Hello everyone,
We have reached the halfway point in our CSA for 2019!
The cold snap we’ve been having has slowed down some of our summer crops, but hopefully the rain will bring those fall greens in soon. In the meantime, although it feels like fall today, it looks like there will be a little more summer on the horizon, so let’s not say goodbye yet.
This season hasn’t been without challenges, first the cool wet Spring, followed by the too hot and dry summer. Losing my farm help early, just as summer holidays began and the kids needed entertaining. In all honesty, I was spread far too thin and as a result have often had to choose between critical tasks, harvest or plant, water or weed. Many days I go to the field and think, gosh, this farm is a mess (which is the apt title of a kids book a good friend gave us). Other days, I eat an amazing Greek salad and think, yeah, but it’s my mess and this is delicious!
The truth is, it is a mess and there is too much for me to manage, but it is also rewarding and I hope you have all enjoyed the lovely lettuce the rains brought and the sweet tomatoes the too hot and dry July brought. Farming is full of challenges, some we can plan for and others we can’t. I am sharing this with you now because one of the ideas behind community supported agriculture is that you are part of the farm, you get to share in the harvest, but also know about the ups and downs, triumphs and frustrations.
There are still some new crops coming along and I have my fingers crossed for them but I also know that some summer plantings were missed and therefore there will be gaps in the produce I had planned for. Sometimes this won’t matter, and other things can be substituted, but sometimes there is simply no good substitute and I would prefer to bring things in from other farms where there is an abundance rather than leave you feeling like you have missed out.
So, I have a question for you, to help me plan for the remainder of the season:
What is the one thing you would just love to see in your share this fall?
I can’t make any promises of course, but I would like to make sure everyone gets their favourite vegetable at least once!
Thanks again for supporting my little farm and taking the time to read this wordy newsletter. I am so humbled to be your farmer.
Sincerely,
Jenny
This week’s Share:
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Baby Cabbage or Kale (depending on what you got last week)
- Zucchini
- Basil
- Hot peppers, herbs and flowers (I hope!)
