Hello,
Welcome to week 4 of Winter CSA. By now you have hopefully fallen into a bit of a rhythm with the winter program as we are about to round out the first month already. For me, the slow season is never slow enough. I still have a million things on my to do list, they just don’t have as tight of deadlines. But, they still need doing and they linger in the back of my mind when I take R & R time. I guess that is still something I haven’t mastered. And now, the 2026 seed catalogs have started showing up to remind me that spring is just around the corner, so I better hurry up and rest.
I share this because I know I am not alone with these feelings. I know, especially in our current culture, the perpetually full to-do list seems to plague us all. What activities don’t serve us and could be removed? How can we be more efficient with how we spend our time so that we have more rest or relaxation? Can we shift our perspective and be conscious about our activities that are R & R, or just because we want to, so we feel less busy and instead feel blessed?
One thing that I make space for in the “slow” season is cooking. It is something I love to do and don’t always have enough time for during the busy season. Isn’t it ironic (says Alanis Morissette)? Quiche (or egg bakes) and soup are two of my favorite things. They are simple and delicious and super versatile, so you can change the recipe based on what you have on hand. Plus, they both go great with salad, and this year we have had a really nice extended lettuce season. But seriously, we should have napa cabbage and regular cabbage through February, so the salad season doesn’t have to end.
Last week marked the end of the field lettuce, but…surprise!…we have some growing in the hoop house this year. So, with any luck, we will extend that season even longer. We also have spinach and kale as well as arugula growing in a tunnel. Remember me talking about volunteering at Larryville Farm last December to learn more about winter growing? Well, this is the result. We are trying to get better at extending our growing season for you folks. My goal is to get you lettuce and kale in December and have spinach at least once in January and February (it grows super slow in winter, but usually doesn’t die). I have no idea what to expect with the arugula, but you will likely see it at least one more time after this week’s offering (which actually comes from a little planting in the greenhouse raised bed). Along with getting you folks more food longer into the year, this will give a little more winter work to employee Joe, who is full time in the Summer and works as many hours as we can give him in the winter (packing your orders, stacking wood, cleaning up and putting the farm to sleep, and now….picking your spinach in the dead of winter).
This week is kind of special in that we are having an online Pop-Up Sale, making our food available to the public. Anyone that lands in our delivery area can order for home delivery, or come on out and pick up at the farm. So, tell your friends, your moms and dads, your daughters and sons. This is a great week to give LOTFOTL a try to see what it is like to be a member. PUBLIC ORDER LINK
A Few Things:
- IN SUMMARY: Can we actually have a slow time, or will we constantly have a perpetually filled to-do list? What things aren’t serving us on that list? Can that busy feeling be shifted with a change of perspective? Get ready for more winter variety. Tell your friends about the Pop-up sale this week.
- SPINACH AND ONION QUICHE: This one is Simple and delicious. Change up the cheese if you like, or add a little jalapeno for kick, or sausage for a meatier meal. I buy a gluten free crust for this, but you can also go crustless, or make your favorite homemade crust.
- MARK YOUR CALENDAR: For you planners out there, NO DELIVERY: December 23rd and 24th.
LETS ORDER (This is worth reading through completely at least 1 time, but will always be included for your reference)
Go to https://www.farmmatch.com/lotfotl
- HOW TO ORDER: (STORE OPENS AT NOON)
- Go to https://www.farmmatch.com/lotfotl
- Login
- IMPORTANT: Make sure that you have selected the correct location AND refreshed your browser page.
- Confirm that your credits have been issued to your account.
- Place your order following the order parameters:
- ~~Minimum total order of $40.
- ~~Maximum total order of $250.
- ~~Limit $200 on meat per week.
- ~~ Use all of your credits by the Feb 15th.
- IMPORTANT: You must get a confirmation receipt email detailing your order. If you don’t, you did not complete your order correctly. Always review the email, to make sure the information is correct, especially the LOCATION.
- Thank you for understanding that we are not able to process late orders.
- Order on weeks that work for you, skip the ones that don’t.
- Final order of the season: When you use the last of your credits for the season, your credit card on file will be charged for any amount due. You will then have access to a limited menu for the remainder of the season.
HACKS AND ORDERING TRICKS:
- If the product selection is not showing in organized groups, you are likely in the “Previously Ordered” section. Scroll down to all products and it will be easier to navigate. You can always X out these items each week to keep this section manageable.
- If products have a locked sign on them, you likely need to change your pick-up location. Click on the lock to see where this item is available.
- If you cannot see products, contact the farm.
- As a member with credits, when you place your order, FarmMatch will tell you it is going to charge your credit card, because that is what it is programmed to do, as most farms are not issuing credits at the beginning of the season like we are. They are just selling outright to their customers. The program will apply your credits first, making your total due $0. So, your card will get charged $0 each week, up until you have used up all your credits.
RECEIVING AND/OR PICKING UP YOUR ORDER:
- IN PERSON PICK-UP
- LOTFOTL – Watch your step as you enter the barn. This is a self-serve pick-up. Remember to check the beach cooler for your frozen items. Items are kept in the stainless-steel fridge just inside the milkhouse part of the barn.
- HOME DELIVERY
- Remember drivers are instructed NOT to leave food if there is not a container.
- Watch for a text after delivery has occurred.
- If you don’t have food by 6pm, call or text us right away. Time is of the essence.
We are always happy to help. Contact us with questions. 920-318-3800. Texting will get you the fastest response.
With Gratitude,
Your Farmers