CSA Week 11 - Coyote Conundrum

Monarch Butterfly in the Pollinator Garden

CSA Distribution/Farm Stand Hours

Tuesdays 2:30pm-6:30pm

Thursdays 10:30am-6:30pm

Saturdays 10:00am-4:00pm

Powisset Café Hours

Saturdays 10:00am-2:00pm

Barnyard Hours ($5/person)

Wednesdays 1:00pm-3:00pm

Saturdays 10:00am-2:00pm

In this week's post

• Tomatoes
• Coyotes
• Tractor Troubles
• This week's share
• Friday Farm Dinner
• Beef stick giveaway
• Good luck Karen!

Cultivating a bed of fall lettuce

Last week ended in the same way as the past few have ended; with rain during Saturday’s distribution. All of the precipitation has eased our minds of drought, but has made it difficult to harvest and work in the tomato beds. As I have mentioned before, rainfall contributes to the spread of spores that cause blight. We were able to sneak into the fields to harvest a bit from our first planting and twine and weed some of our second planting. While some of our first plants are showing signs of disease, the second round of plants is located far enough away that it hasn’t been affected yet. Tomatoes take weeks of time and care to produce and harvest, but they are certainly a summer favorite. Please remember to pick as many cherry tomatoes as possible as part of your share. The plants are bursting with fruit and they like to be picked. As much as we try to donate our food, the crows have been receiving more than they need.

We are fine with animals taking some of the vegetables that have gone past their prime, but coyotes continue to be a problem in our watermelons. Before farming, I never thought that these animals would have such a sweet tooth for succulent summer treats. Every day we find shells of melons that have been hollowed out all the way to the rind. We have even found evidence that these canines have been snacking during our short lunch breaks.

The challenge of the week was certainly taking precious time to get some of our aging tractors up and running when we needed them. Farmers wear many hats, and one of the roles that I have found most challenging is that of mechanic. I have the utmost respect for this profession, as it seems that almost infinite problems can occur on a vehicle and it takes a detective to diagnose the issue, let alone form a solution and make repairs. Our old tractors can be simpler to work on, but the job is made more difficult by the lack of manuals and parts that exist after so much time. I am fortunate to have patient and knowledgeable teachers while I learn basic maintenance and repairs. Cultivation is difficult and time-consuming, but frustration builds when the tractor has to be jump-started five times in a week. Regardless, we are grateful for the equipment that makes our jobs possible. Even jump-starting a tractor five times beats having to crawl around in five-foot tall weeds in search of carrots.

Without further ado, here is a peek at what will be in this week’s share

Blister beetles can cause painful blisters
if squashed on the skin, or even touched.

• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Spaghetti Squash
• Cucumbers/Summer Squash/Zucchini
• Onions
• Basil

Pick your own

• Cherry Tomatoes-Please take many!
• Peppers-10 pieces
• Raspberries- ½ pint

In other news, there is a Friday Farm Dinner this week on 8/24. With the sunsets already falling earlier and earlier, I would encourage you to register before time runs out. It is a beautiful way to spend an evening at our farm, eating outstanding locally produced food and having conversation surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the area. If you are looking for a more low-key way to enjoy a meal at Powisset, our café is open on Saturdays from 10-2. I have always been impressed with the food, and there isn’t a better way to kick off your weekend.

We are also still running the beef stick/egg giveaway. If you buy a dozen eggs from our farm stand and find a super cool chicken drawing inside the carton, you can redeem the carton for a package of bbq beef sticks made from Trustees grass-fed cattle, or another carton of eggs.

Lastly, we want to wish our summer crewmember Karen the best of luck in the upcoming year! She has been part of the Powisset team for nine summers, and I can’t think of a nicer or more capable person to work with in the fields. I am grateful that we will see her around the farm from time to time as the year goes on, but we will miss her help and friendship on a daily basis.

Hope to see you soon,

Jeff Hoodlet

Farm Apprentice