The Weekly Bushel #15, 2008

The Weekly Bushel #15

Sept 1, 2008

Greetings!

We have one ambitious week of produce in store for you. We planned our planting schedules around a 20 week season for 2008, and followed our planting recommendations very solidly. It is odd to experience this though, as our fall season crops are now much earlier than I've ever seen. That's one of the things giving me great optimism about running a much later CSA season next fall. We're confident that you'll find this to be our most bountiful share of 2008. We may do better yet though. The fields always pack surprises.

The Great Lessons of 2008 (so far)

September has a way of urging along the finishing run of the season. I notice this in the shortening day lengths, the woods smelling of mushrooms, the chill in the early morning air, and in my temptations to find the first trees turning yellow and brown. As I mowed down foxtail and pigweed today, I thought about some of the most obvious lessons I've learned this season; lessons that will instruct me in different paths next year. I have a job interview very early in the morning and a couple of hours away, and a bit of writers block, so instead of tales of snowman making and so on, I thought I'd share with you lessons I've had the opportunity to learn thanks to your faith in my abilities.

1. When you do not use BT or certain organically approved pesticides, you do not get cabbage yields, tall, impressive kale, or any members of the cucumber family to live for very long at all. SOLUTION=grow smaller heads of cabbage, plant kale and swiss chard numerous times, and pack most of your squash planting into the earliest part of the season.
2. Everything you buy breaks. I've literally broken just about every new item I've purchased this year, and the goodie-but-oldies have broken numerous times. SOLUTION: Get used to it! Buying higher quality items makes much sense too, but wasn't a financial possibility in year one.
3. Farming is not for everybody
4. There really does come an age where you cannot do everything you used to be able to do, physically.

As an aside, thanks for hanging in there with some of my less relavent banterings. I try not to use my position as the voice of the farm ambivalentely, but sometimes it's really nice to bounce just whatever pops into my brain off of you all. I do appreciate it.

Best Share of the Season?!?!

Of course we hope not, but we'll definitely sleep well tonight. No greens, which is a bummer, but I know how to deal with this one next year. Next week should be pretty good too, and should include:

• carrots
• radishes
• tomatoes
• onions
• broccoli greens
• potatoes (I hope, not sure yet)
• apples
• concord grapes (again, not sure, but we'll see)
• lettuce
• spinach
• cabbage
• bell peppers

This weeks share

• cantaloupes or watermelons (some watermelons may be a bit underripe. If so, utilize as cucumbers, or salt to bring out more sweetness)
• basil or thai basil
• tomatoes
• eggplant
• apples
• red cabbage
• winter squash (may be all we have for the year. bug pressure is extreme this year)
• edamame
• radishes
• jalapenos, and a cayenne, or a few poblano peppers

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

tim huth
LotFotL Community Farm