Expected Harvest | November 28, 2022 Spinach Season by Farmer Derek
Temporarily removing row cover from low hoops inside the High Tunnel, revealing arugula, red mustard, bok choy, and red russian kale for our December eating pleasures.
Late Fall Harvest #2 (Week B) should include sweet potatoes, beets, spinach, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, radicchio, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Temporarily removing row cover from low hoops inside the High Tunnel, revealing arugula, red mustard, bok choy, and red russian kale for our December eating pleasures.
Late Fall Harvest #2 (Week B) should include sweet potatoes, beets, spinach, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, radicchio, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Farm dog Finch and lettuce mix.
November 28, 2022
November 28, 2022 Late Fall CSA Essential Information by Farmer Derek
A farmer's favorite season?
Bring your own bags/boxes/crates/etc to collect your share.
Pick up days are generally Wednesday 1-7pm and Saturday 10am-12pm but there remains one exception:
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A+B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up. Saturday is Christmas and the following week too many folks will be away.
Week B Half Shares and all Saturday members will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
Contact us if you wish to switch any of your pick up days.
Log in here to view your pick up schedule and/or balance.
Bring your own bags/boxes/crates/etc to collect your share.
Pick up days are generally Wednesday 1-7pm and Saturday 10am-12pm but there remains one exception:
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A+B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up. Saturday is Christmas and the following week too many folks will be away.
Week B Half Shares and all Saturday members will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
Contact us if you wish to switch any of your pick up days.
Log in here to view your pick up schedule and/or balance.
Late Fall CSA schedule:
Week 2/B, Wednesday, 11/30 and Sat 12/3
Week 3/A, Wed 12/7 & Sat 12/10
Week 4/B, Wed 12/14 & Sat 12/17
Week 5/A+B, Wed 12/21 only
Notes From The Field | November 28, 2022
Notes From The Field | November 28, 2022 December Dreams by Farmer Derek
Uncovering lettuce mix in the upper caterpillar tunnel.
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving feast with family and/or friends. Like me, you're probably looking forward to vegetables and salads before the next round of holidays engulfs us. Fortunately there will be a lot of healthy and fresh greens coming your way during the remainder of the season. Tunnel greens survived the serious cold+wind event two weekends ago and may not need additional interior cover for a while (until lows drop below mid-20s again). Field kale took quite a beating from the wind and subfreezing temperature and its fate waits to be seen. It may be harvestable or it may be fertilizer for next year's crops.
We're now within the Persephone Period of cold-season growing when daylength drops below ten hours and crop growth is minimal. For us in this latitude the timeframe is November 15 - January 30. It's essential to have all crops established well before the period begins, but not too early to increase susceptibility to cold injury. There is a 'perfect time' to plant for Dec-Feb harvests. Lucky for us our goal is no longer to grow through the winter and instead wrap up the harvest season when fall departs (the exception being an occasional flash sale). It's nice to know that growing in the dead of winter in this location is possible, however. Us middle-aged farmers (I am now 40!) need some time off to recover, travel, plan, and dream.
Over this next month I will be finalizing most of our 2023 growing plans and securing all materials and supplies to run the farm for another year. On a daily basis this will hopefully be balanced by a walk outside coupled with some physical labor and a good stretch. At least two days each week will be spent harvesting and distributing shares. The Winter Solstice will be here before we know it, real winter will descend, but daylength will slowly increase, then rapidly increase, and spring will be right around the corner. Let's take it slow.
Uncovering lettuce mix in the upper caterpillar tunnel.
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving feast with family and/or friends. Like me, you're probably looking forward to vegetables and salads before the next round of holidays engulfs us. Fortunately there will be a lot of healthy and fresh greens coming your way during the remainder of the season. Tunnel greens survived the serious cold+wind event two weekends ago and may not need additional interior cover for a while (until lows drop below mid-20s again). Field kale took quite a beating from the wind and subfreezing temperature and its fate waits to be seen. It may be harvestable or it may be fertilizer for next year's crops.
We're now within the Persephone Period of cold-season growing when daylength drops below ten hours and crop growth is minimal. For us in this latitude the timeframe is November 15 - January 30. It's essential to have all crops established well before the period begins, but not too early to increase susceptibility to cold injury. There is a 'perfect time' to plant for Dec-Feb harvests. Lucky for us our goal is no longer to grow through the winter and instead wrap up the harvest season when fall departs (the exception being an occasional flash sale). It's nice to know that growing in the dead of winter in this location is possible, however. Us middle-aged farmers (I am now 40!) need some time off to recover, travel, plan, and dream.
