Root Down Farm Ramblings
Just Breath: Summer Share is Over and the Winter Share Starts Next Week
by Erin and Steve on 10/25/20
Thanks to all our members who have renewed for next season! We have already met our average renewal rate and it looks like we will potentially have our highest member retention rate this year once all the stragglers get their renewal forms to us. So thanks for all that support and we are happy you all enjoyed this year's season so much!
This is the breather week we needed so bad last year so that we built it into this season. Last year we had CSA pick ups from the end of April thru the week of Thanksgiving (counting the Spring, Summer and Winter shares). It was too much to then also get everything else done that we need to do before the Winter weather sets in.
We are taking this week to harvest everything from the fields that cannot withstand a deep freeze. We are also mulching out garlic and planting a few other things we are planning on overwintering and harvesting next year. Putting the farm to bed if you will, plus major Fall clean up, plus more bulk harvests means we are in for a busy week. This is why it is easier to focus on essential work needing to be done at this crucial point in our growing season without additionally having to plan, harvest, and distribute a share. It looks like we even might get a little snow at the end of the week (emphasis on 'little' because it better be :).
It is also a good time for the farm to collectively reflect on the season so we can make sure to build on it.
For all you Winter Share members, we'll see you in a week.
Share #21 of 21: 10/20+10/22-Final Pick Up Share-and-a-Half
by Erin and Steve on 10/17/20
Wowee we made it to the final Summer Share pick up. This season's final pick up is actually a share and a half so it'll fill your fridge for sure. It is also time to bring us your renewal form for 2021. We sent out another email to current members with a link to the renewal form, but we still have them available in the share room as well. Of course you could just send them to us via snail mail as well, but just make sure to let us know you are renewing so we don't accidentally give your spot to someone on the wait list.
As for all you Winter Share peeps, the Winter Share will start the first week of November (which means there is a week between the end of the Summer Share and the start of the Winter Share).
As for us, we've been harvesting with all our might. Planning around our Summer Share harvests, wholesale harvests, and weekly chores in order to get everything else into the root cellar or cooler before we get a first legitimate snow. We've gotten all the sweet potatoes and potatoes out, half the carrots, and half the beets, and most of the parsnips in, but there's lots more to go. Good thing this Fall's weather has been A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. We're lucky for that, but it's looking like this week is going to turn on the faucet, unfortunately. For all you people who aren't on Instagram, but want to check out pictures from what's happening on the farm, click on the camera icon at the top of this page.
As for the FINAL Summer Share, it will include: winter squashes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, cauliflower, onions, salad turnips and radishes, celery, radicchio, kohlrabi as well as butternut squash, cabbage, leeks, kale, and greens for everyone.
The final fruit share will include apple cider, apples and pears.
Week #19.5 of 21: 10/13+10/15 Second-to-Last Pick Up
by Erin and Steve on 10/11/20
**CURRENT MEMBERS: Don't forget to renew your share before the end of the season (which is next week).**
That's right, there are 2 more weeks of the Summer Share season, and what an amazing harvest we've had! Yes there were obstacles (many, many of them this year), but we've developed a flexible and resilient field plan and given the successes of the season it looks like it was a great plan. As the Summer season draws to an end the feeling is bittersweet for us. We are proud of our work, and our community, and still harvesting for you all. But we are simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief that the season is almost over. In the back of my mind remains all the work that is yet to be done before we can officially 'sit back', but at least I have some time for myself by this point in the year. Phew.
Now that I laid that out, it's already time to start planning for next year. That's why we ask for renewals now because we are going to start amending said field plan for 2021 soon, then comes budget planning, then comes seed ordering which all happen by the New Year. I know some of this may sound like I'm explaining how 'busy' we are. Everyone is busy. That is not the point. The point is I think that some people assume what we do is somehow magical. It all just happens. Instead what just happens is a lot of forethought and hard work. We even had someone talking to us about their child's job on a farm, "not like ours; a real farm." As farmers it's mind boggling to us how little people have thought about where their food comes from. I don't blame this person for what could be interpreted as an insult, I blame them for their ignorance about their own food system. I blame them for thinking that farms that grow produce aren't farms, or farms that sell direct to customers instead of a middle man are not farms, or farms that don't look like what Old McDonald should look like aren't farms. Among the many things that COVID has taught us one of them should be that local food security is very important. Root Down Farm is part of that local food system.
Alright, now back to the matter at hand. This week's share will include: winter squashes, beets, carrots, fennel, maybe some broccoli and cauliflower, sweet peppers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad turnips and radishes, radicchio, celery, and leeks and pie pumpkins for everyone.
