End is Near! Penultimate Harvest Week!

It's hard to believe we're already at this point of this most interesting season. Thank you for joining us on this hopefully satisfying, nourishing, and comforting ride. Overall I think it's been a good season. Everything wasn't perfect but most of the crops performed well and the weather pretty much behaved. It seems like our seasonal rainfall will be near our 12-season average. This year the extreme weather was more associated with the temperature: radically cold late temperatures in the spring, some serious mid-season heat, and our first summertime frost right before the fall equinox. After that, temperatures have been moderate with our first decently heavy frost, first sorta freeze, happening at the very end of October, which is consistent with my memory. Two weeks of moist weather with perhaps one day of sunshine now leaves us mossy but this week looks stellar once we pass Monday. Come December I'll probably begin seriously looking at all the notes and records from this year and begin planning for next season. I really enjoy that time. We kind of wipe the slate clean and begin fresh with a new season. Twelve years here and I think there's always room to modify and improve. Experimentation is fun.

Covid drastically altered much of the CSA experience but didn't impact the essence of growing organic produce. Distribution was a challenge and a definite workload increase but I think we identified a functional system that worked well for everyone. It's too early to speculate on next season's methods, but we'll definitely revert to the old system if possible. There were pros and cons with this method and the main thing that was lacking was member choice in the pick up room. We did try our best to incorporate some choice as much as possible this year but it wasn't very easy. Perhaps you were forced to get creative with a new veggie or two and found a new recipe you love as a result. Perhaps your neighbor was given more of your share this year.

Two more weeks of Main Season then six weeks of Late Fall. The winter is wide open. This season has been like no other. Every season is different with unique and memorable characteristics. I look forward to down time. I hope to travel and get off the farm for a bit. We may be stuck here during another lockdown but who knows. Thankful for peace, shelter, food, and health.