Over this next month I will be finalizing most of our 2023 growing plans and securing all materials and supplies to run the farm for another year. On a daily basis this will hopefully be balanced by a walk outside coupled with some physical labor and a good stretch. At least two days each week will be spent harvesting and distributing shares. The Winter Solstice will be here before we know it, real winter will descend, but daylength will slowly increase, then rapidly increase, and spring will be right around the corner. Let's take it slow.
Expected Harvest | November 21, 2022
Expected Harvest | November 21, 2022 Welcome to Late Fall CSA! by Farmer Derek
Lush greens in the High Tunnel prior to the intense cold and wind. They were hooped and covered for added protection.
Late Fall Harvest #1 (Week A) should include sweet potatoes, beets, napa/chinese cabbage, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, green/savoy cabbage, radicchio, swiss chard, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Lush greens in the High Tunnel prior to the intense cold and wind. They were hooped and covered for added protection.
Late Fall Harvest #1 (Week A) should include sweet potatoes, beets, napa/chinese cabbage, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, green/savoy cabbage, radicchio, swiss chard, lettuce mix, garlic, rosemary, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Notes From The Field | November 21, 2022
Notes From The Field | November 21, 2022 Real Cold Arrives, Briefly by Farmer Derek
Farmer Gabby outside the upper Caterpillar tunnel, currently protecting lettuce mix, after she and Farmer Sarah erected interior hoops for heavy-duty row cover. Photo courtesy of Farmer Sarah.
I'm perennially hopeful that we can make it through the end of the year without the need for extra protection inside the tunnels, but that has yet to happen in 10+ years of Late Fall CSA. It's okay, though. Once we go through the trouble of erecting interior low hoops, placing sandbag anchors, and unfurling the inner cover, crops can safely endure outside cold temperatures down into the single digits. That kind of cold typically doesn't arrive until after the New Year and we're not pushing crop production that long anymore. Over the years it has been very interesting to observe the tolerance of plants in unheated spaces throughout the fall and winter months. For now, though, our goal is providing great harvests through the five weeks of Late Fall CSA. Depending on the regrowth of greens, status of storage crops, and farmer interest, we may do an occasional flash sale after the New Year. This week we embrace the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope you have a good one!
This is what the interior of three of our tunnels currently looks like. We declined coverage on the spinach and curly kale due to our confidence in their cold tolerance.
Farmer Gabby outside the upper Caterpillar tunnel, currently protecting lettuce mix, after she and Farmer Sarah erected interior hoops for heavy-duty row cover. Photo courtesy of Farmer Sarah.
I'm perennially hopeful that we can make it through the end of the year without the need for extra protection inside the tunnels, but that has yet to happen in 10+ years of Late Fall CSA. It's okay, though. Once we go through the trouble of erecting interior low hoops, placing sandbag anchors, and unfurling the inner cover, crops can safely endure outside cold temperatures down into the single digits. That kind of cold typically doesn't arrive until after the New Year and we're not pushing crop production that long anymore. Over the years it has been very interesting to observe the tolerance of plants in unheated spaces throughout the fall and winter months. For now, though, our goal is providing great harvests through the five weeks of Late Fall CSA. Depending on the regrowth of greens, status of storage crops, and farmer interest, we may do an occasional flash sale after the New Year. This week we embrace the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope you have a good one!
This is what the interior of three of our tunnels currently looks like. We declined coverage on the spinach and curly kale due to our confidence in their cold tolerance.
November 21, 2022
November 21, 2022 Late Fall CSA Essential Information by Farmer Derek
Supplementally heated greenhouse protecting lettuce mix for the final week or two of Late Fall.
Bring your own bags/boxes/crates/etc to collect your share.
Pick up days are generally Wednesday 1-7pm and Saturday 10am-12pm but there are two exceptions:
This week of Thanksgiving, Late Fall #1, Week A, pick up is Tuesday 11/22 1-7pm and Saturday 11/26 10am-12pm.
The week preceding Christmas, Late Fall #5, Week A +B, there is only Wednesday 12/21 1-7pm pick up.
Week B Half Shares and Saturday folks will pick up their final share on Wednesday 12/21.
Contact us if you wish to switch any of your pick up days.
Log in here to view your pick up schedule and/or balance.
Expected Harvest | November 13, 2022 In Conclusion by Farmer Derek
Bok choy in the High Tunnel.
Harvest #26 (Week B) should include sweet potatoes, beets, napa/chinese cabbage, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, green/savoy cabbage, radicchio, swiss chard, bok choy, fennel, lettuce mix, garlic, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Closing the west side of the caterpillar tunnel before the first of many subfreezing nights.
