Once the leaves start to fall and the cycles of seasonal change begin to take hold, there is just no denying in which direction we are headed. We get a similar feeling when the first of our seasonal markets ends for the year. Yesterday was the last Sunday Chester Market of 2026 and what can we say we miss it already. Sure the rain tried to dampen yet another Sunday but the threat of bad weather was nothing compared to the hunger and devotion of all of you. We have to give a special shout out to all the market staff but especially for Sue who does a tremendous job managing such a large and successful market. They even go so far as to throw a market party for all the vendors, where we have the opportunity to get to know each other better, make friends and celebrate a successful season. And though we hate to say goodbye we know that before long June will be weeks away and another market season will be upon us.
But let’s take the focus off of Sunday and shine the spotlight to Friday because even though one market has ended for the season doesn’t mean market season is over. We still have six more weeks of Madison Farmer’s markets, running up to the Friday before Thanksgiving. And of course we will be able to be found all year Saturday mornings in New Haven, right here Friday at the Farm Shop and through preorder. We hope you get a chance to come out to these last Madison markets of the season. The farmers and other small business vendors at the market rely on the support from all of you Good Food People as much as you all rely on us showing up every week products fully stocked and ready to sell.
Speaking of ready to sell when it comes to having that product for growers like us it is a lot of planning and up front work. Especially now in preparation for the long, cold season to come. This past week on the farm we harvested the purple sweet potatoes and prepped that house making way for another round of Winter plantings. Spinach, lettuce, turnips, bok choys and cabbages are some of the staples of Winter growing and slowly over the next few weeks will be taking over the high tunnels. We also put a significant dent in the planting of this year’s overwintered onions. Started back in August the little onion plants will spend the Winter under low tunnels in the fields. There won’t be much visible growth until the Spring but the roots will be hard at work getting established in the soil. Then next year in May when the main season onions are just done getting planted we will have a beautiful early crop of overwintered onions. Just another four season grower method that let’s us keep producing healthy nutritious organic veg 12 months of the year.
Have a Great Week