What's Fresh?
Your ticket to what's
in season from the many
farms of Cape Elizabeth
September 16, 2015
 
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In This Issue
The Latest News from Some of Our Farms
What to Plant Now
4-H Livestock Auction - Sept. 30th
The Well is Open Through September
Appeltree Students Love Tomatoes
Interesting News and Links
Join Us - Tonight!
 
The September meeting of the Cape Farm Alliance is tonight - 7 p.m., in 'the living room' at Cape's Community Services building off Rte. 77/Ocean House Rd. - right near the high school.  All interested supporters of local agriculture are very welcome to join us! 

Our mission: "To bring community members together to seek ways to ensure the viability and sustainability of Cape Elizabeth's agricultural assets, so that all citizens can enjoy the open space, fresh local products, and rural scenery they provide."


What's Fresh From Our Farms... 


Alewive's Market is Chock Full of Late Summer's Bounty
  

The amazing palette of colorful foods in our market these days is an artist's dream. The best way to get that rainbow on your plate, is to enjoy the full range of tasty late summer veggies!

We have also begun to harvest winter squash - and it is really superb this year.  We have plenty of spaghetti squash - that fabulous healthy stand in for pasta.  This year we planted a variety called 'small wonder', which grows to the prefect serving size.  We also have fresh turnips and rutabagas, carrots and beets, sweet potatoes and onions - there is so much coming in from the fields this month.

Apples and freshly pressed cider have arrived from Randall Orchards in Standish; this is one of the most abundant and tasty year for apples in recent memory.  We still have wild Maine blueberries too (so good in a pie with apples), but the season is winding down, so come and get plenty to eat now and to freeze for later - berries are one of the easiest fruits to freeze.

The true sign that fall is here is that it's time to call and order your  turkey Thanksgiving turkey (799-7743). Seems crazy early we know, but with the shortage of turkeys this season across the country, our limited list will fill up fast. Make sure your name is on it!  And don't forget, Alewive's Brook Farm market is open every day, 9 a.m. to sunset.  Look for us too at the Portland (Wednesdays and Saturdays), and at the Sopo market Sundays.

 
At Jordan's - The Corn Just Keeps Getting Sweeter

It's a banner year for corn in Cape - it just keeps coming, and each new picking seems to be sweeter than the last. Enjoy it while it's abundant, and get extra to freeze; you'll love eating corn chowder in January!

At our farm stands in both Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, you'll find we also have an abundance of sweet summer tomatoes - all varieties: Romas for sauces or fresh eating, and yellow and red cherries (Sungolds are nature's M&Ms) to name just a few. We also have lots of lettuce, green beans, potatoes, green peppers, onion, cabbage, kale, chard, carrots - and we haven't even hit our stride. To help make your life easy (and tasty!), we also stock cheeses, meats, wines and a few prepared items; we know fall is a busy time for parents and cooks. The stand on Wells Rd. is open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. every day, and in Mill Creek (where we also have an outstanding butcher shop) we're here for you 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday - Saturday; Sunday 9 - 6. Check Jordan's website for updates.

Time to 'Top Dress' Your Lawn, and to Apply Mulch, Compost & Seed
 
Autumn is the optimal time to feed your lawn and gardens - and they both benefit from fall compost application. Spreading compost on our lawn, called 'top dressing' is the best way to supply nutrients naturally. And by mulching garden beds now with a mix of compost and bark mulch, you're both protecting and feeding plants and soils. (This is what they do at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.)  It's also the ideal time (with fall rains) to seed new patches of lawn and to overseed with perennial rye grass to fight weeds. There's lots of helpful info on the website for the Cumberland County Conservation District and check YouTube too for instructions on top dressing. This newsletter is also full of useful details. Jordan's has great compost and mulch, along with loam, sand, and crushed bluestone - and they deliver. The 'dirt yard' on Wells Rd. is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday. Call Scott or Carol Anne at 807-1761.

Help - we are in the weeds!  If you love weeding and would you like to help a farm in Cape Elizabeth get out of the weeds, please call Penny at 671-5341!  
What to Plant Now - Garlic, Perennials, Cover Crops

Our farms have been
Recently harvested garlic at
Alewive's Brook Farm
harvesting garlic - planted last fall. If you haven't yet tried growing garlic, it's a rewarding crop. Plant single cloves from locally grown heads in the fall, and look forward to a fun harvest the following late summer. (Don't plant garlic cloves from the grocery store - those are grown in California or other warm regions and won't survive our winters.)

