If a walnut falls...

gramma the glowing chicken at your service

our lil chickies are now 4 months old, soon to be laying beautiful eggs.

mown sunflowers in field 9.soon to be seeded for next years summer chicken pasture

If a walnut falls in the orchard and no one is around to hear, does it make a sound?

the sounds of fall.
 dry leaves crackling underfoot.
the beating of wind and wings of a starling murmuration overhead.
the rustling of dry grass as a young snake slithers by.
clanging and crashing of empty metal bins traveling over bumpy roads to the vineyard
truck engines, back up "beep beep"s, harvesting machines
crunching of  leaves and popping of succulent vines hunting for winter squash
and celebratory "hoorahs!"

I think last weeks heat wave was the wave goodbye to summer. "Kind of sad, its really the end." a friend said as we talked about the weather. With every end, a new beginning. I witness this cycle often on the farm.
 There is no off season for farming really. Always a long list of things to do and a longer list of things to get to afterwards. But hey its what you make it to be. Step by step. ooh baby.
 As I pull up irrigation lines, remove plants and or spade them in to prepare the ground for a winter cover crop I give thanks for the food that these fields yielded, remembering the planting,weeding, and harvesting, the friends big and small who helped along the way, and the lessons learned. The imprint of our work. I say my little peace to the little piece.acknowledge the cycle of life. give thanks. hi five the earthworms and off to the next thing without too much fuss. Nice to know there is still that sentimental feeling out there.

There is a balance.

Hedgerow planting and veggie bed clean up this coming weekend Oct 12-14.
If you can join us, please do. come for dessert friday night with the folks, saturday we get to work on planting and mulching trees/shrubs in our fledgling hedgerow.  Be prepared for getting dirty and a good time, bring digging forks if you got 'em. We can accommodate a handful of folks so let us know if your interested. email mooneymanna at gmail.

Walnut harvest is coming too! Keep your calendar clear near the end of the month as we get ready for the nuts to fall. More info in the coming weeks.

and finally just a reminder that this is the final month of our CSA veggie delivery for 2012.
It's been a great first year folks. thanks. couldnt have done it with out you!
Sign-up for our 2013 program will begin just around the corner,  secure your spot as we embark into a time beyond the Mayan calendar.ooh ahh. what's gonna happen?

arctostaphylos manzanita (common manzanita) in the hedgerow

cercis occidentalis (western redbud) in the hedgerow

In da box:

Nicola Potatoes: Full Moon. Rating low on the glycemic index and high on eating enjoyment, the Nicola potato is great for classic potato salad aussie style.  or this simple recipe for gnocchi.   Unwashed for better storage. keep refrigerated. another recipe dilly bean  potato salad

Stuttgarter "Scrunions": Full Moon. I learned this word "scrunion" from a UC davis student paper regarding CSA management. I took it to mean "scrawny onion" or combo of scallion and onion. not quite a spring onion and not a full bulb. Delicious mild flavor. use like a green onion. greens make a great topping or garnish, mini bulb when you need a small amount of onion. nice raw.

Yellow Wax Bean: Full Moon. Mysterious circumstances surround our bush bean's this year. plants grew great, got a little burned during the triple degree weeks, but recovered and set a decent amount of beans,  they remained small and immature but still tasty. Mom and Dad even helped pick these beans off the plant, a real family affair to bring these to you. Dilly bean

Arava Melon: Full Moon. Most likely the final harvest for these fellas. Super tasty treat. named for the long valley that traverses much of the desolate Negev Desert in southern Israel where this hybrid melon hails from.

Kellog's Breakfast/Blush Tomatoes: Full Moon. Also final harvest for these one's too. Frosty temps are quickly approaching and we bid you adieu . so long, farewell...

Uncle David's Dakota Dessert Squash: Leonardis Organics. A great buttercup squash with a long name.
Sweet nutty orange flesh with a softish green and freckled skin. my favorite cook method is roasting 1-2" strips of squash slathered in oil salt, pepper and a little balsamic at 400 deg. about 40 minutes.

Touchstone Gold Beet: Full Moon. Fine flavored golden gems thru and thru. A succulent head of greens to enjoy as well. beets and greens go great with fat & protein. cheese, seed oil, yogurt, toasted  nuts, meat. time to put on that winter coat of our own

Red Russian Kale: Full Moon. Pretty much done thinning now and the kale has grown so fast  it has out grown our row cover. Tore the roof off that mutha if you know what i mean. Full of vigor to keep you going. thankfully the temp has dropped a good 10 degrees and humidity has risen but the cabbage moths are out in full force so you may find some tiny green catepillars inching next to a hole.