Harvesting carrots before the storm


 
Harvesting carrots before the storm
Last years perennial herb planting now filled with fleabane
Farm Update
 
We had a bit of an exciting CSA harvest day last Wednesday.  Harvests need a lot more coordination these days to make sure crews are appropriately staffed and everyone is on the same page with how we want the end product to be.  With a large, summer-sized crew we need to have a plan to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible...and then sometimes you get a tornado warning!

No tornado, of course, but an impressive 33mm of rain in half an hour.  We are really glad we had harvest finished up by the time it started because it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible to harvest afterward.  Looks like we will not need to irrigate the fields this week at all.

In other news, as you can see from the photo above, our herb planting from last year has been taken over with weeds.  The bright side is they provide some forage for pollinators, but the harvest will be fairly minimal there now.  Just in time our 2024 planting is producing, so that means easier harvest and more variety!
 
MIDDLE RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL
 
The date is fast approaching!  The wonderful sights and sounds of our music festival is happening again, this time on August 24.
 
We are super excited to be hosting our festival again, complete with a very exciting line-up guaranteed to get you out of your seats and dancing! And while you are welcome to bring your snacks and beverages, we will also have our fan favourite, New Leaf Planet-Based Foods on site slinging some delish food!
 
As usual, the doors open at 2pm and the festival goes til 11pm. Kids under 12 are free.
 
You can purchase tickets here:
 
FARM STORE NOTES
 
THINGS TO NOTE FROM US: Starting this week are a larger variety of herbs, dill seed heads, and we will have XL basil bunches available too.  
 
From the field we have carrot bunches, beets, fennel, greens, head lettuces, radish, green onions, choi, kale, chard and herbs.  From the greenhouses are tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and jalapenos.
 
 
FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
 
Blueberries: pints from Bluegroves (Eagle) and flats from Blueberry Hill (Rodney)
 
Pfenning's (New Hamburg): Red potatoes, shelling peas.
Through Pfenning's: Ontario tomatoes, rhubarb (#2), snow peas and mushrooms.  Travelling from further away; celery, fuji or jazz apples, citrus, ginger, turmeric.
 
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): broccoli, kohlrabi, parsley and sweet potatoes.
 
Mazak (St. Thomas): Garlic scapes (#2)
 
Bakery: La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas) and Artisan Bakery (London) are both available.
 
Dairy: Milk, yogurt, and curds are from Mistyglen Creamery (Belmont).  Please note: bottles and jars need to be rinsed well before being returned.
 
Pantry: Kombucha packs and fire cider are from Booch (London) and cold-pressed sunflower and hemp oil are from Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville)
 
 
All smiles despite the big rush to harvest before Wednesdays storm

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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