Mike and his mom, Teresa, cleaning onions
Brrr! We woke up to a chilly 26 degrees on Monday morning and a hard frost covering everything outside. We were anticipating a frost but I wasn't expecting 26 degrees... All of the hot crops in the greenhouses got nipped, the tomatoes are dead and ready to be unclipped from the trellis and removed from the beds. Fall cleanup... here we go!
Mike's parents came to town last week and it was so wonderful to have them here. We were able to show them all the progress we have made at the farm in the last year, the many crops in the field that need harvested and they were here to see Mike take the new potato digger out for a spin on Thursday afternoon. It works wonderfully and is really going to speed up the potato harvest this season! They helped us collect and bag the potatoes, 3 beds down, 35 or so to go. It was so great to spend time with you guys and catch up, and we're looking forward to visiting this Winter!
Frosty kale on Monday morning
Saturday morning was dreamy... it was cool, overcast and rain came and went, drizzling one moment and pouring the next. We slept in and it felt like our first slow and quiet Saturday since... early March? Mmmmmm, Fall! You're so cozy and make me want to stay inside and spend the days cooking and baking.
We have spent the week clearing crops ahead of the anticipated frost... Winter Squash is now out of the field and nestled in the prop house to cure. Oh Hubbard Squash... you're just so lovely!
We picked the last of the peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers for the season! I used to cover these crops with row cover and do everything I could to make them hang on for a couple extra weeks, BUT not anymore. We have so many roots to deal with in the field that it's time to say good bye to these Summer crops and direct our focus to harvesting carrots, beets, potatoes, turnips, cabbage, etc... So long Summer!
CSA Members, today is Week #17 of our 18 week 'Summer' CSA Season. We hope you have been enjoying the bounty this season! One more week to go. If you didn't join the Fall CSA and would like to stock up on veggies for the Fall and Winter, we are taking orders for bulk storage crops. Look for an email with details on this and/or ask me about it during pickup! We want to keep your kitchens stocked for the cold, snowy months ahead.
Harvest Details for CSA Week #17: Head Lettuce, Kale, Carrots, Purple Top Turnips, Yukon Potatoes!, Shishito Peppers, Green Peppers, Poblano Pepper, Heirloom Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Garlic and a couple Walla Walla Sweet Onions!
Last dahlia bloom of the season...