We’re weather watching. Reviewing all of the various projection models. Hoping the one that is right is the one that shows this storm is headed out to sea.
Even if Joaquin heads out to sea, there is no doubt we are getting rain. More rain. A lot of rain. We’re digging temporary ditches to help guide the inevitable streams of water that will develop around here in the next few days. We are grateful for our practice of growing in raised beds, as that will hopefully help our fall crops survive this large rain event.
October is one of our most abundant months. We harvest a powerful lot of food this time of year. A lot of folks in the greater Richmond area are entering into storm prep mode; so are we. And we’d really love your storm prep mode to include loading up on the vegetables that we are picking today! Here’s our plan:
We are picking today instead of Friday as usual, as the forecast for Friday is for very heavy rain. Our Farmstand is brimming with options today! (Online ordering is also open, as usual, for our Market Share members to reserve their selection.)
Friday we will be hunkering down in our barn, packing up our vegetables for Saturday markets. The forecast for Saturday is that rain will likely be lighter. We will be at the Brandermill Market and the South of the James market. (The Market at Magnolia Green has decided to cancel market for this Saturday. We encourage our customers from that market to drive to our farmstand to shop. Our farm is less than 3 miles away from the Magnolia Green market! Or swing up to the lovely Brandermill market, a mere 6 miles away.)
Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the hours for the Richmond Farm Tour! We will be here to greet wonderfully curious visitors, unless the event organizers cancel the event. (Info will be updated on the RVA Farm Tour website Friday at 3:00.) We will be based in the barn, and we will give our guided tours each day at 3:00 unless the weather is dangerous. We will have to limit how much of our farm can receive foot traffic after these heavy rains, so the tour will be limited to the higher, drier parts of our land. We will also have honeybee equipment and information in the barn for lots of hands-on learning, and our farmstand will remain open!
Sunday sees potential impact from Joaquin. Our Farm Share pick-up at First UU begins on Sunday morning, and we will be there unless the roads are dangerous or the church cancels service. We hope everyone stays as dry as possible on Sunday and enjoys eating our nourishing produce! (And visiting us for the Farm Tour unless Joaquin is here and fierce.)
Monday we will take stock of how things fared here. Cross your fingers. We’re crossing ours. We would love the fall abundance that we have planned for, and planted, to still be here and able to be harvested over the next few weeks.
This week’s harvest includes: Beets, Broccoli Greens, Chard, Collards, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Hearty Greens Mix, Kale, Lettuce Heads, Lettuce Mix, Okra, Peppers (sweet and spicy), Radishes, Salad Mix, Tomatoes (red and green)…and our Naturally Leavened, Organic Multigrain Bread.
Recipe Suggestions: see these and others cataloged on our Recipe Page
These were all served at our CSA Farm Party last weekend, to rave reviews!
Radish Dip
Beet Hummus
Kale Apple Cake (don’t let the name fool you – this is crazy yummy)
Beet Chocolate Cake
Arugula Salad with Feta and Raisins (but organic red raisins were used instead of the golden it calls for)
Kale Salad with Raisins & Cheddar
Homemade Italian Dressing with Garlic added – Serve on our Salad mix
Tomato-Sweet Pepper Relish
Chinese Cabbage was the one item in this week’s share that was not featured at our Farm Party, but we most love it in a Cabbage Stir-Fry with your choice of protein, or Cole Slaw, either American or Asian
2015 Market Share CSA Members: Reserve your selection online to pick up on Saturday, Oct 3 at our farm, the Brandermill Green Market or the South of the James market.
Vegetables not ordered by our Market Share CSA members will join us at the Brandermill Green Market or the South of the James market this Saturday. Anyone may order select goods from us through Fall Line Farms, Richmond’s online farmers’ market. You can use discount code “broadfork” to earn a complimentary 6 month subscription.
Enjoy ~
Janet, Dan, and the whole Broadfork crew
