Friday - YIKES no field help, no berries today

Hi gang,

So sorry about this...... my field help didn't show up. We have no berries. I INTENDED to be open today but.......

This changes my plans a little.

We will be open tomorrow, Saturday. I should have my help as usual. We'll bring in fruit @ 12:00 and more around 2:00. If the field holds we'll keep going all day.

I will be closed on Sunday since the weather will be cool and my every other plan got messed up today. This will allow more to ripen and give us a larger harvest for Monday before the holiday. We will most likely bring in every berry we can get and keep picking till the field is clean. I'll have my regular variety and possibly my trial berries too. They will be labeled so you get the kind you like.

REMEMBER --------- I will be closed next Tues, Wed, Thurs.

Thanks for understanding about the harvesting blip today :)

Sally Strawberry

Berry Update for Friday, June 29th - Open, & next weeks schedule

Hi gang,

Hope those of you that snagged blueberries have enjoyed them! I'm waiting for the next wave to ripen at the moment. As soon as they're available I'll let you know. I'm surprised at how many we harvested already from 1 year plants.

We will be open tomorrow, Friday. Berries will be there at noon. If you come before noon, please give my wonderful help a chance to get set up and ready for you. She has to unload, set up the berries, get the door up and breathe. It's possible there will be more @ 2:00 AND possible there won't.

If we harvest 1/2 the field tomorrow with very little ripening after that, we will be closed on Saturday. We will be open on Sunday. The schedule for Sunday will be the same as Friday. We hope to be open on Monday.

Please note........ We will be CLOSED on Tues, Wed and Thurs the 3rd thru the 5th. We will open again on Friday 7/6.

It is highly likely that we will be closed more than open during July. We could be open only 2 or 3 days a week. I'll keep you posted. I'll also time my blueberry harvests to hit our open days.

PLUMS will be coming SOON! Possibly on Monday or for sure on Friday 7/6. Lee is excited ---- the tree is LOADED!

More honey was delivered on Wed. Veggies should arrive in mid July.

That's all for now gang!

Sally Strawberry

Open 12:00 - 5:30/6:00 or sold out daily,
Closed Tuesday/Thursday

NEW HOURS–open today & more @ 2:00

Hi gang,

Much confusion out there about when we're open. We're in mid June, the harvest slowdown and it's time again for our summer hours change. Please make a mental note of it.

Open @ 12 noon (not 10:00) until 5:30/6:00 or sold out
CLOSED Tues/Thurs
Additional closed days are possible, I'll notify you in advance.

We will be open Sat, Sun, Mon unless I email you with a change. Berries will come in at noon and maybe 2:00 if the weather holds (and the crop). Blueberries may arrive Saturday if we get them packaged in time. We'll start picking them tonite and continue tomorrow morning and Sunday morning. I'm down one picker since my daughter is at the fair showing her jersey cows.

Please let me indulge........since many of you have asked and even visited us at the fair, I am happy to report that my daughter did wonderfully!!! She showed her jersey cows, all 9 of them yesterday. The high point was the showmanship competition. This is where you are judged on showing ability and preparation of the animal. This was her first year in the FFA (Future Farmers of America) class after showing in 4-H for the past 7 years. All the kids in FFA have many years under their belts and the competition is fierce, 27 in all. They were in the ring for 1 1/2 hours!!! I am EXTREMELY proud of my daughter who took first place and will advance to round robin showmanship on Saturday @ 4:00. The first and second place exhibitors in each showmanship class and breed will compete - beef, dairy, goats, sheep, pigs and horses. It's lots of fun for us to watch!!! Stop by and look me up at the dairy ring :)

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

4:45 Wed - 11 1/2 flats left

Hi gang,

Great day today! It's 4:45 and we have 11 1/2 flats on the stand from our last run to the field. Please stop by and take them home. We don't want to have 1 single berry left @ 6:00. For those of you who can't catch us late in the day or after work...... today is for you :)

Don't forget..... we're closed tomorrow.

New summer hours:
Open @ 12 noon till sold out
Closed Tues/Thurs
Additional closed days depending on crop.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Get 'em today, closed on Thursday

Hi gang,

Quick note.... get your berries today! Seriously ---- The weather is cool, we'll pick longer into the day AND tomorrow we're CLOSED. It's supposed to be 90 degrees tomorrow so..... I don't know what quantity we'll have for Friday, if it's hot we'll only have 1 load again @ noon.

We expect to bring in a load @ noon (I already had 25 flats harvested @ 10:00), more @ 2:00/2:30 and most likely more @ 4:00. We could possibly be there until 6:00 so make sure you keep an eye out as you pass by.

