CSA Blog: Week 14

 

 

We are now five days into September. Today in particular feels like fall. The sky is thick from cloud cover as Hurricane Hermine rages to our south east. Unfortunately for us it looks like we will miss out on most of the rain fall. In preparation for the potential of a big storm today, we spent Friday of last week getting the winter squash harvest in. Our good friends from Neighborhood Farm and Chestnut Hill Farm chipped in and we were able to get it all out in one afternoon. The winter squash is curing in the green house over the next few weeks and some will be included in your share when it is ready. This week I am very excited for the return of kale and collards. Our earlier plantings were weakened by the drought which made them susceptible to the incredible pest pressure from flea beetle and thrips we experienced in July and August. Our fall brassicas (kale, collards, cabbage, etc.) are clean of pests and looking good. This is the time of year that we get to experience two seasons in the culinary respect as well as with our frenetic weather. Today it is in the mid 60's. Friday it is forecasted to be 90 again. Perhaps this will be the final day of intense heat before we sleep into cooler fall days.
With students returning to school, including most of our field crew we also have to opportunity to work with local college students interested to learn more about sustainable agriculture. This Friday we will be welcoming a class from Wellesley College. Over the next few weeks these students will help us to harvest and weed as they explore what local sustainable agriculture really means.



4H Club at Worchester Fair

Fall also means that if you have kids they may be looking for a new activity to get involved in. Did you know that Powisset Farm has an active 4H Club? Two weeks ago Powisset Hens and Hogs 4H club members participated in the Worchester County 4H Fair. Club participants included James with Betsy, Evan with Cruella, Merry with Arthur pigs they have been working with at Powisset Farm. Sister Josie and Lee showed their own pigs and beef cattle as well. All the participants (kids and livestock) had a great time. Please congratulate them when you see them around the farm.

A little back ground information about 4H: Massachusetts 4-H is a youth development program open to all young people ages 5 through 18 throughout the Commonwealth. It is part of a nationwide system connected to each land-grant institution of higher education and as such, has access to a wealth of resources and curriculum. In Massachusetts, 4-H is based at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has offices in seven regions of the state.
Based on the Eight Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development, 4-H helps young people learn life skills under the guidance of trained, screened volunteers in non-formal educational settings such as clubs, camps and afterschool programs. These Essential Elements can also be viewed as the Five “C’s” – Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character and Caring.  When young people work on these characteristics they demonstrate a Sixth “C”: Contribution to self, family, community and the institutions of a civil society.If you would like more information about Powisset Hens and Hogs 4H Club please contact our Livestock Caretaker Melissa at mgilbert@thetrustees.org

What's in the share this week:

Cooking greens (kale and collards are back!)
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
Garlic or Scallions
Lettuce
Fennel
PYO:The wetish (I'm not sure how much precipitation we will actually get) weather is going to effect pyo crops like the flowers, cherry tomatoes, and raspberries. What is available will be posted in the barn and kiosk like normal. We may have all of these options, we may have a combination.

Zannah, on behalf of the farm crew