2023 CSA Newsletter #11

It's hard to believe it, folks, but we have made it to the midpoint of the 2023 season. It really has been an up and down season for us, and we appreciate your support. I'm not sure that I have ever experienced so many "firsts" in a season before. With September right around the corner, I need to start thinking about the projects that need to be finished before the season is over. It is a definite balance because we are getting to the height of late summer harvest, especially with the tomatoes. In the coming weeks, we will start to generate a list of things that we want to get done and then start to prioritize it all as the weather begins to change. 

Last week was a big week for cultivation of the fall crops. In an ideal world we are timing it properly and can use hand tools that allow us to be standing and taking care of the weeds that are competing with the crops. It's a small victory when you can time it right but when I think of a sustainable farming operation, the work needs to be done in a way that is sustainable for the workers. Being able to stay vertical, instead of on hands and knees to take care of weeds is vital to that work. Last week's share had the last of the chard and we were able to clear out that bed and replant it with some Asian greens for the fall.

Let's talk about this week's CSA share. This week will be the return of lettuce mix. Perfect addition to the cherry tomatoes that are still in abundance. The heirloom tomatoes are plentiful once again. We made a roasted heirloom tomato sauce and stuck it in the freezer over the weekend. Both the beefsteak and paste tomatoes are picking up steam too! There will be more eggplant, hot peppers, a bell/frying pepper choice, a specialty pepper choice consisting of shishito, padron, havasu and banana peppers. There will be both pickling and slicing cucumbers. There will also be the first scallions of the season. We are going to take a break with the basil this week and give it the chance to regrow for next week.

Have a great week!

-Farmer Todd