What’s been going on!

Yep, missed last week’s newsletter, sometimes it just slips past us.  July has slipped past as well; always a prominent mileage marker in the year when the mountain that is tomato season is behind us and we can actually see the shorter and cooler days of fall in front of us, we are not there yet but we know it is on the horizon.

Fall like, I don’t know what to say about this unusual cool stretch of weather in July.  Can’t really remember another July like this, especially one that, at least for us, has also been so dry as we have missed the bulk of all the rains that have passed through.  Just over two inches of rain in the last 7 weeks and the creek is running at the barest of trickles.  I know many of you have had multiple rains of over two inches in the last few weeks; we are just on the wrong side of the line this summer.

Planting for fall quickens over the next month.  Every week more and more beds are seeded or transplanted until mid-September when it will all be done.  The first radishes, carrots and turnips are up.  Next week beets, cauliflower, kale and more.  The last of the winter squash will come out of the field this week, curing for a few weeks in the shade of the big poplars before arriving at market.  When the tomato trellises come down in a few weeks then we will know for sure that fall is close by.

To celebrate the end of July and mentally prepare for the fall rush we are headed into our summer break after this Saturday’s market.  We are all a bit out of gas after five straight months with only a few days off, there is an unspoken need for rest or a change of routine, if only for a few days.  Betsy and I will not be a market for two weeks (the 9^th and 16^th), Jennie and Liz will probably be at market on the 9^th with the last of the tomatoes and then they get a week off too.  When we return on the 23^rd not only will we have spring in our step but it will be full blown pepper season, let the roasting begin!

Picture of the Week

Four weeks-worth of lettuce timed to be ready on our return

What’s going to be at the market?

A tomato swan song.  In reds a moderate amount of Big Beef.  Some Roma’s for sauce and a good mix of cherries Sungolds, yellow and pink mixed, Black Cherries and a great mix of yellow, red and green Blush types, very sweet.  There should be a small amount of mixed heirlooms, mostly Cherokee Purples, we will have them behind the table for those that ask.

Peppers on the rise.  The first Poblanos.  Anaheims, Jalapenos and Serranos.  Shishito and Padrons for appetizers.  Cubanelles for salads, sandwiches and frying.  Sweet Red and Long Red of Tropea Onions.  Basil and Cilantro.  Plenty of Cucumbers.  More of both the Nubia and Italian heirloom Eggplants.  The first Spaghetti Squash.

Tremendous Limelight Hydrangeas.  Celosia with crazy felt like heads.  Lots of fabulous fragrant Oriental lilies.  Great Sunflowers.   Radiant Zinnias.  Of course beautiful Bouquets.

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, Betsy and Jennie

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