Expected Harvest | September 24, 2023 Fall is Here! by Farmer Derek
Goodbye tomatoes! Farmers Connor and Adeline clean up the current plot of the moveable high tunnel in preparation for sliding it over the fall spinach.
Harvest #21 (Week A) should include leeks, winter squash, potatoes, carrots, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, head lettuce, romaine lettuce, eggplant, green/ripening tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and shishito peppers. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs and flowers. Garlic is on pause until we're sure we will have enough cloves for seed (300lbs).
Goodbye tomatoes! Farmers Connor and Adeline clean up the current plot of the moveable high tunnel in preparation for sliding it over the fall spinach.
Harvest #21 (Week A) should include leeks, winter squash, potatoes, carrots, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, head lettuce, romaine lettuce, eggplant, green/ripening tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and shishito peppers. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs and flowers. Garlic is on pause until we're sure we will have enough cloves for seed (300lbs).
Rainy day and a full pond.
September 24, 2023
September 24, 2023 Workshifts for Week of September 25th by Farmer Derek
Saturday morning through Monday morning rainfall total.
A reminder that if you signed up for a share with a work discount you have about one more month to satisfy that requirement. If you're unable to put in the time that's a-okay, just send us payment to cover the full cost of your share.
This week's workshift schedule (slow this week while we dry out):
Sunday 10/1 8-10am
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.
Saturday morning through Monday morning rainfall total.
A reminder that if you signed up for a share with a work discount you have about one more month to satisfy that requirement. If you're unable to put in the time that's a-okay, just send us payment to cover the full cost of your share.
This week's workshift schedule (slow this week while we dry out):
Sunday 10/1 8-10am
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.
Notes From The Field | September 24, 2023 Infinite Moisture by Farmer Derek
What was full of 10 foot long tomato vines a week ago is now ready for the final round of transplants of the 2023 growing season.
September has been pretty wet. This round of rain has us over 8 inches for the month and we still have a week to go. We're managing to mostly stay on schedule and finish necessary work. Last week we retrieved the rest of the potatoes, transplanted the final round of outdoor crops, and stowed the last of the winter squash. We sowed an oat and crimson clover cover crop on any ground that was bare, which included fields home to the aforementioned crops plus tomato, tomatillo, and half the eggplant beds.
Tasks this week will be limited to ones we can do while sopping through the mud. The moveable high tunnel is currently being cleaned out of tomatoes and will then be pushed over the fall spinach crop. The soil in the lower caterpillar tunnel has been amended and spaded and this week we'll plant the final round of crops of the 2023 growing season. As storage space becomes available and bins empty we'll continue to harvest fall roots like radishes, turnips, and beets. Whenever the ground dries out enough we'll turn our attention to the sweet potatoes, perhaps next week or the one after.
We're monitoring moisture sensitive crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach for showing any deleterious effects from all this rain, which can exacerbate disease pressure. There's nothing we really can do anyway, but it'll at least temper our harvest expectations if there are negative consequences. But don't worry, there'll probably never be a shortage of produce in the pick up room because we always grow extra and count on crop diversity to pull us through. There just may be more of crops that don't mind too much water than ones that do.
Mow, chisel, sow, disc. As soon as crops are harvested in late summer and early fall we do our best to immediately prepare the space for a nurturing cover crop, which absorbs nutrients from the soil, protects it over the winter, and adds organic matter.
What was full of 10 foot long tomato vines a week ago is now ready for the final round of transplants of the 2023 growing season.
September has been pretty wet. This round of rain has us over 8 inches for the month and we still have a week to go. We're managing to mostly stay on schedule and finish necessary work. Last week we retrieved the rest of the potatoes, transplanted the final round of outdoor crops, and stowed the last of the winter squash. We sowed an oat and crimson clover cover crop on any ground that was bare, which included fields home to the aforementioned crops plus tomato, tomatillo, and half the eggplant beds.
