• What We Grow
    • Growing Practices
    • The Farmers
    • Jobs
    • In the News
    • Contact
    • CSA Options
    • Photo Tour of the CSA
    • Member Guide
    • FAQs
  • Barrett's Bucks
  • PYO Flowers
  • Farm Stand
  • Blog
  • Sign up
Menu

Barrett's Mill Farm | CSA & Farm Store

449 Barretts Mill Rd
Concord, MA, 01742
978-254-5609

Your Custom Text Here

Barrett's Mill Farm | CSA & Farm Store

  • About
    • What We Grow
    • Growing Practices
    • The Farmers
    • Jobs
    • In the News
    • Contact
  • CSA
    • CSA Options
    • Photo Tour of the CSA
    • Member Guide
    • FAQs
  • Barrett's Bucks
  • PYO Flowers
  • Farm Stand
  • Blog
  • Sign up

Farm Stand Pop-up Saturday!

November 22, 2024 Lise Holdorf

We’ll have a colorful array of vegetables on Saturday!

This Saturday, November 23rd from 9am - 3pm we are having our Thanksgiving Pop-up Sale! We have an excellent variety of produce, as well as honey, vinegar, jam, beans and hot sauce made from our own hot peppers! Many items will store in your pantry or refrigerator well beyond Thanksgiving, but we do also have some more perishable items like salanova lettuce mix, spinach, broccoli, scallions, fennel, kale and fresh herbs. Click here for some storage tips for roots and squashes, and see below for some recipe ideas! For the sale, enter through the farm stand and our store will be set up in the attached greenhouse (across from our CSA distribution) for warmth and light no matter the weather!

Available at the Pop-up:

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Tetsukabuto squash

  • Autumn Frost squash

  • Butternut squash

  • Pie pumpkins

  • Carrots - 10 lb bags and 3lb bags.

  • Beets - 10 lb bags and 3lb bags. From Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Garlic

  • Onions - Small yellow onions in 1 pound bags and by the pound. Limited amounts.

  • Leeks

  • Scallions

  • Baby Fennel

  • Popcorn (on the cob) - 2 lb bags and by the pound.

  • Mini Daikon - 3lb bags.

  • Watermelon radishes - 3 lb bags.

  • Turnips - 3lb bags.

  • Cabbage (green and purple)

  • Broccoli - Limited amounts.

  • Kale

  • Spinach - Limited amounts.

  • Salanova lettuce mix

  • Herbs - Parsley and thyme bunches

  • Dried lavender and eucalyptus

  • Hot sauce - Made by Eastern Mass. Provisions from our own habañeros, cayenne, aji rico, fresno peppers and garlic!

  • Cranberries from Fresh Meadows in Carver, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Honey from Double B (from hives on the property). Not organic.

  • Mushrooms from Fat Moon Farm - Farmer’s Mix in 1 pound and 8oz. options. Certified organic.

  • Raspberry vinegar and jam from Silferleaf Farm in Concord. Certified Organic.

  • Baer’s Best Beans - 1 pound bags. Grown in South Berwick, Maine. Black Turtle, Italian Cranberry and Light Red Kidney. All are Certified Organic.

Pasta With Kale Pesto and Roasted Butternut Squash

by Melissa Clark, from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds butternut squash

  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, more for drizzling

  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, more for squash

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 small bunch (about ½ pound) lacinato kale, center ribs removed

  • 8 ounces pasta (penne rigate works well)

  • ⅓ cup toasted pine nuts

  • 2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped

  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste

  • Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a vegetable peeler to peel squash, then halve it lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Dice squash flesh into 1-inch pieces, place on a baking sheet, and toss with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Spread pieces into an even layer, making sure there is space between them. Roast, stirring squash pieces once or twice, until golden brown and tender, about 30 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; have ready a bowl of ice water. Drop kale into boiling water and cook for 45 seconds. Use tongs or slotted spoon to transfer kale to ice water. Bring water in pot back to a boil, adding more if necessary so there is enough to cook pasta.

  3. Drain kale well, then wrap tightly in a dry kitchen towel and squeeze thoroughly to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop leaves. When water in pot comes back to a boil, cook pasta according to package directions.

