Well, Here It Is the Last Delivery of the Season. Due to a Thoroughly Underwhelming Response

October 26th 2012

Well, here it is-- the last delivery of the season. Due to a thoroughly underwhelming response, we won't be extending the season on a la carte basis, so I guess this is it. Maybe it is for the best-- I'm awfully tired now, and looking forward to a little rest. I hope you have enjoyed the bounty of the harvest. It was, from our perspective, a pretty good year overall, though not without the occasional bummer. We are wondering how it was for you-- your honest feedback is very important to us. Please keep in mind, however, that I am very sensitive and take all criticism personally.

In your boxes:

Cabbage

Turnips

Potatoes

a cooking green

Would you believe that turnips were once the most popular vegetable in the United States My, how times have changed! The easiest way to eat them is to peel them, boil them, and mash them, with or without potatoes but definitely with butter.

We have had a major website misunderstanding with regards to the a la carte balances. I was under the impression that anyone could check their balance and pay by going to jadefamilyfarm.com/members/pay and that this was working just fine. As it turns out, this is not the case at all. Only the balances for the regular shares come up this way, and what's worse, even people with large balances due for their a la carte orders were told that they owed nothing. I'll try to clear this up on Monday and email you the results, or, if that doesn't work, send out invoices the old fashoned way-- by mule train. My apologies for any misunderstandings. I never would have dreamed that my biggest weakness as a farmer would be an intense dislike of computers, but inattention to this area probably costs me more business than all the bad weather and insect pests combined. Next year our packing house manager, Purana, will be increasing her hours and handling all the computer stuff.

Many people ask what we do in the winter. The truth is that winter is very short. We're aren't done in the field until the ground freezes, usually early December, and we start seeding in the greenhaus in January. We also have many infrastructure projects to work on, from putting up a new high tunnel to finishing the chicken coop to maintaining our tractors and other equipment. Then there is planning and marketing for next year and Simon and I are planning a trip to California to visit cousin Rebecca. Mostly, though, I just sit by the fire, brooding, and stare morosely into the ashes, waiting for spring.

Finally, I'd like to express my thanks-- firstly, to you, without whose support I couldn't do what I love, then to my fantastic crew of workers and interns, finally to my family, who make the farm what it is. Have a good winter!