I would like to take a moment this week to pay tribute to our amazing farmstand manager while she is away on a much deserved vacation (and can’t stop me)! According to Shelagh’s job description, “the farm stand manager should possess a passion for local food, an eye for attractive retail displays, great communication skills with farmers, producers & customers, and an interest in helping to improve upon a successful farm enterprise. You showcase the farm.” Shelagh has taken this directive to heart and put an incredible amount of energy, thoughtfulness, and creativity into everything she does. With several hundred products in the stand to order and stock from dozens of producers and food hubs you might think Shelagh’s time is spent entirely managing inventory. But take one look at her (meticulously organized) daily calendar and you will find social media posts and newsletters to write, events to coordinate, signs and decorations to deploy, sales reports to track, and meetings with the rest of the farm team that help connect our disparate enterprises. This week, as I try to fill her big shoes, I am both impressed by and deeply appreciative of all she does.
And despite her long to do list, she maintains her calm and takes care of everyone along the way. Birthday cakes for the crew. Lasagna Love for friends and strangers. Casual conversation and heartfelt listening for long-time members and drop-ins alike. She’s even nice to the person who stole her car! When the mid-summer days are long and it seems like the farm chores are going to bury us, Shelagh lightens the mood and reminds us of the bigger picture with a pithy remark, a beautiful photo, or sometimes just a quiet hug.
So this is just to say “Thank you, Shelagh, for everything you do at Sweetland. Have a great vacation, and COME HOME SOON, we miss you already!”
Cheers
Norah and the Sweetland Crew
Week 21 Harvest Tomatoes Lettuce Kale Sweet Peppers Hakurei Salad Turnips Radishes Green Tomatoes Carrots Celeriac Kohlrabi Delicata Squash Georgia Candy Roaster Squash Spaghetti Squash Garlic Leeks
What’s Cooking This Week
You can find ingredients for all of these recipes in our farm store! We source meats, dairy, grains, beans, sweets, and more from local and sustainable producers. Don’t forget to use your CSA member discount by entering your account phone number in our POS (member discounts are automatically applied to LocalLine purchases for off-farm delivery).
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Curry Squash & Carrot Stew (great with candy roaster)
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Romaine Salad with Tomatoes, Carrots, Peppers (& Kohlrabi!)