Pick Up Details for each location are below the Recipes section in this email.

Sorry this email is late!

Farm Update

We got it. A true frost. Sensitive plants like beans, dahlias and peppers are blackened and fully dead.

It's a little early. It's funny, I have some years when I'm fed up and the frost can't come soon enough. Now, I don't know if it's because I'm older and the wheel of my life seems to be spinning so fast I'd be happy if it slowed down, even if it means more weeks of the same arduous harvest.

Diversified vegetable farming in New England means constant change. Maybe not for zucchini harvest, gosh that one is just a bend and pick the right size over and over kind of harvest from the end of June through the end of September now since we got Dunja - the powdery mildew resistant variety. But for other crops like peppers or tomatoes, harvests tend to follow a bell-curve. And new crops come in and out. It's what keeps it from being too boring, and because there is so much to harvest, you never had to spend more than a few hours doing anything, really. Except bulk harvests, and large weeding projects . . . and big planting projects. Ok, there are plenty of long mornings and/or afternoons doing the same thing over and over.

For me, when I can do repetative physical work, it is very freeing for my mind. I'm a manager, now, so it usually just frees my mind to manage the project at hand, plan for future projects, worry about something I should be doing instead. But, when I can shake myself free of that, especially on a beautiful fall day, there is incredible joy in repetitive labor. On a rainy, cold day there is some satisfaction in completion, and the ability to endure, but that's very different!

We still have lots of delicious fall produce headed your way. We have a few plantings of greens this week that we needed to clear out (don't worry, there are other plantings - we just didn't want to be row covering two plantings) - so if you could eat some kale, swiss chard and/or bok choy I would be very grateful.

Even if you don't think they taste the best, food isn't just about flavor pleasure - sometimes you need to acquire a taste for something. I love kale and chard (I say I love bok choy, but I don't eat it that often - Harvey likes it raw, so we will have it, but I think I like kale and chard better). If I'm feeling like I haven't eaten well, rice, beans and greens is my go to for a body re-set. Harvey isn't great at just eating rice and beans, but I can make a burrito with rice and beans and cheese that he will grudgingly eat - and lucky for me I can put a raw kale leaf on his plate with other veggies that he will eat because he is dragging his feet about eating that darn burrito.

I like to eat swiss chard with chickpeas. I had kale with curried lentils and rice last night.

Greens make my body feel good. I should eat more of them.

We are releasing some favorites this week that have started to sweeten up: pie pumpkin & sweet potatoes. It takes some curing to get the sweet flavors to come out in these wonderful storage roots and fruits.

We will have sweet potatoes available for the rest of the fall share.

We have a limited supply of sugar pie pumpkins this year! I grew less because we had too many last year, and then the plants did very poorly - so get them while you can!

Butternut squash comes out next week.

It is the LAST of the sweet peppers for 2026. Kevin and I went through on Friday afternoon and harvested everything we could (within reason - we actually left a lot of green peppers out there, in years past we have taken the time to harvest LOADS of green peppers, only to compost them later because no one really wanted several pounds of green peppers).

There are lots that are only partially ripe - they just didn't have time to ripen up. These are beautiful and very fun to eat because they have the flavor of both a green and a ripe pepper.

Let's enjoy the last of this summer treat.

We also said goodbye to tomatoes last week. We are planting greens for harvest in January and February tomorrow!

FRESH GINGER FOR SALE

This is DEFINITELY the last ginger of the season. We would have liked to get it into the shares. We lost 1/3 of it to disease, planted 25% less than last year, and the yields on what we did have were down significantly. Maybe next year will be better? You never know. It's still really delicious.

We did grow trial Turmeric though! It's pretty cool. You can use fresh turmeric in cooking, or freeze it like ginger and use it all year long.

Pepperell: Farm Stand, Wednesday and Thursday 1pm-6pm until Thanksgiving

Ashland Farmers Market: Saturday 9am-1pm until October 17th

LAST FARMERS MARKET THIS WEEKEND!!

Mushroom Shares

We are very happy with our Joyberry Mushrooms and will be offering a FALL MUSHROOM SHARE! Email admin@upswingfarm.com if you would like to be added.

Your Joyberry Farm mushrooms will be labeled with your name, and in a cooler or in the box truck. Please ask for your mushrooms when picking up your share.

We don't know yet what the variety is - we can't wait to be surprised with you!

Mushrooms should be stored in paper bag in the refrigerator. Shiitake can store for a while, but other mushrooms are best used in 4-5 days after you receive them. Don't store in plastic!

Want to add someone to the weekly email list?

Please add their email here.

NOTE: We can only be responsible for communicating with the primary share email (the one used to register for the share originally). We are happy to add as many other folks as you like to this list to enjoy the content, but sometimes we need to communicate through the online store - those emails will go only to the primary share email.

Choose 3: pie pumpkin!, scallions, 1/2# spinach, arugula, dill, parsley, cilantro, garlic two bulbs, swiss chard, kale, head lettuce, lettuce mix, napa cabbage, green cabbage, red cabbage, acorn squash, frisee, escarole, radish,

Mix and match 6 pounds: mixed color peppers, green and purple peppers, carrots, yellow onion, red onion, bok choy, beets, purple broccoli (might run out waiting for the next planting to size up), delicata squash, leeks, fennel, potatoes, cauliflower, sweet potatoes

Crops you might now know but are fun to try:

Frisee and Escarole: These are both in the chicory family and are excellent lightly cooked with salt and fat to balance their bitterness. Bitter greens are great for your health, and are an acquired taste. I strongly recommend you acquire it, though, because eating them will leave you feeling great in the long run! Here is some extra 411 on these greens.