The fruit share will include apples and pears.
Week #18.5 of 21: 10/6+10/8- Renew Your Share for 2021
by Erin and Steve on 10/03/20
Lots going on as always this time of year. So **Don't forget to renew your share, current CSA members, for the 2021 growing season** You all received an email last week with a link to the form and payment information. You could also grab a form at this week's share pick up and fill it out in your car or at home at bring it back with your payment. NOW IS THE TIME to renew your share!! We open up the share to people on the wait list after the season is over...which is in 3 weeks! So don't lose your spot.
That being said, we will send the email reminder again the weekend before the last Summer Share pick up which is the week of the 20th. So Tuesday's last pick up is the 20th and Thursday's last pick up is the 22nd. We are so thankful for all your support as well as the bounty these fields continue to provide for our community. How precious that layer of top soil is for sustaining all of us. It's a gift that we should all continue to fight to protect.
A little side note: I have what some are terming 'mask fatigue'. This is normal. I am sick of the on-then-off-then-on again dance I take part in every work day here at the farm. Our crew is required to wear masks at work while working closely with others or when we are inside rooms with each other. This coupled with my allergies and asthma this time of year can make things difficult. But I am still doing it in spite of my discomfort because it works. So if you are experiencing mask fatigue like I am remember that wearing them is worth the effort. And we will one day not have to do it. But for now it is worth keeping each other safe and healthy. Plus there is now the added bonus that cold and flu season won't be as bad as predicted because of mask use and social distancing. There. Glass is half full.
This week's share will include: winter squashes, beets, carrots, fennel, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, eggplant, onions, kale, greens, celery, radishes, tomatoes, plus brussels sprouts and head lettuce for all.
The fruit share will include apples and pears and plums.
Week #17 of 21: 9/29+9/31 A Share and a Half
by Erin and Steve on 09/27/20
Last year we set up the share schedule to give us a week off before the Winter Share starts. When the very late freezing temperatures in May moved our start date back a week, our week off at the end of the Summer Share disappeared. To remedy the solution and ensure we can get the heavy harvests in for the Winter we are going to have a Share and a Half this week, and then again in a later share week. So GET READY FOR A BIG WEEK of veggies. That also means the last pick up for the Summer Season will be October 20th and 22nd. That also also means we are starting share renewal for 2021 for current members this week as well! Woohoo. Nothing like an 84 degree weekend at the end of September to get you starting to think about next Summer already!
So look to your inbox soon for the share renewal form. Please do not share this with friends not currently in the share as they are not current members (yet ;) Just follow the instructions in the email and on the sheet to renew your share for next year. Now is also the time to sign up for the Spring, Fruit, an Meat Shares on the same renewal form.
As for this week's share-and-a-half, it will include: winter squashes, beets, carrots, eggplant, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower (if weather permits), onions, fennel, bok choy, spinach PLUS Acorn squash, head lettuce, toamtoes, greens mix, braising greens, and garlic. Phew. Get your fridge, food processor, dehydrator, and/or freezer ready...or your belly of course.
The fruit share will include raspberries, apples, peaches, plums, and pears.
Week #16 of 21: 9/22+9/24 Chill Out
by Erin and Steve on 09/20/20
The Winter Share has sold out. Thanks to everyone who signed up! We also had a good turnout for the Case Sale, too, yesterday. It was the first time we've done that so it looks like we may try to do that again!
Yesterday was a beautiful day that I'm sure had you thinking of Fall. Which is no joke, the first full day of Fall is this Wednesday! Usually this time of year I'm trying to slow people down to savor the last few days of Summer while people are running as fast as they can into Pumpkin lattes, Octoberfest beer and corn stalk decorating. But something was different this year. It is more like I'm telling people Fall is coming. It seems like the pandemic really has slowed people down, which may be a good thing (not the pandemic though of course!). We had to cover tender vegetation out in the field so that it wouldn't get damaged by the frost. It is the earliest frost we've experienced and we were not ready to say goodbye to all the peppers and eggplants out in the fields. There are some tomatoes, too but most of the rest of those are under protection of the high tunnels. This year continues to be a challenge.
