Week 12!
Well that was fast - I know we always say it but time is just flying by. It feels like I was just writing about climbing the seasonal “mountain” and describing the annual importance of that August 1st date. Fall is in the air, in the field, and on my mind. Many of you all being teachers and parents have started school signifying that shift in mind and schedule. This week in particular I have been thinking about time and how it relates to what we do here and to how I imagine your lives to be as you come in and out of our lives here on the farm every week.
The effects of time are evident in the field - we witness and work with death and decay on a daily basis. Once we plant a crop, it will thrive in the summer sun but on the other hand it is beginning to move through its life cycle to its ultimate end which is reproduction and death. Sometimes that “end” comes sooner that we would like being affected by external influences that we can’t control, pests, disease, weather, etc. Sparring any more morbidity, it is not necessarily a dark experience working within this reality but rather it provides a fundamental understanding of life. However, that can often get tangled up with all the other thoughts, to-do lists, and brain chatter. So, It is challenging for me to sift through all of that to witness the incredible life of a tomato plant for example that starts as a seed in March, moves to various sized pots, is planted in May here in a high tunnel, grows and grows (some are over ten feet tall at this point), constantly creates fruit in an attempt to pass on its genes and perpetuate the species, and then succumbs to the lack of light and the cold that arrives with winter. In stepping away from the small things in the field: the daily strifes, worry about crops or sales, the mental chatter, I can see the boiled-down essence of life: thriving in time. And man I wish I could hold on to that simplicity as we go through our day here. The farm teaches so much and in all its ups and downs we get to host a small community of distinct individuals all trying to thrive together in this diverse, unique eco-system we call Naked Home Front (hybridization of Naked Acre Farm and Genica’s business Home Front Gardens). And thats very cool! So as we move into the latter part of the season, I hope everyone is enjoying how they fill their time, enjoying the company of the people/individuals around you, and has had an amazing summer season! Thank you for being a part of our eco-system.
On to the share!
a bunch of fresh carrots - the first of the last bed of carrots for the year. Youthful carrots.
a bunch of Broccolini - we just quick sauté for a fast side dish - butter salt, pepper. Or try adding in some garlic for added flavor!
A head of cauliflower. Trying head sizes. This is a tough crop for me but I’m glad I got some out to you all. You may have to sift through a little of the pieces as you cut it up. Here is a recipe for roasted cauliflower. What else do people do?
a bag of “adolescent” kale for raw or cooking needs
a couple Italian heirloom sweet peppers. One member grilled some peppers with sausages. I always like peppers and onions together and you can add some garlic too!!
a pound of green beans - these should probably be cooked as they are a little tough raw. Last night Genica blistered them in a cast iron and added a little water and covered to steam for a bit to soften them up. Salt and peppers. Yum.
a few red onions - more on the way. Sorry Vinnie.
A couple heads of garlic - they will keep for a while if you want to save it up!
a quart of potatoes - the first of the year and many more to come. Make sure you cut the purple ones open and look inside!
Here are some views from the farm this week!
Summer colors!
Bye Bye Kale that was planted in a hight tunnel in March! Made room for spinach!!
Spinach here!
If you were wondering why it was so quiet at farm pick-up it was because Indi needed a mental health day away from the farm.