  4. In a food processor, pulse together kale, nuts, garlic, salt and lemon zest until mixture is smooth and salt has dissolved. With motor running, slowly drizzle in the oil until fully incorporated. Taste and add more salt dissolved in a little lemon juice, if necessary.

  5. Drain pasta, reserving a little cooking water. Toss pasta with kale pesto and some pasta cooking water if necessary to help it coat pasta. Add cheese, lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve topped with squash and more cheese.

Italian-style beans and greens

from Primary Beans

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound Cranberry beans

  • 1 white onion

  • 1 carrot

  • 2 stalks celery

  • Handful parsley

  • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided

  • Parmigiano Reggiano rind (optional, but highly recommended)

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • Pinch red pepper flakes

  • 1 bunch greens of choice (escarole, kale, chard, etc), torn into ribbons

  • Juice of half a lemon

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • For serving: creamy polenta or crusty bread, good olive oil, grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Steps

Rinse beans and place in a large saucepan, covering beans in roughly 1 1⁄2 to 2 inches water, about 4 cups. Salt liberally. Halve the onion, add one half to the pot, and set the other half aside. Cut carrot and celery in half, then add to beans. Tuck the Parm rind in (if using), add a handful of parsley (stems and all), and top with 2 tbsp olive oil. Simmer over low heat with the pot partially covered for 1 1⁄2 to 3 hours, depending on the bean. Start checking for doneness after 1 hour. Stir occasionally and monitor the water level, adding more to keep the beans covered.

Once the beans are cooked through, turn off the heat and cover with a lid. Set aside. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Meanwhile, dice the remaining half of the onion. Once oil is shimmering, add in red pepper flakes and onion. Saute for 5-7 minutes and then add garlic, sauteing for an additional 2-3 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add in greens, seasoning with salt and pepper. Toss greens to thoroughly coat them in onion and oil mixture. Saute for 3-4 minutes, using tongs to continually move the greens around to avoid burning the onion and garlic.

Carefully ladle two scoops of bean liquid into the pot with your greens, taking care not to add any beans. Braise greens with the lid on for 20-25 minutes over medium-low heat. Meanwhile, remove veggies, Parm rind, and easily accessible parsley from beans. Remove the lid from the greens and give them a good stir. Add in lemon juice and toss, sauteing for 3-5 minutes as some liquid evaporates.

Combine beans and remaining liquid with greens, stirring to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve over polenta or with crusty bread. Garnish with a glug of good olive oil and a mountain of grated Parm.

Sweet potato cakes

Adapted from Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi

  • 2 ¼ lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks

  • 2 tsp soy sauce

  • ¾ cup flour

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ½ tsp sugar

  • 3 tbsp scallion, chopped

  • ½ tsp fresh chilli, finely chopped

  • Lots of butter, for frying

For the sauce:

  • 3 tbsp Greek yogurt

  • 3 tbsp sour cream

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

  • Salt and pepper

  • 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped


Steam the sweet potato until soft, then drain in a colander for up to an hour. Meanwhile, whisk the sauce ingredients until smooth and set aside. In a mixing bowl, work all the fritter ingredients by hand - it should be sticky, so if it's a little runny, add some flour. Melt some butter in a nonstick pan. Use a tablespoon to put mix in the frying pan and flatten slightly with the back of the spoon. and fry on moderate heat until you get a nice, brown crust, turning as necessary - about six minutes. Place between two sheets of paper towels to soak up the excess butter. Serve hot or warm, with the sauce on the side.

Curried Carrot and Coconut Soup

by Mark Bittman, from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • ½ medium onion, roughly chopped

  • ¾ pound carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch coins

  • 1 teaspoon peeled, grated fresh ginger

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin, to taste

  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric, to taste

  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander, to taste

  • Pinch of cayenne pepper

  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

  • Juice from ½ lime

  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

  • Cilantro, if you have it

Preparation

  1. Heat the butter until the foam subsides. Add the diced chopped onions, sprinkle with salt, stir to coat with butter. Add the chopped carrots along with the spices. Stir and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.

  2. Add the stock; there should be enough to cover the vegetables. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking until the carrots are cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.

