The last share of the 2015 season! Our best season in so many ways. Fantastic growing weather all season long, abundant harvests, a workload that we managed on our own, and great CSA members. We could not be happier on this last pick up day of the season.
This odd warm weather has allowed us to put the garden to bed in a calm and comfortable way. No chilly fingers and bulky overcoats as we try to clean up. Everyday we are able to tidy up a bit more and even get the tools and irrigation put away and green house organized for Spring. It feels good. Potato order is in and we increased the seed potato order from last year. More fingerlings and early reds in the shares next year! We are writing up our seed orders too with hopes of having all placed by Christmas. We enjoy looking over the catalogs in the evenings and imaging the gardens next season. So hard not to get carried away. I always want to grow tons of odd ball varieties of cantaloupe and when I mark the pages Scott just looks at me in disbelief. BUT 2 more loooooooong rows of tomatoes are going in next season and that sure is exciting planning.
Lots of fun around here the last few weeks as our focus changes with the season. Many Thanksgiving fresh floral centerpiece orders went home with customers for the holiday feast. My favorite bouquets to make of the year. I love the rich bold colors.
Maeve making a few fresh floral bouquets for Thanksgiving.
We are busy making evergreen wreaths too (another favorite activity of mine) for customers and friends. And had a blast with the wreath workshops again this year. The classes are so much fun and everyone made gorgeous wreaths to take home. A few hours of holiday music, laughter, creative hard work and sticky fingers. A highlight of the season for me.
Making holiday evergreen wreaths.
Maeve and Scott even made a wreath this year at 1 of the workshops and it hangs on our garage door to greet friends.
We’re having fun and looking forward to a shift in daily life for a few months before the seeds get started again at the end of February.
#2 Winter Storage Share
A great share to end the season. The leafy greens from the hoop a nice treat. 798 pounds were packed in the shares. ENJOY!! And thanks to all who support our gardens.
Lettuce!-This is a fresh treat at this time of year. Several sweet juicy heads for every share from the hoop house. Scott made sure that it was covered on the chilly nights with row cover to keep it protected.
Lettuce ready to be harvested in the hoop house.
Cabbages-An assortment of great storage cabbages. 2 heads of the smaller “soloist” variety of chinese cabbage, a pretty savoy and either a cool flat top or pointy guy. All super sweet and crunchy to add to fresh salads, soups or stir fry.
The last cabbage harvest from the garden. AND no snow!
Radishes-A big bag of long term storage red meat/watermelon and green meat beauties. Mild and so pretty when you cut into them.
Spinach!-Over a pound in every share. Enjoy this sweet treat.
Spinach harvest in the hoop on December 6th. Look at all that green! And no coat on….
Picking spinach leaf by leaf…..
Scott bagging up the pounder+ spinach bags for the shares after a triple rinse.
Spaghetti Squash-Another treat in the share! We held these back in the root cellar from the last harvest of the season to cure and tuck in these shares as a surprise.
Spaghetti Squash at harvest.
Seems so long ago that we harvested the spaghetti squash….to save for a winter treat.
Winter Squash-A medley of acorn, carnival and butternuts. Soups, roasted or I add the puree to biscuits and pancakes in the morning.
Sweet potatoes-A bounty as we had our “best ever” harvest this fall thanks to Uncle Jim. Big orange skinned beauties and those cool purple skinned wonders too. You have a ton to get you through the winter…. an assortment of larger bakers and tons of fingerlings for roasting or hash.
Cipollini Onions-3 varieties of those UFO looking onions that are great roasted or added to winter hearty dishes.
Shallots-A big bag-3 varieties here too. Long storage life and great flavor.
Large yellow storage onions-2 in each share. Great for slicing.
Potatoes-10+ pounds for everyone. Carola (Scott’s favorite). A great multi purpose potato with great flavor. Peter Wilcox (that pretty purplish/violet skinned beauty with white flesh) that fries up so nicely and fantastic mashed.
Sun chokes-The what the heck is that????? in the shares. Knobby looking roots that taste and smell like sunflower seeds. Adds a neat texture to soups and stews like a water chestnut. Taste great peeled and roasted in the oven with olive oil and salt, and we love them mixed with potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic for a hash. VERY long storage life in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
Sun chokes at harvest.
A big crate of sun chokes ready to be washed.
Garlic-Several hard neck heads in every share.
Honey-A sweet 1/2 pint of our autumn harvest to enjoy.
Spinning honey.
Fox Line City Farm Soap-An end of season surprise. A very special friend makes a batch of this for my Birthday every year and makes extra to share with the CSA. Enjoy the birthday treat.
Thank you to everyone who shared our gardens in 2015. We are already planning the 2016 season and early bird sign up will open by the 1st of the year.
Now on to the holiday baking…..
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