September 19, 2012 From the Farmers
It is true. Farmers talk about the weather all the time! We check the weather reports constantly, talk about the weather almost as constantly because the weather so determines everything we do as farmers. Unless we were to grow under a sealed dome, the weather influences nearly every part of our work. This week we’ve run the gamut from wind to frost (Monday night) to rain to cold to heat.
We spent most of Monday, picking everything still unharvested that would not withstand the forecasted frost. And we did get frost – nearly all the remaining basil is blackened as are the pepper and tomato leaves. It seems as though the freezing was only for a moment because by sunrise the temperature was already up to 37 degrees. And while we dread that first frost it is also true that nearly everything that might freeze is nearly finished anyway. We look forward to some gorgeous fall days now that the first frost is behind us.
This is the last share you will receive. You do not need to unpack your box. We would rather if you didn’t. Take the box with you. We don’t need to get it back. If you missed the last couple of blog posts, you should know that this is also the last vegetable share box that we will be packing at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm. It has been a bittersweet week at the farm, knowing that this is the last harvest for the last box we will be sending out. When we began the CSA eight years ago, we had thought we would only do this for three years. As we come to the end of our eighth year, I don’t know how it will feel not to be planning what to grow next year. I keep catching myself looking at seed catalogues, and planning and then realizing I will only be growing a small garden. I’m not sure I know how to grow a small garden. But I am excited about the possibilities and how it will give me opportunities to try some different ways to grow and cooperate with neighbors. We have also cut way back on the number of animals we will be keeping. And while this feels relatively normal for this time of year, we don’t plan to add them back next spring like we have for the run of the CSA.
We would love to end our season, with as many of you coming to the farm for our FINAL FARM FESTIVAL as possible. We plan to show some power point slide shows of photos over the years of the CSA for anyone interested.
Our END OF THE SEASON – END OF THE CSA – FESTIVAL - will be Sunday, September 30 from 3:00 – 5: 30 pm. Come celebrate with us as we call an end to this growing season and an end to 8 years of CSA farming. As usual, there will be good food, good beverages, farm games and conversation. Please let us know if you plan to attend.
Hope to see you at the festival …………..Robin
What is in your share this week?
Watermelon – Mickey Lee [a few striped melons and cantaloupes too]
Squash – Avalon Butternut and/or Sweet Dumpling and/or Cream of the Crop Acorn
Potatoes – Yukon Gold
Onions – Copra (yellow storage), Red Zeppelin, Sierra Blanca
Hot Peppers –Serrano, Jalapeno, Long Red Cayenne [These are great peppers to string into ‘Ristras’ – just thread onto dental floss or heavy thread and hang to dry]
Sweet Peppers – last of the Snapper bells, Islander bells and Carmens
Rutabagas – Joan
Carrots – Mix of Dragon purple, Forto and Bolero orange and Cosmic Purple and Chantenay orange
Kale – Toscano dinosaur
Brocolli – Blue Wind and Bay Meadows
Apples – Honeygold and Sweet Sixteen
Herbs – Marjoram, Sage, Thyme, Epazote, Holy Basil, Thai Basil
Fennel – Orion
