With the blink of an eye summer has arrived.  As we approach the solstice, the sun casts its rays with a great intensity.  The days are long, prodding us farmers to expel even more energy in all directions.  I really am in disbelief that just one week ago we could not feel our fingers due to the cold and rain.  It's now time for shorts, sun hats, and of course irrigation, something we know a bit too well from last season.   

The beautiful Container Garden at the front of the farm is maintained by two work shares & watered by hand.

We are amidst a major transition here on the farm both on a very mental and physical level.  The first week of harvest is behind us meaning that we will now be harvesting everyday through the end of October.  Our days begin with harvesting the greens in the early soft light of the morning in order to keep them cool.  After harvesting, washing, and packing we immediately fill our time with bed preparation, seeding, and transplanting.  We are still working to get in the larger crops like peppers, squashes, and eggplant, but reinforcements have arrived this week.  Our five-person Field Crew began Monday and will be with us through mid-October.  Two of the members, Allison and Bekah, are returning crew members who are back for more and we couldn't be more grateful.    

 

The crops this week are growing by the hour.  It's amazing what the combination of moisture, warmth, and sunlight will do in a matter of a day or so.  The Swiss chard stands tall with its bright rainbow colors in our center field, the kale field at Lyman is diverse with textures and shapes, and some of the lettuce is recovering from the geese damage.  We will see how it fairs in this heat.  This share you will begin to see garlic scapes, which have a fun personality for a vegetable.  Collards will make their first appearance of many, but with a unique tenderness due to its first harvest.  The sugar snap peas are flowering so those will be on their way soon, hopefully for next week's picking.  The cucumbers, squash and zucchini plants are filling out nicely but we are still a couple weeks off.

 

One highlight of the week besides bringing in the first greens of the year has been the sighting of a snapping turtle laying her eggs.  Janelle, Allison, and I were transplanting sweet potatoes when we first noticed some claw marks and some holes in the plastic mulch, wondering if it was a coyote.  Sure enough it was an old snapper.  Naomi found her eggs last year when harvesting our potatoes in late August in that same field and she is back at it again preserving her species.     

A snapping turtle burrowing under plastic mulch to dig her nest at Lyman.

This week has uplifted my heart.  On Wednesday during our first CSA distribution, it was so wonderful to see so many beautiful people out on the farm enjoying the fresh air, the sun, and the earth.  I had a moment of empowerment and satisfaction.  Our hard work is paying off.  This is one way we as farmers receive joy: to see our community truly share the land together. To share food together that connects us all no matter where we come from, what language we speak, how much money we make, and no matter who we are.  I am so grateful to be a part of this community that is ever-expanding.  See you on the farm!

 

For the Farm Crew,

Anna