What's the best way to get melons out of a tangle of vines and fruit that's approximately 50'x50'? Harvesting melons is tricky because pretty much the entire ground surface is covered with vines and we don't really want to destroy the patch as we harvest (melons are still ripening out there!), but we have to be able to cover it entirely to check for ripe melons. We probably don't have the BEST way, but the pic above show's our new improvement...the 'melon machine'. It takes as many people as we have on hand, ideally 5. Four people grid across the melon block while another follows behind with empty totes. When any of the pickers find a melon, they toss it to the person in back who's filling totes. Then we all help to shuttle the melons out of the field over to Cartman where they are graded and marked for sale. This last step is critical because it means we won't have to move all of those heavy melons (AGAIN) until we're bringing them to market or packing CSA boxes. So far, so good with the melon machine, it's helped a lot to split up the task amongst many people.
Many of you have a melon or more in your box this week! The easiest way to enjoy those sweet treats is to simply eat them! But if you're looking for a bit more of a recipe, the Missoulian had a great article last week about a nearby farm that specializes in melons -- Dixon Melons -- as well as a delicious sounding recipe for a summer melon salad.
We look forward to seeing you all at pick up this week!
Cheers, Rudy & Bonnie
