CSA Week 12!!!!!
September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These past couple weeks have been a time for reconciliation and learning. I often go back in time re-reading old journal entries or looking at old blog posts to use as a benchmark for the present day - what was I thinking during that time and how is it different today? The field walk changes this time of year, with less urgency I can see where I want to make changes and begin to shape plans. Why did a particular crop grow poorly or well? What are the contributing factors to its success or struggle? How can I alter and improve my growing methods to ultimately grow better crops? What makes this work so interesting is that it is a puzzle. It is a puzzle that is unique to the land, the grower, and all the factors that make up this little ecosystem in Hyde Park, Vermont. My job then is to compile all these factors, and attempt to create the best possible growing environment that will ultimately produce healthy crops, healthy people, and healthy land. And that process takes a long time. After this third growing season here, we are beginning to understand this place, its advantages and drawbacks, and an effective plan is beginning to emerge. This land is not typical farmland: a rolling, stoney field of prime agricultural soils hidden in the forest. So the way we farm it is not often so clear. During this time of year with cooler, darker mornings and the early fall light fading in the evening, my inclination is to read about this work, and my book pile continues to grow and grow. The more I learn about this process, I realize the less I know but with every day and experience, we develop new mental or physical skills that we can use to add to the puzzle. Year 4 here will be all about those corner pieces!
On to the Share!!!
Week 12!
I’m psyched about this one!!
a couple pounds of tomatoes - my thinking was that you can make a batch of quick sauce with the garlic and onions. Also, Genica stewed some tomatoes (5 of them) for a bit in a small pot. In a separate skillet she sautéed some onions and garlic until translucent and after added pasta and water to the top of the pasta and stirred the pasta slowly until it was cooked. Then she added a cup of milk and half cup to a cup of shredded cheese when it was done and stirred that until it was thickened. Then we added the stewed tomatoes over top! Yum.
the first of the garlic - it was a great haul this year.
the first of the field sweet onions. Still working on growing bigger onions but they are great.
a bunch of lacinato kale for all your bunched greens needs.
a summer squash and a zucchini - maybe you can add it to the pasta dish from above? Or slice, boil/sauté, butter, salt, pepper.
a quart of potatoes - boil, slice and sauté, roast (oven is great this time of year!!)
a melon - cantaloupe. The ones I tried in the field were delicious!!
a couple oak leaf head lettuce. for salad eating.
Keep me posted on the melons! Here are some views from the farm:
One of the high tunnels flipped for winter. Kale, chard, carrots, spinach, bok choi, scallions, frisée,
Two successions of spinach sizing up
Mixed greens and arugula growing. Hopefully not too quickly!! Its all about timing.
Some big Napas I was happy about. 5+ pounds each.
Thats all for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the week and the food. Thank you!!!!!!