I guess it’s been a while since I have updated the template for the newsletter on the email program I use; they informed me yesterday — for the first time that I am aware of — that I could no longer use the template because it is incompatible with their new software.
I suppose for some people designing a new template is something they can knock out in an hour and still get their email newsletter done in a timely fashion, but I’m pretty sure those people are not farmers.
We happen to be in the midst of redesigning TFF’s website right now, and I had planned to revamp the newsletter to match it once it is done. So rather than duplicate effort by going through that process twice, we decided to skip the email newsletter for a few weeks and simply email subscribers a link to the newsletter on the website. I hope this isn’t a major inconvenience. I promise we will return to the email newsletter format as soon as possible.
On the farm, we have almost completed our annual seasonal “remodeling”. While there is a summer item or two in your boxes, this week you will see that we have almost completed the shift to fall on the farm. We are finishing up harvest of our winter squash, which despite its name is harvested right at the end of summer. When we complete that task, our summer harvest season will be over.
As of this week, we’ve also finished the majority of our planting for fall and winter. October 1st is the “cut-off” date around here to get most crops in the ground before the days get too short and they quit growing. Given how hot and smoky it’s been, almost everything looks pretty nice. We are feeling good about being able to keep your CSA boxes full of beautiful, healthful cool season vegetables through the winter.
We’re spending time currently training and retraining our crew how to harvest and pack all the “new” crops. We’ve had great conditions in the mornings for picking items like spinach and kale, with heavy dew and chilly temperatures. But come lunchtime, the temperatures are still soaring into the high 90s and the leaves start to droop. We have to stop harvesting and move into other tasks. Our irrigators have been having a hard time keeping the thirsty plants hydrated.
Our first fall Carrots are in your boxes today, and we will have a steady supply for the next several months. We also discovered yesterday that our first Cabbage and Broccoli will be ready for harvest in time for your boxes next week, right on time. We’re hoping that their arrival also brings some real fall weather — pretty soon we won’t be able to get everything on the farm harvested before noon.
We’ll have a new website and a new newsletter soon. We appreciate your patience while during remodeling.