CSA Sign Up

Down on the Farm On a nice icy day, I thought the best thing to do was to think about spring! We will be offering our two CSA's again this year.  Produce and chicken.  The produce csa will run 17 weeks from June 3 until September 23.  The cost is $525.  You can check out older posts on our web site www.rousedalefarm.com to get an idea of what was offered last year.  The money is not due until March 1. The chicken csa will run for six months June-November.  The cost will remain the same as last year.  Full details are on our web site.  Money for the chicken csa is due by April  1. There are a limited number of spots on both CSA's.  Please let us know as soon as possible if you're interested in joining us this year. Email or call with any questions.

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve

Farm Update

Down on the Farm Just got a read out on our solar panels control box that said, "What is the bright thing shining down on us?" Has it been extremely cloudy in the last month or is it me? I just looked out the window and saw a couple of the egg layer chickens laying on their backs with their wings stretched out to the side. When I went out to take a picture for our face book page, one of the chickens got up holding something with it's foot. It was sun block. She motioned with her head for me to rub some on her. Apparently they have missed the sun as well. FYI, it's tough to rub that stuff on feathers. Anyway, speaking of chickens we have our last batch of meat birds done and fresh in the cooler today through the weekend. What's not sold this week will go into the freezer. We should have birds for sale through much of the winter until we begin again in the spring. Cash, check or credit card. We are selling firewood. We have any amount you would like. We have small bundles that will give you two or three nice fires in your fireplace. I guarantee this wood will start and burn beautifully. We still have beets available Honey and eggs always. Open 10-6 each day. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and thanks again for allowing us to be your farmer!

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve

Don't wait to order your apples!!

Down on the Farm We hope everyone is staying warm with this unexpected blast from the north! I don't think our wood stoves have been this cranked this early ever! Let's hope this is a freakish happening and not the start of a brutal winter. Some of you have asked whether we were going to make another apple and cider run to Oyler's Organic Orchard in Pa. before Thanksgiving. Since we went through our cider in approximately 3 minutes, we have decided to make another run. HOWEVER!!!!!! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!! WE NEED YOUR ORDERS BY MIDNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT 11/21! Available: York, Enterprise and Gold Rush apples at $2.75 per pound The best cider in the world at $9.50 a gallon or $6 a half gallon. For the new folks who have just signed up for our news letter there is more information on the apples and cider on our last web site post at www.rousedalefarm.com Apples are all organic, as is the cider. The cider is not pasteurized, so it has a use by date on it. However it freezes very well. We will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for you to pick up and pay. Credit card, cash or check. Stay warm.

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve

Last Week of the Season

Down on the Farm This will be the last week that our market will be open. Sunday will be the last day for 2014. It's been a blast and thank you all for choosing us to be your farmer! Apples and cider are here, so if you ordered, please pick up during business hours through Sunday. A couple of things since we will be closing at the end of business Sunday. 1...We will go back to self serve for eggs and honey. Eggs and honey will be available everyday of the week. The eggs will be in the normal egg cooler and the honey will be in the small refrigerator next to the egg cooler. We will have honey bears and jars of honey in various sizes with the price marked on them. The cash box will be located on the front of the display table. If the egg sign is not up on our road sign we are out of eggs. You can always call. 2...To purchase chicken or to pick up your chicken CSA chicken, please call or email to set up a time. 3...I will still send you emails to let you know when the fresh chicken is in etc. In the market this week: Winterbor Kale (curly) Red Russian Kale Toscano Kale Watermelon Radishes White Turnips Arugula Red Beets Golden Beets Salad Mix Green Peppers Hot Wax Peppers Jalapenos Carrots Broccoli (by the weekend) Cauliflower (by the weekend)\ Boston Marrow Squash (great for punkin pies) Eggs Honey 8 dollar t-shirts Thanks again for a wonderful 2014..down on the farm.

