Well, today it's official. We are delivering the last box and coming to the end of the CSA season. In this last blog post of the season, I typically reflect of how the season's been.
The farm season started off pretty badly. We managed to kill off a bunch of plants in the greenhouse when our heater went out, followed by late spring snows, cold weather, and about 3 months of daily rain (or so it seemed). We planted in mud. We watched weeds grow in the fields because it was too wet to cultivate. It wasn't good at all.
The middle of the summer brought much better weather and we were able to tend to the crops and harvest some things only after pushing the start of CSA back a week. We were feeling pretty good and getting into the groove of the season, but stress levels went up as the heat increased and rains stopped. We typically don't have to irrigate much, but when it got that dry for that long, I did have to start lugging hose from field to field. Drought conditions did effect the quality of some produce like mis-shaping pumpkins and decreased yield as plants got stressed. Still, I think we weathered it as well as possible.
Rain started to fall in September and I'd say we're in good shape for next season. Even though I'm my typical worn out self this time of year, we have to look towards next season to begin a new. Let me thank you for being with us for the season.
In the box:
Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Little Bok Choy
Spinach
Celeriac: Yes, this is a crazy-looking veggie. Peel and use in cooking where you would celery - it has the same flavor.
'Satina' Yellow Potatoes: People rave about Yukon Gold yellows, but I think these are much better. Yukons have a terrible yield and there are a bit too starchy or dry for me.
Yellow Onion
Dino Kale
Yellow and Red Pepper
Parsley
'Red Kuri' Squash: This is a great flavored squash - I always liken it to a chestnut. Maree peeled and used in a veggie soup earlier this week.
Pie Pumpkins: I think a couple should be enough for a pie (Maree makes pie, not me, so I'm guessing). You can use them for decoration, but don't forget they are food too. You can always cook down like squash, put into a freezer bag and use later (way better than that stuff in a can).
Farmer-choice squash: Another acorn or delicata.
