2020 CSA Newsletter #18

I think this week’s newsletter is going to be shorter than usual. Besides some back pain throughout the years, this is only the third injury that I’ve sustained in 16 years of farming. I’ve been replaying what happened today in my mind and am still a little stunned at what happened. I have made thousands of bunches of kale that I could probably do it in my sleep. But I guess it wouldn’t be 2020 if a freak little accident didn’t happen. On the bright side, I’ve been relieved from washing any dishes at home for the time being.

As the end of the season nears, we are beginning to start some of our fall projects on the farm. I’ve been prepping beds for our garlic planting that will happen in a few weeks. We also started to prep some areas in the hoophouses and greenhouse for winter plantings. The basil was cleared out of the greenhouse after its incredible season and we will soon get the beds ready for winter greens. Two of our hoophouses move on tracks and the beds that had the radishes and carrots were weeded and will be broadforked in the coming weeks. Once the heirloom tomatoes are completely done, we will move the hoophouse over that area so that we can have some protected crops over the winter. The last of the big projects that need to happen will be to clear out the rest of the plants that are growing in the hoophouses and greenhouse. That will most likely happen in early November.

This week’s CSA share is the end for some crops and the beginning of others. This is the last week of shishito peppers. The experiment of growing a small amount in the hoophouse worked out really well. We will definitely increase the number of plants for next season. The eggplant is most likely over, as well. I’ll probably be reluctant to pull them before the CSA is over but they have petered out. For the first time this fall there will be daikon radishes and spinach. I experimented with planting daikon in one of the hoophouse beds this spring and if the Full Season shares remember, they were little babies. Well, the first of the fall are some beauties. They’ve got some good spice to them. One of my favorite things to do with daikon is to pickle them with carrots. Speaking of carrots, the ones in the share this week are super sweet and tender. I planted a bunch of beds (later than I wanted) that I don’t think would have time to size up before the season is over. So, for the next few weeks there will be baby carrots available. And who doesn’t love real baby carrots? The tomatoes keep surprising me week after week. They are chugging along to the finish line. Again, apologies about the kale and chard but they will be ready for you next week. I sampled some kale over the weekend and it was real tasty. Now you have something to look forward to for next week.

Have a great week!