Farm-ily,
Successful farming requires sturdy boots, cooperative weather, and just bit of poetic language. If you doubt me, I’ll send you a seed catalog; you can thumb through the pages from “Coastal Star” and “Rouge d’Hiver” lettuces to “Noble Jade” broccoli. My very favorite farming figure of speech describes the particularly magical time we find ourselves within this week: “shoulder season”.
A shoulder season is really the blurred line between one season and the next. In September, we find ourselves with one boot in summer, and one in fall. The intense heat and humidity of August are barely past, but this Monday evening, we may see our first frost. In the meantime, we revel in both cool breezes and warm sun, combining to make perfect days for working outdoors. The shoulder season is dependent on the whims of the weather, and can often be quite short. Even those who don’t work in agriculture feel the same sense of urgency to make the most of these transient gorgeous days. We cook dinner on the grill, drink our morning coffee outside, and drive with the car windows rolled down. During this eventful year, the rejuvenation offered by the outdoors has become even more precious.
While the weather remains so deftly balanced, the fields on the Farm are a mosaic of both summer’s last offerings (eggplants, peppers) and the first of our fall crops (leafy greens, winter squash). Cooler nights allow some of our cold season crops, such as radishes, to flourish early. The lingering warmth of the days gives those same radishes a sharpness and heat that later harvests will lack. Delicata squash is another savory bridge between these seasons. As a member of the cucurbit family, delicata is related to both summer “fruiting” vegetables like cucumbers and cold season gourds like acorn and butternut. Its hollow body is similar to other hardy winder squashes; its rind, however, is thin and edible, like cucumber skin! I think of delicata as a ‘weeknight squash’. Unlike its bigger cousin, butternut, it is quick and easy to cook- no peeling required. Like a butternut, however, the flesh of delicata is both creamy and sweet.
As much as I love the beautiful weather of shoulder season, I love its contrasting flavors more. I will throw my heart into cooking this week, furiously celebrating the last Sungold cherry tomatoes and the first winter squash. I will savor the singular bite of radishes and coolness of cucumbers. The brevity of shoulder season is what makes it so special, and I do not want to waste a single moment- or mouthful.
Eat Well and Be Well,
Ashley, Collin, John, Lex, Alexandra, Rory, James, Gabe, and the hens, hogs, and dogs
Meal Plan Week #17
- Delicata, of course! Try it fried, roasted, or made into Spiced Lentil Soup.
- Greens Braised with Cider Vinegar pairs beautifully with some of the last grilled steaks and chops of the season
- Carrot, Apricot, and Harissa White Bean Salad is hearty enough to stand on its own
- Get a bright start to a beautiful day with Cucumber Green Breakfast Smoothie
- Potato Salad with Scallion Vinaigrette tastes even better as leftovers!
