I wonder where the month of September went in the same way that I wonder where year s21-25 of my life went. This is how easily time slips away from me. I woke up one morning and I don’t know when it got cold outside or when the season changed, or when I became 26 years old. At this rate, I’ll be 62 before I know it. I guess I already have ‘one leg in the coffin’, as my grandpa used to say. How do I slow this down?
Farming is terrible for this. I became a farmer because I wanted to become closer to the essence of life and become part of what makes a healthy life. Clean air, water and food. An honest hard-days work and a supportive family to share a meal with me. I have so many wonderful people and elements all around me, yet it sometimes becomes easy to forget all about how good I have it, while my nose is to the grindstone. My American society rewards hard workers and tends to look past those who travel at a slower pace and take naps in the park. I sometimes wish I could take naps in the garden and go for bike rides before dusk. I wish I could figure out a way to surpass my neurotic personality and relax a little, is really what I’m saying, before I wake up and Spring is here all over again.
I took a minute to watch some geese flying south today. I took another minute to watch some maple leaves fall from a tree. I took a minute to call an old friend who is my age and is now pregnant with her third child. I wonder when there will ever be time for children. How do I “squeeze in” life enrichment between spring planting, summer weeding and fall harvest? I am noticing, however, that all of this seems to be getting a tad, just a wee tad bit easier. Possibly, I’m falling into routine and I’m less anxiety stricken as each season begins because I know what’s coming next. With systems in place, I wish I could just wind them all up and watch them all play themselves out, but I am the gears in the wind-up toy here. I am the composer, the planner, the weight bearer.
I love my family because none of them are like me. They like to crack open beers, lay on the couch at breaks and after dark. I love that my family sleeps until 10 on Saturday morning while I’m at Farmer’s Market. I love that my family schedules family picnics that I’m required to attend and that they pick me up and bring me into the house when it’s time to call it a day. I need a speed bumps in my road. I need my family to help me achieve the balance that I cannot seem to manage myself. I need the garden and you, the CSA members to help me fulfill my fast-paced personality. I even need this funny newsletter to reflect on my life once in awahile.
Savoy Cabbage– Beautiful Savoy Cabbage. Stores best in a plastic bag in fridge.
Celery– The slugs do a little damage to the celery. Apparently this is the nature of organic celery grown in the Midwest. A strong celery flavor. Stores best in a plastic bag in fridge to preserve moisture.
Sweet Red Peppers– Sweet and crisp red peppers. Hoping there will be more where these guys came from!
Hot Peppers-Remember that you can slice these up and freeze them too if you’re getting more hot pepper than you bargained for.
Rutabega– Yep, that funny looking rooty thing in your box has a funny name too. This is a classic fall root veggie. They will store for quite a long time in a plastic bag in the fridge. Try mashing them in with potatoes or chopping them up for a roasted root veggie dish.
Spinach– More of this gorgeous spinach. Stores best in a plastic bag in the fridge.
Cauliflower– More fall brassicas to fulfill your sulfuric needs. Still looking pretty good, I would have to say!
Arugua– This is another fall cooking green. It has a very pleasant bitter flavor. Very popular among green connoisseurs.
Acorn Winter Squash– These look quite ripe from the outside. You want to see a nice orange spot on one side. The more orange you see, the more ripe the squash will be. This squash will keep for over a month in a cool, dark and dry place. Allow to sit on your countertop to ripen a little longer if you like.
Onions-Plenty more where these came from.
Next Week! A short list of items that we may have next week, but will not promise to have. Due to the unexpectedness of the season and perishable nature of produce, anything could pop up or go down hill unexpectedly.
Potatoes, Carrots, Celeriac Root, Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Lettuce, Arugula, Sweet Peppers, Hot Peppers, onions, leeks, Pie Pumpkins
Linguini with Arugula, Pine Nuts and Parmesan Cheese
