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| Fall Squash patch in need of some rain! |
I would love to say that things have changed but they have not!
Quinte Conservation have now issued a Level 3 water condition and Agriculture Canada have said we are experiencing a D2 condition or "severe drought" in the area.
Quinte Conservation have now issued a Level 3 water condition and Agriculture Canada have said we are experiencing a D2 condition or "severe drought" in the area.
Our Fall Squash patch is starting to wither under the heat, along with all our fall transplants, even with irrigation our rutabaga are about the size of my thumb! We do lots of transplants as it allows us to guarantee harvest but with this drought they are struggling to survive. We have taken to direct seeding as they seem to be germinating, not wonderfully but they are germinating, better than our greenhouse starts and holding on a little better at present in the ground!
As I write this the weather network has just put out another heat warning of 40 degrees for Thursday and Friday!
A few members have commented that Michael and I are not as bubbly or as chatty as normal or have not been over to the farm stand to chat, so we thought we would address this but I have actually used another vegetable growers comments as Stephen has summed up perfectly how so many of us are feeling in the current situation.
As I write this the weather network has just put out another heat warning of 40 degrees for Thursday and Friday!
A few members have commented that Michael and I are not as bubbly or as chatty as normal or have not been over to the farm stand to chat, so we thought we would address this but I have actually used another vegetable growers comments as Stephen has summed up perfectly how so many of us are feeling in the current situation.
"Happy to say goodbye to July. It was a month of too much work and too
much stress. I've had to cancel out on friends to keep things running.
We've lost 90% of the trees we planted in the spring, have invested huge amounts of staff time and materials into keeping us going, and everything we do takes longer in these dry conditions. We have put up a good fight against this drought. Sadly, as we haven't had any of the big rains hit us our water table continues to drop by inches per day.
We don't need much, just a little rain goes a long way. We just need something. As a result of all this I feel just plain exhausted and more emotionally negative than I feel that I have ever been. Looking forward we are faced with some tough choices.
We will have to dump crops and likely cancel our winter CSA. We may have to find work off farm to cover our expected losses.
I feel burnt out, depleted, and am working to keep a positive spin on things while my livelihood literally dries up and evaporates in front of me. I hope August will prove more friendly."
Stephen L. Chair of NFU local.
This sums up how we feel at the farm at the moment and to be very honest our situation is identical to Stephens. We are also dumping crops, and trying to figure out if we will have any type of vegetables for the November CSA and our bulk boxes this winter. If we don't then sadly we will be working off farm this winter to balance out our losses from the rest of the season. :-(
So we thank you all for your understanding in why we are not your normal happy farmers at present.
This weeks basket:
We've lost 90% of the trees we planted in the spring, have invested huge amounts of staff time and materials into keeping us going, and everything we do takes longer in these dry conditions. We have put up a good fight against this drought. Sadly, as we haven't had any of the big rains hit us our water table continues to drop by inches per day.
We don't need much, just a little rain goes a long way. We just need something. As a result of all this I feel just plain exhausted and more emotionally negative than I feel that I have ever been. Looking forward we are faced with some tough choices.
We will have to dump crops and likely cancel our winter CSA. We may have to find work off farm to cover our expected losses.
I feel burnt out, depleted, and am working to keep a positive spin on things while my livelihood literally dries up and evaporates in front of me. I hope August will prove more friendly."
Stephen L. Chair of NFU local.
This sums up how we feel at the farm at the moment and to be very honest our situation is identical to Stephens. We are also dumping crops, and trying to figure out if we will have any type of vegetables for the November CSA and our bulk boxes this winter. If we don't then sadly we will be working off farm this winter to balance out our losses from the rest of the season. :-(
So we thank you all for your understanding in why we are not your normal happy farmers at present.
This weeks basket:
Kale - We have had a few complaints about too much kale! Kale at present is holding on really well and while we have it we are going to add it to the boxes. Lettuce is in the field but needs more water and at present we are unable to transplant anymore as the heat is just killing it! We have already lost 156 lettuce transplants.
Chard - Again it is small bunches as the drought is just causing all our chard to bolt and go to seed!
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| Shishito Peppers |
Tomatoes - One tub from the hoop houses and 1 tub of field tomatoes
Melons - Sad news is that the patch is already started to die back but it is looking like we will have melons for this week and fingers crossed at least next week as well. Please eat these ASAP as they are ripe!
Onions
Tomatillos - Yield is low this year. You can make a quick and refreshing salsa with these.
Simply chop into quarters, along with an onion, Heat oil in a pan, saute the onions till soft then add in the tomatillos, some chopped garlic and some hot peppers, and cook until the tomatillos go slightly mushy and to a jam like consistency.
Simply chop into quarters, along with an onion, Heat oil in a pan, saute the onions till soft then add in the tomatillos, some chopped garlic and some hot peppers, and cook until the tomatillos go slightly mushy and to a jam like consistency.
Garlic
Cucumbers
Eggplant Jackie e-mailed me this recipe link for an eggplant ragu, Jackie did say that it was a little bit of work but well worth it!
We are also hoping for.....
We are also hoping for.....
Zucchini and Beans
Bonus Item/Help yourself - We never see hot peppers as part of your vegetable basket so we always just leave a basket at the stand and at the delivery point for you to help yourself to. Please remember even hot peppers are in short supply this year, so please just take what you need.
I just want to say, we are with you in spirit. This is the risk we take as being part of a CSA. We know you are going above and beyond to provide as much as you can in our weekly baskets. Know that whatever happens this year, I'll still be a CSA member next year. Just know how much you and Micheal are appreciated. Hang in there, this too shall pass.
ReplyDeleteI would reiterate Debbie's comment thanking you so much for trying so hard to keep produce going during these terrible drought conditions. I hope you are able to continue with offering CSA next year and I would most certainly continue with my membership.
ReplyDeleteWe are so concerned for you in this drought...we can't remember the last rain shower and we've had very very few thunder showers - Thank heavens that we retired when we did. It's certainly a job for younger folk!! How are the poultry doing? I remember how poorly our chickens fared in high temperatures. At this moment the thermometer outside our front door is registering 38 degrees.:(
ReplyDeleteYour customers obviously think very highly of you both and we certainly do too. Unfortunately there's little one can do about the weather. You are doing the very best you can, and you must feel proud of that.
Take care - Mike and Gill