“To everything turn, turn, turn. There is a season turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Pete Seeger from Ecclesiasties
Saturday A.M.
Ruby’s barking woke me up; the clock said 2:30. A few seconds later I heard the yips and yells of a coyote pack. Man they sound close! I go to the sliding door, hesitant to let Ruby out, but she bolts right through my legs. I step out into the night. I am awake now. As Ruby disappears over the hill, I throw my head back towards the hunter’s moon and relieve myself over the deck – such a simple and primal pleasure. I linger, then return to my bed, cuddle in my own warmth and worry about Ruby. I dose until I hear a singular bark at the back door, “I’m back safe and sound. NOW LET ME IN!”
Light filters in at 6:15, my usual time to rise, …. but it is Saturday …. just one more hour. We have a 9 o’clock start time in the field, first to harvest sweet potatoes, then potatoes. Jathen and Jeff are ready by then, more or less. It is a frigid morning with a fairly stiff breeze. The soil tills up easily, wet and dark from recent fall rains. Its cool, crumbly texture moves through my fingers like river water past fallen branches. The only sounds now are a distant buzz of the neighbor’s chain saw and a low rumble of a diesel engine bringing in the last of the soybean harvest. It is peaceful; and certainly a ‘grounding’ experience to be on all fours sifting through the autumn soil. Ha! The sweet potato crop is a bit better than I had expected after the long, cool and wet spring. I have to remind myself that it is not just about bushels per acre, or in my case, pounds per lineal foot. I hope there are enough for everyone to have a decent meal. Sweet potatoes are so unique, each one different in shape and color from its neighbor. I can’t wait to take the thin roots and pop them in the oven as fries for supper tonight.
A tad before noon we have roughly 6 bushel of fine looking tubers. I can’t believe how hungry I am already. That left over spaghetti with a pbj sandwich should fit the bill – and then, perhaps, a half-hour nap in the recliner before we tackle the potatoes.
It is a morning such as this one when I brim with the belief that I may still find my way.
Thank you for joining us in 2013 and for making mornings like these possible.
Farmer notes
- This is the final delivery for the 2013 summer share season
- Next Thursday, Oct. 31st (week 19), I will run my usual route to pick up all remaining boxes and ice packs from the summer.
- Fall shares are still available. Delivery dates are on Tues. Nov. 5/19, Dec. 3
- Sign-ups for the 2014 summer produce season begin January 1st
- Egg shares are available for the fall/winter/spring – contact Norm now
- No formal evaluations this year, but please let me know if something was particularly awesome, or of things that need more attention – thank you
- Only one delivery of the leeks, Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes – enjoy
- Season too short for the Brussel sprouts this year so they are babies
- Has anyone made a pumpkin pie yet? How was it?
- Broccoli should be wormless this week as I drowned them all
- Aaaaannnddd wash all of the produce before you eat it
- HOPE TO SEE YOU IN 2014!
Link to: Produce list-notes-recipes
