We left NYC; temperatures were in the mid-60's. Upon arrival at Katchkie Farm, it was in the mid-50's, clear sky with brilliant sun. The ride up was magnificent. Fall colors were evident once we exited Manhattan, where the season is still late summer. Leaves swirling, crisp air, red and yellow leaves. it was as though someone had flicked a switch. I really did not realize the seasons had changed.
Karyn, Itala, Sally, Nancy and Johannes had finished harvesting for the Saturday Delmar Farmers Market and were putting final touches on the bouquets of some very autumnal looking flowers. Anna, completing her second week as Executive Director of Sylvia Center, jumped in to help.
I went straight away to the tomato greenhouse to find the Sun Gold tomatoes for snacking and picking. The tropical feeling greenhouse was awash in blossoms and the scent of tomatoes. Heaven!
Off to a walk in the fields“ where the giant sunflowers were ending their glorious rule. A quick call to Nina in NYC, who referenced the National Sunflower Association for guidance on what to do next with the fading heads. Cut them off was the verdict and their next act will be educational; drying the seeds and then eating them with our school groups who will come to visit in the Sylvia Center Kids Kitchen or at the farm in October.
It is the final week or two of eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. Peppers are out the door right behind them. Arugala, hearty greens, beets, turnips, kale, brussel sprouts and the cold weather vegetables are doing well. Hundreds of butternut squash, and other winter squash varieties are stored in the cool garage. Other storage vegetables, like onions and carrots have found their spots as well.
It is a bittersweet transition time - the intensity of the past few months starts to dissipate and the daily race to water, harvest, plant, plow, pick, spray, rest and begin again, winds down. Off-season project lists slowly begin to surface.
I am able to gather enough ingredients for a few more Katchkie Farm Lasagnas. I need to get them into the freezer so that we can enjoy them once the ground is frozen. I plan on going to the Greenmarket early tomorrow morning, in search of other end of season vegetables - for one more final romance in the kitchen, then into the freezer.
Slowly, it begins to sink in. The growing season of 2009 will end. It will soon be time to think about new crops and greenhouse agendas. We still have several weeks of markets and CSA, so it is far from over but summer is now officially gone.