What’s been going on!

Trick or Treat, the entire growing season has felt that way at times but particularly this fall with the torrential rains an early freeze along with critters and equipment issues.  It has been a particularly difficult fall to get crops established especially the direct seeded ones like spinach and carrots.

Jennie has done a patient job of seeding (and in some cases re-seeding) and weeding only to have erratic germination or the grasshoppers eat down the new seedlings or the rains wash sections of beds out or the final insult of the deer or ground hogs getting past the deer fence and feasting on the mature crops.  It makes one question why you would want to farm or at least grow fall crops.  Despite all of it, we are managing to harvest some beautiful vegetables for market.

Similarly on the winter soil preparation side we got weeks behind with the rains and when it finally dried out the tractor turned on me which is why there was no newsletter last week as I raced to get it fixed before the next rains arrived.  As some of you know, I left market early last week to jump on the tractor to finish up the soil work.

It took all day Saturday and Sunday but I finally finished the tilling and raising up 15,000 feet of beds for next spring and spinning out the cover crop seeds over the top that will hold down that beautiful soil and help increase its fertility.  A few final touches on Monday just in time for the gentle rains to start.  Nearly a month late but with any luck (and no tricks) we will soon see a vibrant green hue to all of those fields.

Picture of the Week

A few bright spots such as this radiant celery grown inside the little tunnels

What’s going to be at the market?

Pepper roasting is done for the season now that we have mostly striped the plants in anticipation of the freeze.

A few Colored Bells and a small supply of Corno di Toros.  All other peppers in dwindling supply- Jalapenos, Serranos, Cayennes, Picante Pimento in hots.  Shishitos and the Aji Dulces, the habanero without heat.  Plenty of Green Bells!

Beautiful Bok Choi.  A small amount of Little Little Gem.  The first Celery of the season.  More baby Ginger and fresh white Turmeric.  A few Japanese salad Turnips and plenty of Radishes including the crispy and spicy Shunkyo Long Chinese Radish.  Yukina Savoy, a good fall green and Asian Braising or Stir Fry mix too.  Dill and Cilantro.  Fennel and Lacinato Kale.  Butternut Squash and Carolina Ruby Sweet Potatoes.  Jerusalem Artichokes are back too!

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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