Setting the season Straight

Here we are at the end of July heading into August after a long excessively hot couple of months. I am not going to say this has been a wonderful summer season and I do count my blessing for we got through it without too much in the way of crop loss..but, man oh man will I be glad to put this summer behind me and head into fall. A couple of things that were a loss for us this summer were the flowers and mid-summer snap beans. During our busy flower planting time just so happen it landed during one of the worst droughts we have had in Tennessee. The beans were eaten down by rabbits…new beans are now getting planted for early fall harvest. It was so strange to look out into the field and not see it on fire with color from the flower like the years past…but all in all we made it through without disrupting our CSA or putting too much of a big dent into the farm’s market.

We are now coming to the last pickup date for our Summer CSA next weekend. Our shareholders have been a good group this spring and summer and I want to remind y’all you can still harvest herbs and flowers through the fall. Just the same as our fall shareholders can visit the farm even before their season starts which is coming up in a few weeks. Also you shareholders be sure to remind Jane or whom ever is working the market that you are CSA shareholders for your 10% off at the market.  Now that we have all that out of the way…lets talk about eating in season and what to expect coming up…

Heirloom Tomatoes will still be the headliner here on the farm until cool fall weather comes a calling although some of our varieties will poop out long before that…many will indeed hang around.

Peppers they love this hot weather and will continue to produce right along with the tomatoes.

Eggplant and okra will be showing up asap at the farm market and CSA they will keep coming for several weeks.

Mark’s Melon patch will be ready to harvest sugar baby watermelon by next week.

Squash & Zucchini love hot weather too so they will stick around a little longer.

For the next few weeks it’s about a season adjustment…summer turning into early fall then to late fall. The crops will vary and produce less and less until the fall crops kick in an thus starts the abundance again. Everything in nature is about preparing for the next season. Our bodies when we eat in season does much better as well. The greens of fall is all about storing iron for the long winter. It is a beautiful thing.

We will be spending much of the next couple of weeks planting many of those fall vegetables as well as giving the hard working crops of summer a little shot of love via compost tea. They need a nice treat to keep working hard for us.

CSA News & Updates

Summer Shareholders y’all have your last official pickup Saturday Aug 4th.  I will post 2 make up pickups for those that have miss any this summer or spring for Sept. and Oct. Unless we see we have a good crop in Aug. Just keep an eye out for a shout out from the farm calling our MIA shareholders for a missed pickup. I see y’all on Sat…looks like a wonderful pickup yet again this coming weekend:)  Remember your baskets.

To our Fall Shareholder: Our CSA gathering will be Saturday Aug 18th. 10:30 am. This will be your introduction to the farm with a farm tour and ah yes…Lunch on us! This is also your 1st pickup. How exciting! Now like I said you all are welcome to visit the farm anything Saturday before your official season starts…cut flowers, harvest herbs and shop the market…remember to let them know your are shareholder 10% off…