Welcome to the final week of our 2021 CSA. In this edition you'll find a few of our reflections from the season, a bit about next year, and the skinny on what farmers do during the winter.
The saying of the season has been, "Farming is a river of discomfort filled with eddies of bliss and joy." Here are some of our joyful eddy highlights from this year:
- Seeing our greenhouse filled to the edges with vibrant green starts this spring while it was still snowing outside.
- The grace with which all of our CSA members handled our eighth kale-heavy week of the spring. It was tough to get any of our direct seeded crops (carrots, ect) to germinate in the epically wet spring we had. Please know that that level of kale isn't normal.
- The joy of pulling our first carrots out of the ground once we eventually coaxed up a successful crop.
- Getting to share many lunches with my wife, Cayla, and son, Aiden. This was the first year Cayla officed out at the farm which I built for her last winter.
- Seeing the pride in the faces of the farmers after large harvests and the realization that their work Mae it happen.
- Sharing a few farm crew dinners where we could all literally let our hair down together.
- The amazing smell of our first lavender crop drying in the greenhouse.
- Seeing the wide-eyed joy on the faces of some of our CSA kids when they encountered our eight-foot-high cherry tomato plants in our high tunnel.
- Making it to the end of the season with all of our farm crew and immediate families healthy and covid-free.
The gleaners have come through, we are mowing down the last of our row crops and we are already looking ahead to our 2022 season. Next week, we'll be planting next year's garlic. It feels apt that one of the last things we do for this season is planting one of our most beloved crops to enjoy next year.
As we wrap up this season, you may also be thinking about next year. Are we running a CSA again? How do you make sure you get one of our sell-out shares? What the heck do farmers do during winter?
Well here's the low down.
Yes! We'll certainly be running a CSA again next year. We'll send out an email soon about how to adjust your auto-renew settings in Harvie. As our beloved current CSA members, you get first dibs on our 2022 CSA shares.
As for what farmers do during winter. Well first, there's a recovery period. This season has been a sprint-paced marathon and my body is worn out. I'll need to whittle down my caffeine consumption back to suitable levels again. Next, it'll be full swing into what we call Farming at the Computer: 2022 planning. In between, I hope to cook a whole bunch of meals for my family and squeeze in a few snowboarding days. On Tuesdays, I'll be simply Dad for Aiden.
Finally, thank you so very very much for being the heart of our farm this year. Even at this end of the season where we are all a little crispy, you help us remember what we are here for. We are here to grow the best food to nourish you, our neighbor. To build local food security. Building vibrant soil for our future generations. We couldn't do any of this without you.
With deep gratitude,
Your farmers
Michael, Cayla, Aiden and the Kilt Farm Crew
