2022 CSA Farm Update: Week 17
We are in full fall farming mode as the days get shorter and nights and mornings are cooler. On the farm, this is the time to get those crops harvested that will provide us food for the next several months, plant the garlic, and make sure that the majority of the growing acreage has a cover crop going into the winter months.
Last week on the farm was the perfect time to harvest our sweet potatoes. The soil had not gotten too cold, and the sweet potatoes were large enough to harvest. I can remember way back in the first week of June awaiting the arrival of our plants and planting them late into the evening with our crew members Rodolfo and Elizabeth. Little by little they started to green up and get accustomed to our Upstate NY climate. Then they started to grow laterally, making a carpet of lush sweet potato vines that were the perfect gesture to capture all of the summer sun. Just last week, I dug up a few and saw that all of that summer sun produced the most beautiful purple and orange sweet potatoes. Then it was on to the harvest. One by one, we lifted the plants out of the ground, pulled off the majestic roots, filled our buckets and those buckets filled our bins. The harvest took two days in total to garner all of the fruits from 4,000 plants. The total weigh in came out to around 8,000lbs which is a wonderful amount of sweet potatoes. They are curing now in an 85 degrees and high humidity room in order to bring out their sweetness and improve their storability. We all have to wait just one more week and they will be ready to make an appearance in your CSA bags.
We can take a quick breath and appreciate what the season has brought us as we move onto the beet, potato, and celeriac harvest this coming week.
Until next time,
Farmer Jon
WEEKLY HARVEST INCLUDES*
*We try our best to provide the most accurate CSA list in the newsletter! However, there’s always a chance of last minute substitutions in some bags if we don’t harvest enough of a vegetable.
DELICIOUS RECIPES TO TRY
Looking for some recipe inspiration? Check out the recipes below.
This simple Stir-Fried Mustard Greens recipe is a simple and flavorful way to serve up this week's Komatsuna greens.
Here's a Curried Turnip recipe that works as a great side or main dish.
Love potatoes as much as we do? Make everyone happy with this Favorite Everyday Potatoes Recipe.
FIND US ON INSTAGRAM
Share your recipes and dishes with us via email or on Instagram! Make sure to tag @katchkiefarm and use the hashtag #KatchkieFarmCSA - we can't wait to see and share what you've made!