CSA Week 17

~ Week A Half Share members + Full Share members ~

Oct 01, 2024

The grape vines have been climbing the corners of the greenhouse, between the thorns of the hawthorne branches, & up the harsh, unflattering metal of the deer fence all season. They are a native vine, so they extend themselves by gently latching their way along with cucumber, bean-like tendrils. With the shift away from summer, I have begun to trim back the grapevines for wreath making. To be woven into imperfect cirles & adorned with dried charms of the season. Today, I pick the leaves off of the grape vines scattered around the kitchen floor. I watch two goldfinches forage for the seeds of the paleleaf woodland sunflowers that line the forest edge, a layer of growth just beyond the jewelweed.

In the spring of this year, I planted willow cuttings. For my late grandma, for my mom, for myself. I imagined that by this fall the plants would have sprung into a hedge of growth, having established themselves among the goldenrod & aster path. I imagined that this winter I would learn to weave drying trays & beginner basketry projects with these willow cuttings. But I planted them for deer. And despite aspirations, I did not weed them well or consistently so they have been towered over. The willows share a similar grief story to the winter squash crop this year.

So rather, I took a weaving class where we focused on harvesting invasive species such as autumn olive, buckthorn, multi-flora rose. And I was reminded of the significance of forming a relationship with these “undesirable” plants, rather than approaching with an upset taste, unattainable control. I walked alongside my sweet friend yesterday afternoon to a clearing of sunshine where we glimpsed from the shaded edge of a hill. As we breached the landing, there was an expanse of meadow & a thriving population of autumn olive. Together we collected wands of new growth that would aid in my now nearly finished tension tray weave.

In the spring of this year, we cleared the muddy spring floor for another hoophouse structure to be built & for the soil to be prepared for cropping. This space outside of the deer fence was filled with shrubbery, namely autumn olive. To which I had simply not paid any mind to or noticed at all in season’s past, as if I my focus could only offer itself within the confines of my little fenced-in farm world. Where my body knew the freshly formed beds, clumps of dense clay, patches of cabbage & beets. Autumn olive is a nitrogen-fixer, just like the charming cover crop & living pathway, the clover plant. But alas, this behavior changes soil structure in a way that can be detrimental to a thriving native community of plants. The autumn olive & I, a farmer of European descent, have undeniable commonalities.

Tomatoes in this fresh hoophouse were beautiful, reaching beyond my head in July. Their sets of fruit becoming flush with shades of red, orange, yellow, green. Their branches intertwined with one another & hornworms sought out their favorite host. Until last week, the heat of the afternoon was defined by harvesting the precious bounty to share. I offered a personal form of gratitude by putting up jars full of crushed heirlooms on larder shelves. And all the while… autumn olive forged a path, creating a root network in the walkways, along the weedy edges, small shrubs near the tomato stalks. What roots remain now share space with the winter spinach, lettuce mix, radish, spicy mix, lettuce head, & overwintering onion.

All of us living beings, knowing this small patch of soil, & engaging in a long-form intertwinement. Farming continues to be the complicated tending-to that embraces me in hope & death & consequence & lesson & expansiveness & discipline & uncertainty & relationship & reciprocity. A blessing.

CSA Season Concludes…. Oct 9

~ CSA season comes to a close next week ……share number 18! As we relish in the gratitude of the growing months & look towards our winter planning season, we would love to hear your feedback! Please fill out our end of season CSA survey here.

~ In addition to the survey, please consider sharing a review on our CSA hosting platform, GrownBy! A quick way to have a lasting impact on our farm :)

~ We will continue to harvest for market every Saturday until at least the end of November! We would love to continue sharing produce with you as the seasons shift.

Fulton St Farmers Market Hours:

Until end of October ~ 8 am - 2 pm

Second season ~ 10 am - 1 pm