Exhale: Summer CSA Week #11

 In CSA Newsletter
Exhale
If I could give mid to late August a name, it would be Exhale.

While there is still so very much to do at the farm, this time of year marks a real transition. The edge, the intensity lessens.

The vast majority of crops are in the ground (just a few more successions to transplant and the last direct seeding in the field of some fall greens happens today).

Exhale.

The days are getting shorter. As the day length shortens, the constant war against weeds begins to shift in our favor. In our early months – May, June, and early July – the long days allow the weeds to have the upper hand. They just grow and grow and grow!  But as the season progresses, we are able to stay in better control of cultivation.

Exhale.

Last week we finished the last seeding in the greenhouse – lettuce and tatsoi for our hoophouse. We turned on the greenhouse on February 28th. Since that date we have been seeding plants to be transplanted once a week at a minimum. That’s five solid months of seeding and greenhouse management. But now, with each transplanting, fewer and fewer baby plants remain to be cared for in the greenhouse.  The sometimes 3 times a day watering needs will soon cease and we will achieve some freedom from having to be near or at our home every 5 hours.

Exhale.

Meanwhile, with school starting back up, we are beginning to see our crew shrink.  In these next couple weeks two crew members and one volunteer will be done with their work here.  Not as many big jobs to do, and therefore there will be fewer folks to manage on a daily basis.

Exhale.

We’ve crossed the halfway mark of the summer CSA with 10 boxes we are super proud of.

Exhale.

There are so many more delicious vegetables growing in the field yet to harvest, but we are at the point of the season where we get to just kind of coast along on our systems that are up and running. Much work to be done, but somehow it all just seems a little easier. 

Thanks for reading and enjoy your veggies!
Farmer Cassie

In the Box: 

  • Basil
  • Beans (green, maybe with a touch of yellow dragon tongue beans sprinkled in)
  • Carrots
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant, either Japanese or Globe
  • Garlic
  • Jalapeños
  • Onion, Sweet Yellow
  • Potatoes
  • Sweet Pepper (Bell or Carmen, red, green or mixed in color)
  • Sweet Corn
  • Tomatoes
  • Watermelon
  • Zucchini

EOs only: 

  • Cauliflower
  • Leeks

REGs only:

  • Broccoli Shoots

SUNGOLDS in some boxes