Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, βThe Truck Patchβ. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.
We just can't do it! So Sorry! + Flower U PICK -> We can do that!
Hi Reader,
Honestly, Farmer Reuben, Farmer Annika and the crew are getting really worn down by this HEAT!
π₯ "We're burning up. It's July." π₯
That's the answer Farmer Reuben gave when asked how he's doing.
Every July is a real test of everyone's patience and endurance. Can you keep picking tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and cucumbers every day?
Throw in a couple extra things like getting ready for a Flower Tour or a Farm to Table Dinner and it just gets to be too much.
We had to make the call to postpone the Farm to Table Dinner. After an honest discussion, Reuben and I realized that even with all the prep work we've done, and the people that are interested, we can't pull it off in the two weeks before August 6. If had it on your calendar and were looking forward to coming, thanks! Keep it in mind for Labor Day weekend? or October? We'll let you know.
But the Flower Tours this weekend are ON!
"Mom, could you please tell people about my Flower U-Pick this weekend in your farm news email?"
What mother wouldn't help her daughter? I want her to be successful just like you want to see your children do well in their endeavors.
Baby K is learning all about the "potty" this week.
Farm Boy #3 is doing new chores while his older sisters are at camp.
Farmer Annika is persevering through the heat in her fourth season of farming as she builds a business for the future.
Today Annika invites you to see the beauty she's created on our farm and to take some home with you.
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Come see how she does it and ask her your flower growing and arranging questions.
Did you know her flowers are CERTIFIED ORGANIC? No other local flower grower that I know can make that claim.
Trying making a bouquet like this! π
I love the little blue flames flickering amongst the orange and red blazes. Annika Donated this bouquet to the Parkland Garden Club's Silent Auction. I hope it helped them raise money for their community garden and gardening talks at the library.
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Flower U Pick Tours are 6 - 8 for only $20. Bring your scissors, camera and a friend!
CLICK THE DATE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR TOUR:
Last minute walk ins are welcome tonight!
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Want to see MY customized farm food delivery this week? I love this time of summer for making summer salads and thick vegetable stews, stir-fries and curries. There are so many options for delicious meals. I used yellow summer squash in a delicious curry with cashew nuts and rice noodles. I'm sharing this favorite recipe with you here.
My teen girls said, "Mom, this is delicious!" I didn't have the shiitake mushrooms but any of the gourmet mushrooms that we get from our local mushroom farmer would work well. I also used full size sliced onions instead of spring onions, since it's not spring any longer and I love cooked onions.
My market box contents from top left: Yellow Summer Squash, Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves, Green Zucchini, Garlic, Pickling Cucumbers, Swiss Chard, Slicing Cucumbers, Blackberries, Jalapeno peppers, Onions, Green Cabbage, Organic dry chick peas, Blueberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers.
The preserves were made a few weeks ago here on the farm with organic rhubarb and organic strawberry from Farmer Leroy in Kutztown. We even have organic dry beans grown by PA farmers. Add beans to your market box and to your meals.
If you are not a member yet, you'll be surprised how much really great food we have available to fill your weekly market box.
What are our farm members loving this week?
Our members in the private farm member Telegram group have let us know that they LOVE it and they have also told us some great meals they have made with it.
Have you tried the Beef Sausage with 25% lamb mixed in yet? The local beef farmer who bought our sheep earlier this year makes this unique, flavorful, GRASS-FED sausage for us. Add some Beef/Lamb Suasage to your box this week!
More Great things to look for:
- Eggplant- the purple, globe variety that you might be more familiar with AND the long, slender Japanese variety
- Sweet Corn- if you missed it last week, there is plenty for you this week
- Red potatoes- goes great with the sausage
- Loads of High-Quality pantry products: preserves, dry beans, spices...
- Flint Hill Farm Mozzarella & Chevre Cheese
- Raw cheeses from Hilltop Meadow
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So much great food and many weeks to come for fresh farm grown goodness.
| Check out our market boxes HERE! |
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Thank you for supporting your local farm.
We'll keep farming for you!
Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
βWillow Haven Farmβ
βDirections to the farmβ
P.S. It really helps our farm when you tell us that you've read this email, even if you just skimmed to the bottom.
| I read it! (I fixed this button) |
This will let me know that people are actually reading what I write and help me send you what you find worth while.
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Are you new? More info about our farm:
The Next and LAST Pizza Night is Saturday, August 20. Reserve your table HERE. β
SUMMER MARKET BOX: Get all the details on our website before you make your purchase. See the Market Box options here.β
WHAT'S IN A MARKET BOX? Yep. I get it. You need to know what comes in a box. What's available? What's in season and when? Find out if our MARKET BOX deliveries of local farm food will fit your life and your goals. YES! SEND ME THE GUIDE. β
FARM STORY VIDEOS: The Willow Haven Farm YouTube channel has fun, informative, and educational videos of our farm life and what organic farming looks like here. Check out it out here >>> VIDEOS!
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βThinking of unsubscribing? current CSA members need to stay connected to our emails but you can limit them to just vital information about your membership by clicking here. β
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Tessa DeMaster
Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, βThe Truck Patchβ. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.
Hi Reader! Youβve been waiting for the details about bringing Willow Haven Farm General Store to the local food and organic agriculture scene in the Lehigh Valley. Now itβs your turn to hear directly from Farmer Reuben. Reubenβs excellent presentation on his recent live Zoom call with farm members received overwhelming support and immediate donations to the crowdfunding campaign. Watch now: Get the Replay As Always... We support your desire to have a good, healthy way of life and food on your...
Hi Reader! I needed a bigger, better stainless steel pot for our growing family. This was years ago. Early in our farming years, with young kids and not much extra money for upgrades in the house. For making yogurt, especially, my cheap, thin metal pots weren't cutting it. What could I do? We Are Open! *** Market Hours:Saturday: 9 AM - 3:00 PM Fresh Baked Bread, Scones, Baguettes... Grass Fed Raw MilkAdd a gallon to your Market Box Farmer Reuben gave me the idea. "Why don't you teach a yogurt...
Hi Reader! It's your turn to donate to Farmer Reuben's crowd funding campaign to open: Willow Haven Farm General Store in Trexlertown/Breinigsvilleacross from the Velodromeat 8150 Hamilton Boulevard Donate for the Values Donate for the Vision Donate for the Perks Donate for Your Future Donate for Your Community To donate and learn more about the Willow Haven Farm General Store project, please visit our crowdfunding page on GiveSendGo https://www.givesendgo.com/WillowHavenFarm We are looking...