Sugar Pumpkin

Steady morning rain lifted after noon, actually got some sun in the late day. Temperature hung to the upper 60Fs.

Today was the double markets, so we spent a good chunk of the morning sorting out the crates. Gizzie oversaw most of the organizing while Newport and I filled up the store displays. Next up-- The foreman and I set out to the forest fields and cut 8 bushels worth of green peppers. After the sorting and the boxing, I got started laying out the CSA. Quite a spread today: 4 types of potatoes (red french fingerlings, yukon golds, kennebunks, reds), lettuce, spinach, butternut & butter cup squash, beets, red & green peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, chard, kale, eggplant, zucchini, string beans (green and yellow wax) and tiny ornamental pumpkins. No corn today-- the cold slowed down the ear development on our late fields, so nothing is ready to pick. They're inching along, but it'll take a few sunny days to spring 'em to readiness.

Bah and Old Rudolpho's family took the day off on account of the rain-- smart choice, as usual.

It was almost lunch by the time everything was ready. We loaded up the van, then Newport and I followed the boss/his daughter to the first market to set everything up. Back to the farm and a late lunch.


After lunch it was rinse, wash and repeat. I followed the boss and Gizzie off to second market-- got everything set up there. Finally got back to the farm and to real work-- Newport, the foreman and I headed off again to the forest fields. We cut 4 big crates worth of beets--washed 'em, tucked some into the CSA and chilled the rest (the cooler is finally up and running again). The boss forgot to leave us anymore jobs so it was time to get creative. First-- we tractored up to the hilltop and picked a few front loader's full of sugar pumpkins (meaty and sweet, great for pies). After stowing several hauls away, we filled a picked a big load of tiny ornamental/ larger ornamental pumpkins. We washed off the field dirt and arranged them around the store and gardens-- precious few days left for getting ready, the big congress visit is next Wednesday.

Closing time, just in time.


Health Asides: Still having problems with my left hand. I bound my fingers together all day and that spread out some of the strain. I doubt anything is broken (hairline fractures, etc), but hurts like a demon.

Doing some major drying work on my boots tonight. All the wet has done a number on the feet. Had my mother (a nurse) take a look at the rash spreading over my right foot-- she couldn't be sure: either its from rubbing against the wet boot leather or its a bad bacteria (think the early stages of trench foot). God damn it.

Time to get busy patching myself together-- one more day then its a long (2 day) weekend.

Take it easy.