First Week of the Fall CSA

Welcome to the first week of the Fall CSA!  Yes, we know its not really fall for a couple of weeks yet.  But already the days are getting dramatically shorter.  I still get up and hurry out the door at 5:30 AM only to find myself in the dark.  Too dark to do any field work for another half an hour.  And evenings are the same.   You think you have time to do some transplanting or tractor work and then suddenly it’s night.

It’s been a busy week here.  The threat of rain has been chasing us, and the field has finally been dry enough to get some things done.  At the end of last week, thinking rain was imminent, we seeded all our winter cover crops.  It’s a mix of oats, crimson clover, and peas.

Multifunctional Winter Cover does 4 jobs in 1!

The winter cover crop does a lot of work for us.   By covering the soil with foliage, the winter cover helps prevent rain erosion during the wettest part of the year.  While the leaves cushion the falling rain, the roots help the water find pathways into the ground, rather than running across the surface and carrying soil away with it.

Living plants keep our soils alive by feeding the micro and macro biology in the soil.  As they say, plant roots are the cities of the soil.  Or maybe its just me who says that…

Growing a cover crop is like growing a crop of compost right there in the field.   It’s all about getting that organic matter!  The peas and clover will, with the help of soil bacteria, take nitrogen out of the air and deposit in the soil where it can feed our crops.

And I saved the best for last.  Winter cover keeps down winter weeds.  Weeds are a 12 months of the year phenomenon in this climate.  Leaving the soil bare is just an invitation for weeds.  After all, “nature abhors a vacuum”, and I know I’m not the only one who says that!  Right?

Ready for Spring Already

The rain was not imminent, and the field kept drying out.  Dry enough to make beds for spring of next year!  With the threat of rain again looming over our heads we squeezed out as many daylight hours as we could manage disk harrowing, chisel plowing, fertilizing, and shaping over 50 raised beds.  Phew.

Guess what happened then?  It didn’t rain.  It would seem the best way to ward off the rain is to be completely prepared for it.  After our massive hustle, the forecast miraculously changed.  No worries.  The work is done, and it is a major relief to have that finished.

Small Shares

• Arugula
• Juliet Tomatoes
• Squash or Zucchini
• Eggplant or Romano Beans
• Amara Greens

Full Shares

• Arugula
• Okra
• Juliet Tomatoes
• Basil
• Squash or Zucchini
• Sweet Peppers