  3. If you have an immersion blender, purée the soup in the pot. If not, wait until the soup cools slightly, and purée in a food processor. Add enough coconut milk (and a little more stock or water if necessary) to bring the soup to the consistency you want. Adjust the seasoning (depending on the stock you use, you may need more or less salt), and lime juice to taste. Garnish and serve.

Sweet “Winter” Slaw

Adapted from Plenty, by Yotam Ottolenghi

For the dressing

  • 6 ½ tbsp lime juice

  • 1 lemon grass stalk, chopped into small pieces

  • 3 tbsp maple syrup

  • 2 tbsp sesame oil

  • 1 tsp soy sauce

  • ½ tsp chilli flakes

  • 4 tbsp light olive oil

For the salad

  • 1 ¼ cups macadamia nuts

  • 2 tsp butter

  • 2 tbsp sugar

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp chilli flakes

  • 6 oz shredded savoy cabbage

  • 10 oz shredded red cabbage

  • 1 mango cut into thin strips

  • 1 papaya, peeled, deseeded and cut into strips

  • 1 red chilli, deseeded and cut into thin slices

  • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped

  • 1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

To make the dressing, put all the ingredients except the olive oil into a small saucepan, and reduce for five to 10 minutes, until thick and syrupy. Remove from the heat. Once it has cooled down, strain into a bowl, stir in the oil and set aside.

 Put the macadamias in a hot frying pan and dry-roast for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly coloured on all sides. Add the butter and, once it has melted, the sugar, salt and chilli. Use a wooden spoon to stir constantly, to keep the nuts coated in the sugar as it caramelises. Be careful because this will take only a minute or two and the nuts can burn very quickly. Turn out the nuts on to a sheet of greaseproof paper and, once cool, roughly chop them.

Put the shredded cabbage in a large mixing bowl, along with the rest of the salad ingredients. Add the cool dressing, toss and taste. Add salt if you need to, and serve immediately.

Watermelon Radish, Orange & Goat Cheese Salad

from Alexandra’s Kitchen

Ingredients:

  • 1 shallot or half of a small red onion

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

  • kosher salt

  • 2 to 3 watermelon radishes

  • 2 to 3 oranges, clementines, grapefruit, etc. (I love Cara Cara oranges, which are sweet, pretty and delicious)

  • a handful of walnuts, toasted and chopped (see notes)

  • goat cheese to taste

  • chives, minced, optional, but they add some nice color

  • olive oil to taste

Instructions

  1. Mince shallot. Place in small bowl. Cover with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the vinegar depending on how big of a salad you are making. Add a pinch of salt. Set aside.

  2. Cut off one end of the radish. Leave the other intact so you have a handle when you run the radish down your mandoline. Peel the radishes if you wish, though it is by no means necessary. Thinly slice on a mandoline. Arrange radish slices on a platter. I try to fold some of them so they’re not all squished down in one flat layer, but arrange however you wish. Season all over with salt.

  3. Cut off each end of each orange. Squeeze each end over the radishes, then discard. Use a sharp knife to remove the skin from the orange. Cut in between membranes to remove each slice. Squeeze remaining membrane all over the radishes to extract any juice. Scatter oranges over the radishes.

  4. Scatter walnuts and goat cheese to taste over the radishes and oranges. Pour macerated shallots and vinegar over top. Drizzle olive oil to taste (one to two tablespoons) over top. Scatter chives over top if using.

  5. Let sit a few minutes (or longer — it benefits from a brief rest) before serving.

Final CSA week and Thanksgiving Farm Stand Pop-up!

November 18, 2024 Lise Holdorf

The crew harvest salanaova in the high tunnel.

This week marks the 24th and final week for the Flex and Extended CSA. We are also holding our Thanksgiving Pop-up Sale on Saturday, November 23rd, 9am - 3pm. The pop-up sale is open to everyone and will include most of the items that we have in the CSA, plus many additional items! We will have a more limited amount of items on sale as well during Wednesday’s CSA pick-up. See below for lists of what will likely be available Wednesday and Saturday. We will send out another email before Saturday with a finalized list for the pop-up sale.

We had a good growing season, so it’s possible we’ll have enough high tunnel greens and storage crops remaining for another pop-up sale in December, but if there’s anything you’re worried about missing out on, get it Saturday!

