The Autumn Garden...

Sometimes I think this is the most beautiful time of year in the garden, maybe it's because I am trying to hold onto something I know is quickly fading away...

high bush blueberry


oregano


cool season crops



sage & carrots for thanksgiving

nearing the end...

CSA week 22

We are really getting down to the end of the CSA season, next week will be the final pick up. Sad in a way, but I have timed my Fall crops just right and I am very close to being able to start my own harvesting of Arugula and Baby Bok Choi. I am hoping to have a steady harvest of fresh greens well into the Winter months.

October Harvests

Still harvesting some wonderful root vegetables!

The Last Fruit share....

Fruit Share. week 12

With great sadness, I picked up my final fruit share of the 2009 season

Here is the description of this week's share provided by North Star Orchard

Emperor Apples (Almost solidly red, but with a dull skin...there's no 'shiny' to them!) - These are possibly the hardest apples we've ever met. Unless you cut them with a knife, the first bite can be hard to achieve, but after that you'll be fine. They have a nicely balanced sweet flavor, and are quite juicy considering how hard they are!

Eclipse Apples (mostly dark red and shiny) - Don't let the color fool you; these babies are quite tart. Super-juicy though, with a flavor that reminds me of really fresh apple cider. You can eat these or use them to cook with. I understand they make a wicked-good apple dumpling.

Golden Russet Apples (golden and russeted!)- This is a classic, 400+ year old antique variety. Hey, if they look this weird and have been around that long, there must be something awesome about them....and there is! Golden Russet have an amazingly complex sweet flavor and a very unique firm texture. They're really unlike any other apple...but people who know them line up to get their hands on them! Great for snacking, if the kids are suspicious because of their appearance ...well, lucky you - you won't have to share!
(Caution: these kind of look like Asian pears! A good identifier is that they still have their full stems!)

Niitaka Asian Pears - Note: These are different from the 'Olympic' you received the past two weeks! Niitaka have a texture and flavor somewhat in-between that of Hosui and Olympic. They have a pleasant crunch, and their mildly sweet flavor is a great counterpoint to serve with curry or other spicy dishes and on salads containing spicy greens and/or strong cheeses. They also stand up well to cooking. These will keep for a very long time in your fridge...likely even to the New Year!


... and one personal note, those Golden Russet Apples (they are in the left side of the basket) are the tastiest Apples I've ever eaten!

Here is the entire season of fruit from North Star Orchards

CSA updates...

Veggie Share . Week 20


Fruit Share. Week 11

harvest cards...

I am making a very limited edition of Harvest Prints from the photographs of the 2009 season. Hand made cards on acid free heavy card stock. The cards are 5" X 7" with an individual photograph on the front and a blank interior. The backs are signed and dated. I have made up a few dozen of these for personal use and thought I would offer them to readers of this blog. These are nice individual pieces of mini-art to collect, or would certainly make a thoughtful gift to a fellow gardener. $10 each, and that includes postage for first class mail.If you would like one, just browse through the blog and pick out your favorite photograph. I have made up cards for most of my favorite weeks of the Pennypack CSA photos, as well as several nice shots from my own garden. Just tell me what you want, and if I don't have it made already, I'll make up a new one. I have a Paypal account, and would prefer to use it for payments just to keep things simple.


Reach me at MetroFarming@gmail.com

Thanks again for reading and following this blog throughout the season!

October beginnings

Worm's eye view of the cold crop seedlings. Nice to have an entire bed of things sprouting while everything else is slowly withering away.