September in the Gardens

Fall has arrived but it seems the weather has decided that we need more Summer and I’m happy about that.

By September we see what experiments and new techniques have failed or succeeded in the gardens.

Big failures were Cucumbers, Squash, and Melons. The companion planting technique of growing radishes nearby didn’t stop the voracious appetite of the Cucumber Beetle, not even a little. Without a Winter-kill these insects have HIGH numbers and they not only munch on blossoms (so that fruit doesn’t set) but they also eat tender fruits. Cucumber beetles enjoy the whole Cucurbit family which includes Cucumbers, Zucchini, Squash, and Melons like Cantaloupes. The Squash Vine Borers put the nail in the coffin of any hope of having Squash and Pumpkins this year. It seems that the best strategy will be to not grow any of these crops for a number of years in order to discourage the insects by not giving them their favourite foods to eat.

It was also a bad year for Watermelons and a sad year for us as we grew out the last of the seeds that Farmer Faenin has been saving for 8 years. Not sure what happened with the Watermelons – raised bed, too much shade, not enough water, something else? – but they were a failure.

Fortunately other techniques and crops worked out very well.

These Marigolds successfully kept away insects from the Pole Bean seed crop.

Alyssum made a wonderful companion in many beds, to many veggies.

This was the first year that Tomatoes and Peppers were grown in the raised beds and at first I was skeptical that they would turn out due to the high nitrogen in the beds (which encourages leafy growth and discourages fruit production). I was very pleasantly wrong!

The Sweet Peppers were a bumper crop again this year! They love the heat and don’t mind not getting rained on!

We theorized that we wouldn’t have many Hornworms this year, as the Tomatoes were planted quite far away from any place they’ve been planted ever, but they arrived anyway. It wouldn’t be Summer without a pic of these creatures.

The Tomato plants and fruits were the largest we’ve ever seen. Tomatoes that should have been on the smaller size were as large as any other Beefsteak. Some grew like Tree trunks!

In Fall we see new blossoms and new blooms.

From the Wild Area….

Some unknown flowers

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

This wildflower has really taken off and spread despite 2 years of drought.

Colourful Yarrow still producing blooms. Two different colours on the same stalk.

There are many new creatures, and food for the creatures.

The Lemon Balm is also thriving despite 2 droughts and getting frost-bitten in April.

Hummingbirds enjoy visiting this Nasturtium Forest.

Fennel is planted as a host plant (food source) for Swallowtails and a late season treat for humans.

Fennel fronds are beautiful and tasty.

Behind the Fennel you can see a small “tunnel”, it’s a way to protect crops from insects but also from frost. We have a small patch of Red Cabbage, Napa Cabbage, and Cauliflower that we’ll be harvesting and eating in to November.

Can’t get enough of the Praying Mantis. This female is in her Fall colour and looking for a suitable place to lay her eggs.

From the Veggie-Table….

Our beautiful Garlic can’t be beat, be sure to stock up and get bulk amounts to last until next June!

Farmer Andrea having fun with Peppers …. “Hello, Operator? These Peppers are off the hook!”

Despite what heat alerts say, Fall has indeed arrived and we are getting less and less Sunlight every day …. There’s something about Fall shadows ….

Monarda (Bee Balm) in Fall colours.

Yarrow flowers in Fall colours.

Soft and fuzzy Yarrow leaves.

My last chance to get dirty and enjoy the heat before Winter sets in …

 

 

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Lucky Number 13

On the pick list this week (items will vary depending upon your location) :

Broccoli, Chinese Eggplant (with Chevron-shaped markings), ‘Cocozelle‘ Summer Squash

Sweet Peppers, Squash, Tomatoes, Salad Turnips, Fennel, Cabbage.

Farm friend Amanda Paulin made these cute stuffed Squash for a romantic dinner.

From Chef Ben at the Iron Kettle in Comber, who uses simple ingredients and makes them beautiful. Most of the ingredients come from our farm. On the left – Salad Mix, Salad Turnip, Asian Pear, Heirloom Tomato, Carrot, with a Balsamic Vinegar + Olive oil dressing. On the right – Salad mix with edible Calendula Blossoms, Carrot, Radish and a dash of Balsamic vinegar.

