“All things are subject to interpretation – whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not of truth.”
-Friedrich Nietzche
A Canteloupe Speaketh
“I started out as a small seed of course, but on May 2nd I was opened up to the air and pushed into some moist black dirt and covered up. I nestled into my new womb and cradled the stirrings from deep within. I reached for the light and, man, can I grow.
The humans kept me well watered and warmed and I sought to grow strong to please them. By mid June I was ready for a new home. I heard the humans talking about how great I looked and how they needed to lay the black plastic mulch for my transplantation. I was handled carefully and placed within the mounded soil beneath the plastic in the field. It was scary in the expansive outdoors, all by myself with my cell (pack) mates over a foot away. It was warm and cozy beneath the plastic and the new soil was brimming with imagination. I had water from the irrigation tape, the sun was my daily companion and life seemed good. A couple weeks later I wakened to small hard black seeds raining down upon my head. The farmer was moving fast as the skies darkened with thunderclouds. Within days these seeds started to grow within my space and all over between the plastic mulched rows … and I had thought that I grew quickly! Before three weeks had passed the Buckwheat cover crop was beginning to steal the sun from my leaves and small vines. I was happy when humans drove a big tractor through and cut them back. In no time that buckwheat was growing back thicker and bigger than ever. I told them to slow down and share the light, but they gave me no heed, just grow grow grow – bigger is better is their mantra. I wanted more sun and heat and soon the humans came by a second time using a loud weed whip to hack down the invaders.
It has been quite an eventful growing season. I realize that the farmer and the buckwheat were trying to help me grow and be healthy, but I think I could have given bigger and sweeter fruits if I had more of that warm sunshine. Next year I hope the humans use a different cover crop strategy to build the soil and smother the weeds.”
Pretty sweetly yours,
Cante
Farmer Notes:
- Mark your calendars and join us on the farm in celebrating the year of produce – Saturday October 11 from 2 until 8 – come anytime
- Mix of different melons this week: canteloupe, honeydew, watermelon and an heirloom variety from Tucson
- Full receive a bean/tomato farmer’s choice and single get carrots this week
- Last of the golden beets for the full – they are small and few, but too good to compost
- Corn is from the final planting and it is smaller and has worms at the tips. Next week will be the last of the corn for 2014
- This red lettuce does not hold up the best in the field. I will not use this variety again unless it is in the hoop house
- Fennel is interesting and unique enough to be ‘veggie of the week’ again
- Swiss chard loves the cooler weather and ongoing rains
- Are folks ready to start finding winter squash in their boxes?
- Garlic is Purple Glaze and some Italian
- Wash all of your produce before you eat it please
