First CSA experience

This summer, Tom and I were fortunate enough to take part in our very first C.S.A. (community supported agriculture).  Tom works in Mississippi, so he and some of his co-workers signed up for weekly fruit and vegetable deliveries from Steede Farms, located in Lucedale, MS.  Many C.S.A.s operate differently, some require manual labor from their members (monthly or bi-monthly maintenance), some deliver produce while others are a "pick-your-own" operation. How they operate, of course is heavily influenced by farm size, membership size, and trial-and-error. We were members of Steede Farms' inaugural C.S.A. experience. And from what I understand, it was quite overwhelming. Our deliveries were supposed to run from the beginning of June through the end of August. Unfortunately, the stress on the farmers and on the land in combination with the heavy summer rainstorms and high temperatures has put our deliveries on hold until September. Despite this set-back, I honestly couldn't be happier with Steede Farms and I would sign up again in a heartbeat.
We only signed up for the "half"box which equated to about 10lbs/week (I couldn't imagine the full box!). We ended up getting zucchini, summer squash, pattypan squash, okra, tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, chile de arbol peppers (way WAY too hot for me), watermelon, cantaloupe and much more! We've been able to eat fresh, local vegetables throughout the summer, we've tried new recipes, and we've been able to store a good amount for the winter.  All-in-all in was a wonderful experience. I can't wait until this fall when we get a new harvest!

If you haven't had a chance to sign up for a C.S.A. (I know, it's a bit late in the season...but next year!), please do! If you don't know where to find a C.S.A. or with whom to get in touch, look around websites or local blogs to see if you can find one in your area, you may be surprised!

troubles with tomatoes

One reason why we love living down here is the long growing season, we can plant in march and harvest through summer and replant in August or September with a new harvest. Downside? (Because there's always a downside) insect species that I'm still getting used to, new diseases, and rain, lots of rain. Rain you say? Don't plants love rain? Yes. Definitely, however too much rain can cause unstable soils (plants fall over) and rot...mold and rot. Gross.

My tomatoes understand these problems most of all. We try to grow organically (no pesticides, herbicides, etc. The only thing I'd put on my plant is something I'd eat).  So to keep them healthy (or to just keep them alive) I have to be very vigilant.
Keep in mind I can be dangerously forgetful.
Result?
Take a beautiful tomato plant:

Forget to check it for a couple of days? Bad idea.

Where did the leaves go? The end of the branches? Oh. This guy was hungry.

Can't find him? Just look up. He leaves a trail.

That, my friends, is your garden variety green hornworm.  He's such a jerk.
That's not the only problem we've delt with this summer. We've had a terrible case of Southern blight. It's a nasty, mean fungus that's pillaged three of our tomato plants. How rude.
This is what it looks like:

That white stuff? Yeah, that's the fungus attached to the roots, slowly, cruely, killing my summer salsas.
Ugh.

Time to replant.

Any suggestions for southern blight or green hornworm remedies?

weekends around here

I don't know what you do on weekends.
But we shell crowder peas...

(forgive the obscenely blurry picture)
Lots of them

and then I blanch them for the winter (or until I can't wait anymore...I'm usually pretty impatient. I give these until September)