Peace and blessings at the Harvest Moon which occurred last nite.
I have been taking a break from as much technology as I can since you last heard from me. Farming activities have evolved from keeping crops alive during the record number of 100 degree days we’ve had this year, to the planting of this year’s winter crops, to the continuing staple foods harvest which will be the focus this week due to the window of sunny weather we’ll have. If you’d like to help harvest staple crops, get in touch with me or Farmer K of Sunroot Gardens. Everyone that helps in the harvest gets some of the crop.
While I’ve been away I’ve been doing a lot of reading, and a lot of thinking about what has worked well this season and what I’d like to do differently. There are a few changes happening that you should know about.
One of the most important changes is a new addition to the CSA. Many of you have met Annette who lives at the garden where the CSA distribution is held. Annette is back from her summer job and has agreed to help me run the CSA. Much of what you see manifest in that lovely garden space is due to Annette’s energy and contributions, and I have really enjoyed working with her. Her absence this summer was very noticeable. Thanks Annette! It’s good to have you back!
Having help with the CSA is going to allow me to work on some other projects that are important to me such as cooking and feeding some people, preserving more of the harvest, developing some more variety in what’s growing such as staple food crops and medicinals, and organizing some skill shares to pass along things that are working for us.
I’ve also been spending time with Nikki of RiverHouse CSA in Sellwood and we’ve decided to do some farming together as well. The gardens there are truly magical with Crystal Springs creek running through the land. The first time I visited I knew I wanted to help preserve and add my energy to this wild space in the city. It’s also a likely place for skill shares and cooking and eating, so I’ll keep you posted.
I’m very happy to be continuing my work with Sunroot Gardens as well. Collaborating on growing more crops in bigger spaces where the work is shared has been a very successful part of the season and the huge amount of winter crops now growing shows that. Sunroot is also where I find the most innovative approaches to growing enough food to matter, and what’s turned out to be a very important part of the farming, getting the food to people that are going to eat it.
One aspect of this that I believe is unique to Sunroot is the Friday “helper” pick and distribution. If you are someone that contributes to Calliope’s Table in a non-monetary way (land-lender, garden helper, bike mechanic, healer, etc.), you can join us on Fridays 4pm to dusk for fresh produce, impromptu socializing, and usually some farm cooking. It’s at the Firepit garden in the Hawthorne district, another wild space in the city you should see if you haven’t. Get in touch for directions, etc.
Just a reminder, the 2009 Spring/Summer CSA runs until Thanksgiving week in November, with weekly distributions on Wednesdays from 4-7pm. If you can’t make it by 7pm, or at all, get in touch and we can arrange something.
After Thanksgiving week the CSA will be converting to a monthly subscription that will offer produce year round. More details soon.
Enjoy the beautiful autumn weather!
Peace and peas,
Calliope
