Ain’t She Sweet?!
Though she’s frequented our boxes for several weeks now, she actually started out with us four months ago (perhaps more). For our part, we’ve been at her side observing the various stages of her growth and snapping shots for her fashion model portfolio. So in the spirit of these days, characterized by less talk and more silence, this week it’s a glossy look at our glamorous redheaded friend – the sweet potato (aka yam).
Growing sweet potatoes is a lesson in faith, imagination and hope. This is how it works:
In the beginning of May we received a package from Oded of Moshav Yesha, which we opened to find this treasure:
“Well, hey there, Georgia!” we greeted our sweet potato, and happily placed the cuttings into the pre-dug mounds we’d prepared in the ground, separated from each other by 15 centimeters. Here’s how it looked like when we were done: 
And close up:
A few days later, we started to notice tiny little leaves growing on those branches, and then lo and behold – this is the scene just one week later:
Remember that naked branch? Look how well dressed she is now! 
Then, the young seedlings begin stretching out their beautiful arms, on their way to a bountiful future: 
Only two weeks later, the field looks like a sea of green, with densely assembled leaves, branches and a vibrant, verdant carpet of blooms: 
Posing up close:
…and zooming in even closer: look at these gorgeous little flowers, with their characteristic Convolvulaceae family purple hue at the center. The sweet potato is practically the only edible plant in this extended family that includes such decorative and wild plants as the morning glory and the bindweed. 
In a neighboring bed, a wild cousin comes to visit (there’s one in every family…), extending his arms and beautiful white flowers which have an intoxicating scent. Take a whiff: 
And underneath this green carpet, silently and surely, the sweet potato plant sends out roots which thicken to store within them nutrients for wintertime. Four months after we first began the process, we start checking out what’s happening underground. If needed, we turn off the irrigation, causing the sweet potatoes to grow just a little more, and begin pulling out the luscious orange roots.
Bon appetite to you all!
And may we enjoy a holiday week of faith, imagination, hope and deliciousness!
See you at the Open Day!!
Alon, Bat Ami, Dror, Yochai and the entire Chubeza team
___________________________________________________WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S BOXES?
Monday: New Zealand spinach/Swiss chard/mizuna/arugula, sweet potatoes/zucchini, onions/garlic, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, slice of pumpkin, Thai yard-long beans/okra, lettuce, parsley/coriander/dill, bell peppers.
Large box, in addition: Leeks, potatoes/cherry tomatoes, eggplant.
FRUIT BOXES: Bananas, apples, plums. Small boxes: pears. Large boxes: peaches
Thursday: Tatsoi/mizuna/arugula, sweet potatoes, potatoes/zucchini/eggplant, leeks/garlic, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, slice of pumpkin, lettuce, parsley/coriander/dill, bell peppers.
Large box, in addition: Thai yard-long beans/okra, New Zealand spinach/Swiss chard, onions/cherry tomatoes.
FRUIT BOXES: Bananas, peaches, pears. Small boxes: plums. Large boxes: apples.