Also, 2025 CSA memberships are still available, with descriptions found here: https://www.barrettsmillfarm.com/csa. PYO Flower CSA sign-ups will open up later this fall, and Barrett’s Bucks sign-ups will open up this winter!

In the CSA this week:

  • Baby Fennel - From our high tunnel. Great roasted, shaved in salads, or in stuffing!

  • Scallions - From our high tunnel.

  • Garlic

  • Leeks

  • Popcorn - These are distributed on the cob. Kernels can be removed by rubbing them off the cob with your thumb.

  • Yellow potatoes - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Tetsukabuto squash - This squash is a cross between butternut and kabocha. It has a sweet, nutty flavor and the skin is edible.

  • Autumn Frost squash

  • Butternut - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic. There may also be some of our own mixed in later in the week.

  • Carrots

  • Beets - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Mini Daikon

  • Watermelon radishes - These have a similar level of heat as the daikon. The insides are magenta, so it’s visually stunning!

  • Storage turnips

  • Cabbage - Green or purple storage.

  • Salanova

CSA Pick-Your-Own:

  • Parsley

Available for sale during Wednesday CSA pick-ups:

  • Butternut squash

  • Pie pumpkins

  • Kale

  • Honey from Double B (from hives on the property). Not organic.

  • Raspberry vinegar and jam from Silferleaf Farm in Concord. Certified Organic.

  • Cranberries from Fresh Meadows in Carver, MA. Certified Organic.

Pop-up sale Saturday November 23rd:

Likely includes all the items listed in our CSA, plus the following:

  • Pie pumpkin

  • Butternut - This butternut is our own, whereas Atlas Farm butternut will be in the CSA.

  • Kale - From our high tunnel.

  • Onions - We had a rough year for onions, so the storage onions we were able to save are small.

  • Dried lavender and eucalyptus

  • Broccoli - Limited amounts.

  • Hot sauce - Made by Eastern Mass. Provisions from our own habañeros, cayenne, aji rico, fresno peppers and garlic!

  • Cranberries from Fresh Meadows in Carver, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Honey from Double B (from hives on the property). Not organic.

  • Mushrooms from Fat Moon Farm - Farmer’s Mix. Certified organic.

  • Raspberry vinegar and jam from Silferleaf Farm in Concord. Certified Organic.

  • Baer’s Best Beans - 1 pound bags. Grown in South Berwick, Maine. Black Turtle, Italian Cranberry and Light Red Kidney. Certified Organic.

Roasted Butternut Squash With Lentils and Feta

By Nik Sharma, from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

For the Salad

  • ½ cup black or green lentils

  • 1(3-inch) cinnamon stick

  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 (1-pound) butternut squash

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • ¼ cup crumbled feta

  • 4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons roasted, salted pumpkin seeds

For the Dressing

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil

  • 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin, toasted

  • ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • Kosher salt

Preparation

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pick any debris from the lentils, then rinse the lentils under running water. Transfer them to a medium saucepan, then add the cinnamon, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt.

  2. Add enough water to cover everything by 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and let simmer until the lentils are tender but not mushy, about 20 minutes. Drain the lentils, discard the cinnamon and garlic, then transfer the lentils to a large bowl.

  3. While the lentils cook, prepare the squash: Trim and discard the top and bottom ends of the squash. Peel the squash, halve it lengthwise, and remove and discard the strings and seeds. Slice the squash crosswise ¼-inch thick and place the pieces on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

  4. Roast the squash until completely tender, slightly caramelized and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool for 10 minutes. Once cool, add to the lentils.

  5. While the squash cooks, prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, pomegranate molasses, honey, cumin, cayenne and black pepper. Taste and season to taste with salt.

  6. Sprinkle the feta, scallions and pumpkin seeds over the lentils and squash. Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dressing over the lentils and squash. Serve warm or at room temperature, with the remaining dressing on the side.

Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger

By Martha Rose Shulman, fro NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

  • 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and diced

  • 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

  • 1 medium-size Yukon gold or russet potato, peeled and diced

  • 6 cups water, chicken stock, or vegetable stock

  • Salt to taste

Preparation

  1. Heat the oil in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and stir together until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the squash, sweet potatoes, regular potato, and water or stock, and bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes, or until all of the ingredients are thoroughly tender.

