Falling Into a New Season
Year after year, seasons change and every growing season brings its own challenges; droughts happen or like last year, we had the rainiest season on record. But. after years working outside and on the land many farmers have observations that indicate to them that the seasons are a changing!
This week, I (Hi! It's Shannon) caught up with Andrew from Clark Farm in Carlisle, MA to ask him about the changes he sees and what it means for the farm.
When I asked about the first signs and signals he sees that mean fall is here, he mentioned migrating birds, tomatoes dying off, shifting placement of the sun where it rises on the horizon, and as a big surfer, hurricane season picking up and bringing waves!
On the farm though, the change in season means that their workday starts a little later. Planting new veg stops as harvesting takes up most of the day and in getting ready for next season, cover crops are spread over the fields.
Highlights of this time of year for Andrew include seeing cover crops taking over the field. It's a blank canvas for him to envision of the possibilities for next season. His favorite crops this time of year are spinach and broccoli. And, watching as their livestock (hello sheepies!) graze down crop residue which brings a lot of entertainment on the farm.
Just this week while chatting with a friend who happens to also farm, we joked how quickly and abruptly it feels that fall is hurdling towards us. I did cut off the joking when he said he felt that we might see now before a first hard frost.. Here's to enjoying this new season and that my friend is incorrect with his prediction of early snow!
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Recipes (MA)
Pear and Arugula Salad - Have as a salad or if you're getting a grain of the week, use to top on a pizza! Add in some caramelized onions and *chef's kiss*.
Grilled Fluke - Get the most of your grill while you still can and fire up some of these!
Monkfish Lobster Roll - I will never not share this recipe when we have monkfish available!
Sheet Pan Tofu and Sweet Potatoes - You know how much I love a one pan meal! This is also a great recipe to practice with what
Pork Chops with Beet Puree and Greens - Use your beet tops instead of chard and enjoy this super delicious dinner.
Strip Steak with Radishes - Oh my Lordy this looks delicious.
Tips and Tricks for storing your food and getting the most from your shares can be found here.
—Shannon
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Recipes (ME + NH)
Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions - Fall is here! As much as it sucks that summer is slipping away, it's a pretty magical time of year in New England. Better pork chop and apple it up.
Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples - Lovely autumnal side dish, right here. Use any greens, like the collards some of you are getting this week.
Sicilian Grilled Swordfish - Still wanna cling to summer? This'll do nicely. The sauce, called salmoriglio, is a Sicilian masterclass in KISS, keep[ing] it simple, stupid.
Skate Wing With Brown Butter - I know skate wigs some folks out but it is so dang tasty. And, like the recipe above, this is a super quick and classic hunk of dining, right here.
Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy - There're plenty of variations of this sort of dish. It looks delicious and we've never done it before. That shall be remedied this weekend with the always lovely mushrooms from Fruit of the Forest.
Apple Butter - Dear god. Apple butter on toasted and buttered sourdough?
Tips and Tricks for storing your food and getting the most from your shares can be found here.