Heavy rain and thunderstorms pushed through last night-- lost a big tree in the woods around our house. We've had enough rain for a while-- the wet is gonna damage the tomato harvest-- so no more until September. Full sun all day through-- quick thunderstorm blew through immediately after closing. Temperature stuck at 79F.
Rain blew off early this morning-- Old Rudolpho and his family decided all the same to stay home on account of the wetness. Stretch and NYU got set up at the wash sink to finally get started cleaning off everything we've picked this week. Bah, Newport and I headed up to the forest fields for a serious round of pepper picking. Only the blocky green peppers are ready-- the Ace and Super Shepherd (if I remember rightly). The Italian bull nose (or Red Knights) shouldn't be picked green, so there is some time to wait until they reach mature pepper redness. So we cut peppers like crazy. Filled 5 big cardboard boxes (equal to 2+ buckets a piece), then 9 tall buckets-- so about 19 buckets worth of green peppers. Then we got a start on cutting basil-- got 15 bunches before lunch time.
After lunch, as Newport said, Stretch and I got the short end of the stick. The two of us headed back to the forest field and cut another 35 bunches of basil. Brought the crates back to the store and were intercepted by the boss. His brother needed some strong hands.
Stretch and I got some work gloves, then headed to the far side of the hill top by the Taylor raspberries-- the boss's brother was waiting for us in his backhoe/heavy tractor. Way, way back in early spring when the boss and I set up brush fires-- we stacked up a big pile of trees/logs to save as firewood for this winter. It was time to move the pile into a more accessible/less in the way position (only the brother's tractor is powerful enough to heft 6+ trees at a time). Between Stretch, me and the brother in the tractor, we wrestled the logs & trees onto the iron forklift arms.After a couple fully loaded trips with the tractor-- the pile was all set in its new place. We found 2 steel gates we'd left beneath the pile (pulled them from the roadside brush this spring)-- so Stretch and I hefted and carefully balanced them on the forklift. The brother drove them back to the greenhouse along the town road (we followed behind on foot to wave traffic back)-- then we moved the gates onto the empty wagon. Whew.
Next up-- the boss sent Stretch and me to join Bah picking tomatoes. We slugged through the trellised big tomatoes and cherries. We got quite a haul-- then happily checked the time. To our horror, it was only 3pm-- spirits were crushed. The foreman, Newport and NYU were out behind the store shining tomatoes and boxing the washed produce-- we started shambling through the tomato fields.
Worked in a daze for the rest of the day, picking tomatoes. The rain has done a number on the ripening tomatoes-- lots of rot. The rest of the boys eventually came down to help out picking-- but the day continued like a dirge. Picked slowly through and covered 2/3s of the field before closing.
Again, the boss intercepted us on the walk back to the store-- he needed help with 'something.' No one said a word, so I volunteered. The boss waved everyone else home, but I got into the van-- we were headed to the hill top to pick a few more bags of corn.
Up on the hill it was just me, the boss and Lucy the dog. Wasn't so bad. The thunderclouds were sweeping out in the distance as we hustled through the corn rows tearing of ears. All the bags we brought had big holes at the bottom, so we carried armloads of ears back to the van. More than enough corn to cover the store for the night-- the boss says we'll need at least 20 bags (1,200+ ears) for double markets and CSA tomorrow. We rolled in a slow loop around the hilltop checking on the progress of all the fields-- looking damn good:
Butternut squash is forming, buttercup squash is well into blossoming, the sugar pumpkins are in bloom, fall corn is growing out, feed corn for the cows over winter is 7ft tall and climbing (just starting to put out its tassels, potatoes are still cookining underground, fall raspberries are moving along, fall/late summer tomatoes are keeping pace, broccoli/cauliflower/brussel sprouts/cabbage are starting to settle.
Whew, overtime day was done and the thunder blew over.
Looks like my buddy Jimbo is passing through tomorrow night for just a quick visit-- no time for the fields. Oh well, there's always some sort of next time.
Time for a dinner and sit.
Take it easy.
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