October 11, 2012
PLEASE FILL OUT OUR EVALUATION FORM http://earthdancefarm.net/2012-evaluation-form
Quote of the Week:
Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper in sinks into the mind.
Reflection from Steffi
How is it the second week of October already? How have the months passed so quickly? Where has the time gone? These are questions that Katie and I ask each other on a daily basis. Time absolutely flies here at Earth Dance, and it is always mind-boggling to look back at the months and see how much things have changed over the course of the year.
As this is our second-to-last week of summer shares, we are certainly still connected to the pace of the previous summer months; large quantities of the crops must still be harvested, sorted, and washed, and long hours will be put in on Wednesday to make sure the boxes are packed and ready to roll bright and early on Thursday morning. We are very familiar with this routine, as it has been our life for the past few months.
Yet, after our wonderful autumn celebration last Saturday, change is in the air. With cooler temperatures and the full shift into fall, a different sort of feeling has descended on the farm. We take a few more moments to stop and reflect, and take a little more time to look at the scenery; we observe the leaves changing color and blowing across the lawn, watch the combines reap the golden corn in the distant fields, and feel the daylight hours dwindle a little more every day. The woodstove burns merrily away every evening, the hats, gloves, and cozier layers have emerged, and the food on the dinner table has turned to warmer fare – soups and chili, baked squash, roasted veggies, pumpkin pie, and other end-of-season treats.
As interns, Katie and I both have at least another month to spend on the farm, finishing up the summer season and getting the fall shares rolling. As our daily intake of hot coca and other hot beverages increases, we are still out there learning, working, reflecting, and thoroughly enjoying our time outside (though we greatly enjoy our time inside by the woodstove as well).
Overall, fall is a time for reflection and connection, as it rightfully should be. Despite the strange weather and lack of rain, the earth was still generous with the abundance of food that grew and continues to grow. We are able to come together at the end of every day, into the warmth of the house, tasty food, and good company and out of the decreasing temperatures beyond the doors and windows. Though the country officially celebrates thankfulness in November, every day feels like a time for thanksgiving here at Earth Dance. I am certainly grateful for my time here on the farm, and happily, there is still more to come!
Farmer Notes on this week’s delivery:
- Thank you for the wonderful Fall Gathering
- Next Thursday, Oct. 18th, is the final summer delivery. I will return on Thursday Oct. 25th to pick up any remaining boxes/ice packs
- Butternut squash becomes sweeter as it stores a month or so
- Onions are small due to the dry season
- Freeze the hot peppers to use in chili this winter
- Turnips and carrots are to die for
- These are small pie pumpkins – good for decoration as well
- Fall sign-ups are still open. Delivery dates are Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Nov. 19
- Wash all of the vegetables before you eat them
