Weekly Updates from the Farm

We had a fabulous pizza night last night, with excellent music from Leta Millsap and fall flavors shining on all the pizzas. Plus, Thanksgiving turkeys and pasture-raised whole chickens are on the farm stand now.

What a beautiful week! Cool nights and warm days are a fantastic combination, and while rain would be nice, the sunshine is definitely helping the crops catch up after a tough September.

The weather has certainly taken a turn, and we’re bracing for a potential frost. Last Saturday many of you joined us for a splendid workday, and together we harvested over 3,000 pounds of sweet potatoes!

This was a good week, with progress in repairing tunnels damaged in the hail early this season, and more fall planting. The fall squash and apples are excellent, and reminders that fall will arrive in full glory not too long from now.

A common question this time of year is whether the farm is ‘slowing down’ yet. In October, it’s quite the opposite — plus a candid look at this season’s pests and the produce we supplement from other local farms.

What a difference a little cooler weather makes! After the long, hot stretches of summer, we’ve been enjoying cooler mornings, a good week of seeding fall and winter crops, and that unmistakable hint of fall in the air.

There is something especially satisfying about the turn from summer into fall. Leafy greens are coming back, carrots are sizing up, and our appetites seem to change right along with the weather.

The last couple of weeks have been tough ones for the farm — two weeks of extreme heat took their toll on the crops. But the mornings are beginning to feel different, and the spinach, carrots, and kale aren't far off.

The farm is hot, but with it being September there is hope for fall to come — maybe. A look back at the long hours of planting, tending, and harvesting that made this month feel a little more manageable.

Farmers aren't always very good at taking vacations. This week we're heading west for a wilderness adventure in Idaho while the crew keeps the farm going — and that's one of the great gifts of a strong farm community.