It's been another week of lovely weather, just enough rain to keep us from needing to irrigate, but still warm enough to keep the crops growing a little, especially the spinach, turnips, and kale. Speaking of, you will likely notice a pronounced increase in the sweetness of the vegetables in coming weeks as the weather continues to cool; as plants move from an actively growing stage to more of a static condition, they stockpile sugars. These sugars are the plant's defensive mechanism to lower the temperature at which the water in the plant cells freezes, which reduces the cellular damage occurring in the plant at low temperature. Fortuitously, it also make them taste fantastic!!! On the downside, you may occasionally find some frost damage; this will usually look like a bit of bleached foliage, or a slight separation of the plant's skin and lower layers. We try to keep a pretty high aesthetic standard around here; we understand that we eat with our eyes as well as our mouths, but this time of year we are inclined to include slightly more cosmetic seconds, because they taste so good. So enjoy your sugary kale with some light spots on the leaves, or cauliflower with some minor browning; this is seasonal eating, and you are eating the best tasting vegetables we have to offer.
Also, a reminder, we are accepting your yard waste and leaves; we are open dawn til dusk to drop leaves, grass clippings, and other yard debris. The compost piles are a wonderful place to dump your extra organic matter, and it's feeding the soil for the future. Please empty and remove your bags, and please don't leave any twigs bigger than your thumb. There is no charge, but if you want to leave a donation to offset the cost of turning and tending the piles, we'll be appreciative.
Thanks,
Farmer Curtis
