Fork & Knife

Spaghetti Squash

For those of you not used to using Pasta Spaghetti Squash, this site will help immensely. It is ideal for folks who are sensitive to wheat.

A good picture and other information is here.

Delivery Day Change

Newsflash:
For those of you not picking up last week, I am trying to change everyone's delivery to Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at the Columbia Farmers' Maket site (where we have been picking up all year). Those of you with home delivery will get that delivery after 6 p.m. on Thursday. We were going to have to change at the end of October as the weekday market ends. I usually go to Saturday, but with thirty of you, I would not have room on the truck for anything else.

The change was motivated by an offer for a gig working in the Columbia Regional ER from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. This schedule leaves me pretty wiped out and thus makes it difficult to stay on my feet to pick for Tuesday and Wednesday deliveries. And there is only so much my long suffering helper Jordan can do by himself. The wringing out is exacerbated by caring for Miles from the time I get home until just before I go back. He does not tend to sleep a lot during the day. I got eight hours of sleep in the three days last week. I am not twenty or even thirty anymore and so cannot do that schedule for an extended period of time. I do not know how long this gig will last. I have worked for SOS Temporary Service for five or six years and usually end up with very long assignments.

The drought and Lisa's difficulties during pregnancy leave me little alternative as we have been teetering on the edge of a financial abyss for several months now, but I cannot say I am happy with this schedule or being away from Miles and Lisa so much or stepping away from farming or being just absolutely beat.

I am in the process of getting together this year's questionnaire for subscribers and would greatly appreciate detailed responses to try to learn what went well and what didn't. This process will lead to evaluating changes in the way things are done, what subscriptions will cost, even whether the CSA goes forward. I had hoped to only work on the farm and to make a living wage doing this, but I'm not there yet. The price of gas and other inputs has risen dramatically and I have had to find help to do everything. Miles' arrival complicates things somewhat but also provides an avalanche of joy.

One of the things I will probably do is allow current members to join for next year at this years' prices until December 31. It will be a great boon to me and will allow you to save some money by paying at least the down payment for next year by the deadline. I would like to thank everyone for joining this year and apologize for my (and the weather's) shortfalls during the season. I think we managed nearly ten items per week but the variety was down and the amount was down due to the weather, mostly, and a couple of mistakes on my part (not getting enough regular red tomatoes transplanted). Most of these issues will be solved before next season. Drip irrigation here I come. Rest assured you have seen the worst season in my father's sixty plus year memory of gardening. I will do better.

June 12-14 Delivery & Coming Soon

Now Playing:
Radish
Daikon Radish
Snow/Snap Pea
Hakurei/Scarlet Queen Red Stem Turnip
Collard/Mustard Mix
Swiss Chard
Wildfire Lettuce Mix
Cabbage
Broccoli
Green Onion
Green Garlic
Arugula
Kale

Coming Soon:
Potato
Garlic
Carrot
Beet
Summer Squash
Onion

Last Wednesday Delivery

This Wednesday, October 27 will be the last delivery during the week. It is the 25th delivery overall. We will shift to Saturdays because the weekday market is ending. I will continue to deliver until November 20 which is the last market. I will, however, be gone November 13 to a CSA conference in Michigan. I am trying to get ideas on how to do this better than I am currently doing it.

We will make it to 29 or 30 deliveries this year. The cost per week is as follows: $15.52/week for Part-time Gardener, $12.93/week for Weekend Gardener, and $10.35/week for 20-Minute Gardener.

I may actually have stuff even after November 20, but it will depend on weather. I think that we will probably stop November 20 and if you want stuff after that, we will go to a pay as you go format, like coming to the farmers' market. I will email you weekly with what is available. You will probably need to come to the farm to pick up any produce after the 20th of November.

First and further deliveries

The first delivery went very well. All but two of the people who are to pick up at market showed up on Saturday and even one home delivery member showed up. One couple has not yet arrived in Columbia from up north and one I have yet to hear from. The home deliveries went pretty smoothly and should fit together well with the market and my return home afterwards.

The overwhelming response has been that delivery on Wednesdays at the Columbia Farmers' Market from 4 to 6 p.m. works for everyone. So the next delivery will be Wednesday May 12. By then you should be receiving peonies in your bouquets. The food menu will include Hakurei turnips along with the stuff you got this week. There will be more spinach and mesclun mix.

First Delivery

The first "official" delivery for produce will be this Saturday at the Columbia Farmers' Market. I will email everyone the pickup details. I will call those without email. I will need directions to the houses of those of you getting home delivery.

You should receive green garlic, radish, spinach, mesclun mix, green onion, flowers, and perhaps some lettuce.