Happy Holidays! See you next year!

Posted on December 18, 2007 by Oakhill

(CSA Newsletter: Fall Week 7)

Meet this week’s vegetables:

  • Popcorn! — Include locally grown popcorn in your holiday festivities! To pop, either carefully pry off dry kernels & use as you would any bulk popcorn. Or, remove husk; rub butter/oil on the whole cob; place in a brown paper grocery sack; roll over top of sack (leaving plenty of extra room for the popcorn to fill); and then microwave as you would microwave popcorn (listen for the popping to slow & it’s done!).
  • Shallots — Use in place of onions for special dishes. For longer storage, place in a dry, dark, well-ventilated space (such as an open basket in your garage).
  • Brussels sprouts — This week’s sprouts are still on the stalk. Why? For faster harvesting on our end (which allows us to get you more food) & for longer storage for you. We recommend storing the entire stalk in a plastic bag in the fridge; or, if you don’t have room, in an enclosed container in a cool place. We find Rubbermaid containers in our garage to work well. When you’re ready to eat sprouts, you can either ‘pop’ them off the stalk by hand or use a paring knife to carefully cut each one off. Then wash carefully, trim, and use as normal!
  • Delicata squash — For best long-term storage, keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space.
  • Yukon Gold potatoes — For best long-term storage, we recommend simply keeping the potatoes in the plastic bag and putting it in the fridge.
  • Carrots
  • Red onions
  • White Russian Kale
  • Cauliflower

    • Today’s share marks the end of the 2007 CSA season! This has been a wonderful & significant year for us here at Oakhill Organics. We moved onto our new land, farmed the new land for the first time, and figured out a whole lot of stuff in the meantime. Personally, 2007 was probably the most challenging year of our life so far. But we survived. And the second half of the year — when most of the hard work was over — was even fun.

    But even though this is the final share of the year, it is really only the beginning. This Saturday is the winter solstice, after which the daylight will begin to lengthen once more. And soon after the solstice comes the new calendar year, when we all get another chance to begin new projects and goals. And in the first week of February, we begin harvesting for you once more.

    To that end, we’ve included in this newsletter a ‘sneak preview’ of the letter we’re sending out at the New Year with all the nitty-gritty details & sign-up info for 2008’s CSA season. Feel free to wait for the official letter for the full explanation of the season & its new offerings to sign-up. Or, if you’re antsy to get things settled, you can send in this form now with a deposit and read the full details in a few weeks. (Just so you know: if you send us a check now, we will hold onto it until the first of the year, for our own bookkeeping purposes.)

    Also note the info on the blog regarding second Holiday Harvest, which will be happening this Friday. Use this custom harvest opportunity to plan your holiday meals or to stock your pantry.

    The Holiday Harvest marks yet another beginning: the beginning of our vacation weeks, which last from this Saturday to the end of January. Are we ready for a break? YES! What will we do during that time? We’re going to use the break from the CSA to get some infrastructure projects done around the farm. We will also take time out to spend with our families and friends for the holidays, so we will get plenty of rest in between projects.

    We hope that you too enjoy the holidays. As always, thank you for joining us this year. Enjoy the vegetables!

    Your farmers,

    Katie & Casey Kulla
    Oakhill Organics

    ~ ~ ~

    2008 CSA ‘Sneak Preview’

    (At this point in time, we are only opening next year’s CSA sign-ups to current CSA members. After they have been given priority to sign up, we will open remaining spots to people on our waiting list. To be placed on our waiting list, please email us)

    More details to come, but for current CSA members who are anxious to sign-up & pay now, here’s next year’s season breakdown. As you’ll notice the names of seasons have been changed in hopes of more clarity about when each season falls in the calendar year. ‘Winter season’ is now ‘early season’ and is unfortunately open only to pre-reservations in 2008.

    Early season: February 5 – May 20* (formerly known as ‘winter season’)
    Price: 15 weeks x $20/week = $300
    (*Note: there will be no harvest or pick-up on Tuesday, February 26 — you are not charged for this skipped week in the total season cost)

    Main season: May 27 – October 7 (same weeks that market runs)
    Price: 20 weeks x $20/week = $400

    Late season: October 14 – December 16
    Price: 10 weeks x $20/week = $200

    Full season (all three seasons): $850 for 45 weeks ($50 discount)
    A sign-up form is below. Once again, feel free to wait until January to officially make a deposit once you’ve received more details.

    ~ ~ ~

    Current CSA Members: sign-up now for the 2008 CSA by completing this form and mailing to:
    Oakhill Organics, PO Box 1698, McMinnville, OR 97128

    (Please fill out entire form — we are updating our records & want to verify our contact information.)

    Share contact name(s):
    Mailing address:

    Phone number:
    Email address:

    I/We wish to purchase the following:
    ___ Early season ($300) (pre-reservations only)
    ___ Main season ($400)
    ___ Late season ($200)
    ___ Full season: early, main & late ($850)
    ___ Farmer’s Market Share ($100 min) for $__________

    Total for all purchases: $ _____________

    Shares may be paid in full when you sign-up, or you may pay a 10% deposit followed by monthly successive payments to full value by end of 2008 season.

    Amount enclosed with form: $ ____________
    This payment represents my: (circle one) Full Payment / 10% Deposit

    I/We understand the purchase conditions and agree to the payment schedule. I/We understand that the timing, quality, and quantity of the crops offered can vary according to the dictates of nature and other factors beyond human control.

    Signature _____________________________ Date:

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