How beautiful it´s been on the farm lately. The crisp cool weather and bountiful rains of last week have created a paradise. This is a big transplanting time of the year, not for this year´s harvest, but for next. We´ve successfully planted over 5000 cloves of garlic that will turn into bulbs for a May harvest, and we´ve planted about 5000 onion plants that will be ready about the same time. These farm tasks are of my favorite, and between Matthew and me (with a little of Javier´s help), we planted them all in just under 2 days. In addition to all the alliums we´ve put in the ground, we also just planted about 400 strawberry plants for next summer´s harvest. Later in the winter, we´ll plant more strawberries, more onions, and even begin transplanting blueberries and muscadines. (If you have a strong back or shovel you´d like to lend, let me know!)

Last night was our CSA potluck for the season. I had a super time and want to thank everyone who was able to attend. Sorry for those who couldn´t make it; we´ll try to have multiple farm events next year. The weather was perfect for the great fall food and a bonfire, and the evening was gorgeous with stars a plenty. Thank you for the time that you put into your dishes and for your gracious company.

Yesterday I arrived at the farm to be overcome with sudden grief; the fields were blanketed in white. Yes, old man frost had come to consume about 2/3 of the farm. The frost is such a weird and unpredictable animal. Our predicted low was 40 degrees; the farm thermometer read 32 when I got there. The plants covered in crystals are quite beautiful. The summer crops glisten and stand up straight with the frost on their leaves, but by the time the sun comes out the cells inside of the leaves that are frozen turn to mush and the photosynthesis of the plant fails. So, the plant, or a good part of the plant dies. Luckily, the frost wasn´t hard enough to affect our fall crops, the broccoli, cabbages, lettuces, and greens are still doing fine.

Our response was a rush to get all the eggplant and peppers harvested that we could manage before the sun came out. By harvesting these fruits and putting them in the cooler, they don´t get shocked by the sun and can keep for quite a while. So, expect lots of peppers within the next week or so. We harvested about 230 lbs of peppers yesterday!

This is a nice time of year on the farm, for once, our to do lists fit on one page and we can dream about the big projects to come. Hopefully this winter, I´ll have time to build a wash station for the produce, design a passive solar greenhouse, and get the ducks out to the lake right down the road. If anyone enjoys building things or has skills or tools, please let me know, as it´s possible to do a work exchange to work off part of the CSA share.

Thanks to all of you for being supportive of the farm and taking part in our events. I can´t imagine a better crew of CSA members!

Cheers,

Paige and the crew