Tasks this week will be limited to ones we can do while sopping through the mud. The moveable high tunnel is currently being cleaned out of tomatoes and will then be pushed over the fall spinach crop. The soil in the lower caterpillar tunnel has been amended and spaded and this week we'll plant the final round of crops of the 2023 growing season. As storage space becomes available and bins empty we'll continue to harvest fall roots like radishes, turnips, and beets. Whenever the ground dries out enough we'll turn our attention to the sweet potatoes, perhaps next week or the one after.
We're monitoring moisture sensitive crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach for showing any deleterious effects from all this rain, which can exacerbate disease pressure. There's nothing we really can do anyway, but it'll at least temper our harvest expectations if there are negative consequences. But don't worry, there'll probably never be a shortage of produce in the pick up room because we always grow extra and count on crop diversity to pull us through. There just may be more of crops that don't mind too much water than ones that do.
Mow, chisel, sow, disc. As soon as crops are harvested in late summer and early fall we do our best to immediately prepare the space for a nurturing cover crop, which absorbs nutrients from the soil, protects it over the winter, and adds organic matter.
How I Enjoyed My Harvest | September 17, 2023
How I Enjoyed My Harvest | September 17, 2023 Great Cooking Weather! by Linda Dansbury
This pupa of a tomato hornworm was found while transplanting spinach in the upper cat tunnel.
Hopefully the low humidity days are with us for good! It is so much nicer cooking in this weather. I made a couple of different dishes this week that I want to share - please send how you are enjoying the harvest by emailing me at lindadansbury@comcast.net.
Peppers, garlic, herbs - Prepared a really delicious side dish. Rub whole peppers with oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill peppers until charred all over (alternatively, this could be done under the broiler). Place in a paper bag until cool enough to handle. Peel off skins, cut into large chunks, and take out the stems and seeds. Place in large bowl. In a small skillet, put a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Thinly slice a garlic clove or 2 and when oil is hot, add garlic and cook until light brown. Remove from heat and throw in a handful of chopped herbs - I used thyme and rosemary. Pour the mixture over the peppers, add some salt and pepper. Drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar and mix well. Place about 2/3 of the peppers in an oven proof baking pan. Add spoonfuls of goat cheese around the dish and top with remaining peppers. Bake at 400 degrees until peppers are bubbly and cheese is melted and a little browned. Remove from oven and enjoy!
Basil, garlic - The farm has an amazing crop of basil right now - both as a choice in the pick up room and in the herb garden. I took advantage of this and made a nice batch of pesto for the freezer.
This pupa of a tomato hornworm was found while transplanting spinach in the upper cat tunnel.
Hopefully the low humidity days are with us for good! It is so much nicer cooking in this weather. I made a couple of different dishes this week that I want to share - please send how you are enjoying the harvest by emailing me at lindadansbury@comcast.net.
Peppers, garlic, herbs - Prepared a really delicious side dish. Rub whole peppers with oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill peppers until charred all over (alternatively, this could be done under the broiler). Place in a paper bag until cool enough to handle. Peel off skins, cut into large chunks, and take out the stems and seeds. Place in large bowl. In a small skillet, put a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Thinly slice a garlic clove or 2 and when oil is hot, add garlic and cook until light brown. Remove from heat and throw in a handful of chopped herbs - I used thyme and rosemary. Pour the mixture over the peppers, add some salt and pepper. Drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar and mix well. Place about 2/3 of the peppers in an oven proof baking pan. Add spoonfuls of goat cheese around the dish and top with remaining peppers. Bake at 400 degrees until peppers are bubbly and cheese is melted and a little browned. Remove from oven and enjoy!
Basil, garlic - The farm has an amazing crop of basil right now - both as a choice in the pick up room and in the herb garden. I took advantage of this and made a nice batch of pesto for the freezer.