Harvest #26 (Week B) should include sweet potatoes, beets, napa/chinese cabbage, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, green/savoy cabbage, radicchio, swiss chard, bok choy, fennel, lettuce mix, garlic, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice.
Closing the west side of the caterpillar tunnel before the first of many subfreezing nights.
Notes From The Field | November 13, 2022
Notes From The Field | November 13, 2022 Until the Spring by Farmer Derek
Spreading woodchips during a beautiful and warm fall day on the experimental blueberry patch.
I guess we made it! Week 26 is here, the final Main Season harvest. It always seems to arrive unexpectedly for some reason. Perhaps because much of the growing season speeds by in a blur while the infinite work surrounds us. Fortunately time moves more slowly with diminished daylight/length in colder temperatures. At least from a farmer's perspective. This is the mind over matter time of year for us. We dive deep into the recesses of our brain while reflecting on the successes and failures that occurred during this growing season and how to improve next year. Next year is a big one. It's the 20th season of Anchor Run CSA and our 15th leading the way. To the many of you have been here with us since the beginning and those that have hopped on and off along the way, we sincerely thank you for your support. Farming is our life's work, our passion, our interest, our love, and we graciously appreciate being able to share the harvest with you. Please have a good and restful winter, enjoy the holidays, and bask in the warm low sun that filters through the windows on a cold day. Spring will be here before we know it.
Retightening the curtain rope on the modified Hoop Tunnel west end.
Spreading woodchips during a beautiful and warm fall day on the experimental blueberry patch.
I guess we made it! Week 26 is here, the final Main Season harvest. It always seems to arrive unexpectedly for some reason. Perhaps because much of the growing season speeds by in a blur while the infinite work surrounds us. Fortunately time moves more slowly with diminished daylight/length in colder temperatures. At least from a farmer's perspective. This is the mind over matter time of year for us. We dive deep into the recesses of our brain while reflecting on the successes and failures that occurred during this growing season and how to improve next year. Next year is a big one. It's the 20th season of Anchor Run CSA and our 15th leading the way. To the many of you have been here with us since the beginning and those that have hopped on and off along the way, we sincerely thank you for your support. Farming is our life's work, our passion, our interest, our love, and we graciously appreciate being able to share the harvest with you. Please have a good and restful winter, enjoy the holidays, and bask in the warm low sun that filters through the windows on a cold day. Spring will be here before we know it.
Retightening the curtain rope on the modified Hoop Tunnel west end.
November 13, 2022
November 13, 2022 Herb of the Week: Cilantro by Gia Yaccarino
A time for work, a time for play.
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L)
FYI
Cilantro is an herb which people tend to either love or hate! There is a genetic cause for those who hate it and say it tastes like soap! They usually possess a mutation on gene OR6A2 (SNP single nucleotide polymorphisms) on the 11th chromosome that detects the aldehyde part of cilantro.
Benefits
Improve skin health
Lower blood sugar
Good for brain health and may even improve memory!
Uses
Used in many Mexican and Thai recipes
Add to a salad
Add to rice
Add to a soup
Caution
Those with low blood sugar should be aware of how much cilantro they consume
Cilantro is an herb which people tend to either love or hate! There is a genetic cause for those who hate it and say it tastes like soap! They usually possess a mutation on gene OR6A2 (SNP single nucleotide polymorphisms) on the 11th chromosome that detects the aldehyde part of cilantro.
Benefits
Improve skin health
Lower blood sugar
Good for brain health and may even improve memory!
Uses
Used in many Mexican and Thai recipes
Add to a salad
Add to rice
Add to a soup
Caution
Those with low blood sugar should be aware of how much cilantro they consume
Safe for Cats: Yes
Safe for Dogs: Yes
Expected Harvest | November 6, 2022
Expected Harvest | November 6, 2022 How Sweet It Is by Farmer Derek
First up from the fall tunnels: swiss chard and lettuce mix!
Harvest #25 (Week A) should include sweet potatoes, beets, napa/chinese cabbage, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, green/savoy cabbage, swiss chard, bok choy, fennel, lettuce mix, garlic, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice. U-pick will include flowers. The herb garden needs to rest and recover.
First up from the fall tunnels: swiss chard and lettuce mix!
Harvest #25 (Week A) should include sweet potatoes, beets, napa/chinese cabbage, salad radishes, hakurei turnips, green/savoy cabbage, swiss chard, bok choy, fennel, lettuce mix, garlic, arugula, red mustard, and kale. Some items will be a choice. U-pick will include flowers. The herb garden needs to rest and recover.