  2. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup (or you can put it through the fine blade of a food mill or use a regular blender, working in batches and placing a kitchen towel over the top to avoid splashing). Return to the pot and stir with a whisk to even out the texture. Heat through, adjust salt and add pepper to taste.

Week 23 of CSA and Farm Stand Pop-up Preview

November 11, 2024 Lise Holdorf

Most of our fields are cleared of crops and planted with cover crop, with the exception of a few cold hardy crops.

We made a lot of progress last week in cleaning up the fields. All of the landscape fabric and black plastic mulch are up, and we took down one of our deer fences. There are still a few remaining field tasks, like taking down our second deer fence, mulching our garlic and strawberries, and putting up smaller fences around our tulips and strawberries. Mostly, though, we have high tunnel projects and maintenance work on our equipment and infrastructure.

In addition to clean-up and maintenance work, we are also prepping for a Thanksgiving pop-up sale on Saturday, November 23rd. We’ll likely have potatoes, sweet potatoes, our own butternut, Autumn Frost squash, pie pumpkins, onions, carrots, beets from Atlas Farm, turnips, radishes, cabbage and salanova

2025 CSA sign-ups are still open to new and returning members alike. CSA description are found here: https://www.barrettsmillfarm.com/csa. If you are a current member please see the email that was sent out a few weeks ago for your sign-up link. PYO Flower CSA sign-ups will open up later this fall, and Barrett’s Bucks sign-ups will open up this winter!

In the CSA this week:

  • Popcorn - These are distributed on the cob. Kernels can be removed by rubbing them off the cob with your thumb.

  • Garlic - We’ve planted all of our garlic for next year, and there was enough leftover for distribution in the CSA!

  • Leeks

  • Yellow potatoes - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Sweet potatoes - This week’s recipe theme is sweet potatoes. Check them out for ideas about what to do with some of our larger sweet potatoes!

  • Autumn Frost squash

  • Carrots

  • Beets - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Brussels sprouts - These are distributed on the stalk.

  • Mini Daikon

  • Watermelon radishes - These have a similar level of heat as the daikon. The insides are magenta, so it’s visually stunning!

  • Storage turnips

  • Storage cabbage - green and purple.

  • Lettuce

  • Salanova

CSA Pick-Your-Own:

  • Parsley

Available for sale during CSA pick-ups:

  • Green tomatoes

  • Colored peppers - likely available only on Wednesday.

  • Broccoli - likely available only on Wednesday.

  • Butternut squash - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Honey from Double B (from hives on the property). Not organic.

  • Raspberry vinegar and jam from Silferleaf Farm in Concord. Certified Organic.

  • Cranberries from Fresh Meadows in Carver, MA. Certified Organic.

Sweet Potato Fries

by Mark Bittman, from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ½teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

  1. Heat the oven to 400.

  2. Cut the sweet potatoes into sticks ¼ to ½ inch wide and 3 inches long, and toss them with the oil.

  3. Mix the spices, salt and pepper in a small bowl, and toss them with the sweet potatoes. Spread them out on 2 rimmed baking sheets.

  4. Bake until brown and crisp on the bottom, about 15 minutes, then flip and cook until the other side is crisp, about 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Sweet Potato-Garlic Soup With Chile Oil

By Nik Sharma from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

For the Soup

  • 1 head of garlic

  • 2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1½pounds sweet potatoes (about 3 medium), peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes

  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced

  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

  • 3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

  • Fine sea salt

For the Chile Oil

  • ½ cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed

  • 2 tablespoons red-pepper flakes, such as Aleppo

  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced

  • 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns, crushed

Preparation

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove some of the excess paper from the head of garlic, leaving the bulb intact. Rub the bulb with 2 teaspoons oil and place it in the center of a rimmed baking sheet.

  2. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes, onion and cumin seeds with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread them in a single layer on the baking sheet and roast until the sweet potatoes are slightly caramelized and tender and the garlic has softened, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest until the vegetables are cool enough to handle, about 8 minutes.