Crops we have a LOT of this week:

Kale 30 best kale recipes

Chard swiss chard and garbanzo beans

Bok Choy

Potatoes

Yellow Onions

Delicata Squash

Acorn Squash

Crops Coming up next week for fall share:

butternut squash!

shallots!

A long-time CSA member and volunteer, Jess Girotti helps me by collecting recipes and getting this email formatted each week. If you try a recipe and love it, send it her way to admin@upswingfarm.com

You can always check out the recipe page on our website if you are looking for more information!

CRUSTY BAKED SHELLS AND CAULFLOWER

A rich and creamy casserole with 3 cheeses, sage, capers, lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes.

TEX MEX POTATO BAKE

A crowd friendly comfort food recipe. Easy on the budget and can be on the table in an hour.

MAPLE ROASTED DELICATA SQUASH

Delicata is my favorite of all of the fall squash. Did you know that the skin is edible? When it cooks, it becomes super soft and tender. 

CINNAMON SWEET POTATO MUFFINS

These are great for breakfast or after school snacks with oats and loads of warm spices.

MAPLE ROASTED ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON

No link needed for this simple recipe. Acorn squash is one of my FAVORITE fall treats. I have fond childhood memories of roasted acorn squash with maple syrup and bacon on a cool fall night: Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut a small slice from the bottom so it will sit flat on a baking sheet. Put a pat of butter, some salt and pepper, a splash of maple syrup and a few ½” square pieces of raw bacon in the center of each and bake at 400˚ for 45 minutes or so until cooked through.

Pick Up Details By Location

On Farm, Pepperell

Day: Wednesday or Thursday
you can come either day, no need to let us know which day you are coming.
Time: 1:00- 6:00pm

Location:The wood paneled greenhouse next to the big parking lot in the middle of all the greenhouses.

65 Brookline St is the farm address, but that will take you to the house and barns on GPS - the entrance for CSA pick up is to the East, and there is a big white, Upswing Farm Sign.

How to pick up:

1. Please bring a bag, tote, basket or other container to collect your produce.
2. Arrive and CROSS YOUR NAME OFF on the CSA list.
3. Pick up is market-style, so the produce will be out on the table. Follow the signs telling you which produce to pick up. We try to include as much choice as possible in our share, please read the signs carefully.

That's it!

Joella is our regular distribution Manager in Pepperell. She, or an assistant can help you find the list or with any questions.

If a bin is empty just let Joella know - we keep back-stocked produce in a cooler to keep it fresh.

What if?

I don't want something in the share: ask Joella if you can make trade. We do our best to make choices available based on what grows well seasonally in our region.

I'm going to be late:

If you text the farm phone (508-215-8378)

We can usually accommodate requests and we will pack a box with your name on it. It will be INSIDE the walk-in cooler.

If you don't text, you can still come and grab a "farmer's choice" box, which will be unlabeled.

If I can't make it to either pick up day:

If you know in advance, email admin@upswingfarm.com and we can pack you a share to pick up from the walk-in cooler in the farm stand. If you text the farm phone the day of (508-215-8378)

We can usually (NO PROMISES) accommodate produce requests and we will pack a box with your name on it. It will be INSIDE the walk-in cooler to be picked up the next day. If we aren't able to pack you a box, you can come pick up a "standard share".

If I forget to pick up:

email admin@upswingfarm.com

If we have extra standard shares we will let you know and you can come pick one up. We always pack extra - and they almost never run out, so feel free to swing by and grab one - just don't take a share with someone else's name.

If I can't make it one week:

1. Send someone in your place. A CSA share is a great thank you to someone watering your plants or checking your mail. Just let them know the details of pick up and they can pick up for you.
2. ONCE per share season we can accommodate a duplicate pick up the week following a PLANNED missed pick up. Please give us a minimum of two days notice by emailing admin@upswingfarm.com

Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton

Day: Thursday

Time: 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Location: The Back gravel parking lot off of Legacy Farm's Rd North, behind Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton. You cannot get to this parking lot from the Nursery main entrance.

Weston Nurseries lets us distribute shares at no charge in this lot - make sure you show them some love, and let them know you are grateful!

How to pick up:

1. Please bring a bag, tote, basket or other container to collect your produce.
2. Arrive and CROSS YOUR NAME OFF on the CSA list.
3. Follow the signs telling you which produce to pick up. We try to include as much choice as possible in our share, please read the signs carefully.

That's it!

What if?

I don't want something in the share: ask Jeremy if you can make trade. We do our best to make choices available based on what grows well seasonally in our region.

I'm going to be late:

If you text the farm phone (508-215-8378) It is possible for us to leave a box in the parking lot if you aren't going to be too late. Unfortunately, we do not have another location for produce pick up if you don't make the regular pick up window.

If I can't make it that day:

1. Send someone in your place. A CSA share is a great thank you to someone watering your plants or checking your mail. Just let them know the details of pick up and they can pick up for you.
2. ONCE per share season we can accommodate a duplicate pick up the week following a PLANNED missed pick up. Please let us know the weekend prior by emailing admin@upswingfarm.com
3. You can pick up at the Ashland Farmer's Market. Please let us know in advance of your regular pick up whenever possible.

Just a reminder, that a part of what makes a CSA awesome is that we are harvesting and packing highly perishable product just for you. That's how you get such fresh, high quality product. If you don't show up, without letting us know, we will have picked and packed that produce for you, and then donate it to a local food pantry before it goes by.

We also can't just magically make more produce available - we are working with nature, and doing our very best to offer a variety of high quality produce you will love to eat. We are very good at this, but sometimes things happen and crops don't turn out. Usually, another crop is doing well, so you won't get less produce, it just might be a slightly different variety than planned.