A treat this week from Stoney Point – Pears + Apples from 60 year old trees that were planted from heirlooms brought over from Italy and never sprayed! Hand-picked by Jean Tremblay, here’s what he shared on Facebook: “So you pick pears for three hours and drop some off to a Magician and he does this… Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin at The Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast – A Pinot Grigio vanilla poached Stoney Point Pear with Chantill, and a biscotti crumble.” Priced at $1 a pound you can’t go wrong!

Also available this week but without the fanfare of pictures: Parsley, Rainbow Kale,  Purple Top Turnips (regular ones, not the salad ones), Beets, Beans, Scallions, Garlic, Basil + Herbs…..and who knows what surprises!

Praying Mantis in a Kale and Brussel Sprouts patch; Monarch that had to be chased down to be photographed! Seems that many Monarchs have hatched out in the last week as we’ve been seeing quite a few of them.

Spider-eating Wasp; Orb Weaver Spider

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CSA Week 5 Through 20

The busyness of full-time farming and full-time parenting got the best of us this summer and we didn’t publish our weekly baskets on the blog. Winter is when we play catch-up with everything we had to put on hold to grow food for our CSA members and our local community.

Here’s what our members saw in their weekly baskets (we’re publishing this so that future, prospective members can see what the produce provided in previous years) :

Week 5 –

Large baskets contained 1 pound of Beans*, a bunch of Chard, 1 Armenian Cucumber, 1 head of Garlic, 1 head of Lettuce, 1 pound of Salad Mix, a bunch of Spring Onions, a bunch of Parsley, Okra, hot Peppers, a bunch of Rapini, a bunch of Turnips, and Summer Squash.

Small baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, a bunch of Chard, 1 Armenian Cucumber, 1 head of Garlic, a bunch of Spring Onions, Okra, hot Peppers, a bunch of Rapini, and a bunch of Turnips.

Week 6 –

Large baskets contained Basil, 1 pound Beans, 1 Broccoli, 1 Green Cabbage, 1 Armenian Cucumber, a bunch of Kale, 1 head of Lettuce, Okra, hot Peppers, 1 quart of Cherry Tomatoes, and a bunch of Turnips.

Small baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, 1 Armenian Cucumber, a bunch of Kale, 1 head of Lettuce, Okra, hot Peppers, 1 quart of Cherry Tomatoes, and a Summer Squash.

Week 7 – This is where the contents between the farm pickup baskets and the market baskets varied, not in price, but in produce. If one group didn’t get an item one week then they got it the next.

Large baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 pound of Beans, 1 pound of Salad mix, Okra, hot Peppers, Winter Squash, Summer Squash, 1 quart of Cherry Tomatoes, Summer Squash, and some combination of Napa Cabbage, a bunch of Carrots, an Armenian Cucumber, sweet green Peppers, or a quart of new Potatoes.

Small baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 pound of Beans, 1 Red Cabbage, Okra, 1 Winter Squash, a quart of Cherry Tomatoes, and some combination of Napa Cabbage, 1 Armenian Cucumbers, a bunch of Carrots, Salad mix, sweet green Peppers, 1 quart of new Potatoes, or a Summer Squash.

Week 8 –

Large baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 pound of Beans, a bunch of Beets, 1 head of Broccoli, 1 pound of Salad mix, 1 sweet green Pepper, a bunch of Radishes, 1 quart Cherry Tomatoes, and a combination of  a bunch of Chard, 1 Eggplant, a bunch of Kale, or a quart of new Potatoes.

Small baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 pound of Beans, a bunch of Beets, 1 sweet green Pepper, 1 quart of Cherry Tomatoes, and a combination of a bunch of Chard, a bunch of Kale, Salad mix, 1 quart of new Potatoes, or a bunch of Radishes.

Week 9 –

Large baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, 1 Savoy Cabbage, 1 large Eggplant, 1 pound of Salad mix, Okra, hot Peppers, 2 sweet green Peppers, a bunch of Radishes, 6 pounds of heirloom Tomatoes, 2 pounds of Cherry Tomatoes and a combination of a bunch of Kale, Summer Squash, or Armenian Cucumbers.

