It's That Time of Year
Let’s see…what all is happening right now?
The biggest event has been the killing freeze. All the tender annuals, bedding plants, and summer vegetables are now officially over and it’s time for the cruciferous family of vegetables and late season pomes to shine. Colder temperatures signal the plants to push more sugars from the roots to the cells of the leaves to act as a natural antifreeze. A few good freezes and these foods will be at peak sweetness—just in time for the next big event.
Thanksgiving. Yes, folks, somehow November crept up on us with barely a peep. Maybe that’s because we’ve been too busy ogling the amazing fall colors. Last week I visited Cowans Gap State Park for hiking and mine was the only Pennsylvania license plate in the entire parking lot. People had driven from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey to walk around a picturesque lake while Bald Eagles soared overhead. To give you a better idea of the iconic full fall we’ve had, the killing frost last year occurred on September 19th. As if life wasn’t dismal enough at the time with downsized and cancelled holiday plans.
This year the vibe is different. Thanks to vaccinations, people are actually looking forward to their holiday dinners. You know what that means? Start shopping now! It’s the law of supply and demand. If you haven’t already reserved your protein of choice, do so immediately. Turkey and ham are standards for most tables. Some like to mix it up with pheasant or duck, but if I’m lucky enough to snag a goose, I’ll save that for Christmas.
Which brings me to my next gentle reminder—the December holidays, they’ll be here before we know it. There are a dozen different holidays celebrated by people from around the world. If it’s one thing we’ve got at Central Farm Markets its global patrons. Show me a holiday where people don’t feast in one way or another. Even the ones marked by fasts are followed by traditional fare.
In addition to feasting, there is also gifting. My friends and family have come to learn over the years that most of my gifts come from the market. My philosophy is that if I’m going to spend money it’s going to be with my fellow vendors and friends who are artisans. Buying local pertains to more that just our foods and libations. I have a confession to make that might aid in your holiday shopping. Last year I bought the convenient variety 3-pack of the Chocotenango Hot Chocolate Mix for gifts and they never made it into anyone’s stocking.
But the most important change coming will be the time change this Sunday when we fall back to Standard Time. Temperatures are estimated to be hovering around freezing so you might not want to show up to market an hour before we open for business.
The more subtle changes taking place for me are the shifting constellations in the early morning sky and new cast of critters crossing the driveway as I roll out the driveway each week. Right now the porcupine and deer see me off, but after this week it will be bunnies and wild turkeys. You’d be amazed at how in tune wildlife and livestock are with circadian rhythms and temperatures—probably as predictable as we humans will be with our rituals and recipes in the coming weeks.