This Week’s Harvest
Potatoes
Zucchini/Summer Squash (last of the season!)
Cucumbers (last of the season!)
Cilantro
Garlic
Kabocha Squash or Butternut Squash
Poblano OR Jalapeño Peppers
Sweet Onions OR Cipollinis (last of the season!)
Farm News
My post from last week seems so silly after this weekend’s deluge! On Labor Day we were frantically trying to get water on the wilty crops. 6 days later we were out assessing the damage of 5 inches of rain.
Some returning CSA members may know that we had drainage tile put in the entire farm last spring to help with our soil’s drainage issues. It was a huge investment but such an important one to make. In the past, 2 inch rain events would cause crop failures even in raised beds and we knew hoping for good weather every year wasn’t going to cut it.
It’s been really wonderful seeing the results of the tile both this year and last. The puddle in the first picture above was the wettest part of the farm on Sunday but it was gone by the end of day. Our harvest through the fields on Monday was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. In the past we would be wading through puddles and sinking into the mud. Not today! The tile network, buried 4 feet down, is helping to move the water out of the fields quickly. 
The most noticeable result of the rain (at least for now–we aren’t out of the clear yet!) is the damage done to the raspberries. We were hoping to include them this week–it is our raspberry season after all! But the heavy rains and damp weather have caused all the ripe fruit to either mold or have no taste. I scouted the plants this afternoon for what seemed like an hour in hopes that something was harvestable. No such luck. But being a diversified farm means we still have plenty for our CSA members. Even so, such poorly timed rain events can be really rough on us seasonal eaters!
Recipes
Peanut Noodle Salad with Edamame and Bok Choi (To cook fresh edamame, boil in salted water for 7 minutes. When pods have cooled, slip beans out)
Warm Grilled Potato and Fennel Salad (you can substitute celery for fennel)
Winter Squash and Molasses Muffins
Potato, Chorizo, and Green Chili Hash with Eggs
Coming Up Next Week (Our Best Guess…….) Bok Choi, Salad Mix, Dill, Tomatoes, Fennel, Bell Peppers, Red Onions, Cabbage, Acorn Squash and more!