(CSA Newsletter: Week 13)
Meet this week’s vegetables:
There’s no question about it: we are officially in our busiest season of the year. May and early June are the time of year when we plant, plant, plant (and do lots of ground prep and weeding too).
Around now, we have to plant most of our once-a-year crops (tomatoes, corn, potatoes, winter squash, onions, leeks) as well as our continued “succession” crops that we plant many times in a season (lettuce, broccoli, other greens, etc.). The combination makes for a very busy, often chaotic and stressful few weeks as we try to fit everything into the tight little dry spells provided by our Oregon spring weather (which is only predictable in its unpredictability).
This Sunday we realized that we were feeling stretched incredibly thin by spring planting and everything else going on in our life right now. Casey was fretting that we planted so little in April. He was feeling as though he’d wasted lots of good opportunities to work up ground as we focused on preparing our new house for move-in or research on the gravel quarry application or spent time with friends. Eventually, we remembered that actually we spent mostly rainy or wet days doing those things, which made Casey feel better but certainly didn’t change any of the facts in the fields.
Ultimately, we’re going to be fine. At this point, we’re still ahead of past springs for certain plantings (such as the peas, which are kicking butt right now!), and we’re not quite behind for others (the onions were planted earlier last year, but they’ll get out soon). Every spring feels a bit like this: we watch the weather … and fret and worry about the things that still need to be planted … and hope that the dry spell falls on the appropriate day of the week so that we’re free to plant rather than harvest … Now that we’re in our fifth season, it feels familiar, but it still feels real and urgent too. Yes, we know that the season will progress, but we also know that there will always be bumps in the road — we just have yet to discover them this year.
We also realized that we need to cut something out from our overloaded list of responsibilities right now. The farm is a top priority and so is taking care of Rusty, so those both getting to stay at the top of the list. Working on the gravel quarry stuff is also important. Even though it’d be easy to let this slip, we have to remember that the outcome of this situation will affect our farm for the next several decades, making it also a top priority.
So, we decided we need to back off on our socializing with friends (at least a little!) and work on the house. We’ve been slowly making some changes next-door: pulling up the carpet to prepare for refinishing the floor, removing wallpaper, popping a window in a wall … we’re not even half-way done getting the house ready to move into, and we’d like to move in soon. But other things need our attention more right now, so we’re going to take a break for at least the month of May. It’s disappointing, but I suppose making these kinds of hard decisions is what allows people to stay sane and effective amidst times of challenge.
And, even though we’re feeling over-burdened, we are continually grateful for so much. Sure, our son Rusty is a lot of work, but he is also healthy, growing, and an absolute joy.
… Sure, our farm’s future is up in the air as we wade through the possibility of a new kind of neighbor on the island, but we have a farm — we are full-time farmers with beautiful land that produces bountiful vegetables for our community.
… Sure, the spring work is overwhelming right now, but we have a great employee (with another great employee starting this week), very nice equipment, and every other assurance that the work will get done and our season will be as abundant as ever.
… Sure, some of our previously made plans with friends felt almost burdensome on this over-packed weekend, but we have wonderful friends and enjoyed the visits just as much as we would have any other time (and friends and family are what life is all about anyway).
… And, sure, working on a house in the spring is not the best possible timing, but we’ll eventually be moving into a wonderful old house that is perfect for our growing family and already filled with wonderful memories of laughing children.
So, yes, we’re feeling stretched by this spring. That is the truth. But the reason we’re stretched is because our life is full — full of wonderful gifts that bring with them responsibility too. I suppose this is one of the many lessons of becoming an adult — the things in life that are worth working to attain or worth working to keep and maintain. But, we do need to keep a healthy balance so that we don’t burn ourselves out or miss out on hours of play with baby Rusty.
Also, if you’re interested in learning more about the gravel quarry stuff, you can check out the website we put up: http://www.ProtectGrandIsland.com. The first public hearing before the Planning Commission is this Thursday, May 6, at 7 pm at the Yamhill County Courthouse. You all have a stake in the island too!
Hope you’ve been enjoying the dramatic spring weather lately. When you’re not anxiously waiting for a long dry spell, spring can be very entertaining! And, spring vegetables can be very yummy: lettuce, radishes, turnips, spinach, and more! Enjoy this week’s vegetables!
Your farmers, Katie & Casey Kulla