  3. While the vegetables roast, prepare the chile oil: In a small saucepan over medium, heat the neutral oil, taking care not to burn it. (Measure the oil’s temperature with a thermometer; it should read about 325 degrees. You could also test the temperature with a Sichuan peppercorn: It should sizzle when tossed in.)

  4. Once the oil is hot, remove it from the heat, add the red-pepper flakes, garlic and Sichuan peppercorns. Cover with a lid and let steep for at least 20 minutes. (The oil can be prepared a day ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)

  5. Transfer the cooked sweet potato mixture to a blender. Squeeze the softened garlic pulp out of the cloves and add the pulp to the blender. Add ¼ cup stock to the baking sheet and scrape off any bits that have stuck to the pan. Add the stock and bits to the blender. Add the remaining stock, the black pepper and turmeric to the blender and purée on high speed until smooth and creamy. Taste and add salt as needed. Transfer the soup to a medium saucepan and rewarm over low as needed.

  6. Divide the soup among bowls. Give the chile oil a stir and drizzle the soup with a generous tablespoon or two. Serve immediately.

Brown Butter Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad

By Yossy Arefi from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

For the Salad

  • 1 pound sweet potatoes, butternut squash or carrots, peeled and cut into ¾-inch pieces (about 4 cups)

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • Kosher salt and black pepper

  • 1 cup French green lentils or black lentils, rinsed

  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves and tender stems

  • ½ cup crumbled goat cheese (optional)

For the Brown Butter Vinaigrette

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage leaves

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup

  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Preparation

  1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees and set a rack in the center.

  2. Prepare the sweet potatoes: On a baking sheet, toss the sweet potatoes with the olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Spread into an even layer and roast, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender, 15 to 25 minutes.

  3. While the sweet potatoes cook, prepare the lentils: Add the lentils to a medium pot and cover with about 6 cups water. Salt the water generously and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook the lentils until just tender, 15 to 25 minutes. Drain the lentils then return them to the pot. Cover to keep warm.

  4. Prepare the vinaigrette: Add the sage to a small bowl. Melt the butter in a small skillet set over medium heat. (Use a pan with a light interior so you can easily see the milk solids change color.) Cook the butter a few minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the milk solids off the bottom and sides of the pan as needed, until the milk solids turn golden brown and smell toasty.

  5. Pour the hot browned butter and all of the toasty bits over the sage; it will crackle and foam a bit. Let the mixture sit for 1 minute to let the foam subside, then whisk in the olive oil, followed by the red wine vinegar and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  6. Add the cooked sweet potatoes to the pot with the warm lentils. Pour the dressing over the top and stir gently to combine. Add the parsley, season with more salt and pepper, if desired, and toss to combine.

  7. Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and sprinkle with goat cheese, if using. Serve warm.

Week 22 of Extended/Flex CSA and Farm Updates

November 4, 2024 Lise Holdorf

Maddie rolls up irrigation lines in the field last week.

We seem to be in a pattern of a cold weekend and Monday followed by warmer weather later in the week. We definitely utilized that warmer weather at the end of last week to roll up and put away all of our irrigation. Several years ago we didn’t get to irrigation pick-up until November and water had frozen in all of the lines that were on shady field edges, making them tough to drain. We eventually got them all drained by dragging them into sunnier areas, but since then we’ve made it a priority to get as much put away as possible before hard freezes!

This week we’re continuing the field clean-up. We’ll be taking down the rest of the field tomato trellising, rolling up landscape fabric, picking up plastic mulch and drip tape, and hopefully also taking down deer fences. The deer have recently begun hanging out in the fields in broad daylight, so we might as well take down the fences so the deer don’t start taking the fence’s presence as an invitation to hang out!

Finally, a reminder that we’ve now opened up 2025 CSA sign-ups to new members. You can find descriptions of our new CSA options here:

https://www.barrettsmillfarm.com/csa

To sign up, visit:

http://www.barrettsmillfarm.com/online-store

If you are a current member and never received an email from us with the link to the CSA renewal page, please email Melissa! PYO Flower CSA sign-ups will open up later this fall, and Barrett’s Bucks sign-ups will open up this winter!

In the CSA this week:

  • Leeks

  • Green tomatoes - The classic preparation is fried green tomatoes, but the firm texture and tart flavor lend itself to other recipes as well! They can be pickled, made into chutney, roasted with sweeter veggies like winter squash or sweet potato, or you could try out the green tomato salsa verde recipe below!