There will be blueberries available when we open. We only have 20 each so they will go fast. The next harvest will not be until next week ----- more ripening time required.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

1 load @ 10AM, BLUEBERRIES, new hours start tomorrow

Hi gang,

The seasonal slowdown is here. Our berries will only produce small amounts from now until the end of July.

For today........ we will bring in everything we can get @ 10:00. This will be our only delivery to the stand today. Most likely we will be out within the hour (or less). We will stay until sold out.

BLUEBERRIES ..... I'll have at least 3 cases on the stand today while we're open. There will be more on Monday (I'm going out to pick right now). There should also be some on Wed. If you want blueberries come @ noon, right when we open, to make sure you get them next week.

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

Monday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries available
Tuesday - closed
Wednesday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries available
Thursday - closed
Friday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries - could be available
Saturday - ????
Sunday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries ????

Remember...... all of the above can change based on what we find in the field that day and the weather. This is absolutely the time of year when everything in not set in stone and things change rapidly. We are unable to predict how many we will have from day to day.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Berry Update, Sun 6/17 - 1 load @ 10AM, BLUEBERRIES, new hours start tomorrow

Hi gang,

 

The seasonal slowdown is here.  Our berries will only produce small amounts from now until the end of July. 

 

For today........ we will bring in everything we can get @ 10:00.  This will be our only delivery to the stand today.  Most likely we will be out within the hour (or less).  We will stay until sold out. 

 

BLUEBERRIES ..... I'll have at least 3 cases on the stand today while we're open.  There will be more on Monday (I'm going out to pick right now).  There should also be some on Wed.  If you want blueberries come @ noon, right when we open, to make sure you get them next week.

 

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

 

Monday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries available

Tuesday - closed

Wednesday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries available

Thursday - closed

Friday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries - could be available

Saturday - ????

Sunday - open @ 12 noon, likely to close early, blueberries ????

 

Remember...... all of the above can change based on what we find in the field that day and the weather.  This is absolutely the time of year when everything in not set in stone and things change rapidly.  We are unable to predict how many we will have from day to day.

 

Happy Father's Day!!!

 

Cheers!

 

Sally Strawberry

 

 

Carstensen Farms
490 Casa Grande Rd.
Petaluma, CA 94954
sacvegggie@aol.com
http://carstensenfarms.blogspot.com

Summer hours 12 noon - sold out

Closed Tuesday and Thursday 

Open days subject to change based on weather and harvest

---

See what's free at AOL.com.

HOT!!, Open till sold out, BLUEBERRIES

Hi gang,

I have 6 cases of blueberries in the cooler!!! Come and get 'em. I'll have them until they're sold out then..... my next harvest will be (possibly) on Fri to be pkged and sold on Sat or Sun. You've been asking for them and I finally have 'em :)

Anyone who has stepped outside knows the mercury is WAY up today. We stopped picking at noon. We keep a few boxes out on the stand and the rest in the cooler until we absolutely need to take them out. Keep these babies cool gang..... they won't last. We will be open until the last berry is sold and will certainly close early today. The same will happen for tomorrow if the temperature is similar.

This is old hat for us and many of you who have been with us for years. The berries will slow down with the heat and we will have limited hours to pick them. We will switch to our summer hours next week ------- make a note of it please.

Open daily 12 noon until 5:30/6:00 or when sold out
Closed Tuesday and Thursday

Please note...... it's highly likely we will be closed on additional days, not just Tues/Thurs. I'll always let you know in advance. Last year we ended up with a W, F, Sun schedule thru the end of June and all of July. We also closed completely for 2 weeks in July.

The season lasts thru most of September, hang tight with us thru the hot summer months and you'll find our sweet, juicy berries back in time for fall canning, eating, and preserves.

Cheers,

Sally Strawberry

All-American Blueberry Muffins
1 1/2 c Sugar
3/4 c Shortening
3 c Flour
3/4 ts Salt
4 ts Baking powder
1/4 ts Cinnamon
1/2 ts Nutmeg
3 Eggs
1 1/2 c Milk
1 ts Vanilla
1 qt Fresh blueberries

Combine the sugar and shortening until fluffy. Add eggs and beat again. Slowly begin adding the dry ingredients. Add milk and vanilla. Mix in blueberries gently. Pour into pre-sprayed muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes until golden.