Expected Harvest | September 17, 2023
Expected Harvest | September 17, 2023 Summer Veggies Slowly Wane by Farmer Derek
Transplanting spinach in the upper caterpillar tunnel for a November harvest.
Harvest #20 (Week B) should include leeks, winter squash, potatoes, carrots, Italian dandelion, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, basil, eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and shishito peppers. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs and flowers.
Transplanting spinach in the upper caterpillar tunnel for a November harvest.
Harvest #20 (Week B) should include leeks, winter squash, potatoes, carrots, Italian dandelion, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, basil, eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and shishito peppers. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs and flowers.
September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023 Workshifts for Week of September 18th by Farmer Derek
Beautiful monarch butterfly sipping some nectar from a tithonia flower.
This week's workshift schedule (we're hoping to retrieve the last of the potatoes once the soil dries out enough):
Wednesday 9/20 10am-12pm
Wednesday 9/20 5:30-7:30pm
Friday 9/22 9-11am
Sunday 9/24 8-10am
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.
Notes From The Field | September 17, 2023 Almost Fall for Real by Farmer Derek
Mixing in with the disc harrow a cover crop of oats and peas after chisel plowing and broadcasting seeds on a Sunday afternoon before forecast incoming rain.
Last weekend we received about four inches of rain, more than all of August. Because the ground was severely moisture deficient following the hot and dry spell, that amount of rain was fairly well received and most fields soaked it up relatively quickly. The additional rain on Tuesday prevented us from transplanting outdoors all week, but we had almost ten thousand spinach and lettuce plants to transplant in the tunnels which was doable because the roof keeps the water out and we have almost complete control over the soil in there. As long as it doesn't rain too much tonight we'll get the penultimate round of outdoor crops in the ground this coming week, including kale, arugula, mustard, choy, and radishes. The final round of indoor and outdoor crops will go in the following week and then it'll strictly be maintenance mode.
Regarding the tunnels, we're incrementally emptying them of the summer tomato crops. As of today, two of three tunnels have been cleaned out. Because the second round of tomatoes is in the moveable high tunnel and we can prepare and plant crops for its subsequent move, it's possible to leave the tomatoes to their thing for a bit longer. There is some risk in this, however, because spinach, planted in the adjacent plot, doesn't tolerate excessive rainfall too well, at least in our soils. It does exceptionally well in cool and cold weather, however.
I'm assuming the heat wave two weeks ago invigorated the summer crops for a strong final push before they really taper off. We'll continue to see bountiful tomatoes, peppers, basil, and eggplant for at least another week before they slow down following next weekend's Autumnal Equinox.
This coming week we're hoping to harvest the last of the potatoes and winter squash. Very soon we'll embark on the sweet potato harvest, but due to storage constraints, we need to have all of the winter squash distributed first. As summer crops wane, upcoming harvests should begin to include other traditional cool weather crops like turnips, radishes, beets, romaine, radicchio, fennel, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, kohlrabi, bok choy, and napa/chinese cabbage.
Mixing in with the disc harrow a cover crop of oats and peas after chisel plowing and broadcasting seeds on a Sunday afternoon before forecast incoming rain.
Last weekend we received about four inches of rain, more than all of August. Because the ground was severely moisture deficient following the hot and dry spell, that amount of rain was fairly well received and most fields soaked it up relatively quickly. The additional rain on Tuesday prevented us from transplanting outdoors all week, but we had almost ten thousand spinach and lettuce plants to transplant in the tunnels which was doable because the roof keeps the water out and we have almost complete control over the soil in there. As long as it doesn't rain too much tonight we'll get the penultimate round of outdoor crops in the ground this coming week, including kale, arugula, mustard, choy, and radishes. The final round of indoor and outdoor crops will go in the following week and then it'll strictly be maintenance mode.
