Well, after several weeks of below average temperatures, the CSA will start this week!
Several bits of good news: the tomatoes, strawberries, and potatoes survived 28 degrees last week under row cover! They look great. Evan Shea and Lalo actually picked some ripe strawberries yesterday. I’m hoping we will be able to pick them for shares starting next week! They were incredible. There is such a difference between local, sun-ripened strawberries and the ones that must be picked underripe to survive be shipped from CA or FL.
Also, we think our bee hive has divided successfully! We have had one strong hive for a few years now. She takes care of herself and doesn’t need much help, which is why she’s still here. It appears that the hive divided itself successfully on Friday, and we were able to catch the swarm (thanks to a cool morning and Lalo’s attentiveness). We are hoping to have two healthy hives now!
Belen: we are watching Belen the sheep closely now as the full moon approaches. She is starting to swell and her utter is starting to fill and her back is swaying, so I don’t think she will be long now. Jessica is hoping for twins, and with Belen’s small frame that would probably be good (as twins are normally smaller).
I will email the veggies that we harvest tomorrow as well as recipe ideas, but I think it will likely be: spinach, bok choy, maybe kale and chard (at least for Sustaining Members), arugula, maybe radishes, overwintered carrots, and cornmeal. We are close to having enough perennial herbs ready to be able to hand out herbs.
Also, we have quite a few new members this season. I will try to email out more information than I have the past couple of seasons. Also, it is likely that I may get behind the first few times we deliver as new folks introduce themselves, get use to the system, etc. If you pick up at one of the later stops, I may be a few minutes late.