Berry Bread
3 c All-purpose flour
1 tb Cinnamon
1 tb Baking soda
1 ts Salt
1 1/4 c Vegetable oil
3 x Eggs
1 c Sugar
2 c Fresh strawberries/blueberry
1 c Chopped nuts

Makes 2 loaves Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large bowl of electric mixer, combine oil, eggs, and sugar, mixing well. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, stirring until just moistened. Stir in berries and nuts. Spoon mixture into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 1 hour at 350 deg F or until tested done. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. These freeze well; make multiple loaves with extra berries.

3:30 - Running out and doing the best we can :)

Hi gang,

We're getting wiped out!!! I brought in 30 flats this morning @ 10:00. That's the result of 3.5 hours of harvest time. We were sold out @ 11:30. It doesn't take much to figure out that we lose ground quickly when every visits us @ 10:00 and takes home a full flat. Please don't get angry with the berry berry stand girls :) We are picking and bringing in as much as we possibly can. I wanted to give everyone a heads up :) We will harvest all day today, back again tomorrow @ 10:00 and all day tomorrow, AND back again on Sunday @ 10:00 and through the whole day. I come in with berries @ 10:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30/3, 3:30/4, and sometimes 4:30/5.

FYI......In early May this variety produces 45 to 50 flats in the same time period. Ma Nature has got us moving in to our seasonal slow down, with mid June just around the corner. This is completely normal and part of the typical cycle for this type of berry. We will change to our summer hours on Monday, June 18th which will be..... open @ 12:00 (not 10:00) until 5:30 or sold out. We learned last year that opening 2 hours later gave us a chance to build up AND avoid running out/running to the field.

Keep close tabs on our emails. I'll tell you 1 day in advance if we will be closed on any day other than Tuesday (and it will happen).

I'll also let you know when the blueberries will be coming in. These are 1 year old plants just starting to produce. We don't choose how much and when we get them, Ma Nature does that. We can only bring 'em when we get 'em. I know you want 'em!!!

Hope this info. helps :)

Cheers,

Sally Strawberry

Open 10 - 5:30 daily, closed Tuesday

4:00 - 21 flats!!!

Hi gang,

21 flats are ready and awaiting new homes. Swing by on your way home from work. If you have plans for freezing or jam making don't wait!!! The crop will taper off in about a week and we'll move into our summer hours schedule soon. I can't even guarantee what this weekend will look like - weather always changes. Get 'em while I have 'em. We should make it until 6:00 again for you. Don't forget those teacher thank yous and end of the school year potlucks!

Cheers,

Sally Strawberry

2:00 - Open, fully stocked AND blueberries :)

Hi gang,

Just brought in 28 flats!!! Swing by and drive Annie crazy by telling her you read my email :) I have to warn them these days when I send any "communication" 'cause you folks respond! It's such an awesome relationship we have.... You get up to the minute info. and all the little berries find new homes. You don't know how wonderful it is to have the kind of support you give me. It's what keeps the farm in this farmer :)

Psssst...... I also dropped off our very FIRST harvest of organic blueberries. The kids and I picked them yesterday. I'm awfully biased but ---- darn they're good! My daughter picked a 2.75 lb container of them and ate half in one sitting!! All I've got to say is good thing we grow our own LOLOLOL I expect to have them today and Wed. or until we sell out. I'm guessing our next harvest will be the end of this week sometime.

If you guys go crazy for blueberries I'll possibly get Bluesberry Farms to bring additional berries to meet the demand. They aren't certified organic for those that want to know.

Cheers,

Sally Strawberry

Fresh strawberry cupcakes
1 3/4 c All-purpose flour
1 c Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 tb Almond or vanilla extract
1 ts Baking soda
1/2 c Chopped walnuts
1/2 c Vegetable oil
1 c Crushed fresh strawberries mixed with 3 t. sugar or 10 oz Frozen sweet strawberries

Mix together flour, baking soda, sugar and nuts in a bowl. In another bowl, beat together eggs, flavoring and oil until well blended. Add strawberries, and beat at slow speed of mixer until berries are partially broken. Beat in flour mixture SLOWLY until smooth, but pieces of berries are still visible. Pour batter into greased or paper-cup lined muffin tins, filling to half. Bake in 350` oven for 30 minutes, or until they test done. Yield: 24 cupcakes.

NOTE: This recipe can be baked in a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan at 350` for 1 hour, or until done. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

Gelato Di Fragole (strawberry Ice)
1 pt. ripe strawberries
1 c. very hot water
3/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. orange juice

Wash and hull strawberries. Puree strawberries in blender. Heat water until very hot. Remove from heat and add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Set aside to cool. Combine strawberry puree with cooled sugar syrup, lemon juice, and orange juice. Freeze until firm.