We had a great meeting with our soil mentor, Mimi Arnstein, yesterday morning. Along with surveying our lambsquarters cover crop and bands of varying fertility, we discussed how we felt to be wrapping up our first season of farming. My thoughts are often wrapped up in potty practicing and farm store inventory gaps, so it was refreshing to think about the past few months as we walked around our fields.

Matt took notes on what grew well and what didn't, and why so we know how to avoid the same problems next year.The rutabagas look nice and healthy, but could have been planted a few weeks earlier. Our small roots are adorable, and will dress up my stews all winter with baby veg cheer. Same with the carrots, and they have grown much sweeter in these last few cold weeks.

We decided starting a new farm with both vegetables and 700+ head of livestock was pretty silly, and were Matt given the opportunity to go back and visit himself plowing in April, he would run out in the field and wave his arms to STOP his April self, and counsel him to focus on fall crops, or better yet, wait till next year to grow vegetables! It was a very very busy summer, and we have spread ourselves thin. Mimi reminded us that nothing could have stopped our determined-to-farm-now locomotive. Maybe locusts? We wouldn't want to do another first summer farming, but we don't have to - mission accomplished, bring on the winter garden!