Regarding the tunnels, we're incrementally emptying them of the summer tomato crops. As of today, two of three tunnels have been cleaned out. Because the second round of tomatoes is in the moveable high tunnel and we can prepare and plant crops for its subsequent move, it's possible to leave the tomatoes to their thing for a bit longer. There is some risk in this, however, because spinach, planted in the adjacent plot, doesn't tolerate excessive rainfall too well, at least in our soils. It does exceptionally well in cool and cold weather, however.
I'm assuming the heat wave two weeks ago invigorated the summer crops for a strong final push before they really taper off. We'll continue to see bountiful tomatoes, peppers, basil, and eggplant for at least another week before they slow down following next weekend's Autumnal Equinox.
This coming week we're hoping to harvest the last of the potatoes and winter squash. Very soon we'll embark on the sweet potato harvest, but due to storage constraints, we need to have all of the winter squash distributed first. As summer crops wane, upcoming harvests should begin to include other traditional cool weather crops like turnips, radishes, beets, romaine, radicchio, fennel, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, kohlrabi, bok choy, and napa/chinese cabbage.
September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023 Wild for Salmon Buying Club by Wild for Salmon
Since 2004 we have been fishing the well-managed pristine waters of Bristol Bay, Alaska. Wild For Salmon provides you with premium quality, flash-frozen sockeye, direct from our boat… to your table. We are Alaskan Fisherman. We know quality seafood. We also work directly with other fishermen to bring you other species of premium wild caught seafood. Satisfaction guaranteed! Because we are the fishermen and we are local, we are able to provide you with the highest quality, flash/frozen, Alaskan sockeye available.
Wild For Salmon is owned and operated by Steve and Jenn Kurian of Bloomsburg, PA.
Editors Note:
Anchor Run CSA hosts two buying club events each year, in the spring and fall. When you order through the buying club you automatically save 20% at checkout. Follow This Link for instructions on how to order. Your order will be delivered to Anchor Run on Thursday October 19th and can be picked up 2-8pm. Orders are due by October 13th.
We understand and appreciate that not everyone eats fish.
Since 2004 we have been fishing the well-managed pristine waters of Bristol Bay, Alaska. Wild For Salmon provides you with premium quality, flash-frozen sockeye, direct from our boat… to your table. We are Alaskan Fisherman. We know quality seafood. We also work directly with other fishermen to bring you other species of premium wild caught seafood. Satisfaction guaranteed! Because we are the fishermen and we are local, we are able to provide you with the highest quality, flash/frozen, Alaskan sockeye available.
Wild For Salmon is owned and operated by Steve and Jenn Kurian of Bloomsburg, PA.
Editors Note:
Anchor Run CSA hosts two buying club events each year, in the spring and fall. When you order through the buying club you automatically save 20% at checkout. Follow This Link for instructions on how to order. Your order will be delivered to Anchor Run on Thursday October 19th and can be picked up 2-8pm. Orders are due by October 13th.
We understand and appreciate that not everyone eats fish.
Expected Harvest | September 10, 2023
Expected Harvest | September 10, 2023 Fall Vibes by Farmer Derek
Sun sets over the moveable high tunnel, leeks, and flowering buckwheat.
Harvest #19 (Week A) should include leeks, pie pumpkins/winter squash, potatoes, carrots, Italian dandelion, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, basil, eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and shishito peppers. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, and flowers.
Sun sets over the moveable high tunnel, leeks, and flowering buckwheat.
Harvest #19 (Week A) should include leeks, pie pumpkins/winter squash, potatoes, carrots, Italian dandelion, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, basil, eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and shishito peppers. Some items may be a choice. U-pick should include herbs, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, and flowers.
September 10, 2023
September 10, 2023 Workshifts for Week of September 11th by Farmer Derek
Farmers Gabby and Connor preparing for a hot potato harvest. Photo credit CSA member Nancy Terry.
This week's workshift schedule (rain or shine, there's indoor work too):
Wednesday 9/13 9-11am
Wednesday 9/13 5:30-7:30pm
Friday 9/15 9-11am
Sunday 9/17 8-10am
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.
