We're Planting Garlic this Week

We're Planting Garlic this Week
Brody from the kohlrabi harvest crew this morning
Farm Update
  
After a really big push, we finally got all of our winter transplants in last week.  There were some issues with our spinach estimate and germination so we ended up with far less than we thought we would and essentially 1.5 of our hoophouses still available for winter crops.  It’s a challenging thing to discover at this point because it is much too late to grow more seedlings.  In one vacant spot we are going to try direct seedling spinach and greens that will be ready later, but be ready to change into spring crops earlier next season.  That promise of an earlier spring turnover does make the change of plans a little easier to digest. 
 
With what space we have left after seeding we are going to experiment with digging up more of our perennial herb plants from the field and planting them inside under rowcover.  We’ve done this with parsley in the past, but since we have the space, the plants, and not a ton of other options, we’re going to give it a try!

This week we are focusing back on bulk harvest and tackling more kohlrabi, beets, winter radish, carrots and whatever else we can get done in the colder morning hours.  We also realized we don’t actually have space to store everything we plan to harvest this fall … so we are looking at some other solutions for storage.

This is all in addition (lots of ‘additons’ these days) to planting garlic this week.  We are  going to try and use our transplanter attachment for the tractor this year, but tighten up the spacing.  We are likely returning to straw mulch this year after last year’s woodchip experiment, but that is a decision we can put off until a little later.  Right now we have a lot to do, so we better get cracking cloves!
 
Setting your Preferences: You can set food preferences for your subscription!  These preferences will change what goes into the initial list of produce we send you.  We really recommend doing this (or updating it) because it helps you start out with more things you like, especially if you don't end up customizing your order on a given week.  Also note: If you were a member with us when we used Harvie, your preferences were not able to be carried over and should be re-set!  To change them, go to ‘My Account’ and look on the right side of the page, or click this link below:
SET YOUR PREFERENCES
Job opportunities: We are looking for a delivery driver for 2-3 days a week.  Driver resumes should be sent to chris@commongroundfarm.ca​
 
 
FARM STORE NOTES
 
Things to note from us: There are lots of beautiful fennel coming from the fields right now.  If you haven't tried it, it has a wonderful sweet anise flavour (not bitter like black licorice which it's sometimes compared to) crunchy leaves and fronds that resemble dill which you can chop and use like a herb or garnish.  Excellent sauteed, roasted, in tomato sauce, in salad or eaten raw on its own!
 
Seconds carrots: Help us eat all those crispy carrots that split during harvest!  Seconds are also the non-uniform or smaller carrots that don't make it into regular baskets.  Great for soups, roasting, grating, juicing, and we hear the really little ones are lunchbox favourites.
 
New this week: sunchokes (jerusalem artichokes), parsnips, mixed winter radish baskets, black spanish radish.
 
From the field: Green onions, leek, beets, carrots, parsnips, root parsley, cabbages, napa, cauliflower, kale, turnips, kohlrabi, celeriac, radishes, head lettuces, greens, and lots of herbs.
 
From greenhouses and hoophouses: swiss chard.
FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
 
Great Lakes Farms (Port Stanley): Mutsu, Empire, Jonagold, Courtland, Gala, Macintosh, Honeycrisp apples. New this week: Northern Spy and Fuji.
 
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Red kabocha, acorn, butternut, honeynut, and delicata squash. Sweet potatoes and eggs. 
 
Pfenning's: Spanish onions, garlic.
 
Through Pfenning's: Honeycrisp, Novaspy and Liberty apples.  Travelling from further away; citrus, ginger, turmeric.
 
Bakery: Seth/La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas) is bi-weekly now and is off this week.  Artisan Bakery (London) is available until they closeout on Tuesday morning.  
 
Dairy: Milk, yogurt, and curds are from Mistyglen Creamery (Belmont).  Please note: bottles and jars need to be rinsed well before being returned.
 
Pantry: Mixed-pack cans from Booch (London) and cold-pressed hemp and sunflower oil from Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville).
 
 
Purple kale and fall colours

Weekly pickup / delivery schedule:

Farm pickup will be Thursday from 4 to 8 pm. 

Deliveries will be Thursday or  Friday in London / St.Thomas.  We will send out the schedule Wednesday night.

Refer-a-friend:  If you refer a friend and they sign up for our 2024 main season please send me a note and I'll give you a $25 credit as a thank-you on your account!
link:
Note that if you you will no longer get reminders about your subscription!

Common Ground Farm 6986 Middle River Road St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3S9
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