What’s been going on!

This is absolutely one of my favorite times of the year.  The light is so clear and strong, the angles low.  The colors of the remaining leaves on the trees are mostly radiant yellows with some bronzes and the greens of the recalcitrant beeches.  Mornings in the 30’s that give one the permission to stay inside for but longer and savor the light and the coffee.  Afternoons in the 60’s, in the bright light you can still work in a T shirt.

A slow and leisurely breakdown of the pepper trellis this week, the last big job for the fall.  Last year as I was busy building Jennie’s apartment I set her out alone to take down the trellis, she was frustrated by the task.  This year we have taken our time in the favorable weather to get the job done.  Many moving parts and layers that were put in place in multiple stages, over many months, now have to be taken out in the reverse order.  Three or four layers of support wires and strings have to be pulled out and rolled up.  100 metal T-posts and the corresponding 200 plus wooden cross arms have to be pulled up and carried to the truck at the end of the field.  The irrigation lines that run down each bed coiled up and finally the tops of the plants mowed off so we can pull up the landscape fabric that covers the hot pepper beds.  Nearly done, no need to rush.

The Italian travelogue is now finished; you can read it here if you want.  No newsletter next week, I will be off to a family reunion in Mississippi.  Betsy and Jennie will be at market on the 16^th as usual.  The morning after I return is turkey processing day, one we look forward to (no more daily bird management) and don’t look forward to as it is their only bad day, ever.  After that we are definitely into winter mode, firewood cutting, winter projects (a few things to finish up on the new building), maybe some blueberry pruning, plenty of time around the woodstove.

Picture of the Week

The first rays of morning sun from my office window

What’s going to be at the market?

New winter hours 9:00-12:00

New this week: a small supply of Carrots, Watermelon Radish.

Beautiful stuff this week.  Jerusalem Artichokes, baby Swiss Chard for salads or sautéing, all three Beets- Red, Gold and the striped Chioggia.  Turnips and Easter Egg Radishes.  Probably the last of the Broccoli Raab, better than any we saw in Italy. Tender Spinach and the best looking Collards in the market now even sweeter from the cold nights.  Sweet and tender Little Gem lettuce, Green Boston, Red Leaf and Romaine.  Nice Escarole for soups and salads.  Less Lacinato Kale this week but lots of Bok Choi.  In herbs we have Cilantro, Dill and Italian Parsley.  Plenty of the amazing Baby Ginger root. 

We will be roasting peppers, one last time.  A small supply of sweet peppers this week with Red Bells and Red, Yellow and Orange sweet Corno di Toro’s.  Rounding out the sweet peppers are Green Bells.  In hot peppers a lot of Anaheims and Poblanos for stuffing and other uses.  In the rest of the hots we have Jalapenos, Serranos, Cayennes and some of the Picante Pimentos.

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

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