CSA #23

Dear CSA-ers,

This week’s Preassembled Bag will contain Spring Mix, Muir Head Lettuce, Radishes, Green Onions, Fennel, Starlight Tomatoes, and Parsley. Orders may now be placed on the online market at: https://magneyfarm.locallygrown.net/market

We come into August through a spell of wet, cool hurricane weather. This is not unheard of for our region, though it does feel unusual to be wanting a jacket on August 1st. July has been a month of seemingly non-stop rain. This has its pluses in reducing our need for irrigation, but it also increases the maintenance the farm needs in terms of mowing and weeding, as well as delaying plantings and harvestings during heavy downpours.

As the name implies, the whole farm is located along the spine of a geologic ridge, meaning many of our growing spaces have significant slope. This is as often a blessing as it is a curse. Though many implements that would make production easier struggle with the steep slopes, we also drain excess rainwater very quickly. While flat land would have become flooded by recent downpours, our fields are back to being plantable within a day or two of heavy rains. Though it was not initially our intention, our grow spaces have begun to look and behave something like terraced agriculture from around the world.

The dedication to farming with the land instead of “against it” is starting to really show dividends in ways we never imagined. The soil health is visibly better than when we began, darker, fluffier, and full of the beneficial lifeforms that help plants grow. I remain personally astounded by the quality of radishes and arugula that are coming out of the farm this week. For context, these are typically early spring and late fall crops, not expected to perform well during summer. There are still a lot of farmers’ market customers who are incredulous to field grown lettuce mid-summer in Kentucky. All this is testament to the power of nurturing the land through organic practice. At this point, growing any other way is unthinkable.

None of this would be possible without your support of our farm and by extension, sustainable agriculture in Western Kentucky. We tell you this every week, but it cannot be expressed enough. Our gratitude is immense. Whether you are just interested, order sometimes, or every single week- we appreciate you! Thank you for empowering us to grow the way we love.

Sincerely,
The Magney Legacy Ridge Farm Team