From the Farmer
Since May or June, the barn swallows have been darting in and out of our barns constantly, buzzing by our ears and through the horses legs with such nonchalance it stopped even being a game. Nests were built, chicks were hatched, fledglings fledged, another round of chicks were hatched... But all of a sudden, a couple of weeks ago, the barns fell silent. Since the last round of swallows fledged from their nests they have all disappeared and we have been missing them and wondering where they've gone.
Well, Maggie's birthday seemed like as good a time as any to find out, and with an invitation from friends to visit and paddle near the mouth of the Connecticut River, where it meets Long Island Sound, we went sleuthing. We had heard we might find them there on their way south for the winter and we took to the water in search.
Alas, after hours of paddling up and down the river we saw nary a swallow. Cormorants - plenty, Herons - a few, Ospreys - heaps, but swallows, not a one. The afternoon came and the afternoon went, no swallows. We had a lovely evening picnic on an uninhabited island, no swallows. We took to the water once more as the sun was setting and still no swallows. But then, as if some inaudible siren had lifted its voice, the swallows were drawn from the land. By ones, tens, then hundreds, then thousands, until half of the sky was filled with a million birds or more.
After much congregating at great heights, the huge cloud of birds suddenly sprung a leak and a thick stream of swallows poured out of the sky, descending at full speed, in a spiraling, funnel shape, disappearing into the marshy grasses below, as though a trap door in the earth had opened to swallow them all. This went on for some time until finally the last of them had emptied out of the sky. How so many birds could completely disappear into a small patch of grass is entirely beyond me, but in their descent, I'm quite certain I saw a few swallows tip their wings at us. Surely these were the ones raised on Natural Roots moths and mosquitoes.
Sad as it was to say goodbye as we paddled away over misty, still water by the light of the quarter moon, we knew we would see our swallows again next spring when they return to our barns to lay and hatch in the same nests they've inhabited for so many summers.
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Cover crop sprouts rocket out of the ground with the recent rain!
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Harvest News
This week we bid a fond farewell to some of summer's staples. Today zucchini and melons were disk harrowed into the soil, as they had yielded all they had to offer this year.
Carrots will not be in the share this week and possibly beyond, while we wait for the next planting to size up. Remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder - carrots may just taste that much better when they return in another week or two. The good news is that the fall plantings look thick and vibrant.
Swiss Chard is a healthy scratch this week, but should return to the lineup next week after some well deserved R & R (rest and regrowth).
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Maggie gathers the last of the cantaloupes.
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Harvest Report
Herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley (Curly & Flat) Plus PYO Edible Flower & Herb Garden as always!
Roots: Beets, Potaoes, Onions, Garlic
Fruits: Eggplant, Peppers, Hot Peppers, Summer Squash, and Tomatoes!
Greens: Arugula, Kale, Lettuce, Mesclun Salad Mix
Other Veggies: Broccolini, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Cabbage!
NEW: Kohlrabi, Cabbage, Onions!
PYO: Green Beans, Sunflowers, Cutting Flowers, and our Edible Flower & Herb Gardens
For Retail Sale: Everything! Some items may be limited
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Austin clips a fallow field with Tim and George (far), while Land and Gus (and David) follow them with the fertilizer drop spreader (near).
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CSA Pick-Up
(& Produce Buying Times)
Tuesdays & Fridays from 3 to 6:30 pm
Masks are optional.
Farm store is open daily, self serve, dawn to dusk. Some produce will be available in our new retail cooler during non-CSA times for purchase, but for the full selection of veggies, non-members should also come to shop during these CSA pickup times. |
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Squirrels are caching, birds are migrating, and horses are shedding their summer coats, all in preparation for the winter to come.
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