C.S.A. Week 4: July 17th/18th

The idea of farm life often has a romantic ideal attached to it. A small farm conjures up images of blissful hours spent peacefully tending to perfect lush rows of prolific green vegetables, bountiful harvests, sunrises, and sunsets. This week was a good example of the reality of the small organic farm, and the labor involved to get to those perfect lush rows. We have been patrolling the squash plants for the past few weeks every morning for the striped cucumber beetle and squash bug, both of which inflict damage in different ways. the striped cucumber beetle has a more immediate effect, chewing holes in the plants and leaves and transmitting a wilt virus that makes its way through the plants vascular system. These we pick before the sun is up while the beetles are still slowly moving in the low light. The squash bug, on the other hand, lays thousands of golden eggs on the undersides of the plants, these will hatch later and can cause substantial damage in particular to long season winter squash fruits. The eggs we have been collecting in small grocery bags during any part of the day we find the time. Today marked the first Colorado potato beetle larvae picking, these larvae will eat their weight in potato leaf greenery completely stripping a plant if left unchecked. We’ve posted below a picture of todays larvae haul, but don’t worry pretty pictures to follow.

In the share:

• lettuce

• sugar snap peas

• summer squash/zucchini

• green beans

• baby carrots

• Fennel

• Parsley

• Green Onions