[CSA Update] Last week of 2023 CSA

From unexpected beginnings in April, when the Connecticut Agricultural stations were already reporting year-high bug counts, to now, there's been no shortage of surprises. Our feathery flock of chickens couldn't gobble up the bugs fast enough. We had to step in with dust baths and beef up our farm-wide integrated pest management programs, using one aspect of Mother Nature to manage another. But through it all, we stood firm and proud, sharing the fruits of our labor with all of you.

An unexpected freeze swept over us in late May, causing us to start the season a week late. It was a blow that saw us lose dozens of crops, half our strawberries and blueberries, and causing tremendous damage to the stone fruits. The cold was indeed a ruthless adversary.

No sooner had we recovered from the freeze than a drought hit us. The irrigation pumps working overtime brought some relief, and slowly but surely, our resilient crops began to thrive again.

But July brought another challenge. Two, to be precise - devastating 100-year floods. We lost our cucumbers, peppers, and squash. Some farms across the state declared disasters and ended their seasons. But we were fortunate. Our high ground and diverse planting helped us pull through, even as we worked through the rain and heat.

The rain, however, wasn't done with us. It kept coming each week, but instead of gentle showers, we faced heavy downpours that damaged and rotted crops. Some days, we found our crops were good, and the next, they were gone, forcing us to pull them out of the CSA.

And then, the heatwave. It came swiftly, with no gentle buildup, just straight-up high temperatures that knocked us all to the ground. We had to make do with shorter working days to deal with the scorching heat.

Through the season, we also navigated the ebb and flow of life together. We mourned members we lost and celebrated new lives coming into the world (we're still eagerly waiting on one more!). We lent our ears to those going through separations, shared wisdom with those getting engaged, and worried about our kids in these challenging times like you.

It's been a season of triumphs and trials, but we've pulled through with your support. Here's to the end of one chapter and the promise of another.