Powisset Farm CSA: Week 17

CSA Week 17:

We have passed the Fall Equinox and the temperatures are reflecting this important seasonal marker. Last night we experienced our first frost of the fall. As I walked the fields this morning I assessed the damage. We have time to say good bye to our the work horses of our summer crops; peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes.  I've been checking the weather pretty obsessively all season to we were prepared for the frost. The crew spent several hours Friday and Saturday laying out row cover on the crops that it is appropriate for. Our tender lettuce, salad greens, summer squash (I have never had summer squash continue to thrive this late into the season. Due to the extremely dry weather we have experienced, the diseases that usually hit our cucurbits have been at very low levels) look good under the row cover, continue to grow, and will be harvested for you over the next few weeks. Another effect of the frost is that some of the weeds we have been battling all summer were also fried, wohoo!

As our summer crops fade our fall crops are finally getting the temperatures they need to thrive. Broccoli does not form florets when the temperature is sustained about 80 degrees. This means that our beautiful stand of fall broccoli has been stagnate for the last few weeks. On my field walk in the crisp morning air with my sweatshirt hood pulled up over my ears I discovered that the broccoli is finally forming heads, the kohlrabi and cabbages are also reaching maturity.

Later this week we will be welcoming our beloved farm cat James home. As some of you may remember James broke one of his hind legs this spring. After 6 months James is fully healed and ready to rejoin his brother Simba here at Powisset. James has been recovering with farm friends Amy and her son Ben in Easton. I'd like to give Amy and Ben a big shout out, they have done an incredible job providing James a happy and healing environment.

In the farm stand:
- Eden Pond Farm pasture raised chickens
- Crescent Ridge Ice Cream: new flavors including seasonal flavors pumpkin and Graham Central Station
- Sweet potatoes from Piccadilly Farm
- Apples from Brookdale Farm
- Pies from Bushel and Crumb
- New craft beverage flavors from Spindrift and Green Bee
- and so much more

In the CSA:
- kohlrabi
- apples
- cooking greens
- garlic
- potatoes
- purple top turnips
- radishes
- ripe peppers
- winter squash

PYO:
- hot peppers
- open for tasting: cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, husk cherries (these did not have a chance to fully mature before the frost), raspberries. All of these crops are very limited, please take a taste and remember that there are 349 other CSA members who would also like a taste.

Zannah, on behalf of the farm crew