With the passing of the first day of Autumn I’m reminded as I walk outside why this is my favorite season in Maine. Dry, bright days with views that go on and on run into cool nights that give me the best sleeps of the year.
September is also the month of Leila’s birthday; she turned nine this week. On the morning of her birth, Maura and I walked down Pleasant Hill Road in the wee hours of the morning to Parkview Hospital in time for her scheduled delivery. It was a morning much like today, we like to reminisce about enjoying a quiet walk in fresh air and anticipation before welcoming our baby (and a few days of rest). Leila was born on a CSA pick-up day and our wonderful farm apprentice Leah (we only had one then) and our veteran volunteer Bob did all of the harvesting and washing that morning. I came back to the farm after the birth, talking to CSA members and telling everyone about Maura and our wonderful new daughter. We had not yet named her, and many of you threw out your two cents in that regard as well. There are many of you who have been members since that time (and earlier!). Nothing measures time quite like the rapid growth of a child. You are still coming week after week, year after year, a vital part of this farm, and that little baby is now up to her mom’s chin and perhaps checking your name off when you arrive at CSA. We are so grateful for you, all of our CSA members, long-time and new, for being a constant source of support and the reason we are still here.
The Frost Came
We did end up getting frosted on Friday morning last week.This slowed our harvest day considerably as we had to wait for all of the greens to thaw before we could begin cutting them. Thanks to the hard work of the crew in the days before the frost we were able to finish harvesting the sweet potatoes and the last of the winter squash, the last two crops that have no tolerance to freezing. The plus side of an early frost (the earliest in our 11 years here) is that the greens and roots from here on out will taste even better, sweetened by the cold.
Honey
We have honey for sale starting this week. These one and two pound jars are from the hives in the vegetable fields that our friend Ken Faulkner tends. Besides being sweet and wonderful, honey that is produced in the area where you live is full of pollen which can go along way towards inoculating you from the effects of seasonal allergies. Besides that, it tastes great.
What’s in the share…
Sweet potatoes
Kohlrabi
Broccoli
Sweet Dumpling Squash
Carrots
Red Onions
Lettuce
Asian Greens
Chard/Kale
Peppers
Eggplant
What’s in Upic…
Edamame…last week
Flowers…waning