CSA #22

Dear CSA-ers,
This week’s preassembled bag will contain radishes, romaine, arugula, icebox melons, cherry tomatoes, oregano, and garlic. Custom orders may be placed between now and Tuesday evening on the website at https://magneyfarm.locallygrown.net/market

The warm dry air and incessant wail of cicadas tell us that it is late summer here on the Magney Farm. Yet crisp mornings and the spicy fragrance of autumn asters in the air betray that Fall is just around the corner. September is what we call a “shoulder season,” the intersection point of two distinctly different seasons where the weather can go either way.
Historically, shoulder seasons have been our most difficult times for production. Summer vegetables are beginning to wind down, suffering from shorter day lengths and becoming erratic in their production. Autumn vegetables have yet to mature and struggle to get established while enduring the onslaught of high temperatures and peak pest insect populations. For this reason it is sometimes hard to put together CSAs during these shoulder seasons (if you were wondering, May is the equivalent shoulder season during Spring). Nevertheless, we are in a better position than we have ever been to face this time of year, thanks largely to a strong set of root crops.
The featured vegetable this week is garden arugula, known in Europe as “roquette” or “rocket.” Arugula can be eaten as salad or cooked as a green. Its flavor is tart and peppery, and it is particularly rich in Vitamin K and the mineral Calcium. This is the earliest we’ve dared to try a rotation of garden arugula, and likewise, this round will show some insect damage. Its flavor is nonetheless excellent and it will be double washed at the time when it gets to your door. Sometimes cosmetic imperfection of vegetables is the trade off for growing them organically. We hope that you understand and will enjoy this most piquant green.
As always, we thank you for your enduring support of our farm. Your support makes possible our growth as both a business and a part of your community. We invite you to connect with us and share your recipes, input, and creations. We can be tagged on facebook with “@Magney Legacy Ridge Farm” if you’ve liked and followed our page. Best to you and those you hold dear in this coming week!

Sincerely,
The Magney Legacy Ridge Farm Team