If my high school french didn’t let me down the subject means the CSA for 2022 is all done this week. What a season – lots of ups and downs. In a week or so a monthly update will go out that touches on 2022 and hopes and plans for 2023. However, what is really important is to talk about this last week, and the wrap up associated therewith. Therewith is a cool word, by the way.
A couple of interesting things happen this week – the big one is trying to give you as much of the remainders of the garden as possible. The tomatoes are the most important in that discussion. There are a fair number of large very green slicers ‘hanging out’ in the greenhouse. Unless you kick up a fuss by email before your box is picked you will get an assortment of said green tomatoes. There are basically two options for you: use them green, or set them out in a warmish place to gradually turn color and be delicious. There is a great green tomato relish that will happen here at the farm, but there will also be shelf-maters.
The large trays of peppers brought in two weeks ago are now in the middle of being the correct ripe color. Hopefully there are enough of the ‘right color’ to give each of you – otherwise you get to let them finish on your counter or cook/slice them up as they are. There are some smaller variety that turn brown in there as well.
Root crops are also in abundance, sorta. Lots of carrots and beets, not so many Turnips. Cabbage was a smaller planting that hoped – you all should of received “the official cabbage’ last week – it has been so cold since then it is just not clear how many heads have gone ahead and firmed up. Lettuce is small, but mighty – and most of the herbs fall in that same category.
Going back to Tomatoes – the cherries have been just amazingly prolific here at the end of the year. It isn’t really clear how well the greenhouse will protect from the mid-20’s temperatures the week, but there should be a pint or half pint for you. There is a very small but valiant electric heater near the tomatoes doing as best as it can to protect and serve the tomatoes. All that goes away next week – in fact on Saturday the tomatoes and chard and basil and arugula become cow salad. There are a lot of scrap plants heading to recycle. Don’t be surprised if you have six or eight Chard in your box.
So – the last comment is that the flower farmer fetched flowers to the sun room of the house to make a survivor bouquet for this week – mostly Statice, and expected to be small. The instructions say that they dry nicely and would look good till next season, maybe.
this week:
| Lettuce | Cegolaine or Bibb or maybe even a Romaine, it is cleanout time… |
| Brassicas | Nice Cabbage was so last week – not sure what will be found when the crop cover is pulled back. TBD. |
| Roots | Red beets and White beets with greens. Carrots, Parsnips and Turnips. Will load you up with Carrots for sure. |
| Greens | Red Chard, Arugula. |
| Herbs | Chives, Parsley, Basil, Celery – lots of Parsley and Celery |
| Misc | Bigger bulb onion and a few green onions. Flower of the week: Small Statice. There is probably a good pun there someplace. Cherry Tomatoes – as many as can be found: Green slicers in your box, maybe partially ripe as well. Cukes – Well, they were good while they lasted. Cukes hate cold and dark. Green and semi-ripe bell peppers. Finally figured out the big green (mild) hot peppers are ‘Anaheim.’ |
Next week set you box out like normal, there is a gift heading your way as a bribe to give back the box. If you want a special box all your own – say, a quarter size to use for gifts or decor those can be purchased…
It’s been Real. It’s been Fun. At different times… – Doug.
