Monarch munching with a view of melon flowers

This is the “Sandy Field”.  The soil in this field is literally like beach sand.  We don’t have many places on the farm like this and I have never worked on a farm with sandy soil, so I am always nervous about growing in it.  This year the field holds winter squash, melons, peppers and summer squash.  it. is. gorgeous.  The multitude of flowers are a-buzz with the sounds of insects.  The leaves are big and green and lush.  Hopefully I am not jinxing ourselves here as we have only harvested summer squash (loads) and a few peppers so far…. oh but we are hopeful!! The melons are poking their heads out from the leaves and the peppers are bulging with green fruit awaiting their blush.  We left this milkweed for a monarch to find.  This little caterpillar has a wonderful dining view!  And so do we as we visit the field 3x a week to harvest your zucchini and summer squash….and soon melons!  So exciting!!  We have also had a porcupine visitor in the squash recently.  He nibbled one summer squash, but mostly I think he was just looking for shade.  And maybe some farmer company!  Benny sure was pleased to see him : )

Benny checking on us during garlic harvest

This week was the annual garlic harvest.  it.was.so.hot.  BUT!  They looked GORGEOUS!!!  So it made it fun.  We even listened to a little music to take our minds off the heat.  Benny tried so hard to find shade because he wanted to help, but he eventually gave up and headed back into the A/C.

Other recent tasks have been hand watering bare soil, then planting into it, then watering in the transplant.  We are trying to get fall crops in (think beets, turnips, cabbage, cauliflower).  It’s been a challenge with the heat but we are babying them as much as we can.  Lots of water and straw mulch trying to keep them happy.  And don’t forget weeding!  There’s always weeds to pull.  Somehow they have not gotten the memo that it’s too dry to grow, hahaha.

Hope you are eating lots of cooling fresh veg and enjoying some summer fun!!

This Week’s Bounty: lettuce, chard, pac choi, red/green cabbage, cukes, summer sq, celery, purple peppers (full shares), tomatoes, onion, garlic, dill, basil