  • Brussels sprouts - These are distributed on the stalk.

  • Butternut squash - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Carrots

  • Beets - from Atlas Farm in Deerfield, MA. Certified Organic.

  • Peppers - Mostly green, but we may have some with streaks of color early in the week.

  • Broccoli

  • Mini Daikon

  • Watermelon radishes - These have a similar level of heat as the daikon. The insides are magenta, so it’s visually stunning!

  • Storage turnips

  • Green storage cabbage

  • Kale

  • Lettuce

CSA Pick-Your-Own:

  • Parsley

Available for sale during CSA pick-ups:

  • Honey from Double B (from hives on the property). Not organic.

  • Raspberry vinegar and jam from Silferleaf Farm in Concord. Certified Organic.

  • Cranberries from Fresh Meadows in Carver, MA. Certified Organic.

Sweet Potato Soup With Feta and Za’atar Oil

Recipe from "The Food 52 Cookbook", adapted by Tara Parker-Pope from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons za’atar (a spice blend that combines dried hyssop, thyme and sesame seeds and can be found at Middle Eastern grocers or other specialty stores)

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 onion, peeled and diced

  • 1 carrot, peeled and diced

  • 1 leek, white part only, rinsed thoroughly and diced

  • 5 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 6 cups water

  • 2 cups vegetable stock

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 tablespoon salt, or to taste

  • ¼ cup feta cheese

Preparation

  1. In a small pot, combine ¼ cup olive oil and the za’atar. Cook over medium heat until hot, but take care not to burn the za’atar. Set aside for at least one hour to cool and infuse.

  2. In a large pot, heat the butter and remaining olive oil over medium high heat. When the butter has melted, add the onion, carrot and leek and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sweet potato cubes and sauté for another minute. Add the water, stock and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Once the soup begins to boil, lower to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Check to make sure the sweet potatoes are completely soft. If not, continue cooking until they are.

  3. Remove the bay leaf and puree the soup using a regular or immersion blender. Check the seasoning and add the salt (you may need more or less depending on the stock you used). Ladle out the soup into individual bowls. Crumble some feta into each bowl, and drizzle each bowl with some of the za’atar oil.

Green Tomato Salsa Verde

from Yup, it’s Vegan

Ingredients

  • 1 lb green tomatoes (green = unripe)

  • 1/2 medium white onion diced

  • 1 or 2 serrano peppers thinly sliced (mine were super hot, so I only used 1)

  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste

  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1 tbsp lime juice or to taste

Instructions

  1. Halve the green tomatoes and slice out the interior section around the stem (see the instructional image in my post), then cut in half again to make quarters. Lay out the tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with foil.

  2. Turn on the broiler in your oven and set the baking sheet on a top rack a few inches from the flames. Broil for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned. (If your oven does not have a broiler, use the hottest temperature your oven can reach and roast for 10 minutes or until lightly browned).

  3. Meanwhile, add the diced onions to a bowl and fill with cold water to soak for 5 to 10 minutes.

  4. Add the broiled green tomatoes to your food processor and pulse a few times to break them into pieces. Drain the water from the onion and add it along with the peppers, salt, cilantro, and lime juice. Pulse a few more times, until the desired texture is reached. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and lime juice if desired. The green tomato salsa can be served immediately, but it's even better after an hour or more in the fridge for the flavors to meld.

2025 CSA Sign-ups Now Open to New Members!

November 1, 2024 Lise Holdorf

In spite of the fact that it feels like we are experiencing a second summer, we are in fact approaching the end of the 2024 CSA, which means we are beginning to plan for the 2025 season! The CSA program is hugely important in our planning process, so we always open sign-ups at this time of year to help us figure out our crop plan, order seeds and begin our hiring for the next season. We’ve made a few changes to our CSA program for next year, the biggest of which is the addition of a new Small CSA offering! We think the Small size option will make the CSA more accessible for smaller households who have felt like our Regular sized CSA was too big. This size is also designed for folks who have been sharing a membership but wish they didn’t have to split up the limited items and pick-your-own.

