We are open for business on Labor Day. Veggies don’t take holidays off. They just keep right on growing. So please plan to pick up your produce at your usual place and time.
Though it appears that I am singularly responsible for all the good produce that comes out of the farm, I am but the handle on the crank of the complex machine known as Fresh Earth Farms. Without the cogs, sprockets and springs that make up the inner workings, I would just be a spinning handle with no resistance. The machine may seem complicated but it is pretty small and efficient in design – just a few moving parts. But these parts mesh well together and create what appears to be a far larger machine than it actual is. Since this is the last week for one of these cogs I felt this would be a good week to enlighten you on the other moving parts that makes this whole gizmo possible.
The main bearing in the mechanism is Rebecca. Without Rebecca the Fresh Earth Farms machine would grind to a halt. She is the gear that keeps the machine spinning. She has been with us most of the last eight (?) years. When a sprocket doesn’t know which way to turn, she turns to Rebecca. When a pinion is out of place Rebecca realigns him to get the machine moving again. If one of the rodent elimination units is broken she is the one to repair it. Rebecca brings many years of service but does not show any signs of wear and tear.
The next two widgets were installed in the machine last year – Anna and Simon. Prior to last year, Anna had been a part of a few other farm contraptions out on the east coast. She brought valuable experience to our machine. She has a high gear ratio – she does a lot of work in a short period of time – a great attribute for an efficient machine.
Last season was Simon’s first season as part of any farm mechanism. Over the last year and a half he has grown many more teeth in knowledge and expertise. He is the cog that keeps on going, and going, and going, and going…
The sprocket that will be leaving us this week is Hannah. She is off to the University of Minnesota to be machined into a Horticulture grad student. Hannah was unpolished when she arrived in the spring but quickly honed her skills to become a valuable link in the drive chain.
Finally there was Emily. I say “was” since she is an integral part in several machines and was with us for a short time this spring until her other mechanisms overtook her time. She was valuable when we had her and we were sorry to lose her.
In a season where the heat was high and the cooling systems were failing, these people went above and beyond to grow, harvest and deliver the food you enjoyed this season. I can’t thank them enough for the effort they put in – and continue to put in – to make this farm machine a success.
This week we will have potatoes (mostly russets), tomatoes, tomatillos, cherry tomatoes, carrots, beans, onions, garlic, watermelon, cabbage, hot peppers, some eggplants, some cucumbers, and lots of peppers. We’ll also check the herb area to see what we can find.
No FruitShare this week.
The next MeatShare is September 7th as is the next CheeseShare, though we are still in the process of distributing last Friday’s CheeseShare.
Flowers are slowing down. We will continue to make bouquets until they are gone but they will probably be smaller with fewer varieties.
As always, feel free to send in questions, comments, suggestions and farm machinery maintenance manuals.