Hello from Pitchfork & Crow~

We’re looking forward to some lovely weather this weekend for the Salem Saturday Market!  Here’s what we plan to bring to market:

• Arugula
• Basil
• Beans (Green, Purple, Yellow!)
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Chard
• Collards
• Cooking Greens Mix (Kale, Chard, Collards, Cabbage, Parsley)
• Kale (Red Russian & Lacinato)
• Leeks
• Onions (sweet & purple torpedoes)
• Parsley
• Peppers (green peppers & yellow banana)
• Purple Hull Peas
• Rutabaga
• Summer Squash (yellow straightneck, zucchini, & pattypan)
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes (cherries & slicers & heirlooms too!)

This week we officially welcomed fall with the arrival of the autumnal equinox.  We’ve been noticing the change in day-length for some time, but the equinox reminds us that shorter days and longer nights are here to stay for many months.  Generally both Jeff and I are fans of fall.  The return of the rains after a parched, draughty summer is usually a welcome change and we love crunching through the newly fallen leaves.  Of course we could do with a little more sunshine and warmth this year though!

On a positive note, now that we’re truly moving into fall we get to enjoy all of those wonderful fall vegetables!  Last weekend we finally brought in the last of our onions from the soggy field for curing and we harvested the first of our winter squash: the delicata!  With any luck we’ll soon be digging into the pie pumpkins, acorn, and butternut squash as well.  Of course, as the summer ends we’ll also begin saying goodbye to the heat loving vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and summer squash.  If we’re lucky they’ll continue to hang on but a plant-killing frost is bound to occur sooner or later.  Fortunately just such a frost will be an asset to many crops, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale, making them the sweet greens that we love.

Come welcome fall with us and take home some of the last of the summer veggies tomorrow at the Saturday Market between 9am and 3pm.  The Salem Saturday Market is located at the intersection of Summer and Marion streets NE in downtown Salem.

Thanks!
Carri Heisler and Jeff Bramlett