. A little feta cheese wouldn't be a bad idea either.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Below is information for pick up at all 3 of our weekly locations. If you can't remember your pick up location, please refer to the email sent on 6/4/2023.

Upswing Farm

65 Brookline St, Pepperell, MA

Pick Up Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

If you can't make your regular pick up day, you can come another day, no need to let us know.

Hours are 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

Here is a list of the exact dates of your share pick up. *

I recommend stopping what you are doing and adding them to your calendar, with an alert, right now!

June 13-15th

June 20th-22nd

June 27th-29th

July 4th-July6thT

July 11th-13th

July 18th-20th

July 25th-27th

August 1st-3rd

August 8th-10th

August 15th-17th

August 22nd-24th

August 29th-31st

September 5th-7th

September 12th-14th

September 19th-21st

Parking: Please park in the parking lot by the greenhouses and the white Upswing Farm sign. It's more like 53 Brookline if you are using GPS.

Picking Up Your Share: Please check in with Joella and cross your own name off the list !

This is very important. We need to know who has come! Then, read the signs and choose your produce based on the signs. Joella can answer any questions you have.

If you are going to be late: Text 508-215-8378. We can pack a box for you and leave it in the cooler trailer for pick up. Make sure you close the door!

If you can't make it on your regular pick up day: You can come on one of the other pick up days. You don't need to let us know, but if you are frequently going to be changing your days, it is better for us if you sign up for a regular Tuesday pick up so we can have our numbers right for the week. If you can't make it to any of the pick up days let us know and we can box a share for you to pick up another day.

If you want to send someone else in your place: This is a great idea if you are going on vacation! Give your neighbor or anyone who is helping take care of your place your share for the week. Just make sure you forward the person you are sharing with the weekly email so they know pick up procedure. No need to tell us if you are going to do this.

Can't make it and want to donate your share to a local food pantry? Let us know and we will make sure it gets to one of the five food pantries we serve weekly.

Holliston Community Farm

34 Rogers Rd, Holliston, MA

Your pick up day is Tuesday.

Hours are 1:00pm to 6:00pm.

If you can't make it by 6:00, we can leave the share in the walk-in cooler for you to pick up later.

Here is a list of the exact dates of your share pick up. *

I recommend stopping what you are doing and adding them to your calendar, with an alert, right now!

June 13st

June 20th

June 27th

July 4th

July 11th

July 18th

July 25th

August 1st

August 8th

August 15th

August 22nd

August 29th

September 5th

September 12th

September 19th

Parking: Please driving up the driveway at 34 Rogers Rd, past the yellow house and past the farm stand and park in the parking lot. Please drive carefully, it is a narrow drive, and you will need to travel the drive from the house to the street single file. Please be patient and courteous with one another.

Picking Up Your Share: Please check in with Lindsay, cross your own name off the list !

This is very important. We need to know who has come! Then, read the signs and choose your produce based on the signs. Lindsay can answer any questions you have.

If you are going to be late: Text 508-215-8378 if you are going to be late. We can pack a box for you and leave it in the cooler to pick up later that evening or the next day.

If you can't make it and want to switch your pick up day to Thursday 1-6 at Weston Nurseries or Saturday at the Ashland Farmer's Market: Please let us know by Monday morning at 7am, if possible, so we can adjust our harvest for the week. Email upswingcsa@gmail.com.

If you want to send someone else in your place: This is a great idea if you are going on vacation! Give your neighbor or anyone who is helping take care of your place your share for the week. Just make sure you forward the person you are sharing with the weekly email so they know pick up procedure. No need to tell us if you are going to do this.

Can't make it and want to donate your share to a local food pantry? Let us know and we will make sure it gets to one of the five food pantries we serve weekly.

Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton

93 East Main St, Hopkinton, MA

Your pick up day is Thursday.

Hours are 1:00pm to 6:00pm.

Here is a list of the exact dates of your share pick up. *

I recommend stopping what you are doing and adding them to your calendar, with an alert, right now!

June 15th

June 22st

June 29th

July 6th

July 13th

July 20th

July 27th

August 3rd

August 10th

August 17th

August 24th

August 31st

September 7th

September 14th

September 21nd

Parking: DO NOT GO IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF WESTON NURSERIES! There is no way to drive to the back lot from there. Instead, turn north at the light in front of Weston Nurseries onto Legacy Farms Rd North and turn right into the parking lot behind the nursery. You will see out white Box truck there, with tents. Park anywhere on the gravel lot, not too close to the tents, if possible.

Picking Up Your Share: Please check in with Anna (Ah-na) (she's new and she's great!) and cross your own name off the list !

This is very important. We need to know who has come! Then, read the signs and choose your produce based on the signs. Anna can answer any questions you have.

If you are going to be late: Text 508-215-8378. We can arrange a spot for you to pick up.

If you can't make it: Please let us know by Monday at 7:00am if possible. You can switch to pick up at the Holliston Community Farm (see details above) or at the Ashland Farmer's market, 125 Front St, Ashalnd, Saturday 9am-1pm

If you want to send someone else in your place: This is a great idea if you are going on vacation! Give your neighbor or anyone who is helping take care of your place your share for the week. Just make sure you forward the person you are sharing with the weekly email so they know pick up procedure. No need to tell us if you are going to do this.

Can't make it and want to donate your share to a local food pantry? Let us know and we will make sure it gets to one of the five food pantries we serve weekly.

Your Farmers,

Brittany, Kevin and the Upswing Farm Team

Also, I'm bad at spelling. I am a generalist, so as long as most of the letters are there, and there is good context, by brain prefers not to be bogged down by details. Also, I am frequently typing these emails late at night or early in the morning after or before a big day of work. I promise I'm not making spelling or grammar errors because I don't care. I really, really do care, I'm just no good at copy editing and I rarely have time to send these out for a proof read to Kevin who is still sleeping. I hope you can forgive me.