Harvest #16 (Week B) should include potatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, carrots, Italian dandelion, lettuce, basil, eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, shishito peppers, onions, and scallions. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs, edamame, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, and flowers.

We're flying through the heart of the season, trying to keep pace with the last gasp push of summer weed germination, pulling ripe fruits out of the fields before unsanctioned mammal and avian visitors find the sugary orbs, getting crops in the ground on schedule, all before shorter days and cooler temperatures eventually slow life down in the fall.

Regular rainfall events and warm weather has accelerated both wanted and unwanted plant growth but also made hoeing around said crops challenging during what has been short dry windows. Miss a week or two of cultivating with our hoes and crops like arugula and napa cabbage are so big we can't even get in there without damaging them. Of course, that also means they typically are able to outcompete weeds by simply growing faster and shading them out. The ideal time to kill a week is during the thread stage, ie when the stem of the plant looks like a piece a thread and is killed easily. Later on, and they might have the strength to reroot, especially if they get rained on prior to serious desiccation.

Last week we took a gamble and hoped the incoming cold front would only bring wind and decided to hoe areas that couldn't wait for the forecast dry week ahead. Because of the more or less regular rainfall the past month and a half, some long-lived crops we've hoed still need to be hand-weeded, especially right around the crops where the hoes can't reach, and some need another round of cultivation. With the good-weather week up ahead, we should be perfectly caught up on that front. By the way, there is some inherent pleasure derived from using the right tool to undermine weeds at the right time in the right conditions. It's also great exercise.

Bring gloves, water, a hat, sturdy shoes, and a pad for kneeling (if necessary for you)!

We meet under the large red maple at the end of the barn by the pick up room.

Workshift Guidelines - Workshift Sign Up Instructions

Sign up and pay in full by 12/31/23 to receive a 5% discount on share cost. On 1/1/24 prices return to those shown on our Share Information page.

2024 Main Season will once again last 28 weeks from early/mid May through mid November. We are not raising share prices for next season; they'll be the same as this year.

Follow this link to join or sign in and click the Register button on your member page.