CSA Wk. 17, Sept. 27

Days have really gotten shorter, and all of a sudden, it's dark at 7! When did that happen? The lack of daylight affects many things in nature, not just us humans. The hens don't lay as many eggs this time of year, the birds are not chirping at 5 in the morning, and the vegetables on the plants don't seem to grow as fast.

We have a smaller bag this week as we patiently wait for things to come along in the garden. Even crops like kale and swiss chard seem to need an extra week to grow large enough leaves since last picking.

Our first round of fall spinach is almost ready to pick. We are hoping next week. Brussel sprouts are starting to form on their tall stalks but are still too small to pick. A couple other new items may show up, but we basically are in for the home stretch here. With 5 more weeks of CSA, there will not be as much of a variety. After the first frost (which we didn't get last week and there is no threat this week), we won't have any tomatoes or summer squashes. Cukes are already gone, and I have resorted to opening pickles to serve with dinner. It is definitely fall, and time to "remember our roots". That is root vegetables :-) A lot of your items in fall will be in that form, especially after a frost. Root vegetables can be used in so many different ways. They are great mashed or pureed, boiled in chunks and buttered, also great roasted.....the list goes on. But if you can't use them right away, they store great too.

This is the first week we haven't been able to give different items to our full size share either. So the lists are pretty much identical, but again, full shares pay more, so they do get larger amounts.

1/2 size:

Acorn Squash
Cantaloupe
Cabbage
Beets
Jerusalem Artichokes (mom wrapped these in bacon, dolloped with a bbq sauce and baked them this weekend, and they were very good)
Turnip (this variety is not very bitter at all)
Celery (remember the whole stalk is edible - I just chop it all up, leaves and all, and use in soups)
Zucchini - long or round
Patty Pan Squash - use like a summer squash
Broccoli or Romanesco Broccoli
Cherry Tomatoes

Full size:

Acorn Squash
Cantaloupe
Cabbage
Beets
Jerusalem Artichokes (mom wrapped these in bacon, dolloped with a bbq sauce and baked them this weekend, and they were very good)
Turnip (this variety is not very bitter at all)
Celery (remember the whole stalk is edible - I just chop it all up, leaves and all, and use in soups)
Zucchini
Summer Squash
Broccoli or Romanesco Broccoli
Cherry Tomatoes

With the rain and and the sun expected this week, should be ideal growing conditions and maybe next week will see more variety. Have a good one!