F23 (W9): Prepping for First Frost
Dear CSA Members + Farm Community,
We’re readying the row cover and picking the summer crops extra hard this week because it looks like we might get our first hard frost on Thursday morning. As all of you seasoned gardeners know, first frost marks a turning point for plants. If left outside and uncovered, a hard frost will kill summer crops, leaving only our heartiest winter veg (think hearty greens, root veggies) left to grow for the winter months. So we’ll see!
Whether or not the freeze comes this week, we have lots of work cut out for us this winter season. During the busy season (March through October), so many of the tasks on our to-do lists are time sensitive. Once we’re through harvesting, preparing beds, planting, and doing maintenance on planted beds, there’s not much time left for ongoing projects. Winter on the farm means building projects, organization, deep cleaning, planning, reflecting on the last season’s wins and losses. It means a slightly less frantic pace, and time to set ourselves up for the next year’s craziness. Stay tuned to find out what Diamond Hill farmers are going to get into this winter!
This week’s share will have some of the first of the fall lettuce! My all time favorite reference when I’m in a salad rut is Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. More of a textbook than a traditional recipe book, she gives some amazing guidelines for building a not-boring salad- salt, fat, acid, crunch, and umami. Since the temps are dipping back down this week, maybe serve your perfect salad alongside this brothy, tomato-y cabbage soup with beans and aromatics. And while we’re talking about cabbage, try it roasted until crispy with parmesan and walnuts if you’re tired of slaw and kraut!
Happy eating!
Diamond Hill Farmers
This week’s farm share:
$25 Share: Cabbage, scallions, daikon radish, bell peppers, choice of chard or kale, choice of head lettuce or salad mix
$35 Share: Cabbage, scallions, daikon radish, bell peppers, choice of chard or kale, choice of head lettuce or salad mix, beans, sweet potato, kohlrabi