September is around the corner, the hustle to get fall crops in the ground is in full swing, and therefore Fall CSA sign up is Open! Our Fall Farm Share CSA option is where you “join” our farm as a CSA Member and get in return a weekly share of vegetables for the months of October and November (9 weeks). Details and sign up on our website.
(This week’s share. Mighty tasty looking, eh?)

We’ve been reflecting recently on some key elements to farming for a living and at the same time maintaining a high level of giddiness. Delightful happiness. Here’s what we’ve found so far:

– Have somewhere to escape to in the hottest part of the season. A relative with a cottage beside a pond in a New England state is ideal. Confession time: Our family drove up to Massachusetts last week and enjoyed cool temperatures, playing in the sand, and even an amusement park. No farm work. (Well, we did pick some local blueberries, but that really doesn’t count.)

– Read. Books, news articles in print and online, magazines, etc. This week we found interesting the article in the NY TImes: Don’t Let your Kids Grow Up to Be Farmers and the ensuing responses. Janet also recently finished reading A Farm Dies Once a Year by Arlo Crawford. We encourage you to read all of the above.
– Include CSA Members in the farm! We just love the enthusiasm, support, feedback, and trust that you wonderful CSA members send our way.

– Invite people to the farm. We love having customers stop by our humble self-serve, honor system farm stand. We love leading folks around on our tours and answering questions about how and why we grow food for a living. The inquiries are always thought-provoking and the encouragement is always appreciated.
Speaking of tours: The VABF and Ellwood Thompson’s Richmond Farm Tour is just one month away! This tour weekend will have 12 farms all on tour at the same time on those Saturday and Sunday afternoons. All farms use biological/ecological/organic methods. The tour is still needing volunteers, so if greeting local organic farm and food lovers while getting to know a local organic farmer is up your alley, please sign up to volunteer and spread the word to like-minded folks!  (Volunteer one day = free pass to visit farms the other day!) You could request to be here at our farm, or go be on a different farm!

We’ll keep adding to our happiness list. Enjoy the harvest, our friends. Salad Mix is back with us!

This Week’s Harvest:
Our Farm Share Bag (consisting of a farmers’ choice medley of produce, in one easy to order option), Arugula, Chard, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Mint, Okra, Peppers (jalapeno, sweet red and yellow, padron), Salad mix, Summer Squash, Sunflowers and Mixed Bouquets, Tomatoes (red slicers and cherries, plus economy bulk option for seconds quality), Watermelon …plus our Naturally Leavened Bread and Pepper Jelly.

AND – we have added Broadfork t-shirts and hoodies to the online ordering page. Limited quantities and sizes, but see if there is something there that works for you!

~ Janet, Dan, and the rest of the Broadfork Crew

(Want to learn more about us? Visit us on Facebook or Instagram.)

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Recipe Suggestions: (always cataloged on our Recipe Page)
Okra – Don’t fret! It is delicious and simple to prepare. Enjoy it raw in this Curried Okra Salad or the way we most often prepare it: Baked Okra or Breaded & Baked Okra. Or go the full-monty and make Fried Okra or Fried Okra Salad (which also calls for tomatoes and bell peppers). Get extra fancy and make this Indian spiced Crispy Okra Salad from Food & Wine magazine.
Sweet Peppers – for a variation on the traditional: Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers (with couscous, cherry tomatoes, and basil)
Onions – Macerated for a tasty twist on onions (the recipe calls for red, but our white ones are plenty sweet to use)
Garlic – make Garlic Aioli
Green Beans – try them Spicy or With Feta & Walnut Sauce or With Spicy Peanut Sauce or Stir Fried with Walnuts, Mint, & Feta

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We continue at two farmers’ markets this Saturday: South of the James in Forest Hill Park, from 8am – 12pm, and the Brandermill Green Market in Market Square from 9am – 12pm.

2014 Market Share CSA Members: Choose your selection through our Online Ordering to order for pick up on Saturday at our farm, at the Brandermill Green Market , or at the South of the James Market in Forest Hill Park.

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VABF Richmond Farm Tour
Richmond Biological Farm Tour Weekend: September 20 & 21, 2014

Shake the Hands that Feed You!
Saturday & Sunday, September 20 & 21, 1 PM to 6 PM

We will be participating in this inaugural weekend of farm tours in the greater metro Richmond area. Load up your car with friends and family (one ticket covers everyone!) and head out for a day — or two — of meeting farmers and seeing where and how your food is grown. Learn more here and stay tuned for the complete list of farms on tour.