This week finally brought a shift in our unseasonably warm weather. While we don’t relish cold hands at the wash station moving forward, we welcome the opportunities that cooler temperatures and eventually a frost will provide. I am itching to rearrange some perennials in the new hedgerow after the frost hits them; the Jerusalem artichoke bulbs seem to have multiplied from 4 or 5 bulbs per hole to about 200. They will need to be rehomed for sure! If you have an interest in taking any (they are delicious to eat too!), please let us know.
After a limited gleaning on Monday, the harvest picked back up on Wednesday and Friday with 70 lbs. of carrots sent out along with nearly 50 lbs of never-ending field peppers. While it is certainly bizarre, there is gratitude to be found in that we are still harvesting hot-weather crops like peppers, a few tomatoes, and cucumbers. While the last of these particular crops will likely be sent out in the coming week or two, we still have an abundance of lettuce, hakurei turnips, and daikon radish soon-to-be ready for harvest, and the chard is exploding in one of our tunnels. We did not set out to be a year-round farm, but the changing climate has other plans it seems.
Our committed group of middle school students from Harpswell Coastal Academy kicked off the garlic planting on Wednesday. It was a joy to see their enthusiasm in the opportunity to use dibblers and biochar for the first time, although the spacing measurements were for sure tricky! They figured it out beautifully and are always additionally energized by any task that involves hauling sand bags in carts. Garlic planting was continued by a new group of high schoolers from Maine Coast Waldorf on Friday, and finished out by volunteers on Saturday. With that whole plot planted, straw mulched, and covered, our planting for the season is very likely complete.
The flower plot looked stunning against the fall foliage, but unfortunately took a light frost this weekend. Thank you again to Treats in Wiscasset and Morning Glory in Brunswick for helping us bring in bouquet donations. The flower season may be over, but Cathy recommends using milkweed fluff from our fields to use for holiday decorating this winter. Plus, insect life continues to buzz around the farm, our heron friend continues to visit daily, and I even spied Patty and John’s cat having a vole snack in Lower Field when I arrived one morning. And, there is still lots of garlic available for sale!
It may be turning a bit cooler, but we hope you’ll bundle up and visit us because we are far from done! Upcoming big projects will include taking down the cucumbers and peppers, winterizing the irrigation pipes, and taking down the deer fence once all the crops are harvested. Click here to sign up to volunteer.
Thank you everyone for your help and support!
Carrie