Some days I just have to document the awesomeness that is farm breakfast in our house. Thanks Casey for cooking me a delicious feast every morning. And, look at all those delicious summer treats!
Hard to believe it right now amidst more and more hot days (and humidity — where did that come from?), but summer really is winding down. We passed Lammas earlier this month, which is the cross-quarter day marking the mid-point between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. It’s also a celebration of the harvest season.
Here in Oregon, our “harvest season” lasts more or less all year, but certainly these weeks at the end of summer and beginning of fall take on a different level of frenzy around this particular farming activity. Right now we are awaiting our oat harvest (to-be-combined by a neighbor friend), picking apples as they ripen, watching our field corn ear up, and enjoying the bounty of summer fruits. Pick, pick, pick.
And, for many of you, these final days of August also mean the ending of what qualifies as your summer season, as school starts just around the corner. So few days left, especially with an earlier-than-usual Labor Day.
Even though Casey grows weary of moving pipe, and I am excited for the end of sweaty days, we are savoring this golden season on the farm. The food is outstanding, of course. I mean, really truly phenomenal. Every bite just sings with fresh warmth from the sun.
For your enjoyment, here are some sights from around the homestead bit of the farm this week:
As you may have noticed in that photo above, we harvested the very first of this season’s muskmelons this week. The planting looks great, and we may just beat our soil-borne melon disease this year and have melons to share with everyone!
Rusty is also very proud of the first ripe watermelon of the year — grown in his garden! We will be eating it tonight after dinner.
Cucumbers have been a staple in our house this summer (mostly for eating our other staple: squash-a-ganouj!). Rusty often helps peel and slice the cucumbers.
Random fun bug photo #1: we found a “water scorpion” in the kid’s paddling pool last week. I can see why they wanted me to remove this before they got in it!
Random bug photo #2: Casey found this ENORMOUS larva while splitting some cherry wood for the upcoming winter. It was inside the wood. It’s some kind of wood borer.
… and just when I think these two kids can’t get ANY cuter …
… they climb up on the turkey gate …
… and ham it up. These two are the perfect antidote to summer seriousness on the farm. All fun and giggles and sticky juicy faces.
Hope you all are making the most of these final days of summer heat. Certainly, the warmth can last into September in most years, but these are the guaranteed days for swimming in the river and rejoicing in abundance.
Enjoy this week’s vegetables!
Your farmers, Katie & Casey Kulla
P.S. A huge thanks to everyone who came out for our farm potluck this last Saturday! It was such a lovely group of people, and we so enjoyed the easy conversation and delicious food prepared by all. If you missed this one, come on out to our CSA pumpkin patch open house on Sunday, October 26!
P.P.S. An update since I initially posted this:
Rusty’s watermelon was AMAZING! : )
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Meet this week’s vegetables:
- Tomatoes
- Tomatillos
- Apples
- Cucumbers
- Beets
- Kohlrabi
- Summer squash & zucchini
- Potatoes
