Fall Greetings to all  CSA Members  and Market Supporters;       
         
This newsletter regards the last weeks of the  summer garden and orchard season. (ie, the last weeks of October). This 20 week season will end with the last delivery on Thursday, October 19, so please mark your calendars.
It has been an abundant year on most crops, balanced with warmth and cool, somewhat from beginning to end. Early frost touched all garden areas in mid September, knocking out cucumbers,  summer squash,  flowers and other heat lovers. But many areas were covered and sustained only moderate damage.  These items will  supply the boxes in the next weeks.
We’ll continue to harvest and pack more of the greens, broccoli, tomatoes, winter squash, turnips, onions, pie pumpkins, carrots, and potatoes for the vegetable shares.  Box amounts (25 – 50 Lbs) of potatoes are available by special order.
Fruit shares will continue to receive more apples, including gold, red delicious, jonathan, jonagold, honey crisp,  gala, fuji, and black twig.  Bartlett pears should continue for a few more weeks.  Italian plums,  and strawberries on rotation will also be included.  Box amounts (20 - 30Lbs) of apples and pears are available by special order.
Cider will also be a part of the last two week’s shares.  With a lighter apple crop in our valley orchards this year,  amounts will be a bit leaner. but flavor and freshness should be great.  Should the cider making be delayed for any reason in October, we’ll make up the remainder in November.
This is a fresh apple juice so please remember our yearly disclaimer :

   FRESH  PRESSED CIDER  INFORMATION:

          The law requires that we provide the following:

Warning:    “This product has not been pasteurized and therefore, may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.”
         
Just a note: all apples used in the cider are washed before pressing , and none are windfalls from off the ground. Utmost care is taken in the pressing and bottling to be as clean as possible. We have made ciders like this for many years and have never had any problems with children or elderly. If you are  concerned about this, bring cider to a quick boil;  or heat for 15 – 20 minutes at 150 degrees. Drink hot or cold, with or without spices.
While fall work continues with vegetable and fruit harvest, more focus will shift, to crop protection,  season extension, seeding , garlic planting,  garden cleanup, and preparation for next season. Earlier plantings of winter greens, lettuces, kale, chard should  give us a few cuttings for winter shares before full cold sets in.  
          Eggs have been lighter than anticipated this month.  As we,ve been running short,  shares closest to the farm will be asked to take a break until early November until winter shares begin, then we can make up any deficits as we deliver twice monthly in November and December.
Our Thanksgiving turkeys are doing well - some are still available . Turkeys will be delivered on Wednesday, November 22, fresh or lightly frozen. Winter shares will also be delivered that date. 
Winter season shares will begin with the first of seven deliveries on Thursday, November 9. Winter shares are only delivered from the farm through the Roaring Fork Valley. This helps us maintain a bit of sanity while dealing with winter driving conditions. These shares are sold out. 
Please finish any payments for the summer season if not completely paid up.
We also take deposits now through the year’s end,  for the 2007  seasons, spring (begins March) and summer (begins June).  We usually ask for a deposit of $50 per share. This will assure that you will be included in the February mailers and be on the list when the seasons begin. See the colored deposit sheet with this letter.
Please return all boxes to drop points for pickup. Any boxes left at drop points after the final October delivery will be picked up on the first winter share delivery(November 9).
Thanks to one and all for your support and work throughout the season. From the great field discussions, the ache in the back harvesting, endless sorting, weighing, bagging, and boxing, delivery runs, markets and inspiring stories, the season has brought us many delights and adventures. Thanks to all who prepare and use the food, regularly making the effort to pick up shares or buy at market, encouraging us through notes or comments. These give us daily inspiration and energy as we work to complete the season.
A special thanks is due our apprentice for the season, Nick Cohon. He has been with us since April, and done a great job in all aspects of the farm. He also brought wonderful music to us with his banjo, guitar, and mandolin. He’ll be heading out in two weeks, to New Mexico and California.
We hope the season’s produce has been a source of sustenance and health for you and your families.  This time of year always brings joy and sadness as we finish the harvest, weekly giving  back those areas to winter rest  that are harvested or most damaged by frost and cold temperatures.
 May the winter season give us pause for reflection and lots of snow!

 Kenny, Gail, Nick, and the Farm Crew

PS. Please let us know if you’ll be out of town in the next weeks of delivery. Food sitting for days creates a mess and tempts varmints.    Thanks.