One of the many lovely sights here at Freedom Rains Farm It's been quite the twist in weather the last month. From dripping with sweat and taking a dip in the pond, to searching for my winter hat and closing up the greenhouses, covering crops to protect from frost, to uncovering them to vent out the heat, to covering back up to protect some newer plantings from the wild turkeys. We have been blessed with quite the Indian Summer; nature making up for the late start to spring. We were able to get all our garlic planted for next year's harvest over the weekend, and planted more than twice what we planted last year, so we can look forward to more garlic next season than we were able to offer this year.
Autumn is most certainly my favorite time of year here in Central New York. The days shorten, yes, but the colors deepen, become more saturated. The crisp harvests of this time of year, the season long maintained fruits of our labors. The tiny seeds planted after the last frost of spring, cautiously watching the first frost of autumn.
I've been way off schedule writing the weekly blog as the season winds down we've been focusing on readying for the winter, and planning next season. With three more weeks of CSA there are some great crops to look forward to. Carrots, peppers, rutabaga, brussels sprouts, potatoes, winter squash, leeks, daikon radishes, onions from Grindstone, apples from Knapp farm, and sweet potatoes and cabbage from Joseph Gingerich, and a selection of various greens; are some of the crops to look forward to in shares in the final weeks of the season.
While the Oswego and Rome Farmers Markets ended last week, the Regional Market goes year round, and I will continue going there with some of our storage crops after the end of the CSA as well as early winter harvested high tunnel crops from both us and Grindstone Farm, eggs, and other organic produce that Grindstone buys to distribute in their healthy boxes. Even as the season draws to a close, you can continue buying great organic food and supporting local agriculture by going to the market in Syracuse or ordering from Grindstone Farm's website. There will still be no delivery charge if you place an order to pick up at the market during the off season.
Autumn is most certainly my favorite time of year here in Central New York. The days shorten, yes, but the colors deepen, become more saturated. The crisp harvests of this time of year, the season long maintained fruits of our labors. The tiny seeds planted after the last frost of spring, cautiously watching the first frost of autumn.
I've been way off schedule writing the weekly blog as the season winds down we've been focusing on readying for the winter, and planning next season. With three more weeks of CSA there are some great crops to look forward to. Carrots, peppers, rutabaga, brussels sprouts, potatoes, winter squash, leeks, daikon radishes, onions from Grindstone, apples from Knapp farm, and sweet potatoes and cabbage from Joseph Gingerich, and a selection of various greens; are some of the crops to look forward to in shares in the final weeks of the season.
While the Oswego and Rome Farmers Markets ended last week, the Regional Market goes year round, and I will continue going there with some of our storage crops after the end of the CSA as well as early winter harvested high tunnel crops from both us and Grindstone Farm, eggs, and other organic produce that Grindstone buys to distribute in their healthy boxes. Even as the season draws to a close, you can continue buying great organic food and supporting local agriculture by going to the market in Syracuse or ordering from Grindstone Farm's website. There will still be no delivery charge if you place an order to pick up at the market during the off season.
The last day at the Rome Farmer's Market, from the vantage point of a 4 year old. Photo by Freyja Pistello
We have had mountains of positive feedback from our members this year and I'd like to take a moment to thank all our members who put their faith in us in our first season as beginner farmers. The most important thing is that you are happy with the food we grow for you. None of this season would have been possible without the overwhelming support of our friends at Grindstone Farm and our families. So a huge thank you to all who have supported us and helped make our first season a successful one. We've thrown together a short survey if you could take a moment to answer the questions in order to better plan for next season. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R6VGGSP
We have also been working on getting the CSA sign ups ready for next season. At this point we'd like to offer present CSA members a chance to sign up before we open up to the general public. You can do so by signing into your account and selecting the 2015 season of your choice. While we expect to grow the farm, CSA memberships will be limited to our level of production and land, and we have had quite a few folks inquiring about signing up for next year already. So you can secure your share now, and if you pay by the end of January still get the early bird 10% discount. We do plan on adding a few more laying hens to the flock, however, egg shares will be limited.
At the last CSA-CNY meeting earlier this month, we discussed holding off on the Fall Potluck previously planned for this weekend. With the weather getting cooler and not a whole lot to see on a farm tour at this point in the year, we've decided to hold it somewhere indoors in early November. To determine how much space will be needed please contact CSA-CNY via their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/CSA-CNY/70481797444 so we can plan accordingly. Once we do, we will send out invitations to members. Also, we would love to see more folks involved in the planning group, especially if you have ideas or concerns to be addressed. Going into the quieter winter months we should be back on a more normal schedule with the meetings on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Friends Meeting House on Euclid Av in the university area of Syracuse.
As the season winds down and we start harvesting some of the longer term crops such as the daikon radishes which you've already started seeing, and the rutabaga we will be starting to harvest after a few frosts, and the brussels sprouts, we know some of these may be unfamiliar or just not quite any one's favorites. All are great roasted with a a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Daikons can be pickled and added to rice for a quick tasty lunch. I've been enjoying them sauteed with greens, especially the dandelion greens. Travis pulled a 7 pound radish out of the bed last week, so look for a recipe and try it, there will plenty more radishes to come. A customer recently told me that she uses daikon radishes medicinally to dissolve fat in the blood. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but my theory is that if it's fresh and organic it's got to be really good for your body. They can be stored for quite some time in the fridge (at least a month or more.) Unfortunately there will be no fall beet crop this year, but there will be plenty more carrots, which are so sweet and tender you don't need to peel them. I roasted some of the little ones whole with some chicken the other night. They are also a favorite in the kids lunch boxes. If you have a favorite way of preparing daikons, brussels sprouts or any other later season produce, please share in the comment section below or on our facebook page.
That's the 7 pound daikon on the left along with some rutabaga and 5lb midget daikons in copmparrison.
My wonderful mother Joan (L) helping with the last harvest of cherry tomatoes. My journey to the farm started in her garden! Photo by Dan Wells
While there has been much talk about decreased numbers and die offs of beneficial pollinators across the nation, we've found several monarchs across the farm, as well as a swarm that took up residences in Dick and Vic's (Grindstone's farmers) house on the farm. While I know there is a concern for the drop in pollinators, it is reassuring to see them settle here, and no surprise since we don't use pesticides or GMOs to drive them off. It may also serve as proof that organic production will save them from extinction. A fellow organic farm in Fenner; Hartwood Farm has reported I believe three swarms of honeybees on their farm this season as well.
The monarch butterfly pictured below built it's cocoon inside the barn and when it was discovered, Dick told Freyja she needed to keep an eye on it and let him know when it emerged. To which she responded "I can't be here all the time." They were both in the barn when Freyja noticed it flapping and drying it's wings Friday afternoon.
The monarch butterfly pictured below built it's cocoon inside the barn and when it was discovered, Dick told Freyja she needed to keep an eye on it and let him know when it emerged. To which she responded "I can't be here all the time." They were both in the barn when Freyja noticed it flapping and drying it's wings Friday afternoon.
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