Fall is also a great time to plant perennials, bushes, trees, and cover crops in your vegetable garden. Planting oats or barley now will prevent weed growth in your beds, and also provide nutrients. And oats and barley will die back with no tilling in required. (Winter rye requires tilling in come spring.)   
4-H Livestock Auction is September 30th

Every fall at the Cumberland County Fair, 4-H'ers auction off the livestock they've raised - to farmers, hobbyists and people interested in buying locally raised meat. One hundred percent of the price goes directly to the 4-H'er who raised the animal; many students put their "profit" towards their college fund, others buy additional animals to raise.
All 4-H market animals are 100% grain fed and are raised with the greatest care under the supervision of adults. For those interested in having the animals processed for consumption, a representative from the Windham Butcher Shop will be on hand with processing and trucking information. (Other processing options are also available.) For more details, click here.

The Well at Jordan's Farm is Open Through September  

 

Chef Jason Williams and crew will continue dishing up amazing local fare, Tuesday - Saturday nights through September. (Closed for a private party on the 22nd.) He'll also be cooking for Cultivating Community's final Twilight Supper at The Well, Oct. 4. After that, he'll be closed till next June!   

 

Reservations are recommended (831-9350) for a screened gazebo but some picnic tables are held for walk-ins. Payment is cash only and you may bring beverages. The website has menu updates and details. 

Appletreee Students are Picking Cherry Tomatoes - YUM!
 
It's no secret that the more invested children are in the food growing process, the more they'll want to eat the fruits and vegetables of their labor. This week at Appletree School, owner Pam Mullin led a group of students through the children's garden, harvesting the plentiful cherry tomatoes along the way. In the spring students tilled the soil and planted "Sungold" tomatoes which produce very tangy-sweet, golden-orange fruit. This is a perfect variety to plant in a children's garden as it's best eaten and enjoyed fresh off the vine. 

The Appletree children are excited to continue harvesting their garden this fall - it's full of carrots, beets, squash, and kale. The garden is a highlight of the school program, one that hopes to instill a lifetime of love and respect for nature. - Kate Ekedahl
Regional Agricultural News & Links - Worth a Look
 
News and initiatives from around the state - and across the country:

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Assoc. is requesting input as part of the organization's strategic planning.

The Maine Food Atlas is in its 'beta' stage and needs participation and feedback from farmers and foodies.

The Portland Press Herald published a helpful article last week on how to make your freezer work for you this time of year, when preserving the abundant harvest is the easy way to eat local year round. (The article includes a good green bean recipe!)

The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development if hosting a seminar Sept. 23rd for people creating small food businesses.

Gardeners Growing Healthy Communities is a new volunteer organization, started by Barbara Murphy, designed to bring together growers and foodies to share their love for gardening - and for sharing the harvest with those in need.

Cornell University's Small Farms program newsletter is full of interesting info. and links, food for thought - applicable in many cases, despite the location.

New York Times food writer Mark Bittman has created a series of inspiring short videos about organic farming in California at colleges and public schools. Really interesting to think about how Maine educational facilities might adapt some of these programs and practices here.... 
HELPFUL LINKS



Maine Farmland Trust 

 

Cape Elizabeth Community Garden

 


 Cultivating Community

 

Join Our Mailing List

Edited by Tina Fischer
Upcoming Events & Classes

Sept. 22: Fall Canning Workshop. Learn to make a savory jam using fresh, local herbs, with Anne Carney. At Cape's Community Services, 8:45 - 11:15 a.m., $20/person; sign up through Community Services, 799-2868.

Sept. 25 -27: MOFGA's Common Ground Fair, Unity. THE annual Maine agricultural fair - not to be missed!  Go to MOFGA's website for details and tickets.



Sept. 27 - Oct. 3: Cumberland County Fair, at the Cumberland fairgrounds on Blanchard Rd. Details here.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting a number of classes,
including home beekeeping education. The website has listings/details.
 
Cultivating Community's final fall Twilight Supper at The Well at Jordan's Farm takes place October 4 - and Jason will be cooking!  Tickets and details here.  (Seating is limited, so don't dilly-dally!)