CSA means a lot of things, and one of them is going with the flow of the seasons. When Mother Nature gave us hot weather in March and May we watched the vegetables grow in unseasonable ways. We were forced by her (Mother Nature) to begin our CSA deliveries early. And we all asked, “What will this mean for the rest of the season?” We have a very carefully laid out schedule for planting vegetables into the fields. When Mother Nature messes with us we roll with it, but we don’t let her convince us to mess with our schedule. The early season crops all came in earlier than we had planned and since we kept with our planting schedules the rest of the season’s crops should be coming in as close to planned as possible, but not this week.
It is at this point that we had to make that hard decision. Should we meagerly fill the box this week? We don’t want to do that. We would rather let everything continue to grow and look forward to a more bountiful delivery in two weeks. Believe me, it was a hard decision, but it was clear to us we needed to do it. We want every share box to be full. There is always a thin week or two when early crops are ending and summer crops are beginning. And this week would have been too thin. So if we skip it then you win by getting the same number of deliveries extending one more week into October when the bounty is guaranteed.
Crops like beans, beets, chard, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, garlic and the next broccoli planting didn’t get the same boost as the early greens. Those are a few of the next vegetables to be harvested.
We thought perhaps all of this extreme heat would create speed-up of everything, but it hasn’t. We can’t know exactly why and how the heat combined with the drought effects each crop, but we know it does. Is one and a half inches of irrigation well water the same as one and a half inches of rain? Just how quickly are the plants respirating and releasing moisture into the air? Are the plants stressed because of the heat and drought? Which plants will flourish? Which ones will be unhappy?
Those are hard questions to answer but we can tell you that you will receive the planned number of CSA share deliveries. All of the vegetables we planted into the ground and planned to deliver will be delivered. The summer crops are looking fabulous (see last week’s post for pictures of some of those up and coming crops). The fall crops are looking good as well, some of them are still getting planted, and some of them are happily growing in the fields.
This is our 18th season as CSA farmers and this ‘skip week’ is a first. Who knows what else we will get to experience over the next 18 years!
Barb and David
July 2, 2012 at 10:20 pm
David and Barb
I look at this as mother nature taking care of you. We consider you our family and with this weather we worry about the people. Take care. We will wait another week and it will be okay.
Harms Family
July 2, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Please continue to be very careful as you work outside in this heat. This is the pits! Lois
July 2, 2012 at 2:28 pm
You guys are amazing! The time, expertise and love with with you do everything is truly marvelous. The Fruit of all this is evident in the the gorgeous vegetables we receive each week. To me, that’s an awesome feat. That we have to “wait” on Mother Nature for this constant miracle is part of the Mystery and privilege we share in. Thank you for ALL that you do!
July 2, 2012 at 2:19 pm
When we signed up, it was with the understanding that we share in the ebb and flow. It’s part of appreciating the myriad influences on our food supply. Not only is this no problem at all, but if it were, and if we were inclined to shake our fists in some direction, it would more likely be in the direction of global warming, which would be back in our own faces, if you catch my drift. Or take it up w/leaders who deny the reality of it. Thank you, Barb and David!
July 2, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Thanks for the heads-up, guys; looking forward to next week’s share, then!
July 2, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Kudos for making what must have been a hard decision. I can’t imagine that anyone who buys into the best part of being a CSA member.. getting closer to the land and the reality of what we eat… will object. Gotta go with the flow (or lack of it.) We look forward to some more great food soon.
July 2, 2012 at 3:09 am
It’s certainly crazy weather this year–I’m actually glad to have a “skip week,” because my own garden is making too much broccoli! I spent the whole day today watering things, which thankfully isn’t too hard thanks to soaker hose and lots of mulch.
There are probably a fair number of people out of town this week as well. You do what you have to do–I trust your judgement.
July 2, 2012 at 3:04 am
We know that coping with this crazy weather has been tough on lots of folks, and that farmers/gardeners have been especially vexed! Hope the extra week gives the plants time to grow… and you all a little less worrying.
Ann
July 2, 2012 at 2:38 am
That’s part of the reason we love being part of a CSA. It brings us closer to the land and the growing of our food. Every week the box is filled with delicious food that we know you work so hard to grow. We are with you for the ups and downs and we’ll look forward to more food direct from the land next week.