Weather started clear and fine this morning-- that changed. A band of storms blew in from the West and the rain fell hard. A light drizzle filled the remainder of the afternoon. The temperature swung between 60F and 70F.
Arrived early again this morning-- hunted down Newport, we got the store squared away and then set up everything for the CSA/Double Markets. We headed up to the forest fields and cut 2 big crates of basil-- felt good to get away from the store/barn. I was off to a good start today-- my head is back in the work. Chatted for a long time with Newport up in the field, and that was good.
Back at the store the CSA spread was looking amazing. Today we had: tons of corn, tons of tomatoes (big buckets full of cherries too) , tons of cantaloupe, basil, peppers, green/yellow wax string beans, loose leaf/romaine lettuce, red/white potatoes, cucumbers, pickling cukes, spinache, beets, kousa, patty pan, summer squash, zucchini, big/oriental/fairytale eggplant and raspberries. We loaded the boss and his daughter up for the first market, then headed over to keep Viking company. She had her golden pheasant with her-- but unfortunately she'd been contacted by its real owner (a nearby farmer) and he was on the way to get it. Viking really loved this bird, but then again she loves every animal she gets her hands on.
Newport and I cleaned the entire area around the store-- then we headed down to join the crew, picking tomatoes.We picked through until lunch.
After lunch I got everything together for the next market. Tomorrow is Jockey's last day (Viking can't wait until he's gone), he came in and gave me a hand packing up the van. It's too bad, but the boss let Rhode Island go over the weekend-- never got the chance for him to work one more day in the fields. Newport came back from lunch and we all talked about the coming hurricane-- fears vary.
Newport and I headed back to the tomatoes, meeting up with Old Rudolpho on the way. Newport is remembering more and more of his Spanish, so they prattled away. I settled down and started working a row of Striped Germans-- the non-rotted tomatoes were gorgeous and well worth the hunt. I filled 6 buckets before one of Old Rudolpho's daughters whistled and pointed at the dark clouds quickly rolling over the hill from the west. It didn't take long to reach us-- the rain started immediately and heavy. We ran from the field with thunder at our heels, even Old Rudolpho managed a full sprint back to the barn. I joined Viking and Newport in the store-- we were all soaked to the skin. We laughed and had a few cigarettes, every time things let up for a minute, 10 minutes of deluge followed quickly behind. Then CSA started-- we rushed out back to find the awning tarp had nearly torn from the water weight. So Newport and I took turns shaking the water free-- I'm glad that I remembered to bring my rain-slick this morning.
I ran down to the greenhouse for a hoe and cut several drainage trenches around the yard/store. It was wet business. The foreman took the tractor through the mud and picked up all the tomato buckets we'd managed to fill, then dropped them in the barn. Newport and I joined Old Rudolpho and family for some sort/shining. There was a good number of buckets (30-40), so we turned on the radio and got to work. Old Rudolpho taught me some key words for today: lodo, seco and mojado. Over the course of a few hours the rain cut down to a light drizzle-- so we headed back to business. Newport and I checked/refilled the CSA produce, then met the foreman over by the greenhouse squash. A few weeks ago the foreman and Big Boy planted 2 rows of cucumbers for the late season-- it was time for weeding. Trudging through the mud we got the job done-- then spread a light 19-19-19 fertilizer mix around each plant.
Time had mysteriously passed, and closing time was getting closer. Newport and I joined up with Big Jay and Old Rudolpho for some post-rain tomato picking. Filled another 7 buckets or so before closing.
Un dia mojado-- that's the truth-- not a dry rag on me. My cell phone was destroyed by the wet. Ops. Gotta fix it before Darlin gets back from Ireland/before Gizzie starts working. Which reminds me-- I'm a little concerned about my friend's employment: he certainly has the worst start-date possible, the day after the hurricane hits. I've hatched out a little weekend plan, if he's game: Gizzie comes in Saturday morning/at noon and helps me with CSA/gets a farm tour. Gotta get him in, working and familiar before the chaos begins. We'll see if he bites.
The hurricane cometh. Get ready.
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