Maysie's Farm Conservation Center

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Does It Fit?: Getting the right size share
By Louise Smith

Some first time CSA members have a tendency to select a share size that is smaller than the number of people in their household, often because this is their first experience of buying organic food directly from the farm. While members are permitted to purchase any sized share, we strongly encourage people to buy the right size for their household.

It is disappointing for members to receive fresh, organic produce from Maysie's Farm and then have to supplement it with old, chemically grown, more expensive supermarket produce because they have purchased a share size that doesn't fit their household size. For example, our four- person share will adequately feed two adults and two older children who consume both vegetables and meat products in their meals at home. Our one-person share should be expected to feed the average adult: that is, an omnivore of average appetite who derives some of his or her nutrition from foods other than those grown at Maysie's Farm.

Our pricing structure is designed to encourage members to purchase the share size that is appropriate for their family size, as the cost per share decreases as the family size increases. If all our members bought the most expensive one-person shares, we could accept more households and make more money, but we'd have a great many dissatisfied members who were not taking home enough food to feed their families. We would rather have satisfied members who are meeting their families' needs for in-season produce. So, if after a few weeks, you determine that you have purchased a share size that is inadequate for your family size, we encourage you to consider upgrading your share size to more satisfactorily meet your needs. You can see Sam Cantrell on your pickup day or call him at 610-458-8129 about making this change.

Spinach Strawberry Salad
A recipe from the book From Asparagus to Zucchini:

sesame seeds

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

minced garlic to taste

dry mustard to taste

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup salad oil

1 bunch spinach, cleaned and stemmed

1 cup strawberries, sliced or chunked

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)

Toast sesame seeds in dry skillet or hot oven several minutes, tossing often; let cool. Combine sugar, vinegar and garlic, dry mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk in oil in thin stream. Toss with spinach, strawberries, dill and sesame seeds. Four servings.

Cookbook Available
Looking for more recipes that utilize your fresh vegetables? Maysie's Farm is once again taking orders for From Asparagus to Zucchini, a cookbook put together by a coalition of CSAs in the Madison, WI area. Included are recipes for all Maysie's vegetables; the more unusual the vegetable, the more recipes are given. Cost is $18; sign up in the barn next time you pick up your vegetables.

Youth Workshops
Last year Maysie's Farm Conservation Center offered its first day-long Down to Earth Organic Gardening Workshop for Youth. It was such a success that this year we decided to offer four throughout the summer of 2001: two for ages 6-10 and two for ages 11 and above. The flyer on page two contains dates, times and registration information. Reserve your spot now!

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True or False?

1. Bats are flying mice.
2. Bats are blind.
3. Most bats are dirty and carry rabies.
4. Bats swoop down and become caught in people's hair.
Click here for answers

Bats
by Dawn Lawless

Perhaps you noticed the return of these flying mammals in the night sky in April and May. Bats are intriguing animals. All Pennsylvania bats, 11 species in all, are insect eaters. Hence, they are friends of the farmer. Bats find their prey by utilizing an adaptation called echolocation. They emit high-pitched squeaks, usually too high for humans to hear, that echo off prey or objects to avoid. The sound bounces back to their large wel-developed ears. In winter, a few of our bats migrate south, in search of insects. However, most hibernate under the ground, usually in caves, for the winter.

The reproductive rate of bats is low. Most have only one young per year. The greatest threat to bats comes from human activity. Peole entering caves can waken hibernating bats. Repeated disturbances cause their bodies to burn calories, so they can starve to death before insects are plentiful in the spring.

Our most common bat, the Little Brown Bat, can live up to 25 years. This bat will eat flying insects such as nocturnal moths, bugs, beetles, flies, and mosquitoes. This bat will catch an insect in its wing or tail membrane and transfer it to its mouth. So the next time you gaze into the twilight sky and see a bat, recall that they are nature's bug zappers.

Maysie's Musings
Maysie speaks from experience when she says, "If you're going to be out in the sun, please be sure your skin is protected, especially if you're fair-skinned. Also, check yourself carefully for ticks. We never used to have those tiny deer ticks, but we do now. Sam has had Lyme disease three years in a row!"
Answers to Bat quiz:
All answers are False!

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