Harvest Dinner
Wow! It’s been a month since I have written!! Have you missed me? I’ve thought about sharing every week, and have even sat down to write, only to be pulled away by other priorities. Our late summer/fall harvest has been incredible. Super fun, beautiful and abundant. I’m so proud of the crew and the intense amount of irrigating we put in in order to achieve this abundance. I am grateful for them and this sweet land. We lost a couple crew members to college and an exciting new job, so we have been 4 hands short the last 2 months. I definitely feel it. I think I have finally adapted and make the day’s to do list shorter so that it’s achievable, rather than be disappointed that we didn’t get as much done as I’d planned. I am trying to stay focused on the tasks at hand and not worry about all that needs to be done before the temps drop. Oh! Our inaugural Harvest Dinner with Flux was a huge success. Filled with community, amazing food and lovely weather. Thank you to those who attended and we hope to see you all next time!
Incredible pepper harvest
The bounty! If you pick up at the farm, you may have noticed tall stacks of crates in the barn. They are filled with peppers! So beautiful and sweet. We pulled as many as we could last week before a 25 degree night (this temp kills the leaves and stops growth). We have also invited the Androscoggin gleaners to come and pull more peppers off before another cold snap; donating their harvest to the local food banks. Our growing season is so short, literally 5 months that can grow crops like cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers. The CSA share has been heavy the last few weeks, we hope you are enjoying and taking advantage of the fresh; making pestos with extras, freezing tomatoes and peppers for winter stews and just simply savoring every bite. (We still have loads of tomatoes if you want to freeze some!!) I know it’s possible to buy anything you want at anytime at the grocery but eating seasonally and preserving seasonal foods are the best flavor, value and boost for your immune system — just a little plug for eating local : )
Benny helping to move the turkeys
Animal Update! The turkeys are enjoying their pastured life and have made friends with Benny. He mostly just watches them but occasionally decides they need to be herded into a group and their poop needs tasting. (eeew!) The pigs went on their last adventure yesterday. It is never easy, but I am always brought back to the importance of raising happy animals if I am going to eat animal proteins. As always, I am grateful for their gifts of nourishment and sense of wonder that only animals can provide.
Alright, I’m of to set up for CSA — next week (the 24th) is the last summer share pick up. If you are a senior share, don’t miss out on your free $50 worth of produce! make sure to use it up before the season ends.
This Week’s Bounty: lettuce, cukes (Tuesday), fennel bulb, daikon radish, peppers, tomatoes, chard, cabbage, onion, kohl rabi, garlic, winter squash
We will end this blog with some Benny Joy
