2013 Shareholder Handbook

Ipswich, Massachusetts

Community Supported Agriculture

APPLETON FARMS

Welcome to

Appleton FarmsA PROPERTY OF THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS

This handbook will answer questions you, as a new shareholder, may have about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) at Appleton Farms. We hope it will help make your experiences at Appleton Farms easy, fun, and rewarding.

TAblE OF CONTENTS

All About Your Share 2–3

Picking Up Your Share 4

Where to Park 5

Pick Your Own 6

On the Farm 7–8

What We Grow 9

Who’s Who 10

The Trustees of Reservations 11

Contacts 12

All About Your SharebARN DISTRIbUTION HOURSEach shareholder selects from, or is assigned, one of two time blocks to come to the farm and pick up their share. The blocks are:

Mondays | 2–7pm & Tuesdays | 11am–5pm

OR

Thursdays | 2–7pm & Fridays | 11am–5pm

We will be open on holidays that fall on distribution days (July 4th, labor Day, Columbus Day).

SHOPkEEPERSOur barn farm stand will be managed daily by shopkeepers: a CSA crew member, and a volunteer. The shopkeepers will display the produce, give directions to pick-your-own crops, and help however they can.

MIx-AND-MATCH PICk UPWe use a mix-and-match distribution – produce is laid out on tables in the barn, and you are welcome to fill your bag as you please. look for signs explaining what to do, as instructions will change weekly depending on the harvest. Some crops will be limited, depending on the demand, the season, and the harvest. Other bulky crops, like watermelons, may be offered in addition to the bag. The distribution is simply arranged, and we rely on the honor system to ensure that everyone gets a fair share.

NEWSlETTERbe sure to read the CSA newsletter, posted weekly on our blog at www.appletonfarms.blogspot.com. The newsletter contains notes from the field, recipes, and veggie descriptions. Also, check out the chalkboards in the barn for information on upcoming events at the farm.

CORNYour share includes three weeks of corn from Marini Farm. We do not grow organic sweet corn at Appleton Farms.

SURPlUSWe vary the weekly share size in accordance with the harvest. Some years we will have a surplus of particular crops. In these cases, we may leave some of the crop in the field to be turned back into our soil, or offer them to shareholders for bulk purchase. We also have relationships with local food pantries and offer our best surplus to them. We’ll also occasionally sell surplus to local businesses.

SHARING A SHAREOne share is designated to one household, which receives all CSA mailings and is responsible for payment. If the share is consistently too large for your household, you can fill your bag only partially, knowing that we donate the daily surplus to local food pantries. You can also share with a friend once you get the produce home. You can send someone else to the farm pick-up in your place, but, due to our limited parking and staff resources, we require that each weekly pick-up occur using one car on one visit per share. Also, each share must leave the barn distribution intact – we can’t allow “half” share bags or partial pick-ups (unless you are donating the remainder of your share to our food pantry partners).

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Picking Up Your ShareWHAT TO bRING We provide paper grocery bags and smaller plastic bags. You will have the opportunity to purchase an Appleton Farms canvas bag that is just the right size for the share. We appreciate when you bring reusable bags, as it generates less waste and saves us money.

You may wish to bring scissors for cutting flowers and herbs, a water container to keep these fresh on hot days, and a basket or bucket for other Pick-Your-Own crops. There are hoses available to fill your water containers and for drinking water. There is also a porta-potty at the barn.

Feel free to bring a picnic and friends, and spend time relaxing at the farm.

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Where to ParkEnter through the drive on County Road/Route 1A, just north of the Ipswich/Hamilton line. bikes, cars, and pedestrians are all welcome. Proceed slowly until you reach the fork in the road, and then go left toward the big hay barn with green doors. Park in the sandy lot in front of the barn. Please avoid parking along the road.

These lots and roads are open only for CSA pick-up and the Dairy Store. Please, when you visit Appleton Farms on a day that is not a share pickup or PYO time, park in one of the two public lots on Waldingfield Road or Highland Avenue.

VISITOR CENTER

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On the FarmANIMAlS ON THE FARMAll farm animals should be approached with caution. The fences may be electric – remain on the outside of fences and do not touch the animals.

