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Tranquil Ridge Farm Newsletter 8/24/2010
Posted 8/23/2010 9:32pm by Nathan Parks.
TRANQUIL RIDGE FARM
LOCAL FOODS, NATURALLY GROWN
FARM NEWS:
The temperature has moderated for us all this last week, and I must say it feels great. But the summer crops are really starting to feel the strain of little to no moisture for the last couple of weeks.
We are irrigating daily...new crops we are trying to get started, as well as old ones that we are trying to keep alive. Our tomatoes have seriously hit a brick wall, the hope is that we have enough for our CSA members to each have a couple. That is pretty sad when you consider the 2400 or so plants that we have out this year. We were hit early with anthracnose, a foliar disease that is generally soil borne. Constant rain and humidity is how the disease thrives. We were finally able to get it under control with and organic fungicide, but the height of the disease was in the middle of the largest fruit set. Fruit that is affected with anthracnose will have a brown spot one day and turn completely to mush the next. So, we wait and hope that the high tunnel tomatoes keep hanging on until the outside plants come back, however, I must say that it is doubtful that we will get anything from them at this point.
So, we know that we had more than eough rain this spring and early summer, right? We also have had above normal temperatures, which will make some crops do crazy things! Last week I brought some delicata winter squash for CSA shares and for market. I thought it was way too early, but it is ready, so we eat it. I thought, surely the rest of the winter squash is not in the same shape?!? I plant winter squash around the 5th of June expecting it to be ready around Sept. 5th-10th. Most squash are in the 100 day maturity range. With plenty of moisture and abnormal heat they are all ready NOW. Some are even past ready and being left in the field. I must admit that a big part of them were planted in the "back 40" if you will, and don't always get as close of an eye as some of the other closer crops do. So this week we are off to the races of pulling in all the squash and getting them cured and ready for long term storage.
Emily and I had a great meal on Sunday at Apple Family Farm, the site of the benefit dinner for Kelly Funk. It doubled as and anniversary dinner and a great way to try and show our support for John and Kelly. We have thought a lot about them the last month or so since the accident and pray for them daily. There were several local farmers in attendance, all of whom were mingling, whining and comparing weed stories and harvest hunting techniques! We found it to be a real stress relief! Probably the most impactful time of our visit was the last 30 or 40 minutes we spent talking with John Feree, Kelly's husband and a few others. He was there with his 14 month old little girl. To see them and to really feel the situation that they are in was overwhelming. I know that without Emily this place would certainly fall apart, and for Jensen to be without his mommy would be incredibly difficult. I know most of you can relate to the impact of the situation, so keep them in your thoughts and prayers. More benefits will be coming and we will be sure to let you know about them.
VEGGIES:
A COUPLE OF TOMATOES
BELL PEPPERS
JALAPENOS
CAYENNE PEPPERS (GREAT FOR DRYING)
SWEET CORN
GREEN,YELLOW AND BURGUNDY BEANS
SUMMER SQUASH
POTATOES
ARUGULA
EGGPLANT
OKRA
KALE
BUTTERNUT, DELICATA, ACORN, SPAGHETTI AND BUTTERCUP SQUASH
CSA NEWS:
We will hopefully have enough tomatoes for each of you, beans and squash should be plentiful. The sweet corn is back again, and it must be good! The Corn Borer really seem to like it, so when you pull the husk back you may see a little hitchiker in there, it's still good if you just cut the tip off or you can pass on the corn this week.
****DELIVERY CHANGE FOR WABASH CSA MEMBERS*****:
TUESDAY OCTOBER 12TH IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED ON MONDAY OCTOBER 11TH IN CRAWFORDSVILLE; same time, same place. Jensen turns 1 on the 12th and we really want to spend that day with him...not that we don't like you guys, but this is one of those days that neither of us want to miss out on. Thanks for understanding.
Nate, Emily and Jensen
LOCAL FOODS, NATURALLY GROWN
FARM NEWS:
The temperature has moderated for us all this last week, and I must say it feels great. But the summer crops are really starting to feel the strain of little to no moisture for the last couple of weeks.
We are irrigating daily...new crops we are trying to get started, as well as old ones that we are trying to keep alive. Our tomatoes have seriously hit a brick wall, the hope is that we have enough for our CSA members to each have a couple. That is pretty sad when you consider the 2400 or so plants that we have out this year. We were hit early with anthracnose, a foliar disease that is generally soil borne. Constant rain and humidity is how the disease thrives. We were finally able to get it under control with and organic fungicide, but the height of the disease was in the middle of the largest fruit set. Fruit that is affected with anthracnose will have a brown spot one day and turn completely to mush the next. So, we wait and hope that the high tunnel tomatoes keep hanging on until the outside plants come back, however, I must say that it is doubtful that we will get anything from them at this point.
So, we know that we had more than eough rain this spring and early summer, right? We also have had above normal temperatures, which will make some crops do crazy things! Last week I brought some delicata winter squash for CSA shares and for market. I thought it was way too early, but it is ready, so we eat it. I thought, surely the rest of the winter squash is not in the same shape?!? I plant winter squash around the 5th of June expecting it to be ready around Sept. 5th-10th. Most squash are in the 100 day maturity range. With plenty of moisture and abnormal heat they are all ready NOW. Some are even past ready and being left in the field. I must admit that a big part of them were planted in the "back 40" if you will, and don't always get as close of an eye as some of the other closer crops do. So this week we are off to the races of pulling in all the squash and getting them cured and ready for long term storage.
Emily and I had a great meal on Sunday at Apple Family Farm, the site of the benefit dinner for Kelly Funk. It doubled as and anniversary dinner and a great way to try and show our support for John and Kelly. We have thought a lot about them the last month or so since the accident and pray for them daily. There were several local farmers in attendance, all of whom were mingling, whining and comparing weed stories and harvest hunting techniques! We found it to be a real stress relief! Probably the most impactful time of our visit was the last 30 or 40 minutes we spent talking with John Feree, Kelly's husband and a few others. He was there with his 14 month old little girl. To see them and to really feel the situation that they are in was overwhelming. I know that without Emily this place would certainly fall apart, and for Jensen to be without his mommy would be incredibly difficult. I know most of you can relate to the impact of the situation, so keep them in your thoughts and prayers. More benefits will be coming and we will be sure to let you know about them.
VEGGIES:
A COUPLE OF TOMATOES
BELL PEPPERS
JALAPENOS
CAYENNE PEPPERS (GREAT FOR DRYING)
SWEET CORN
GREEN,YELLOW AND BURGUNDY BEANS
SUMMER SQUASH
POTATOES
ARUGULA
EGGPLANT
OKRA
KALE
BUTTERNUT, DELICATA, ACORN, SPAGHETTI AND BUTTERCUP SQUASH
CSA NEWS:
We will hopefully have enough tomatoes for each of you, beans and squash should be plentiful. The sweet corn is back again, and it must be good! The Corn Borer really seem to like it, so when you pull the husk back you may see a little hitchiker in there, it's still good if you just cut the tip off or you can pass on the corn this week.
****DELIVERY CHANGE FOR WABASH CSA MEMBERS*****:
TUESDAY OCTOBER 12TH IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED ON MONDAY OCTOBER 11TH IN CRAWFORDSVILLE; same time, same place. Jensen turns 1 on the 12th and we really want to spend that day with him...not that we don't like you guys, but this is one of those days that neither of us want to miss out on. Thanks for understanding.
Nate, Emily and Jensen
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