But the shares continue to be big, which is something we should all be celebrating. I sometimes get a long face from a member saying that some of the share is 'going to waste'. My reply: does nothing you buy from the grocery store ever 'go to waste?'. Having an abundant harvest because your farmers are frickin killing it this year is a good problem...if you want to call it a problem at all. It means given the extreme weather challenges this year we've rose to the occasion. We've continue to make improvements year after year. The land is responding to regenerative techniques and yields per square foot keep increasing. When you aren't here to grab your share we are donating it to the Clarence Food Pantry. In my mind there is nothing negative about supporting a local food system that will be there when giant conglomerates around the country fail due to say...a pandemic, and you have more food in your fridge, on your plate, or in your stomach than maybe you can handle this week (while you're saving the moola mind you). It's not a problem. It's a solution ;)
This week's share will include: Winter/Fall squashes, carrots, beets, peppers, eggplant, salad turnips, onions, brussels sprout tops, lettuce mix, greens, kohlrabi, zucchini, bok choy, kale, and tomatoes, spaghetti squash, and spinach for everyone.
The fruit share will include peaches, apples, pears, and seedless table grapes.
Renewal for current members for the 2021 season will start the first full week of October!
Case Sale Pick Up Today the 19th from 2 to 3!
by Erin and Steve on 09/19/20
If you placed your case order by midnight on Thursday (yes we got your emails ;) then don't forget to pick up your veggies at the farm today, Saturday the 19th from 2 to 3 pm under the white tent. Bring your mask and your cash or check... And then get to preserving!
Week #15 of 21: 9/15+9/17 Last Chance to Sign Up for the Winter Share!
by Erin and Steve on 09/13/20
**Yes, there are only 20 more spots left in the Winter Share. The share starts when the Summer season ends and continues until the beginning of February. Check out the CSA Shares tab at the top of the page an click on the Winter Share link for all the info. BRing your payment of $240 with you when you come pick up your Summer veg this week.
**Last week for the U-pick fields as well :(
**If you haven't seen already on our Instagram feed, we are having a Case Sale. Bulk pricing on tomatoes, peppers, onions, kale, beans, herbs, and more in order to fill your pantry or freezer! Ordering ends this Thursday for pick up at the farm on Saturday the 19th from 2 to 3. Orders filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. Click on the Instagram camera icon at the top of the page for info. Email of DM me your order
We've had an exciting week on the farm. I keep singing "Everyday I'm Harvesting" to the tune of Party Rock Anthem (instead of Everyday I'm Shuffling) because that's what's happening PLUS we got our new well hooked up by Frey Well Drilling. We also hosted a Farm Walk for our farmer friends. It was an excuse to see people safely and talk about farming practices and experiences. When you've had poor yields on a specific crop and 5 other farmers confirm they've had the same problems it helps solve issues for the coming seasons. It's also a way to build comradery, connections, and friendships amongst us. It's also a way to build a cooperative local food system as opposed to one about individualistic farms fighting, undercutting, and being secretive. That's just not our style.
We're coming into the last full week of Summer and it's beginning to already feel like Fall. Last week I noticed the first leaves on the edges of the fields starting to turn. I'm gonna have to put off thinking about everything that needs to happen before the first frost.
Enough rambling, this is what is in the share this week: zucchini, acorn and delicata squash, beets, carrots, peppers, eggplant, salad turnips, onions, brussels sprout tops, flowering broccoli, kale, arugula, and bok choy. Everyone will also get head lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach.
The fruit share will include peaches, pears, apples and raspberries
Summer Share #14 of 21: 9/8+9/10 Sign Up for the Winter Share
by Erin and Steve on 09/06/20
**Reminder to everyone in the Summer Share that it is now time to reserve and pay for your Winter Share. Info about the share is on this very website under the tab 'CSA Shares'. Please bring your payment of $240 with you to pick up your vegetables this week. It looks like we are on pace to sell out in the next 2 weeks. If you have emailed me with interest in the Winter Share I will email you back with more info at the end of the week**
Week #14 of the Summer Share means week #9 of tomatoes!! Yeah, that's right. We keep thinking the tomatoes are trailing off and then BOOM, we harvest and have just as much as the previous bi-weekly harvest! But I really do think THIS is the last big harvest, I swear...unless they surprise me again. What makes this such a great tomato year you ask? Well the plants had amazing fruit set from the jump. That paired with a hot, dry-ish Summer means a lot ripened and we are still harvesting quantity. Now these cool nights are the real red flag that the tomatoes are starting to call it quits for the year (which reminds me to remind you to grab any extra tomatoes from the share room when you come to pick up your share this week...they will only be less sweet from here on out because of shorter days an cooler nights).
