englishnewsletter21.12.09

Hi friends,

The sun is shining outside, it's a pleasure in the garden, mud and sun and an excellent laundry day!

But, tomorrow is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. This means, as far as the crops are concerned, that it is the peak of winter. Personally, I cannot complain, because it's so nice outside and we also had a good rain some days ago.... confusing, not only to us, today my kids went out to school wrapped up in at least 3 long thick layers of clothing. Afterthoughts, completely unnecessary. I can imagine how my eldest, my daughter, is thinking to herself "I told Mommy I don't need" after I insisted that she wear it; my middle son will leave his 3 layers at school to never return them home; and my youngest will return home red as a tomato and hot as a Sufgania.

We humans can start and stop processes with our minds by using common sense, but plants cannot. When something happens to a plant as a reaction to an occurrence, there is usually no turning back. For example, today the broccoli sprouts were ruined due to the surprising warmth and they can not be returned to their healthy state. (Accordingly, there will be none this week. Those who receive them regularly - would you like something else instead? turnip and radish are from the same family and have similar properties.) Also, the Shkedia, the almond tree, is confused and blooming already, and will not bloom again. This early bloom will cause the fruits to form too early, and probably not survive the winter (if this winter will be like in previous years).

This week I am sending you a virtual guided tour of the garden where we will play the game "what grows here?" or "identify what will be on our plates?" Those who play successfully will enter a raffle for 2 kilos of turnips!

I am attaching the game as a word document to make the sending easier. So open it up, and good luck. Send me your results for the raffle.

Our expectation list for boxes this week:

Potatoes - brand new so their outer skin will be thin
Peppers
Tomatoes - a little less
Cucumbers - a little less
Lettuce
Parsley or cilantro
Lemons
Young beets with leaves (just like chard - I hope there will be enough)
Sweet potatoes

In the big boxes there will also be:
Green onion and extras of the above

In the fruit boxes:
Avocado, citrus and apples

Additions, subtractions and other requests by Tuesday morning please. After that - no guarantees!

Have a good week!

May we stay focused on what really matters in life, "sprout", grow and advance in the route we choose, without getting confused

Yours,

Maggie