Dogs and other pets are not permitted at the CSA, to protect livestock and crop fields. Dogs are permitted in the Grass Rides portion of the farm if they have a Green Dogs permit.

VISITING WITH YOUR kIDSChildren are always welcome on the farm. We want children to be able to explore and experience the farm freely, but please note that this is a working farm, and it can be dangerous. For the safety of your children, we must ask that parents supervise their children at all times. keep an eye on them while they are playing inside or outside the barn, direct their attention when exploring machinery, and keep them on the proper paths when picking in the fields. We ask that parents teach their children about electric fencing and how to behave around farm animals.

Pick Your OwnHOW TO PICk YOUR OWNOnce a week, a shareholder may harvest Pick-Your-Own (PYO) crops without the assistance of our staff. These crops can be picked during regular share pick-up hours or on Saturdays from 8am–12noon. Each share may use the PYO garden once a week. PYO crops that are ripe for harvest are listed on a chalkboard in the barn – be sure to note quantity limits and instructions before you pick. Those who share their shares should keep in mind that limits are listed on a per-share basis. We ask that you not pick during rainstorms, as this helps keep plants free of disease. Please assist and guide your children in how to pick carefully. listed below are some suggestions for proper picking:

Peas and snap beans | Hold the stem of the plant with one hand and snap the pod off with the other.

Edamame | This is a Japanese edible green soybean. look for a plant with plump pods. Harvest the entire plant by pulling it from the ground, roots and all.

Plum and cherry tomatoes | Grasp the tomato and pull gently off the plant.

Tomatillos | Pull off once the fruit has filled up its husk. Check the ground for ripe fruits that have fallen.

Flowers | Cut stems with scissors. Tearing may pull the entire plant from the ground.

Herbs | Cut outer leaves / branches with scissors. Please do not cut into the woody section of the plant, as this will inhibit future growth.

Strawberries | look for fruits that are fully red, and pull without squeezing. Take care to avoid stepping on the plants.

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DAIRYAppleton Farms operates a 38-cow, grass-based dairy, continuing a centuries-old tradition at Appleton Farms. The herd consists of registered Jerseys, chosen for their high-quality milk suitable for producing farmstead dairy products, that our crew milks twice daily. When the cows aren’t in the barn for milking, in winter you’ll find them loafing around the loafing shed and during the growing season they are out on pasture. DAIRY PRODUCTS & DAIRY STOREWe completed our on-site dairy processing plant last fall and we are now making cheeses (cheddar, triple cream, soft-herbed rounds, ricotta and more) as well as yogurt and butter. We bottle milk (skim, 1%, and whole) at a local bottling facility and sell it in the dairy store on the farm. All our farmstead dairy products are for sale in our Dairy Store next to the shareroom. You’ll also find our beef and maple syrup, as well as a nice selection of other locally sources products like ice cream, honey bread, artisan crafts, and artwork. The Dairy Store is open seven days a week, Monday – Friday | 11am–6pm, Saturday & Sunday | 10am–4pm.

lEARN AbOUT OUT DAIRY OPERATIONAppleton Farms offers a slew of programs where you can learn to make cheese, meet the cows, and more. We offer Meet the Cows every Saturday at 2:30 and you can learn about other farm programs in the CSA newsletter, on the sign boards in the shareroom or on our website. because we are establishing our bio-security procedures for staff, visitors, and animals, the public is not permitted to walk through the barn, cheese plant and calf pen area unless accompanied on a program.

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What We GrowCROPSGreen beans, wax beans, purple beans, beets, broccoli, green cabbage, red cabbage, Napa cabbage, Savoy cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, edamame, eggplant, Asian eggplant, flowers, garlic, garlic scapes, arugula, mizuna, bok Choy, kale, Swiss chard, radishes, kohlrabi, basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, fennel, leeks, head lettuce, salad mix, red onions, yellow onions, sweet white onions, scallions, parsnips, turnips, celeriac, sweet peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, new red potatoes, snap peas, shelling peas, snow peas, spinach, summer squash, zucchini, winter squash, strawberries, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, big red tomatoes, plum tomatoes, Sungold cherry tomatoes and watermelon.

kEEPING YOUR CROPS FRESH

Proper storage helps your vegetables stay fresh. Here are some suggestions for prolonging the life of your farm produce.

