We’ve had a great week to report on: no fallen buildings, rain-soaked hay, or animal problems. The winter squash and Halloween pumpkins have ballooned in the last few days, summer squash is pouring in and a healthy crop of greens beans are days away from picking. We all enjoyed the gentle, summer rain yesterday, which put a little color back into the parched soil, perked up the plants, and provided the animals relief from the humid weather. All while keeping the clay under the foundations where it ought to be and nervous smiles on our faces.

We spent last sunday bringing in the remaining hay from our first cutting. It’s a relief to know that the animals will be well fed next winter and that us workers have a little break while the second cut is re-growing. There was an all-star effort put in by all. Abby and Lightning worked three solid days mowing and raking in the hot sun. Emily and Tyler, both new to the haying scene, stacked and sweat and stacked some more. And our good friend Nathan stayed out until 11 pm with us, baling and loading the final two wagons under moonlight and eventually pitch black skies, patiently repairing the baler each time a new mechanical problem threatened to finish us, and ignoring all thoughts of the 4:30 am wake up call.

Tyler thought it was worth mentioning the details on the farm dinner last week, he had several questions as he was working the grill and wanted me to point out that all of the meat (chicken and hamburgers) were our own. Ketchup, salsa, dilly beans and kraut were homemade last summer and preserved. Barbecue sauce was made by us specially for the evening as were the hamburger buns. Tyler made the grilled veggies by adding last season’s potatoes to fresh bunching onions and zucchini. Jori Wekin produced the black bean burgers, the deviled eggs were made by Kathy Scott and the Teillon family and salad dressings were homemade by Kathy, the Teillons, Joanna Bateman and Katharine Preston. The salad mix was fresh out of the field. Thanks to Gavin for helping out at the grill and Jeff Scott for set-up. James and I loved seeing the lawn covered with eating, laughing friends, children running around and four-leaf clover finders with their heads down.

In the veggie share this week: zucchini, peas, carrots, beets, turnips, lettuce mix, lettuce heads, kale, chard, bunching onions, lots of basil, celeriac and black and white beans. coming soon: cabbage and green beans.***Please bring plastic bags our stockpile is out***

In the meat share: fresh chickens plucked yesterday, pork from the freezer.

See you all tonight between 4 and 6,
Sara Kurak
Full and By Farm