Anyone who gardens or grows vegetables knows that this time of year can be TRICKY for pernicious insects that like to feast on food crops. The Cabbage moths have made their annual descent on our farm and I have been using all the techniques in my proverbial farmer tool belt to protect tender brassica plants which are especially favored by the larvae. The best purchase I ever made for the farm was a giant roll of row cover fabric. This almost gossamer thin cloth is a workhorse in the garden. Not only does it protect crops from freezing temperatures it also can act as a barrier to keep out unwanted pests as well as aid in germination for direct seeded crops like carrots. Today I uncovered a bed of Red Russian kale to harvest and was happy to see that the plants are happy and healthy.

We have been working full tilt to get the farm ready for fall and winter. Currently all of our high tunnel beds are planted, some are still dedicated to heat loving crops but most have been flipped and seeded or transplanted with carrot, beets, radish, turnip, spinach & lettuce. This season I am experimenting with growing some radicchio & endive as they are one of my all time favorite salad greens.

A young radicchio just starting to head up.

Next weekend we will be processing our 4th (out of 5) round of broilers. I will be bringing plenty of chicken to the market tomorrow but will not have a full selection of cuts until the first week of October, FYI. The turkeys are sizing up well and I will be sending out reservation invitations to everyone who ordered a bird last year in the coming weeks.

**Pimento peppers have been a great success this season. I will be bringing a case of these super sweet treats to market tomorrow.**

This weekend the North Country Fair will be held on the Arcata Plaza so the farmer’s market will be in front of the Coop (I street) and stretch to the post office (8th street). You can find our booth on I street near Bittersweet. I’ll be there from 9-2, find our weekly offerings below:

CHICKEN:

WHOLE: $8/LB

GROUND: $18/LB

BONE IN BREAST: $14/LB

DRUMSTICKS: $10/LB

WINGS: $7/LB

SOUP PACK: $5/LB

FEET: $6/LB

LIVERS: $8/LB

EGGS: $10/DOZEN

VEGETABLES:

TOMATOES : $4/LB

PIMENTO PEPPERS : $6/LB

BABY SPINACH (1/2 LB): $6/BAG

WILD BABY ARUGULA (1/4 LB): $5/BAG

BANANA FINGERLING POTATOES: $4/LB

RUSSET POTATOES: $3.50/LB

RED RUSSIAN KALE $3/BUNCH

GARLIC: $10/LB

ONIONS: $3/LB

SHALLOTS: $7.50/LB

GOLDEN BERRIES: $5/BAG

THYME BUNDLES: $4/EACH

As always, thank you for reading. Please respond to this message if you would like to reserve anything for the market or for on farm pickup.

Best,

Kala

Farm Update 9/20/24