Field Update: Last CSA of the Season, Harvests, and Wildlife
This week marks our last enrichment, the last CSA and regular season Schlafly market is this Wednesday October, 31st, and the last week on the farm. Ferguson’s last market and the last Friday/Saturday CSA was this past Saturday. There is still a lot of produce in the field. Leeks, kale, garlic, shallots, and carrots will overwinter and we will sell the other crops between two winter markets at Schlafly November 17th and December 22nd at Bottleworks from 9am-1pm and outside sales. We are looking forward to trying something new this year, a Thanksgiving share! This will be a one time pre-ordered share to be picked up at the Schlafly November 17th market. To be clear, this is not included in the 24 week CSA, but is an add on item. The Thanksgiving share will include large quantities of Arugula, Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes (supplemented with Tim & Jody or Mary Ellen Raymonds’ organically grown crop), Butternut squash, Bok/Pac Choi, Radish, Diakon, Beet, Leek, Turnip, & a variety of Herbs. The value of the box is about $60 and we will be selling them for $50. Molly and Joe came up with this idea and I think it is an exciting way for Evan and I to know what we need to harvest and likewise for the customer to know what they can get locally and be able to plan their menu and other shopping around it.
This week we harvested for a Local Harvest CSA order (oregano & lettuce), Andy Ayers of Eat Here STL (arugula and upsold him raab), and $500 worth of produce (purple top turnips, spinach, ‘Shunkyo’ & ‘Watermelon’ radish, Chard, & Kale) for our fall fundraiser Farmers Formal. The last of this harvest, arugula, will take place on Friday. Between the weather and extra orders we harvested again during most shifts with the exception of Monday.
Wildlife of the Week- Groundhog/ Whistle-Pig/ Woodchuck/ Land-Beaver, Marmota monax
Groundhogs can get up to 30″ tall and are mostly solitary animals. They are primarily herbivores and love grasses, alfalfa, nuts, berries, bark, agricultural crops but occasionally they will also indulge in grasshoppers, grubs, and other insects. They only live about 6 years in the wild, but up to 22 years in captivity. Their thick claws, curved spine, and short muscular limbs are adapted for digging. These animals burrow for shelter, rearing young, and hibernation. Their burrows can be 5 meters below ground and up 46 meters in total tunnel length. We have at least three of these living on the farm. They do defend their burrows aggressively and are known to use their large incisor teeth to do so. They make a whistle sound to alert others when a threat is near, thus the name whistle-pig. Despite their chunky appearance at this time of the year they are excellent swimmer and climbers. They are also notoriously hard to trap and prefer bait like marshmallows and cherry Cheerios.
Thank Yous- Thank you to CSA member Elias Shedd for using his CSA hours to fix the starter connection on the tractor & harvest. The tractor is now running again! Thank you volunteer Sara Howe for coming out on Sunday to help harvest and spread compost.
Needs-
• Leaves! Please bring yard leaves to the farm, if it is convenient.
• Calling all produce boxes, crates, pruners, files…. back to the farm. These may have accidentally made it into your car, so if they did please bring them back home! The wax covered boxes are more expensive than you may think and well over 1/2 the 100 we purchased have wondered off. If you are a CSA member feel free to drop them off at the Schlafly market this week. Thanks!
• A volunteer to sharpen mower blades for the end of the season.