Now if you're one of these crazies whose like, "MORE tomatoes?, there's been so much" then I'd like to remind you that we are on week #9 of tomatoes of the 52 weeks that exist in the year. Tomatoes from the grocery store, or out of season tomatoes from some other region or country, or from a hydroponic business don't count as tomatoes BTW because they taste like foam and probably have the nutrition of it, too. If you don't like to can tomatoes, you can always just freeze them...whole...in a zip lock bag...it's that easy. Then you can use them to make your own sauce of any kind once you thaw them.
As for the farm, we are trying to get things done in a timely manner in-between harvesting everything. It wasn't until Thursday around 10am last week that I finally got to do something on the farm that did not include harvesting. Which means it's difficult to get a lot of essential farm tasks done related to the change of seasons when you have to harvest.all.the.time. Believe me I am thankful for the bounty of the year for sure, and also for some of the failures because I do not know how we would get everything done otherwise! Ha.
This week marks the end of the Summer cover cropping season and the beginning of the Fall one. It also marks the transition to doing things now for next year. Seriously. We are doing things now in the fields for next season already. I'm also having to put in serious time in the office to aid in the planning. We finally made it to September and the crazy part of the season is past, but the workload is the same just filled with different work.
This week's share will include: zucchini, winter squashes, carrots, beets, peppers, eggplant, kohlrabi, kale, onions, cabbage, celery, salad radishes and turnips, as well as head lettuce, brussels sprout tops, tomatoes, greens, and spinach for everyone.
The fruit season continues to surprise us. We were informed by the grape grower that the grape harvest season will be fast and furious this year. We usually get grapes every other week, but this season they will be back to back since they are comin' in hot. So the fruit share will include table grapes, peaches, nectarines, and plums.
Summer Share #13 of 21: 9/1+9/3 Everyday I'm harevesting/Winter Share Sign Up
by Erin and Steve on 08/30/20
Woohoo, here we come September! Why are we so excited? Because the bugs and the weeds are officially trailing off, that is cause for celebration! After a season full of battling bugs using USDA/NOFA-NY Organic Standards (though we are not certified, instead we are a NOFA-NY Farmer's Pledge farm), and sometimes failing, it is a welcome time of year as we are all starting to notice how tired we are. No, the bugs aren't gone, but they aren't destroying entire crops anymore and that helps us free up valuable mind-space to start focusing on the plan for bringing in the harvest. That's right, the start of September marks the last dates we can safely plant Summer-ish cover crops before being forced to plant Fall/Winter ones, and it is also the time to start bringing in ALL the storage crops. From now until the beginning of November marks the heavier lifting part of the season. It also means that I think the rains will start picking up as it's been a pretty dry year.
Storage crop harvest actually begins with onions, but they are on a different time schedule than the other storage crops. We just finished bringing in the last of the storage onions last week (which, as mentioned before, is way later than normal). For all the info you need on our onion crop please read previous posts as well as clicking on the camera icon above this post to view pictures of the farm and the onion harvest on Instagram (you do not have to have an account to view our pictures). But the real storage crop haul starts with the fall and winter squashes. They have all matured way faster than normal because of the heat...they never had to live through the cold May that the onions had to. So the kabochas, acorn, and spaghetti squashes have already come in from the fields, but we still have more squashes like butternuts and pie pumpkins to bring in once they are ready. Then it moves on to tubers and root crops all the while still harvesting everything for the shares! It's a lot of heavy lifting, did I mention that already? Hmmm.
2 Reminders:
1) Tomatoes are still for sale for a $dollar a pound again this week in the share room. We definitely had our last 'big' tomato harvest of the season so get yours now (and make sure not to can tomatoes grown with chemicals that then get concentrated in your tomatoes that you are preserving...this includes everything called 'home grown' and 'amish grown')
2) Don't forget to sign up for the Winter Share. Look in your inbox for all the info you need to sign up!
Anyhoo, this is what is in the share this week: zucchini, yellow squash, kabocha squash (the tastiest of the winter squashes), beets, carrots, eggplants, peppers, kohlrabi, kale, onions, cabbage, salad radishes, celery, and potatoes, as well as tomatoes, greens, lettuce, and more winter squash!
The fruit share will include seedless table grapes, peaches, plums, and nectarines.
Summer Share #12 of 22: 8/25+8/27 Summer "Break"
by Erin and Steve on 08/23/20
Since COVID hit we have actually had quite a lot of interest from young people to work on the farm. We hadn't ever considered hiring someone under 18 years before, but with the interest we were facing we figured 'why not'? The youngsters that ended up working this season were all self starters. They had the interest and initiative to work here (not their parents) and were probably motivated by boredom I'll admit. But in the short amount of time they are here they give us old-timers a small injection of energy while we move into harvest season (which coincides with burnout season for us farmers).
