(this second picture is of our kitten Butternut on a very hot day)
The life of a farmer is totally seasonal. All at once. “Make hay while the sun shines.” Right now is the peak of the season. In about the middle of August we begin to see the change of the crops and head more into fall mode. But, for now we are non-stop, dusk till dawn. Mostly, I am running around so fast I don’t notice the heat. This is not so for my crew. This time of year I am just trying to keep them holding on and dangling the prize of fall in front of them. Though they are wilting in the heat. And this week we lost one of our full time crucial employees, Zoe.
We love what we do. We are passionate. And the fruits of our labor are many. We have so many blessings we cannot count. And we cherish those of you who support us.
Along with the feast or famine come crops of plenty and crops, which fail. Failure comes from improper care, weather, disease, weeds or insects.
Our insect troubles this year come from the cucumber beetles and the squash bugs. They are small and numerous. The only way to truly combat them is to spray insecticide. Since we will not resort to that method we are at their mercy. The problem with these insects is not that they eat the crops. It is that they infect the crops with a disease. Our plants have been infected and are holding on for dear life. This disease is not harmful to your health and you would not even know when eating the fruits. However, it makes the plants weak and the fruits fewer.
The plants infected are: cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash and melons. This would be the reason for the unripe melons. The plants died back and showed all the signs of ripeness however, they vines are prematurely dying before the fruits are ripe.
And then that brings me to the winter squash. Some of them are ready now. This is very unfortunate because no one is feeling ready for pumpkins or buttercup squash. However we have them and the pumpkins are huge.
When we live by the rules of Mother Nature we take what we get and we are grateful.
Tomatoes are coming in full force now. And peppers as well. Eggplants are always slow to the finish line.
I think you will find your waiting for veggies in the spring will be paid off in the coming weeks.
We would be grateful for any volunteer hours now that we are short on help. Please contact me to let me know when you would like to come. Monday through Friday 6 am till 4 pm and Saturdays 2 pm till 5 pm.
Thank you,
Erica
This week's lunch:
- Unripe watermelon salad with feta cheese, mint and a miso dressing. Awesome!
- Veggies wraps- roasted carrot and beet quinoa wraps and sliced veggies with cheddar cheese and avocado.
- Tomato Curry salad with cucumbers and basil.
- Cantaloupe and nectarine sorbet with blackberries
- Spelt shortcakes with peaches.
Full share: ( you may receive any of these items)
- Red Gold potatoes 2 lb
- Lettuce- 3 - 4 heads or salad mix 1/2 lb bag
- Beets 1.5 lb
- Carrots 1.5 lb
- Melons - you will either receive cantaloupe or watermelon.
- Tomatoes - 2- 3 lb - you may order multiples of tomatoes. And some shares may receive 2 orders.
- Green or Purple sweet peppers 1lb or Eggplant (small purple, green or orange) 1lb
- Summer Squash 5 fruits
- 3/4 lb of chard, mustard greens or baby pac choi
- Cabbages- 3-4 baby heads of green or purple or 1 head of savoy
- Any of the above full share items.
- Fresh cut flower bouquets
- Beans - there are very few. 1 lb
- Winter Squash- Giant pumpkins or buttercup squash. Super tasty and nutritious. 1 fruit.
- Mint 1/8 lb
- Anise Hyssop 1/8 lb
- Hot peppers - 6 peppers
- Basil 1/4 lb
Have a super week,
Erica
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