Farm Happenings

I keep forgetting to mention that Chris shows up talking to some spearmint bunches in a commercial for Linden Hills Coop. It’s airing on the Food Network and CNN in the Twin Cities, and you can also watch it on You Tube.
Dodging light rain showers this week we managed to get a lot more cover crops seeded. Monday night, Chris worked way past dark under lightning in the west and a nearly-full moon in the east to get a big patch of ground worked up for seeding rye and hairy vetch. Working at night on the tractor feels a little bit like floating along in a bubble. The headlights don’t reach very far in front, and the rear worklight points down onto the implement behind the tractor; together, they spoil any night vision that might reach beyond the small pool of light they create. With earplugs muffling the steady drone of the diesel engine, it’s easy to imagine that there is no other life.
As we noted last week, we will be having a community work day on Saturday, September 29, from 10 to 5, with a potluck lunch at 1. Planned activities at this time (depending on the weather) include carrot harvest, beet harvest, greenhouse cleanup, and herb plant maintenance. We are not planning a full-out farm tour as part of this event, but we will talk at everybody a lot and you will get a chance to see the farm. Please RSVP to csa@rsfarm.com.
In last week’s newsletter, we had asked for help, but left out two additional options. We do have winter shares for sale, and while these will not be the best winter shares we have ever had to offer, they still promise plenty of good eating with excellent squash and cabbage crops along with a variety of other goodies. Purchasing a winter share is a valuable way to show your support for Rock Spring Farm, and will provide needed cash flow in this difficult fall.
In addition, 2008 CSA shares will go on sale with next Thursday. Your early sign ups will provide needed money to help set the stage for a successful 2008 season. In addition, early commitments reduce our expenditures for advertising and promotion.