Steve was talking about schedules with one of the new hires and asked him if he knew why there is even a Summer break from school. When there was no answer Steve piped in, "because almost everyone used to be farmers. Kids had to be home for the Summer to help on the farm and bring in the harvest."
"That makes sense," was the response. It does.
There are a few points I need to mention during this post:
1) We are signing up Winter Shares starting next week. Look at the 'CSA Shares' tab for info about the share. It is $240 for 8 pick up days (generally picked up every other week) from November thru February. More info coming in an email next week.
2) Face masks are required in the U-pick field. I've heard too many stories of adults not being considerate of other adults in the field. Not everyone feels comfortable around you without your mask so be safe doesn't really explain, so I'll go a little deeper. You do not know what health conditions the person next to you has. You also do not know who they live with or if they are a caregiver to someone. Though the person you are next to looks healthy, like they could weather the virus easily, the people they have at home may not. Be considerate, wear your mask. It can reduce bacteria and droplets spewed from your mouth from infecting others by 70-90%. And said bacteria and droplets spewed forth by you into your own mask will not cause you harm...because they already came from inside you. Super simple.
As for the share this week: zucchini, summer squash, beets, carrots, eggplant, peppers, cabbage, onions, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, and the first of the winter squash as well as tomatoes and a choice of celery or escarole.
The fruit share will include blueberries, peaches, nectarines, and plums.
Summer Share #11 of 21: 8/18+8/20 Shop Talk
by Erin and Steve on 08/16/20
The majority of the fields on the farm are actually starting to wind down. We have all the Fall brassica crops in one block still growing and awaiting their harvest dates...sometime in September. We also have the Fall and Winter root crops and greens in the ground awaiting their time. But right now the solanaceous crops (the nightshades) are strutting. The eggplants are amazing this year, and so are much of our peppers. The tomatoes are at their peak now, so if you want any canning tomatoes make sure to purchase them at the farm during your pick up time. Right now is the time to can or dehydrate or freeze your tomatoes for the Winter. **And if you already have any of our baskets because you've previously bought some tomatoes from us please bring them back, we need them!**
Anyone who follows us on Instagram (or doesn't but just clicks on the camera icon at the top of these blog posts to see our pics) knows we are in the middle of our onion harvest. We are curing and cleaning our sweet onions and our specialty onions while our storage onions are still in the field (able to be seen by both Roll and Shimerville roads). We will be bringing in the storage onions this week. We had a hilarious conversation about onion bags in the share room last week, so if any of you are interested in purchasing bulk onion bags of your own click here: https://www.amazon.com/Mesh-Bag-18-5-x32-Pack/dp/B002RN0ICI/ref=sr_1_25?dchild=1&keywords=50+lb+onion+storage+bags+mesh&qid=1597599588&sr=8-25
or for a little better price click here: https://www.harrisseeds.com/collections/produce-bags/products/41856-banded-mesh-bags-18in-x-30in?variant=32166529204296
for your very own 50 pound onion bags.
Also...in need of wax produce boxes? We get ours from Uline here (we also get the blue squash bins from them).
Vented Harvest tray? Here
Produce Lug? Here...don't forget to pick your favorite color!
We even get our t-shirt bags from Amazon, too.
Even small farmers mean big business for all the companies run in support of and supplying farmers. Everyone needs to eat. Therefore everyone needs someone to supply us farmers with what we need to bring in and store our harvest. This is all reminding me of a quote by JFK, “The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at
retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.”
This week's share will include: zucchini, summer squash, beets, carrots, onions (that are now cured so you can now store them in your pantry), eggplant, sweet peppers, cabbage, fennel, potatoes, scallions, melons, as well as head lettuce, garlic and tomatoes.
The fruit share should include peaches, nectarines, and plums.
Summer Share #10 of 21: 8/11+8/13 If You Enjoy the Fruit Don't Forget Who Planted the Tree
by Erin and Steve on 08/09/20
We collectively made it to August. This is a BIG moment for farmers across the country. If you as a farmer have made it to this point in the season without burnout then good on you. But most likely the farmer(s) in your lives are in burnout mode right now and waiting for some give in August, which may or may not happen. We try to have most of one day off a week during the season, but it doesn't happen often. Case and point this week; we only worked until 3pm yesterday and are hoping to be done again by 3 today so we can be "rested" for our 10 hour work day every Monday. Now you might be saying to your self "Woooooo 10 whole hours of work" or something like that, but I just explained we don't get days off. So 10 hour work days come August when it's going to be 90 degrees can feel like drudgery. Not because I don't like the work or don't like to work. It's because I'm tired and the nature of our work is tiring.
