Last week’s fabulous rain showers left us with a satiated and very muddy field. The plantings we scheduled two weeks ago for Thursday were put off to last Thursday and then delayed once again to this week. After the long bout of rain we’ve experienced, the last thing we want to do now is deal with the soil. At this point, it needs to rest a little, soak up the experience, try to make sense of this past week and dry up a little. We attempt to respect the field by doing the basic minimum: of course, we pick vegetables for your boxes, but in the open field we don’t weed, plant or seed, and obviously do not cultivate the soil. The fact that we have growth houses which are far less wet and muddy allows us to proceed with other segments of the routine.
After the rain came the very frigid weather. Despite the sunny mornings, the winter sun is deceptive, beaming light but not spreading warmth. We continue to wrap ourselves in warm layers even under its shiny rays. But if the days are cold, at night the temperatures plunge and grow frigid. On Saturday night it was quite cold, but there was a little bit of rain to temper it and prevent the danger of frost. Over the next few nights to come, we will worry about the predicted frost and hope our veggies persevere, especially the very sensitive peas and other young saplings in the growth house which hold the cold within.
The advantage to seasonal farming is that the vegetables are appropriate to their season. Thus, despite the cold, they can survive and often even thrive. The cold makes the carrots and beets sweeter and the radishes juicier, while the cauliflower, broccoli and kohlrabi feel comfortably at home. Stormy days with rain and low temperatures make them feel that they belong, and the dim lighting does not bother them one bit. They love it and are happily thriving.
However, the spring and summer crops which we Israelis have a hard time living without in wintertime, are more sensitive. For this reason, we can grow them in wintertime only if we convince the veggies and promise to provide warmth, love, and oh yes – plastic covered growth houses… But in extreme weather and dim skies like we’ve had over the past weeks, the veggies withdraw into themselves and take their time growing. The veteran cucumber plants have already reached the end of their tether, thus plucked out and bade farewell. The new plants are due to arrive any day to be swiftly placed in the earth.
Usually, in situations such as these, we purchase cucumbers from other organic farmers and add them to your boxes. However, the inclement weather has caused a serious shortage of cucumbers that prevented us to acquire enough this week. In their stead, we will compensate with another sun-loving vegetable that is abundant in the field these days: yummy sweet red bell peppers. True, we will miss our faithful cucumber friends, but hopefully the shortage will be temporary and these green wonders will soon return to Chubeza’s boxes.
WIshing you a great week,
Alon, Bat Ami, Dror, Orin and the teeth-chattering Chubeza staff ______________________________
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S BOXES?
Monday: Fresh white or purple onions, Swiss chard/kale/spinach/arugula/
Large box, in addition: Celery or celeriac, leeks/scallions, parsley/coriander/dill.
FRUIT BOXES : Oranges/pomelit, red or yellow apples/strawberries, avocados, bananas, clementinas.
Wednesday: Fresh white or purple onions, Swiss chard/kale/spinach/arugula/Large box, in addition: Celery or celeriac/parsley root, leeks/scallions/green garlic, parsley/coriander/dill.
FRUIT BOXES : Oranges/pomelit, red or yellow apples/strawberries, avocados, bananas, clementinas.