It seems like in the recent past we were just starting to plant the first seeds and plants into the ground in between rains. Now, I'm seeing signs up advertising that the State Fair is just a week or so away! Not sure how you all are feeling right now, but it seems to me like the Summer is just flying by! Over the next few weeks we'll be finishing up that last major plantings for the Farm this season (although we'll still be seeding crops just not in such a large scale) and by the end of the month we will begin the chores to start "putting the Farm to bed" for the Winter!
This week we're excited that there are going to be a couple new crops available for the Shares! If you follow us on Social Media you've already seen how beautiful the Onion field looks this year! Ailsa Craig Sweet Onions are going to start being available this week! This is a very sweet (at least as far as onions are concerned) onion that is NOT a storage type onion. I recommend storing these onions in your fridge and try and use them within a week or so. We're also going to be starting to dig our potato fields this week and begin with New Potatoes. Potatoes were a challenge to grow this season because of a couple reasons. The first being that after they were planted and started to sprout we were inundated with all the rains that caused us to miss a couple opportune times to weed them. The other big challenge was that after the rains were done we started experiencing drought like conditions so needed to water them. Last year was the first year I've ever felt the need to water potatoes so we already had the equipment on hand to water them this year but... it takes a lot of water and because of the strength of our well pressure had to water them overnight at times because of the water needs of other crops. I'm not expecting stellar potato harvests this year and really going to appreciate every spud we harvest as I hope you will as well!
It's going to be a stressful couple of days at the Farm as our Organic Certification Inspector is coming out on Tuesday to the inspection. It's not stressful because we follow all the regulations to the letter (sometimes going above and beyond the requirements) but it's stressful in the same way I remember feeling when I had a big exam/project coming up in a College class! You're entirely prepared for the exam/project but the anxiety felt until it's over, or at least I always felt that way but would pass with flying colors ; )!!!
Have a great week,
Farmer Ben and the Crew
