On Sunday morning we woke up to a thick white layer of frost blanketing the fields. The peppers had been picked and tucked into the cooler, the pumpkin trailer had been covered with a protective tarp, the greenhouse sides had been rolled down, and the rest of the crops had been harvested steadily out of the field over the past weeks and months in preparation for this change in the season. Peeking out the window at the morning frost, I’ll admit that I smiled and hit the snooze button an extra time!
It’s nice to get to the end of a farm season and think back on it with satisfaction. Yes, we had some wacky weather to contend with (remember those weeks of drought, followed by what felt like a monsoon?!?) but over all it has been a great year. Our crew really ticked, with Heather and Nick taking lead roles on planting and cultivation and Luke, Lauren and Stephen pulling their weight (and often that of a full crate of veggies or bucket of weeds) like champs. From asparagus to zucchini and back through winter squash we had a very productive year, and we even figured out how to grow some beautiful carrots by the end of the season! It’s been wonderful to visit with many of you shareholders as you come and go from the ever-expanding pick-your-own garden, and last Saturday’s harvest festival was the perfect way to celebrate the season and welcome the frost. It all comes full circle.
Thank you all for being part of the CSA this season. As the world goes in crazy directions, your choice to cook dinner with your family, spend a few quiet minutes picking flowers, laugh at the antics of the pigs, and support a small farm in our endeavor to keep the traditions of farming alive, grounds us all in what matters close to home. I hope you have tried new vegetables, enjoyed old favorites, and smiled with satisfaction, too, this season. This week we’ll send you home with a hearty bag of veggies that should last you for a couple weeks, and after they are gone it’s not too early to start dreaming about spring greens!
Thanks for a great season, and we’ll see you in the spring!