The Small CSA is about 70% of the volume of the regular size. This option will still have the same crops available in the CSA distribution area and the same inside-the-bag limits, but the PYO and outside-the-bag offerings (like watermelon and Brussels sprouts) may sometimes differ in a given week. PYO strawberries won’t be included in the Small CSA memberships, but otherwise the available PYO crops will be similar. Small memberships will be available either as Extended memberships and Flex memberships. For more information as well as pictures visit our CSA options page:

https://www.barrettsmillfarm.com/csa

Or visit the online store:

http://www.barrettsmillfarm.com/online-store

The other big change is that there will no longer be a Main Season CSA offering. However, we still have a 20 week option with the Flex memberships, and with the addition of the smaller options we still have lower price point memberships.

Most of the essentials remain the same, though. The regular-sized Flex and Extended CSAs are the same as they were in 2024. We will also be open the same CSA pick-up days and times: Wednesdays 11am-6:30pm and Saturdays 9am-3pm.

If you are a 2024 CSA member, you should have received an email last week with sign-up information. If you did not receive this renewal email please reach out to Melissa.

← Newer Posts Older Posts →

Newsletter Sign-up

Our newsletter includes our blog posts (weekly during the season, monthly in the off-season), as well as occasional farm announcements not posted on the blog.

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!

Click on a month below to view older posts:

  • May 2025 (4)
  • April 2025 (8)
  • March 2025 (2)
  • February 2025 (2)
  • January 2025 (2)
  • December 2024 (3)
  • November 2024 (5)
  • October 2024 (4)
  • September 2024 (6)
  • August 2024 (5)
  • July 2024 (5)
  • June 2024 (4)
  • May 2024 (6)
  • April 2024 (6)
  • March 2024 (3)
  • February 2024 (1)
  • January 2024 (1)
  • December 2023 (1)
  • November 2023 (3)
  • October 2023 (5)
  • September 2023 (6)
  • August 2023 (5)
  • July 2023 (5)
  • June 2023 (4)
  • May 2023 (9)
  • April 2023 (7)
  • February 2023 (2)
  • January 2023 (1)
  • December 2022 (2)
  • November 2022 (3)
  • October 2022 (4)
  • September 2022 (4)
  • August 2022 (5)
  • July 2022 (4)
  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (9)
  • April 2022 (6)
  • March 2022 (2)
  • February 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • November 2021 (3)
  • October 2021 (4)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • August 2021 (5)
  • July 2021 (4)
  • June 2021 (4)
  • May 2021 (8)
  • April 2021 (6)
  • March 2021 (1)
  • January 2021 (2)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (4)
  • September 2020 (4)
  • August 2020 (5)
  • July 2020 (5)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (6)
  • March 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • November 2019 (3)
  • October 2019 (4)
  • September 2019 (6)
  • August 2019 (4)
  • July 2019 (5)
  • June 2019 (4)
  • May 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (2)
  • January 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • November 2018 (2)
  • October 2018 (5)
  • September 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (4)
  • July 2018 (5)
  • June 2018 (4)
  • May 2018 (4)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (1)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (5)
  • September 2017 (4)
  • August 2017 (4)
  • July 2017 (5)
  • June 2017 (4)
  • May 2017 (5)
  • April 2017 (3)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (5)
  • September 2016 (4)
  • August 2016 (5)
  • July 2016 (4)
  • June 2016 (4)
  • May 2016 (5)
  • April 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • November 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (5)
  • August 2015 (5)
  • July 2015 (5)
  • June 2015 (5)
  • May 2015 (7)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (2)
  • February 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (1)
  • December 2014 (1)
  • November 2014 (1)
  • October 2014 (4)
  • September 2014 (6)
  • August 2014 (6)
  • July 2014 (8)
  • June 2014 (5)
  • May 2014 (3)
  • April 2014 (5)
  • March 2014 (2)

Barrett's Mill Farm  |  449 Barrett's Mill Road  |  Concord, MA 01742


 

2025 Farm Store Schedule

Open May - October 25th

Tuesday - Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

2025 CSA Schedule

Starts June 11th

Wednesday 11am - 6:30pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

 

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign up to receive our newsletter (weekly in-season, monthly in the off-season).

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!