We farmers watch the weather closely. This week looks challenging. But first some announcements:
Thank you to those who have signed-up for 2020! We appreciate your support and confidence. There is still time for everyone else to join and lock in this year’s price for next season’s produce. We are looking to reduce the number of shares we offer so I suggest joining early rather than waiting. We hope to sell out for 2020. To rejoin simply send in a deposit of $100 to hold your spot for next season. Or if you want to use a credit card you can purchase your share through our online store. If you have a PayPal account you can send your deposit through PayPal using my email address. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
We are planning on having our garlic planting member event on Saturday but based on the forecast it is likely that we will be weathered out. With a forecast of rain and snow mix it would not be conducive to planting garlic. If the weather forecast is incorrect we will plant garlic and have a bonfire/potluck afterward! Stay tuned.
Our goal is to have three more weeks this season (including this week). No guarantees.
Farm News
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, “In farming sometimes you get to work outside and sometimes you have to work outside”. This week it looks like we’ll have both opportunities. The start of the week has been and continues to be beautiful. The types of days that get one into farming. The end of the week sounds miserable. The types of days that drive you out of farming. If there is one thing we don’t need any more of — especially this late in the season — its rain. And another thing we never need during farming season is snow. The end of the week forecast has both.
So our goal this week is to get everything we need harvested done by the end of day Wednesday and spend Thursday and Friday washing produce and cleaning onions/shallots. Hopefully our plan works out.
And perhaps this is a good time to remind everyone of the unwritten but never used rule here at Fresh Earth Farms. If we have to shovel snow to get to the produce we want to harvest, the season is over. We have harvested in the snow before. We’ve even had to brush off snow before we harvest. But we’ve never had to shovel snow to harvest. I’m hoping we can keep our streak alive.
What will we have this week?
New this week are celery and rutabagas! For those new members and those with long term memory issues we do not blanch the celery so it has far more flavor than store bought celery. It is great in soups or other cooked dishes that benefit from celery flavor. It might be a bit strong for eating raw but I will let you make that decision. Actually, it might be delicious raw — especially if you are in the Cervidae family. We will also have the return of kale! Plus beans, onions, leeks, squash, some pumpkins, sweet peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, carrots and other odds and ends.
Only FlowerShare this week.
As always, do not hesitate to send in questions, comments, suggestions, jokes, brain teasers and whistle blower complaints.