Share # 18 October 2nd & 4th

Crop List: Carrots, Basil, Onions, Red Onions, Specialty Basil, Parsley, Fennel, Leeks, Garlic, Kale, Daikon Radish, Red Norland Potatoes, Purple Viking Potatoes, Maybe Watermelon Radish, Beets, Broccoli, Turnips, Green Tomatoes
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The last share!!! This is it. The garden has handed over its bounty. We have reaped all we have sown for the year. Now we will begin planting next year's garlic, cleaning out the garden, tilling composting and spreading the biodynamic preps. It has been our pleasure to grow for you this year. We hope you feel nourished. Please sign up for 2019 and high five your site host!
The Cosmic Dance!
I got to witness it in the garden this fall. It was one of those September mornings when I was feeling grateful for the warmth of the rising sun, and was cutting sunflowers. The dog followed me out and was making his rounds. Olivia was harvesting Swiss chard 25 feet away and Meghan was harvesting dill about 30 feet the other direction. We were in a line all working. A magpie swooped in, followed by a raven. Both were flying so low. The magpie not too concerned about it's chaser. They came so low over the sunflower stumps that the dog barked and tentatively jumped upwards. The raven was relaxed enough and low enough that it had to pull its feet up to avoid the dog...who was also unsure of what to do. I don't think big birds get that close to him very often!
The magpie momentarily alighted on a t-post that held the pea trellis, before It flew off with the raven in pursuit. It circled around Olivia and came back on the other side of me, before flying past Meghan and out of the garden. They came into the garden and did a figure 8 around us before leaving! They were close. Ravens always astonish me. Their size, the endless black of their color, the knowing eyes, they are territorial and mate for life. The beauty of magpies enthralled me when I moved west. 
I keep coming back to the fact that the magpie choose flying around us as a safety maneuver to get away from the raven. And that the raven was also unfazed by us and followed the magpie. Those 2 birds most likely live at or near the farm. They know our routines and how we behave in the garden. Just like I know the magpie probably picks thru our compost and eats the leftover grain out of the pig trough. We dance around them, and they dance around us. All of us existing in the same space. I like to think we honor the wildlife that surrounds us at the farm. Even if we are not conscious of it every moment. I like to think we are taking their needs into account, and that we would hear them, notice them and listen if we weren't.
I like to think we (all beings) are dancing together, sometimes leading, sometimes following, sometimes solo-ing, sometimes sitting out and taking care of ourselves. It has become an analogy of mine for stumbling (dancing sounds better right?!) through this life. It is so easy for me to forget these other beings are all around, doing the same thing. But if we stay kind, open and truthful these other beings show up to let us know they are dancing with us too. Sometimes I have to dig deep to even notice what is going on around me. Sometimes other beings dance around me awakening me to the moment, reminding me of all the beauty in the world, in every moment! Sometimes I don't know those other beings are there, but I still need to stand up for them, give them voice and trust them. I believe if we do that, they will trust us, find us as safe spot and show us their beauty while they dance with us. When I am blessed with their presence, I am responsible for acknowledging the world is a more beautiful place because of them.
 I hope the food we grew for you allowed you to take care of yourself while you are dancing through life. I hope you have your magical moments with ravens and magpies! I hope you found yourself surrounded in beauty this summer and it continues this winter. When it didn't feel so beautiful,  I hope our food gave you the strength to change it.  My prayer for all the food that leaves Cosmic Apple is that it gives people the energy to make the world a better place. Thanks for dancing with us this summer!!!
2018 Garden Review
We are happy about all the produce the garden grew this summer. Each year holds its treasures and growing pains. It was a challenging growing year. It was so hot, we thought it would have been one of the best years ever! But many plants were stunted by the heat like the broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower. The weeds of course were going gangbusters. We also spoke to many home gardeners, with LOTS of experience and they expressed having an "off" year also. We can't put our finger on it, but some things just seemed off this year. Every year in the garden can't be "bigger and better", Mother Nature rules and she brings balance. I'm grateful for this. Off years happen, but overall we still feel like we fed a lot of people and grew top quality produce.
We were happy about the carrots this year! We experimented with a late season planting of peas which we were happy with too. The peas all year were great! The tomatoes! YUM! They did well this year too. The spring plants, turnips, spinach and arugula did great before the heat came on! The kale also was a star this year!
We were lucky to have an amazing crew of dedicated, kind, fun and hardworking employees. We felt grateful to be surrounded by the people we were working with.
We are also happy about our switch to Tuesday or Thursday share pickups. It seems to work better for you, the CSA members, and we are happy about that!

​2019 Memberships are now available!
We are taking sign-ups for 2019!! Your site host will have a signup sheet for you this week or you can follow the below link and print one out. If you sign up and pay at a pick up location by the end of this season,  you will get a free Cosmic Apple hat or T-shirt! Both made with organic cotton. Note: we don't have a lot of shirts left, sourcing purple organic cotton shirts has gotten tough, but we have lots of hats! Cash or checks accepted, you can pay online...but then you don't get the gear, and get charged a card fee.
Signing up now guarantees you the pick up location of your choice, gets you early season pricing and free gear!

2019 Sign Up Form

Recipes

​The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of the beef and pork listed below. If you know you want something, please email me or tell your site host and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved for you. I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit!
Beef Available: Tenderloin, Sirloin Steak, Sirloin Tip Roast, Bottom Round Roast, Liver, Ground Beef, Patties and Heart
​Pork Available: Bacon, Pork Chops, Shoulder Roast, Loin Roast, Shank, Spare Ribs, Breakfast Sausage, Chorizo, Grandpa Restuccia's Sausage, Neck Bones, Fat and Heads

WASH YOUR VEGGIES!!
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Bring Bags to pick-ups!

If you can't make it to pick up your veggies, send a friend!
Missed shares are forfeited for the week. 
Members get 20% off at the Farmer's Markets!
The Driggs Market: Fridays 9-1 (Last one 10/5)
Questions? Comments? recipes to share? [email protected]