Autumn comes to us this Sunday, with the spiking temps we’ve had though this last week or so it sure doesn’t feel like it should be here. However, I always have to remind myself that without the dry and hot, summer would not end. I’ve been so busy; it’s as busy now as in early spring. I’m getting ready for the Kaw Valley Farm Tour that we participate in (October 6 & 7); I think this should be year 6 for us. It’s good to participate in Open Houses and Farm Tours, if for no other reason than to tidy up the place. It is nice to go into the winter with the place all tidy.
I’m also still harvesting, it’s been nice as finally I’m harvesting crops that failed me this late spring and early summer. Fall crops in general tend to do better for me here in the valley than they do in say, June. I started harvesting zucchini and cucumbers and green beans this week. I planted a Black Eyed Pea that I’m planning on harvesting dry, which has been a fun new thing that grew well this year! My popcorn is ready to harvest, it didn’t do stellar, but there will be enough to enjoy for a few nights over the winter. Our family eats a LOT of popcorn.
I’ve been taming the garden and putting rows to bed, or getting them ready for bed at least, there are ditches to clean out, and compost and manure to spread yet, I have a few rows left to cover crop as well. Yesterday I finished planting my Turkey Red Winter Wheat and some Rye. I’m so excited to have this done; I’m hoping to get some rain on it now. Having the wheat and rye in meant a lot, old Murphy’s Law has been visiting which means we have several things broke down at the moment and several loose ends needing closure. These are tests I always think, tests to see how strong you are. So I’m thankful to be able to plant something when I’m being tested, and planting right now in the final days of summer means I’m planting for the future. The future is perfect, unblemished and far away. I’m planting now for a crop that I won’t harvest for at least 9 months. By planting these crops that take so long to produce I’m the optimist, I’m planting seeds of tomorrow, of hope, of dreams, of perfect weather and bountiful harvests. And I’m thankful for that.
I shared with you last week that I was making changes to better serve the land and our farm; changes to better serve both you and me. By planting and cleaning I’ve had a lot of time to think and mull on these changes and I’m really excited about them, I think fall actually is the most invigorating time of year for me. It’s the time to reflect on how the growing season went, the good, bad and ugly of it and figure how to improve and build on it for the future. And so… sign up for my farm share opens October 1. I’m only going to open 10 shares for now, and then start a wait list for the next opening in May. My farm share will now be year round; it will better reflect the true seasons of the land and farm. I’m going back to providing meats year round just as I used to when I attended farmer’s markets. This is a better production model because the growing and harvest seasons for things here in the valley are constricted the way I’ve been doing it. I’m hoping the fluidity will return and the cycles even out better. I’m thrilled to have this new clean slate to work with, I hope some of you will join me in watching things thrive in this new environment that is more in tune with the valley.