In this newsletter:
Field Updates
CSA Updates
Event Updates
Farm Store Updates
Weekly Farm Fun Fact
Bonus Weekly Farm Fun Fact
Intro
Well folks, the snow has arrived and we're feeling festive! Only a couple weeks left until we wrap up our Fall CSA and our entire 2024 farm season and what a season it has been! We're definitely enjoying the slower pace and the change of schedule that comes with the colder months after the hot fast pace of the summer season.
Field Updates
Our three greenhouses are full of leafy vegetables and herbs and our cold rooms are filled with crates of root veg and cabbage. The cellar is packed with onions, garlic and popcorn. The farm store pantry is stocked with tomato sauce, salsa and cowboy candy. Our store fridges and freezers are brimming with farm ferments and soups.
We're down to our team of three full-time year round staff and a couple part-timers as we wrap-up the end of the season. You'll find us on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays harvesting in the greenhouses: spinach, arugula, lettuce, salad mix, kale, chard, bokchoy and herbs. Then it's up to the packshed where we wash and prep for the CSA, farm store and wholesale orders.
You'll also find Colleen and her helpers in the kitchen cooking away and preparing a weekly batch of soup for the farm store.
CSA Updates
Our 8 week Fall CSA featured even more fresh greens this year compared to last which was an exciting feat for us! We're hoping to continue this trend with our 8 week Winter CSA starting in February. The vegetable box subscription is customizable and it's a great way to ensure your supply of fresh leafy greens and herbs throughout the cold season. Another wonderful perk is feeling good about supporting your local farmers during the leaner months! You can find more information and sign up on our website. We have an online store for CSA members and many add-on options including eggs, fresh bread and mushrooms. We offer vacation holds and the option for home delivery. Check out the dates for our three season program:
2025 winter share (8 weeks) starts: February 20th
2025 Summer share (20 weeks) starts: June 12th
2025 Fall share (8 weeks) starts: October 30th
*Save big by using our coupon codes until December 31st.
use code "3% - $750" for a 3% discount when spending a minimum of 750 on your subscriptions
use code "4% - $1000" for a 4% discount when spending a minimum of $1000 on your subscriptions
use code "5% - $1500" for a 5% discount when spending a minimum of $1500 on your subscriptions
use code "6% - $2000" for a 6% discount when spending a minimum of $2000 on your subscriptions
use code "7% - $2500" for a 7% discount when spending a minimum of $2500 on your subscriptions
use code "8% - $3000" for an 8% discount when spending a minimum of $3000 on your subscriptions
Email us for more details regarding the coupons. They are applied under "coupon" at the checkout on the sign-up page:
Event Updates
Wreath-making Workshops
We had a grand old time making wreaths together during our two wreath-making workshops last month. Jess put together a wide array of dried flowers, eucalyptus, evergreens, dogwood, ilex and more for our participants to choose from. With the smell of fresh cedar and pine filling the greenhouse and a cup of coffee in hand, the creativity was flowing. It was such fun seeing everyone's unique design. We're already excited about next year's workshop series!
Festive Open House
We're planning something special this year for the holidays. Join us for our festive open house on Saturday December 21st from 9h-3h at the farmstore! We'll have free cups of hot apple cider and coffee along with fresh pastries from Boulangerie Marcel for sale. You'll find lots of fun local gift ideas and holiday decorations, fresh food from our farm, local organic sourdough bread, dried flower bouquets, fresh eucalyptus, wreaths, wreath-making and centerpiece supplies, garlic braids and more. While all of these items are available in the store now, we're excited for you to join us in celebrating and wrapping up the season together on the 21st with a complementary cup of cider or coffee!
Farm Store Updates
We are keeping our summer hours until the 21st so you can drop by the store from Wednesday to Friday from 11h-5h30 and Saturdays from 9h-3h. We still have a ton of green leafy vegetables like bok choy and spinach and all the roots and cabbages your heart desires. We have four types of onions, three kinds of potatoes, garlic, herbs, and squash. We get fresh organic local bread from Boulangerie Marcel every day along with their pastries on Saturdays. We have tons of farm-made soups, ferments, and preserves. Our black Dakota popcorn has been a hit and makes a fun gift. The holidays are a great opportunity to support the local economy by choosing to shop at small local businesses. If you're looking for inspiration, drop by the farm store and we'll be happy to chat! We also have gift certificates available for your local "foodievores".
This year we're re-opening the farm store on Saturday January 11th with our winter hours which take us to mid June. Those hours are Thursday to Friday 11h-5h and Saturday 10h-3h. We'll continue having fresh greens, herbs, roots and other storage crops along with our regular offerings of bread, soups, preserves, etc. We'll set-up our "apres-ski café" table with coffee, hot apple cider and pastries on Saturdays too!
Weekly Farm Fun Fact
Rutabagas are commonly mistaken for turnips but they are far more superior (in my humble opinion...) Rutabagas are larger and sweeter and offer a more rich and palatable flavour than its bitter cousin the turnip. The debate is open. What do you think?
Bonus Weekly Farm Fun Fact
Root vegetables and cabbages can store for months in cool dry places as long as they're contained in a jar, bag, or a good fridge crisper. The key is to keep them dry, cool and contained within something or they will go soft and/or rot. Same goes for all vegetables really... keep them fairly dry, cool, and in a container/bag to improve storage!
Our farm team wishes you all a wonderfully cozy and exciting December and we look forward to seeing you at the farm !
-The Roots and Shoots Farm team
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