Last CSA Pick up Date Changed

The last CSA pick up date has been moved from today to Thursday Nov 17th from 4 to 7pm. The reason for the change is the Brussels Sprouts are not ready. They are growing but ever so slowly. Also it they go through a frost they will be sweeter and taste better. speaking of frost that is suppose to happen tonight. The Kale and Carrots will also be sweeter to the taste and be bigger.

All the greens, lettuce, carrots, and chard are covered to protect them from the frost. I guess we are truly getting to the end of our growing season. I have cover cropped all the beds with oats and some with a combination of oats and Buckwheat. The picture shows the oats on the Garlic beds. Yes, I planted 1200 cloves of garlic in amongst the Oats. 600 Rieslig Hard Neck and 600 Italian Red Soft neck (good for braiding) I think I will be up to snuff on the garlic share next year provided everything grows without a hitch. The rain today will help get them nestled in for the winter. Why plant the cloves in with the oats? Well, the oats provides a winter protection for the garlic and the soil while nourishing the soil. Then in the spring the oats have died down forming a nice mulched bed for the garlic to grow up through and this helps to suppress the weeds. It is so exciting to think about how the plants survive through the cold and wake up in the spring and provide us with yummy food.
Well I have to go out in the rain and feed and water the chickens.
Have a fun Halloween.

Nancy

CSA Pik up 19 October 20 2011

This is the next to the last pick up. There are not as many vegetables this week because we are coming to the end of the growing season. The cover crops are doing well because of all the rain. Speaking of rain, I could not get into the fields to dig the Sweet Potatoes yet. That is on the job list for this weekend because it is suppose to be sunny. They then have to cure for 2 to 3 weeks. I just hope the voles have not devoured all the potatoes. That is the gamble I have to take.

I planted all 1100 cloves of garlic in amongst the Oat cover crop this week. It is so exciting to be thinking about Spring and new garlic pushing its little heads up through the Oat mulch.
The Brussels sprouts are starting to form which is really exciting. With them being late I am moving my last pick up to November 17th which is the Thursday before Thanksgiving. I will also have the horseradish dug and there will be greens, Kale, like I mentioned above Sweet Potatoes if the voles save us some.

Looking forward to seeing you

Nancy

CSA Pick up Oct 13, 2011

CSA Pick Up Oct 6

Happy New Month!! Fall is definitely upon us. I can hardly believe it is October already. It has been a cool damp week with all the rain, rain, rain. The tomatoes are at the end of their season. The rain made them split more. There maybe a few to choose from this week but you will be lucky to find one good one to take put in your bag. :(. The Eggplant is also tired and at its ending point. The Broccoli did not like all the rain so after regrouping from the attack by the ground hog and trying to rebound, the rain said "I got you again". Such is life on the farm.

The Beans are doing well and the Chard is really happy. I know some of you are about full of chard. I have started blanching it in boiling water for 2 minutes and then cooling it down in ice water. Draining it and putting it in freezer bags and in to the freezer. This winter Chard will be a nice addition to a warm soup or stew.

We have winter squash this week too . A lot of them are small because the cool weather in combo with the rain was perfect for the downy mildew to take over. A little is better than none so enjoy.

The rain beat down on my lettuce and tore it up. So there will not be lettuce this week. I am trying to revive it by covering it with the white remay. We will see.

The Brussels Sprouts have little babies so I am hoping the sun the next couple of days will help them get bigger.

See you this afternoon
Nancy