It was a week of unexpected snow and predictable (though never quite expected) complications (frozen hoses!  frozen lettuce!).  We screeched the wholesale accounts to a stop last week as we surveyed what remained in the fields, and realized that if we are to keep members happily fed for the final two weeks of the CSA, we’d better dry off the co-ops.

It was sad to say farewell to the bunching greens (kale, chard, collards) under the snow.  We’re counting on our freezer full of greens to get our family through to next April.  At most points in the season, when a crop is done for the year we’re lucky enough to have a new crop ready to harvest and enjoy.  At this time of year, though, it’s not necessarily that we have new vegetables to enjoy eating, but that we finally have time to savor the storage and root crops that have been sitting, waiting for us.  It’s ironic that winter is the time that we do the most cooking, but it’s how it works on the farm, and we are grateful for  the tastes of summer that peek through in our meals, no matter the weather outside.

Next week will be the final CSA delivery of the season.  Terra Optima Farm will be delivering the pre-ordered boxes o’meat to the pick-ups, and if you placed bulk veggie orders they will be available at that point as well.  Carrots (15 lb/$25) and potatoes (35 lb/$40) are still available for order.

A student at the Maine Media Workshop recently created a very short video about the farm.  It includes some beautiful images of the farm and from harvest days.   If you’d like to view it, you can visit http://vimeo.com/31281994 .

Have a wonderful fall week!

Reba and the HCF crew

A quiet moment at the end of the day: Reba watching CJ watching Bill drive the tractor in from the field.

Week 3 (of 4):  Carrots, Garlic, Potatoes, Beets, Mesclun Mix, Brussels Sprouts (or baby red cabbage), Winter Squash  

This week’s recipe:  Roasted Beet Salad