Fall is the season of colour …

… and of smells!

Today that smell was manure – dairy cow manure, guinea pig manure (from a neighbour who breeds guinea pigs), and mushroom compost. Manure is our farm’s main source of nutrients & fertility. I spread this mixture over the first of the empty vegetable fields, then seeded a cover crop (our other source of fertility) of oats, clovers, peas, vetch … We are hoping for a bit of rain to encourage these seeds to sprout and grow enough to cover the ground with a protective layer of green for the fall & winter.

I’ll continue to work my way through these manure piles in the coming weeks as time permits. While our summer CSA is finished, the fall CSA begins this week. Pick-up is only 1 day each week (Thursdays) instead of 3 which will give us more time for this and other work. And only 3 more Saturday markets to pick & prepare for.

This is also the last week for seeding. Amy has been seeding vegetables each week since late February – that’s over 6 months – so she is ready to pack the seeds away for awhile!

We still have lots to do, but we’ll take more time to enjoy the colours of fall, and to smell the roses … and the manure!

What’s in the box?

Bartlett pears, fall radishes, salad greens, winter squash, kohlrabi, green beans, sweet peppers, onions.

• This summers’ fruit share (from Pineview Orchards) was very well-received by so many of our CSA members, so when Amy saw pears at Pineview the other day she thought – why not! So there will be a basket of Bartlett pears in the box this week. They appear green but will ripen quickly so keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to eat them.
• How did you like the fall radish last week? They certainly can add a bite to a salad or sandwich! Also delicious roasted with other vegetables – roasting mellows the flavour.
• There will be 1 or 2 salad greens in your share this week – probably lettuce and maybe spinach too.
• As we said last week, winter squash is in short supply this year, but we have enough for this week (and maybe next?).
• Kohlrabi, green beans, sweet peppers & an onion complete the box this week.

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Around the farm this week …

The first leaves to show some colour on the farm.

The final pick-up for our summer CSA.

What is still growing in the fields?

Lots of salad greens, and cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, baby broccoli, beets, green onions, salad turnips, green beans, edamame, peppers …

Fingers crossed that the beautiful weather continues and all these vegetables keep growing, mature and can be harvested and enjoyed.

Our animals enjoying their own down-time.

1st fall CSA pick-up Thursday from 3-6pm for those who signed up!