Small baskets contained 1 Savoy Cabbage, Okra, hot Peppers, 1 sweet green Pepper, 4 pounds of heirloom Tomatoes, 1 pound of Cherry Tomatoes and a combination of Beans, Armenian Cucumber, Eggplant, or a bunch of Kale.

Week 10 –

Large baskets contained 2 large Eggplant, 2 heads of Garlic, a bunch of Spring Onions, 4 sweet green Peppers, 2 pounds of heirloom Tomatoes and a combination of a bunch of Basil, Beans, a bunch of Kale, a bunch of Radishes, 1 “surprise variety” Watermelon, or Cherry Tomatoes.

Small baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 pound of Beans, a bunch of Carrots, Armenian Cucumber, 1 Eggplant, 1/2 pound of Salad mix, Okra, Summer Squash, 1 pound of Cherry Tomatoes.

Week 11 –

Large baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 head of Garlic, 1 pound of Onions, 2 sweet green Peppers, a bunch of Radishes, 1 pound of heirloom Tomatoes and a combination of Beans, a head of red Cabbage, a bunch of Carrots, a head of Cauliflower, a bunch of Chard, a bunch of Kale or Collards, Spring Onions, Okra, 1 pound of new Potatoes,1 pound of Cherry Tomatoes, a bunch of Turnips, or a 1 “surprise variety” Watermelon.

Small baskets contained 1 sweet green Pepper, a bunch of Radishes, 1 “surprise variety” Watermelon, and a combination of Beans, red Cabbage, a bunch of Carrots, a head of Cauliflower, a bunch of Chard, 1 Eggplant, 1 head of Garlic, a bunch of Kale or Collards, Spring Onion, heirloom Tomatoes, or a bunch of Turnips.

Week 12 –

Large baskets contained 2 Eggplant, 2 heads of Garlic, a bunch of Kale, 1/2 pound of Salad mix, 1 pack of Mushrooms**, 1 Melon (either Honeydew or Cantaloupe), 2 pounds of Onions, Okra, 1 sweet green Pepper, hot Peppers, 3 pounds of heirloom Tomatoes, and a combination of  a head of Broccoli, a bunch of Carrots, a head of Cauliflower, a bunch of Parsley, or a bunch of Turnips.

Small baskets contained 1 Eggplant, 1 pack of Mushrooms**, 1 Melon (either Honeydew or Cantaloupe), 1 pound of Onions, 1 sweet green Pepper, 2 pounds of  heirloom Tomatoes, a bunch of Turnips, and a combination of  a bunch Carrots, a head of Cauliflower, a head of Garlic, a bunch of Kale, or a bunch of Parsley.

Week 13 –

Large baskets contained a bunch of Basil, 1 head of Cauliflower, 2 large Eggplant, a head of Garlic, a bunch of Kale, 2 pounds of Onions, 2 sweet green Peppers, 1 large Winter Squash, 2 pounds of heirloom Tomatoes, and a combination of Beans, a bunch of Carrots, Okra, a bunch of Parsley, or a bunch of  Turnips.

Small baskets contained 1 Eggplant, 1 Garlic, 1 pack of Mushrooms, 1 Melon, 1/2 pound of Salad mix, 2 pounds of Onions, 1 sweet green Pepper, 1 Winter Squash, 1 pound of heirloom Tomatoes, and a combination of a bunch of Basil, a head of Cauliflower, a bunch of Kale, a bunch of Parsley, or a bunch of Turnips.

Week 14 – a glitch, there are no records for this week.

Week 15 –

Large baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, 1 large Eggplant, a head of Garlic, a bunch of Kale, a head of Lettuce, a pack of Mushrooms, 1 pound of Onions, several Summer Squashes, and 1 pound of Sweet Potatoes.

Small baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, a head of Lettuce, a bunch of Kale, a head of Garlic, a pack of Mushrooms, and several Summer Squash.