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve

Farm Update

Down on the Farm It's Apple time again! Last year we took orders for apples and cider from Oyler's Organic Farms in Biglersville, PA. and we're doing it again. We will make the run to Oyler's if we get enough orders. A couple things I need to say before we get started..these are 100% organic apples which means they haven't been sprayed with the poison insecticides, fungicides and pesticides normal apples are sprayed with. They are not dipped in wax like most conventional apples are to keep them pretty. Thus these will not be the best looking apples you have ever seen, but they will be some of the best tasting apples you have ever eaten. We also will be bringing back cider. This is not pasteurized, so it won't last forever in your fridge. We froze a bunch last year and that is the way to keep it. This was probably the best tasting cider I've ever had. Only two apple varieties to choose from this year, York and Enterprise. York has a tart yet sweet taste and keeps well. The York taste gets sweeter and mellower over time and can store up to six months. The York is good for baking, cooking, apple sauce, cider, preserves, jams, dried apple slices and juice, as well as eating fresh. The York or York Imperial is one of the few apples that has survived for 180 years. That's what we call an heirloom! The Enterprise was developed in 1994. It's ancestors are the McIntosh, Rome Beauty and Golden Delicious. It's very disease resistant which makes it good for organic growing. It's quite tart but mellows with age. Will keep for up to 6 months and is good for eating fresh and cooking. The skin will be a little thicker than the York. The apples are $2.75 per pound and the cider is $9.50 a gallon or $6.00 a half gallon. Worth every penny. We need to have your order no later than Sunday 10/26. Remember 1 pound of apples is probably two, maybe three apples. We will have pick up at the farm next week Wednesday through Sunday. Just email your order and you can pay when you pick up. steve@rousedalefarm.com Enough of the Apple Story. In the market this week: Cabbage Broccoli Carrots Green Beans Winterbor Kale (curly) Red Russian Kale (more like a salad Kale) Toscano Kale (between the other two) Tomatoes (very few left) Red Beets Golden Beets Red Radishes Watermelon Radishes Green Peppers Hot Wax Peppers Jalapeno Peppers I Giant Boston Marrow Squash left Salad Mix Arugula White Turnips A few Butternut Squashes left Eggs Honey Chicken Rousedale Farm T-shirts are at end of season clearance just $8 each. Wow, what a great gift idea!!!! See you down on the farm!

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve

Farm Update

Down on the Farm Could the Tomatoes really be coming to an end? Could it be? I have to sadly say that I believe this will be the last week for those luscious round, red, orbs for another year. Please don't be to depressed, we still have plenty for this week and lots more stuff! In the market this week: Tomatoes Boston Marrow Squash Red Bell Peppers Green Bell Peppers Almost all Yellow Bell Peppers Jalapenos Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers Arugula Lettuce Spinach Red Beets Golden Beets Red Radishes Watermelon Radishes Red Russian Kale Toscano (Dinosaur) Kale Winterbor Curly Kale Green Beans Butternut Squash White Turnips Carrots Honey Eggs We would love to see you this week!

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve

Farm Update

Down on the Farm Vicky and I were gone last week.  Our thanks to Ginny and Harvey for taking care of the farm and the market.  Where did Vicky and I go??  A very tropical, beautiful spot called Ocean City. Have you heard of it?  It's a great time of year to hit OC.  If you luck out with nice weather, which we did, you have the beach to yourself practically, which we did, no waiting at restaurants, which we had, and a very relaxing time was had by all. It was a great time.  Vicky had oysters with practically every meal...enough said. From the "Everything's not always fun and games at the farm" department...We purchased 100 new layer hens to boost our egg numbers up a bit.  The new hens were sick on arrival.  We called in the Maryland Dept. of Ag and then a poultry vet to see what was happening.  The chickens had a virus that is extremely contagious to other chickens.  We had three choices: 1..Depopulate (kill) all the laying hens 2..Vaccinate all our layers and then feed them antibiotics 3..Let nature take it's course.. We decided on number three.  Obviously our whole point of having eggs is to have them natural without any antibiotics or medicated in any way.  The virus doesn't affect the eggs, although most of the sick chickens aren't laying anyway.  This is going to affect the amount of eggs we will be getting, but we felt this was the way to go for us.  Just wanted to let you know. We have been in contact with our friends at Oyler's Organic Orchard in P.A. to find out about getting apples, like we did last year.  They will let us know what varieties will be available in another couple of weeks.  We will let you know when we are ready to take your orders for apples and cider. In the market this week: Tomatoes Boston Marrow Squash Green Bell Peppers Red Bell Peppers Yellow Bell Peppers Jalapenos Hot Wax Peppers Arugula Lettuce Spinach Red Beets Golden Beets Red Radishes Watermelon Radishes Red Russian Kale Toscano Kale Winterbor Curly Kale Butternut Squash Japanese Eggplant Honey Eggs Chicken White Turnips Carrots If you don't see what you're looking for, please ask.  As the market isn't as busy now we are not harvesting a lot all at one time, rather a little as we go.  We probably have what you want, but may have to run out quickly and cut, pull or pick while you wait.

Locally Yours, Vicky and Steve