In mid-September when the forecast calls for frost we pull out all the stops to save tender crops and extend the harvest season for a few more precious weeks. But when the calendar flips to October it’s time to face the facts and bid adieu to those late summer crops. Last week’s forecast for a low of 31F still had us scurrying around, but this time it was to “winterize” the farm by draining pumps, taking down outdoor sinks, and making sure the sides of the greenhouses and doors on the barn were closed tight. I saw several CSA members furiously gleaning a final taste of beans, hot peppers, chard, and flowers in the PYO gardens. And then the fields were coated in sparkling white. As the sun turned the sparkles to water droplets the next morning the gardens seemed to let out a sigh as they slumped into browned shells of their former selves.
But there are always the survivors! The kale still stands tall, and if anything it is sweeter than ever after a frost. The sage and thyme are equally impervious to cold. Though the flowers took it pretty hard, a few blooms hung on and gave me an excuse to wait an extra day before mowing them down for the year. In the veggie fields now is the Brassicas’ moment to shine, as these cold-hardy cole crops laugh at a little frost. And in the orchard our last apple varieties actually require a little frost to sweeten them up.
On Sunday as I snipped a few asters from a protected patch by the barn, calling it a “survivors’ bouquet” in my head, suddenly a bald eagle flew overhead. I held up the bouquet and gave a silent thanks for the survival of a species, as well.
Cheers
Norah and the Sweetland Crew
Week 22 Harvest
Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Kale Lettuce Radicchio Baby Beets Rutabaga Brussels Sprouts Hakurei Turnips Spicy Mesclun Mix Tatsoi Carrots Acorn, Autumn Frost, Butternut, & Honeynut Squash Garlic Leeks
What’s Cooking This Week
You can find ingredients for all of these recipes in our farm store! We source meats, dairy, grains, beans, sweets, and more from local and sustainable producers. Don’t forget to use your CSA member discount by entering your account phone number in our POS (member discounts are automatically applied to LocalLine purchases for off-farm delivery).