Week 16 –

Large baskets contained 1 pound of Salad mix, 1 sweet green Pepper, and a combination of a head of Cauliflower, 1 large Eggplant, a bunch of Kale, a pack of  Mushrooms, 1 pound of Onions, a bunch of Parsley, hot Peppers, Winter Squash, Summer Squash, 1 pound of heirloom Tomatoes, 1 pound of Cherry Tomatoes.

Small baskets contained 1/2 pound of Salad mix, 1 pound of Onions, 1 sweet green Pepper, 1 Winter Squash, and a combination of 1 pack of Mushrooms, 1 Eggplant, a bunch of Parsely, 1 pound of heirloom Tomatoes, or Summer Squash.

Week 17 – Thanksgiving

Large baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, 2 pounds of Brussel Sprouts, a head of Lettuce, a pack of Mushrooms, several Summer Squash, 1 sweet green Pepper, and 2 pounds of Potatoes.

Small baskets contained 1 pound of Beans, 1 pound of Brussel Sprouts, a pack of Mushrooms, several Summer Squash, 1 sweet green Pepper, and 1 pound of Potatoes.

Week 18 – (day and time changed for Windsor members)

Large baskets contained 1/2 pound of Beans, 3/4 pound of Brussel Sprouts, a bunch of Kale, a head of Lettuce, 2 sweet green Peppers, 1 pound of Potatoes, 1 pound of Sweet Potatoes, Summer Squash, and an extra-large bunch of Turnips.

Small baskets contained 1/4 pound of Beans, 1/2 pound of Brussel Sprouts, a bunch of Kale, a head of Lettuce, 1 sweet green Pepper, 1 pound of Sweet Potatoes, and a bunch of Turnips.

Week 19 –

Large baskets contained 1 pound of Salad mix, 1 Kohlrabi (green or purple), a bunch of Spring Onions, a bunch of Parsley, several Summer Squash, 1 pound of Pea Sprouts, 2 Daikon Radish, and 1 large Winter Squash.

Small baskets contained 1 Kohlrabi (green or purple), 1 pound of Salad mix, a bunch of Parsley, 1 pound of Pea Shoots, 1 Daikon Radish, and 1 small Winter Squash.

Week 20 –

Large baskets contained 1 stalk of Brussel Sprouts, a large bunch of Carrots, 2 heads of Garlic, a bunch of Kale, 1 pound of Salad mix, a bunch of Radishes, a bunch of Turnips, and a pound of Sunchokes.

Small baskets contained 1 stalk of Brussel Sprouts, a bunch of Carrots, 1 head of Garlic, a bunch of Kale, a bunch of Radishes, a small bunch of Turnips, and a pound of Sunchokes.

Leafy Greens baskets contained a weekly variety, valued between $10-$12 a week, of the following greens: Collards, Kale, Chard, Salad Mix, heads of Lettuce, Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Rapini, Turnip Greens, and Radishes (yes, we know this is not a green, most of our Leafy Green member wanted to be part of our regular shares and we tried to give them special treats to show we appreciated them).

In addition we sold several Tomato Canning Shares, with 100 pounds, or 4 hampers, included in each, and Winter Storage Shares***, which included 3 pounds of Brussel Sprouts, 10 pounds of Onions, 20 pounds of Potatoes, 5 pounds of Sweet Potatoes, 4 large Butternut Squash, 2 bunches of Turnips, 10 heads of Garlic, 2 extra-large Hubbard Squash, 2 pounds of Sunchokes.

*Beans are a mix of Yellow, Green, Purple, Dragon, Tongue of Fire, and Blujay, all fresh eating Beans

**Mushrooms are certified organic and grown locally by Highline Mushrooms

***Due to devastating crop losses we had to buy most of the produce in the Winter shares

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What is a weed?

A weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it to or where you didn’t plant it … but anything can be a weed … and sometimes weeds are welcome.

A Tomato self-seeded in a Cabbage row.

Purslane is always welcome. The tastiest weed of all, eaten all over the world except North America (where it’s being rediscovered), high in water content and Omega Fatty Acids, Purslane doesn’t steal water and nutrients from our crops so it gets to stay … it’s our favourite farm snack.

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