The week has passed quickly and quietly. Emily and Tyler are away on vacation, so James and I have been balancing the morning chores, milking and this early morning, harvest. Despite the lengthening nighttime, we’ve been steadily moving up our own starting time. This morning I went out to open the chickens up well before dawn. The laying hens were happy to come out of the coop for an early breakfast. The broilers on the other hand took quite a bit of convincing. Each morning and afternoon we pull the feeders and waterers out of the low coop and slide the frame along the ground until it’s sitting on fresh grass. This takes some doing, every thick tuft of grass creates a speed bump for the frame, with birds trying to slide out the front of the coop whenever you lift it more than a few inches. Meanwhile the birds at the back are being scooted along by the frame, anyone not paying enough attention to keep up are in danger of having a foot caught under the frame. With 75 sleepy birds this morning it was not an easy task to keep the flock moving forward.

Following morning chores and breakfast we’ve been focusing on bringing in second cut hay and wrapping up the concrete walls in the cellar this week. Both projects are getting close, but the finish line seems to always slip a step ahead of our day’s path, especially with the intermittent rain and ever-changing weather forecast.

The tomatoes have survived another week, and the harvest seems to be just hitting it’s stride. We should have several extra trays for those interested in canning. I find that two trays produce 7-8 quarts, a regular sized canner load. If you are interested please let me know at pick-up and bring some boxes with you to carry home the fruit. The eggplant harvest as well is growing by the week. Hopefully we will see another frost-less few days so we can enjoy more of the fruits still ripening on the vines. We are still bringing in a bumper crop of yellow watermelons, please take as many as you can eat this week. Watermelon season is short lived around these parts, enjoy it while you can.

In the veggie share: eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, watermelons, cantaloupe, peppers (hot and sweet), tomatoes, loose-leaf lettuce, mesclun mix, zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, kale, chard, garlic, onions, bunching onions, carrots, beets, cabbage, black and white beans, parsley, dill and cilantro. Coming up: potatoes and leeks, more spinach next week. Flowers, sungolds and tomatillos in u-pick.

In the meat share: chickens

See you all tonight between 4 and 6,
Sara Kurak

Full and By Farm