And 27 weeks later we are wrapping up the season. It´s such an odd feeling, finishing the season with such concrete terms. You CSA members are the majority of our work, so your absence equals my sitting on the farm, twiddling my thumbs with a giant cup of coffee. Finally, enough caffeine infiltrates my body and I realize, oh, how about that wash station we were planning on building, the passive solar greenhouse, we´ve got to get those blueberry plants in the ground, how about trying some muscadines, an overhead irrigation system would be a nice complement to our drip, Chef Hilary will still want some great food over the winter, who am I going to hire for the assistant manager position? How about interns?, crop planning, cover cropping, a new duck house, and so on and so forth. Sorry to exhaust you with that long sentence, it actually helps me to have it on paper to gaze at. I have big ideas that usually get put on the back burner until Thanksgiving, and then I can start scheming. But, the work is different. The wintertime work is quiet, lonesome, reflective, creative, and utilizes many different muscles than just the back. The CSA season is usually planting, weeding, harvesting, and the things between, over and over and over again.

So, folks ask, are you excited to have the season wrapping up? Yes, I am. I will miss you all, will miss the veggies, will miss your stories about the veggies. I´ll miss your kids running around the farm, the summer warming sun. But, I won´t miss the regularity and regime that is so intensely followed during the warm times...well, until it´s just about around the corner again.

This last newsletter always makes me look back upon the seasons. The many faces of those who helped in the fields, our greatest achievements, our difficulties. The CSA program in general, how things ran, common comments, our market, the vendors, participants, and connections throughout the general community.

The faces of the season: This season I was pleased to encounter many new personalities on the farm. I´ve learned much from each employee and have made some amazing friends. Early in the season, Niki, Katie, and Mark all spent different lengths of time on the farm with building projects, greenhouse work, and winter chores. RJ and Matthew arrived early as full season apprentices. They spent the majority of the season here and both left as incredible farm managers. I never had any doubts turning the farm over to them. They were always the movers and the shakers around the farm. Lauren and Mary both came to the farm for summer internships. These two driven ladies brought many laughs, new ideas, and added an eye for feminine detail. Together, all these folks meshed together for an incredible experience for the year. (Must add: Matthew´s different sort of punny, dry humor originally drew many funny looks, but towards the end it brought some of the most quality laughter. RJ´s core commitment to sustainability, lack of laundering, simplistic behavior, and raw work ethic were again something to get used to, that in the end we all loved.)

The other faces of the season: Also, thanks to our volunteers! Justin, Stephanie, Hilary, Javier, Brock, Katherine, Brett, Laura, Kevin, Melissa, Pam, Donna, Mary, and anyone else who helped out. You guys are awesome, don´t forget it. Thanks for making things happen around the farm (and bunching your fair share of flowers). Some of you came upon when we were in times of need, some of you brilliantly showed up and made large tasks easier, and several of you, with your regular commitments, are an incredibly monumental addition to the farm.

Biggest achievement this year: diversification; shitakes, ducks, and turkeys. (Mostly thanks to the interns for brooding the birds on their porch...think, coming home after a long days work and having to clean up the birds´ messes, watering, and feeding them) Our shitakes are really starting to produce now, the ducks have laid their first eggs, and the turkeys, well the turkeys will soon be on Thanksgiving platters across the area (others interested in heritage birds for Thanskgiving, please call!).

Saddest moment: 1. late spring frost...killed all the buds on the blueberries and set our broccoli and cabbage back BIG TIME 2. DROUGHT and those 2 weeks of unbearable heat 3. realization that I had planted our winter squash too late only to be ransacked by late summer pests and weeds. But, each mistake is a learning experience.

Best crops of the year: No doubt, the cucumbers were rocking (we harvested over 6 times the amount that Johnny´s seed catalog promised), the garlic was amazing, and the springtime lettuces were sexy as ever. (I know Matthew would probably add eggplant to this list). Funny that when we look upon these as the "best" crops, you guys think, oh man way too much!!

Best new crop of the year: Hands down, lima beans!

Worst crops of the year: Well, firstly, blueberries: harvested maybe 5 lbs, where last year we had 350 lbs, fall brassicas (collards, kale, broccoli, cabbage): the late summer heat really set these back, and spinach, didn´t plant enough in the spring, and for some reason I am not good at growing it in the fall.

Best event. CSA potluck. I had a super time!

Favorite infrastructure addition. Tie, new parking lot area, and irrigation from lake (this will be in first place once it finally is up and running!)

Most improved intern. Not sure if this is embarrassing, but when Matthew arrived, I had a tinge of doubts that he wouldn´t be up to speed for the season. Not that he wasn´t good, just very particular, thought out, and rational, in comparison to my quite brutish, frantic work style. I guess it makes sense once you know that Matthew is a great chess player and I just don´t have the patience. But, over the season, he sped up at least 400% and became a brute in the fields as well. I even caught him sprinting from field to field a couple of times and staying after work to plant trees or wash bins. In fact, he mentioned when going up to visit farms in Massachusetts, he was shocked to see employees standing around. So, thanks for working with me Matthew!

Reason why Serenbe Farms is a success: you faithful customers and CSA members. Thanks so much for an incredible season; your commitment to local farmers and local food is the reason why I get to farm and the farm gets to be a farm. Thank you for your support and encouragement, and for being the familiar faces that eat what we grow. You certainly close the circle.

Have a wonderful winter, stay in touch.

See you next year!

Paige