The Weekly Harvest: Seasonal Whiplash

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Hey Folks, 
Well, as the calendar stands it is still Summer for about two more weeks, then Fall, then Winter...but I guess we got a taste of it all these last few days. The forecast was looking pretty dire for a veggie farm: highs near 100 degrees with a forecast low of 24 degrees with snow just 48 hours later. We are pretty used to wild weather swings in Colorado, but this was extreme and almost a month before it would be expected. It could have been devastating for farms in the area of all types. Even frost tolerant crops would have been pushed to their limit after it has been in the 90s and above for the past two months, they wouldn't have been hardened off to the cold. 

With only the info of the forecast and it being somewhat unbelievable as it was nearly 100 degrees with smoke and ash falling, we made a plan, mobilized our AMAZING staff and working member crew and went to work harvesting things that we couldn't protect. In the span of 4 days this group did about a months worth of work and by my estimations we may have harvested something like 60,000 lbs of produce into our walk ins and green houses in order to get them through the storm. We then covered a couple acres of frost tolerant crops and waited. Well, it seems as if the dust has settled. It didn't get as cold or snowy as they thought it would but our town broke some records. A record high temperature on Sunday and then a day with smoke and ash falling and then a record early low and the earliest snowfall in 130 years. We seemingly dodged a bullet and we are very thankful for the break in the heat, the moisture both on our fields and the snow and rain that fell in the high country on the fire (which has broken its own records). This year seems to be one for the record books. 

In the haste of the weekend and Monday weather, we brought in all the winter squash (we hope to be able to start selling these next week), all the chilies and Poblanos for roasting (we hope to start roasting soon, stay tuned), tons of eggplant, peppers, the last of the tomatoes, all the beets for winter storage, all the cabbage for winter storage, celery, all the storage onions, and a number of other crops. On this muddy day, we are sorting through what happened and getting crops cleaned up and packed for the Farm Stand and Market. So, keep a look out for some new crops coming into the Farm Stand and Market and saying goodbye to most of the Summer crops. 

We are super grateful for the community that has gathered around the Farm to help us get through all these uncertainties.  All the members, customers, grocers, restaurants, staff, working members, our families, partners, and cheerleaders. Thank you. 

Some specials (will be first come first serve until supply is gone):

  • Orders must be over 10lbs - we will get as close to your poundage as possible and will note amount due on the package.  Orders pick up at Farm Stand or Farmer's Market. 

  • Orders must be received by 5pm Friday for pick up at the Saturday Market and pick up at the Farm Stand during specific times (please note when we should set it out in the stand for you to pick up as it wont be able to be in the coolers). Your order will be confirmed via email. Please email Nic@nativehillfarm.com

  • Seconds Green Cabbage for Sauerkraut $1 per lb

  • Huge Napa Cabbage for Kim chi  $1 per lb  

Keep your eyes on your emails for when we will start roasting chilies at the Farm Stand. 

Eat Local + Be Well, 
Nic and The Native Hill Farm Crew


This Week's Harvest:

-Fall Greens Mix: Kale and Swiss Chard
-Arugula
-Rainbow Swiss Chard Bunches
-Green Beans (last harvest)
-Green Cabbage
-Red Cabbage
-Savoy Cabbage
-Napa Cabbage
-Beefsteak Tomato Quarts
-Roma Tomato Quarts
-Celery
-Bell Peppers
-Hot Pepper Mix (jalapeño, serrano, banana, suave)
-Heirloom Softneck Garlic
-Cippolini Onion mix
-Italian Parsley
-Poblano peppers (not roasted)
-Anaheim Chilies (not roasted)
-Italian Eggplant
-Escarole
-Cauliflower (hopefully more in a couple weeks)
-Fennel 
-Cherry Belle Radish
-French Breakfast Radish
-Kim chi napa (special order)
-Seconds Green Cabbage (special order)
-maybe some other surprises