What’s been going on?

Finally a good rain from the remnants of Lee, 2.5 inches and while a great deal of it ran off because it came down so hard, it will make things a lot easier over the next week or so. Of course our driveways got hammered so I spent part of yesterday dragging them back up the hill and will finish the re-grading today, just part of the regular farm maintenance.

It is beginning to seem like fall now. The days are getting noticeably shorter, the sunrise later, the temperatures consistently cooler and the dews heavier. We pulled the shade cloth off the little tunnels this week as it is no longer needed to keep the crops a bit cooler and some things, like the lettuce, will actually start to get leggy trying to stretch for some more light. Our main focus now is planting for Thanksgiving and getting the fields ready for winter cover crops.

To that end the collards and kale went in yesterday to join the carrots, beets, celery and Brussels sprouts already in the little tunnels for Thanksgiving. Soon we will finish the plantings for the big food day with some Green Boston lettuce, turnips and radishes. We plant all of this in the little tunnels so we can control (as much as possible) the temperatures and growth. To try and hit one day with vegetables is like throwing a dart at the bull’s-eye, sometimes you miss. With the tunnels we can at least adjust a bit, if it turns out to be a cool fall we can close them up, particularly at night, and keep things growing more vigorously than if we just had everything out in the field.

Turkey reservations are rolling in and over half are now reserved. If you haven’t thought about it yet all the turkey information is on the webiste. Look for the order form either at the top of the page or near the bottom under “How do I reserve one of the special birds?” You can easily download the Word document there. We will also have the order forms at Market on Saturdays through the end of the month. As the fall goes on I will continue to update the website with how many are available.

Picture of the Week

Brussels Sprouts and Celery on a cool morning

What’s going to be at the market?

Betsy and I have to leave market early on Saturday so we will only be roasting peppers until 10:00, so get there early! (Jennie will still be there until noon and in charge).

The Crested Celosia festival continues with the bigger heads back this week from the new plantings. More great ornamental peppers. A few late Zinnias. Plenty of fragrant Oriental Lilies in white and pink.

We have slipped past the peak of Pepper season with some varieties slowing down. In Sweet peppers we have a large supply of Red bells, with small amounts of Yellow Bells. Small amounts of Purple Bells, lime green Cubanelles and Corno di Toros. In hot types there are plenty of Anaheim, Poblano, Serrano, Cayenne and Passilla. Very few Jalapenos. The Padrones and Shishitos are slowing down. Yellow and Red Habaneros and Aji Dulce, the habanero flavor without the heat.

Tomato supply is very light. In Reds there is a small amount of Big Beefs. A few Cherokee Purples from the last planting. In cherry types there is a small supply of Sungolds.

More of the awesome Italian heirloom Eggplant. Still plenty of Red Onions! Winter Squash with Butternut, Acorn, Spaghetti and our favorite Sweet Dumpling which is the sweetest of them all, no added sugar required! Look for more of the baby Ginger and Summer Crisp Lettuce, Japanese Turnips and Easter Egg Radishes.

As a reminder if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.

Hope to see you all at the market!

Alex and Betsy