Someone - or something - is lurking …

Row Gossip  .

In the Fields, the pumpkins are ready. Like huge orange reflections of stars in the heavens, they are sprinkled all over.
Big ones, little ones. There are still Watermelons, even though the first frost is threatening to walk the land.
The nights chill, and plants tire. We have been out there securing whatever harvest needs to be harvested, covered, brought in, or protected to extend the season as much as possible.

Some will be just fine. They even like it.
Collards will be frost-kissed, sweeter for it, and many people are waiting for just that – Very soon. You can ask us, or just watch the weather.

Cabbage loves this weather so much that, in some areas, this state of weather is called Cabbage weather – cold enough to need a jacket, but not the thick winter jacket.
More potatoes to harvest, and underground crops are safe.

The Lettuces decided they will no longer show up for Summer … Summer is over. The Pumpkins declared that the season has just started.
A few Winter Radishes know that some of their friends had Summer Market appearances, and it is again their turn; they speak of overlap of seasons.

Kale, again appearing like ballerinas in tutus, their fall attire, twirl in the cold breeze and correct the misconceptions….

Market Season is from start to finish. From July to November.
They would know, because they work overtime, showing up before the season starts, until long after it finishes.

‘Right they are’, agree the last Tomatoes – ‘it is the CSAs which have some overlap – a couple of weeks, so everyone gets as much as possible of the harvest from their chosen season.
And especially the ones which sign up for both – the last chance for storing extra – that is why there is ‘extra’ built into the pickups.’

The Cucumbers nod, the Peppers feeling spicy, turn up the heat – spiting frost – they will be immortal – this year, definitely – they declare.

Beets sinking a little deeper in the soil, they still have growing to do. They were a little small for their age this year. This will do. Quite comfy.

Corn is confident in its hoodie that a little frost won’t bother it much. And this is correct.

Rumor has it, while there is still confusion of when one CSA or Farmshare subscription ends and the other one starts, they are opening sign-ups for next summer – and they all laugh at the nonsense.

What are they thinking… sort out one thing before tossing in another… that is how it’s done. It’s not like harvesting where you can just toss everything in a big basket..

Everything agrees on that one. Farmers….

Only the Carrots cackle as if they had inside information. When asked, they think it does make perfect sense. Sometimes you make things more confusing to clear it up. Besides, people ask. For some, it works to invest in themselves before the holidays make them broke.

The elegant Eggplant quietly states that this logic is very much like Carrot’s perpetual bad hair day. But, each their own.

So here we are, and while they are sharing their opinions and gossip and philosophies, we’ll keep harvesting and covering, and watching the weather, until everyone is safe and sound.

Bundles of Cornstalks rustle in agreement. They are ready to decorate for fall, but they are patient. The pumpkins are just moving out; their turn will come.

Jack Frost stands in the Woodline smiling. Or is ist smirking? He will come out to play. When, nobody knows. Soon.

 Susanne @ Stefanfarms