Rain & Gratitude: Summer CSA ’12 – Week #8
Last Wednesday evening, the sky to the west turned really dark. After Zea’s nap, we walked around the farm for over an hour, watching the sky. I tried really hard not to get excited, as so many other times before this season we’ve seen those clouds and never got a drop. But this time was different; I could smell the possibility of rain in the sky. Zea was so excited about the prospect of rain that she insisted on wearing her green and white polka dot raincoat. Then my phone started to ring with calls from family members and friends exclaiming, €œIt’s raining where we are and we’re just hoping it comes to you!€
The sky got darker and darker. As the crew began walking towards their cars after a long day in the heat, just a couple of drops fell. And then, all of the sudden rain, sweet, sweet rain began to fall. Just as the crew was pulling away€¦ I’m sure they were cheering in their car. Zea and I were. Rain! Rain! I stood there holding Zea on top of my big pregnant belly and we just felt the rain drops for a few minutes. I could have stood there for a long while, but Zea is 2 and very practical: €œMom, I don’t like standing in the rain. Can we go inside?€ As a compromise, we sat under the covered portion of our porch and watched it come down. Soon Zea was taking brave envoys out onto the uncovered part of the porch, squealing loudly under the drops. €œMom, it’s finally raining!!€ Indeed.
After last Wednesday’s rain, I have been holding my breath, trying to just expect no more rain for another couple of months. Then a little touch on Sunday, and another great pour Tuesday morning. Gratitude. Gratitude.
It’s not as if the effects of the drought and heat have been erased or anything, but just for a few days we are all wearing rose colored glasses as our feet step down on wet ground. This morning the crew harvested sweet corn, and at lunch they were just relishing being sweaty, wet, and muddy. They literally haven’t worked a wet day since May!
My gratitude also extends to our crew. These hot, hot days have not been easy to work in ” and yet they come back and work so hard each day. The heat advisories keep on coming€¦. And they are all hanging in there. I want to give a shout out to all of our worker shares, part-timers, and especially our full-time crew. Alex, Douglas, Anna, and Jada ” thank you for all that you do. We may not say it enough around here, but all four of you work so hard and you manage to keep smiles on your faces even in the worst of conditions. We appreciate all that you do to help Crossroads be a productive farm.
The box is looking pretty great this week. For everyothers, please note that the watermelons are in various stages of ripeness due to a disease that attacked the leaves. See last week’s newsletter for more details on the watermelon lotto. Also, another reminder to everyone that organic corn has lots of pests. Cut off bad parts and try your best to remember that bugs are better than petrochemicals.
Enjoy! Sincerely, Cassie, Mike, and Zea
In the Box:
- Beets
- Bell Pepper, Green
- Bell Pepper, Purple
- Cucumbers
- Garlic
- Muskmelon
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Onion
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
REGs Only:
- Broccoli
- Cilantro
EOs Only:
- Eggplant, Globe
- Tomatoes (either sungolds, cherries, or salad tomatoes)
This Week’s Recipes
Summer Week #8: Wednesday, July 25th ” Everyother Group B
