September 2024 CSA Newsletter

14+” of rain in the last 45 days. Roads have washed away and a very needed “no unnecessary travel ban” followed by tons and tons of clean up with more rain falling. A few trees came down and a back road was nearly washed out but the animals were all on high enough ground and under cover of a copse of trees. Overall, I’m impressed with how quickly our flooded pastures soaked up the water, that organic matter acting like a giant sponge.

Flooding from Storm Debby

Some days we are just trying to keep up with the work load and then you get moments like this ( below) that are just such a gift. Cows grazing peacefully with their calves while the sun rises over a lovely sky. Not all gifts have pictures… our latest group of pigs has one we call Milo and when he isn’t following us around talking to us or looking for a scratch, he is trying to take us DOWN and wallow with him. He loves to squish our toes in rubber boots with his mouth. Not sure if it is the mouth feel or just because he is Milo…

Picture Credit to my lovely father-in-law. Always ready to run an errand, mow hay, our lawn, or bring a meal. I’m quite blessed by him.

Our Summer Shipping Schedule is below! Share invoices come out on the 21st of every month and I will post this newsletter on our blog shortly after. I will also email you the link so you don’t miss the news. If the first shipping date doesn’t work for you, just let us know and we can arrange a later ship day. Here is the upcoming schedule!

September Shares Shipping; August 27th
October Shares Shipping ; September 24th *Tentatively*

We drive all of your shares/orders about 3 hours south which allows those precious boxes to arrive the following day at your home. Less time in transit means the meat arrives cold and ready for your freezer. We can ship from the ranch on other weeks, however we do not offer coverage on losses or thawed meat. Please email or call if you would like to discuss a different schedule. Also, we are happy to double up on a month if you will be away the next delivery date.

Share options for this month ( below is an example share for a Small Beef, Pork & Chicken, your share may be different) are pretty flexible, let us know if you would like to switch out any cuts or need something for a special dinner.

Pork Roast – Boneless Loin or BI/BL Shoulder roast
Ground Beef or Stew
Ground Pork or Sausages ( Breakfast, Sweet Italian, Hot Italian or Chorizo)
CHICKEN! Leg/Thigh packages, Drumsticks, or Wings
Sandwich Steak or Beef Short Ribs
Rib, Ribeye, T-bone or Porterhouse Steak
Smoked Bacon, Extra of any cut or LAMB – Currently remaining; Ground Lamb, Shanks, Stew, Kabob or Chops.

You can also add; Maple Syrup, Honey, Meat Sticks, Jerky, and Sausage to your share. Just email us with what you are looking to add and we do the rest!

Up here it is already turning cooler. Soups, stews and slow cooked meals are back on the menu and a friend shared these delicious looking Beef Short Ribs he had started…which got me to adding them to your CSA share. You can thank him later for the inspiration! What is your favorite slow cooked, comfort meal? One of my favorites is this Tangy Hungarian that the broth is possibly the best part.

I LOVE this season. The heat has abated and my ambition to get projects done is at PEAK. So much to do before winter and so far; the chicken supplies have been stowed for the year, some of the hay has been stored, forage testing is being done, sorting beef is this weekend, we are shopping for a replacement delivery van, and wood needs to be stowed for winter. Eventually….I need to deep clean our home. As of right now, I’m avoiding looking at the corners that are shockingly holding loads of cobwebs and dust. Snow is coming and I should have plenty of days to clean, re-organize and rest.

I hope you are all soaking up the sunshine, warm weather and ability to just jump outside without layers – and until the weather turns less hospitable, those dust bunnies can just stay quiet.

May your September be full of last minute hikes, steamy meals by candlelight, a sweater and coffee or tea with a few minute to just soak in the very start of Autumn.

Kassandra

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