We went from just a few tomatoes trickling in to OMG I have to pick day and night to keep up! It seems early and so I looked back and I used the same “Tomato Time” subject line two weeks later last season. Unfortunately I don’t think this means tomato season will be extended by two extra weeks. Quite the opposite. The bottom tomato leaves are dying off already, indicating early blight (not the devastating one) is enjoying all this rain. My prediction is we’ll have an intense tomato harvest that will pretty much wrap up by the end of August – very unlike our usual late October/early November tomato finish.
Objectively, we grow the BEST tasting cherry tomatoes. But because they’ve been selected for their flavor rather than their portability, their skin is super thin and they burst right open at the mere thought of rain drops falling on them (tomatoes absorb water). Plus we pick them ripe instead of picking them green and gassing them so they turn ripe. Earlier this week, with a pretty intense t-storm headed directly at us as observed on the radar…and the rumbling…and the lightning, I did what any farmer would do – grabbed my tomato bin and picked like I’ve never picked before. Must save cherry tomatoes! I got one side picked before I had to go back for another bin. Meanwhile the sky turned black and I decided a few more pints of tomatoes just wasn’t worth it. Plus, I get to eat the splits right off the plant so it’s really not all bad. As long as the plants dry out between now and when I see you, there will be cherries for all! And definitely plenty of heirlooms to boot!
This is a meat week. Happy animals make the best meat, and Jeff grows raises some of the happiest animals in the Northeast! Please support his work, it’s not at all easy. Here’s a list of what he has available, including 15 different types of handmade sausage! Email him directly with orders at jeff
Veggies Ordering and Pickup Procedures:
Put your veggie orders in online before 6am Monday. We’ll have your order available for you to pick-up from 4-7pm Monday on the farm at 64 Potter Hill Rd in Grafton. Pickups are in the long white garage on the left across from the big red barn at the crest of the hill.