I haven’t checked any records, but we here at the farm are feeling like this has been one of the best Octobers on record for beautiful weather. The sunny days have helped to keep spirits high as we feel the descent into winter: sitting outside at lunch in the sun, needing only to wear a hoodie in the afternoons to keep warm and having the fields dry enough to drive the trucks around have been a few of the highlights! In addition to the positive attitudes the warmer weather has brought it has also helped to keep some crops around longer this year. We are still stocking the Farm Stand with fennel, cauliflower, parsley and cilantro, among others crops that have stayed on to become October treats.

The warm weather has also brought with it a sense of rejuvenation and energy. In these last couple of weeks the crew has planted 30,000 tulip bulbs, begun dismantling the tomato hoop houses, harvested all of the remaining winter squash, prepared the spent winter squash beds for winter, planted the very last of all of the cover crops and, with the help of the work traders, harvested a great many storage potatoes and planted our 2019 garlic crop! The warm weather certainly has people bustling around and the news of oncoming rain is further encouragement to try to cross a few more things off the list.

With the long change of the season it is hard to believe how much our heads are already in the 2019 season when it feels like the 2018 season is still in full swing. We are still harvesting like crazy, and simultaneously prepping for the winter rains and freezes. It feels like we just said goodbye to our summer crew, and we are now gearing up for hiring for the 2019 season. We are harvesting hearty Brussels Sprouts, and tasty little pea greens. We are enjoying the sunny days, but staying prepared for the end to come to this unexpected, borrowed time. I hope you all have gotten some extra enjoyment out of this sunny October and the treats that it has allowed the farm to continue providing!

-Siobhan