Beans and peas | Refrigerate in a plastic bag without washing.

Corn and melons | Eat as soon as possible.

Cukes, eggplant, peppers, and summer squash | Wipe off until dry and store in the fridge.

Leafy greens and green vegetables | It’s best to re-rinse these as soon as you bring them home, dry them in a salad spinner, and store in Tupperware. Or, put them in a plastic bag or container with a paper towel to absorb the moisture. Refrigerate.

Herbs | Shake out excess water and refrigerate in a plastic bag, or place stems in a glass of water.

Onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and winter squash | Place in a paper bag or in a dark dry place that is not too hot and will not freeze.

Root crops (such as carrots, beets, and turnips) | For longest storage, dry and then refrigerate in plastic. If unwashed, they store best with the dirt left on.

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Who’s WhoThe seasonal CSA farm crew is made up of several full-season apprentices and part-time farmhands in addition to the permanent members of staff:

A broad group manages other aspects of Appleton Farms, including superintendent and field crews, a livestock crew, educational and interpretive staff, and volunteer committee members. Volunteers participate in many aspects of the CSA – from printing the weekly newsletter, to organizing potlucks, to helping with fieldwork and distributions. Please contact the farmers if you would like to be involved!

The Trustees of Reservations

The Trustees of Reservations manage Appleton Farms and its Community Supported Agriculture program. The Trustees are committed to upholding the vision of Francis and Joan Appleton – that of a vibrant, working farm, here in perpetuity.

We are more than 100,000 people like you from every corner of Massachusetts.We love the outdoors. We love the distinctive charms of New England. And we believe in celebrating and protecting them – for ourselves, for our children, and for generations to come. With nearly one hundred special places across the state, we invite you to find your place.

Most CSA shareholders are also members of The Trustees of Reservations. You may choose to designate your Trustees membership to Appleton Farms. Such designation allows your entire membership gift to be available for use here at the farm. To become a member of The Trustees of Reservations or to learn more about designating your membership to Appleton Farms, please contact our farm office.

www.thetrustees.org

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Lise Holdorf is the Manager of the CSA and is in her 6th season at the farm. lholdorf@ttor.org

Maura Mastrogiovanni manages the farm office. She maintains the CSA database and is integral to shareholder communication. mmatrogiovanni@ttor.org

Ryan Wood is the new Assistant CSA Manager. This will be Ryan’s first season at Appleton, but he previously farmed in Pennsylvania and the South Shore (MA).rwood@ttor.org

Becky Fahey operates the education programs at Appleton Farms. Information on programs for children, families, and adults is posted on the bulletin board in the share room. bfahey@ttor.org

Community Supported Agriculture is just one of the many happenings at Appleton. Seven days a week, you can enjoy hiking, biking, dog walking, equestrian trails, and great vistas. On any given day, you may see cows, horses, birds, deer, and the occasional coyote or fox. The landscape is diverse, and changes from wetlands to hayfields to pasture to woods.

Appleton Farms and Appleton Farms Grass Rides trail maps are available at the public parking lots on Highland Avenue and Waldingfield Road, or from the farm office. You can also download a map at www.thetrustees.org.

Please enjoy many visits here. This is your community farm.

Thank you!

To contact us:Appleton Farms219 County RoadIpswich, MA 01938

To reach the CSA:978.356.1655 for information and message linelholdorf@ttor.org

To reach the farm office:978.356.5728appletonfarms@ttor.org

Or join us online:

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NEW THIS SEASON!

A year-round program for people who love food.

Featuring tasty workshops and classes for kids and

adults on site at our farm kitchen! Taught by local chefs.

Check it out at:www.thetrustees.org/appletoncooks

pHotoS: © k.MCMAHon © 2013 tHe truSteeS of reServAtIonS

We are more than 100,000 people like you

from every corner of Massachusetts.We love

the outdoors. We love the distinctive charms of

New England. And we believe in celebrating and

protecting them – for ourselves, for our children,

and for generations to come. With more than 100

special places across the state, we invite you to

find your place.