This is the time of year we lean hard on the endless planning we did over the winter. The timing and amounts of every variety of every crop that we grow is selected and planned for starting in December (who am I kidding, there are lists of notes for next season already). And yes, I'll say it again so I am sorry to all of you who have to read this 2 or 3 times a year: WE GROW EVERYTHING IN THE VEGETABLE SHARES! As stated on the website you are currently on we grow all the vegetables, melons, flowers and herbs in the share. We do not grow anything in the fruit share, which is why on the Fruit Share Board we state where the fruit has come from that week. There have been years that we have had entire crop failures. The last one was in 2017 when we lost between 60 and 70% of the potato crop due to an unfortunately timed 4 inches of rain in 2 days. If we buy something from someone else for any share we right down where it came from, but this RARELY happens.
So here is all the stuff we grew that is being harvested this week: zucchini, summer squashes, beets, carrots, cabbage, onions, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, scallions, head lettuce, fennel, potatoes and sweet corn and melons and tomatoes.
Here is the stuff we did not grow that will be in the fruit share: blueberries, peaches and plums. **As always fruit farmers are having a tough year due to the insanely cold first 2 weeks in May when there were multiple days and nights unseasonably below freezing. These temperatures froze the flowers and buds on fruiting trees and killed the crop that should be being harvested now. Yes climate change affects your food supply.**
Summer Share #9 of 21: 8/4+8/6 Bye July
by Erin and Steve on 08/02/20
I've talked a lot on here about the odd ways time passes, usually too quickly. I try my best to create new memories, do new things, in order to make time seem like it lasts instead of flying by. This pursuit has led me to live in 14 different states in my life (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Maine, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Vermont, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachussetts, and New York) and I have explored all the states but 6. The longest I've stayed in one place is to farm on this land. In this time we've made wonderful friends. We've also met wonderful people from our customers to the chefs and restaurant owners we produce for. After 10 years of farming this land I keep inspired by working alongside people who love food and farms, too. This manifests itself in conversations I have mainly with chefs and farmers that grow in a manner similar to us in the area.
If you didn't know, we supply produce to Elm Street Bakery, The Grange Community Kitchen, Sienna, Farmers and Artisans, 800 Maple (a new comer), and The Little Club on a regular basis along with some others. The chefs at these restaurants keep me engaged and inspired to be better at my job, and have pushed me in ways I'm sure they are not aware of. I am thankful for it, and am a better farmer for it.
One chef I have had a lot of conversations with, Dan Borelli, has just passed away. I'm sad today. I feel like some of the success we've had over the years is in part because of Dan sharing his passion with me. I wish he were still here.
Instead our farm community marches forward with one less person, all watching out for each other from afar.
This week we are putting in some of the last seedlings in the fields. We just planted kale that will be harvested through February. Sometimes planting Winter crops seems like an act of faith (February is a half a year away). The world today is already different than it was yesterday, but the farm always brings us back and puts our feet on the ground. Come pandemic, elections, storms or whatever this year has in store, we sow seeds and grow food to harvest during the shortest days of the year. We tend the soil now knowing that people will need food, and that since we are able we should grow it.
This week's share will include: Zucchini, summer squashes, beets, carrots, fresh onions, scallions, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, fennel, head lettuce, radicchio, potatoes, and chard as well as tomatoes and melons for everyone.
Summer Share #8 of 21: 7/28+7/30 Real Fresh, Not Fake Fresh
by Erin and Steve on 07/26/20
I had a whole blog post finished and went to publish and the internet (thanks again Spectrum...you really suck) cut out again and since I pushed the publish button at the same time all that post is lost and gone forever.
Don't worry, you didn't miss much, it was all "blah, blah, blah" anyway.
This week's share will include: zucchini, summer squashes, salad turnips, beets, fresh onions, carrots, cabbage, scallions, new potatoes, fennel, radicchio, chard and the first of the cantaloupe and sweet peppers and hopefully some cucumbers. Everyone will also get tomatoes and sweet corn.
**Remember we never, ever, ever spray our sweet corn ever. So if there is a little corn worm at the tip just cut it off. It is a reminder that while you consume our sweet corn it is chemical free (which is insanely difficult to come by these days).
The fruit share will include cherries, plums and peaches!
