Mid August

A quick update from Slip Away Farm: 

This is the week of the Agricultural Fair in West Tisbury and we got a little carried away and entered 14 different vegetables into the commercial grower's categories. We won some ribbons, and Christian and I are already planning for next years competition: anyone have any good ideas for the "Vegetable Sculpture" category? Never to early to plan ahead...

Some of my favorite entries at the fair were a coffin brimming with vegetables submitted by Ghost Island Farm and the best in show prize winner by our friend Ellie who made a chicken entirely out of flowers. I love the fair. 

Market has been busy, busy, busy. August is really a bustling month on the Island and we have been attempting to fill some of the demand for local veggies. We are so fortunate to be starting the farm at a time when local produce is such a hot commodity; it seems like most of the vegetable farmers are doing good business at the West Tis Market and pretty much selling out of produce every week. 

The really big news this week is that we are officially moving the farm to Chappaquiddick in two weeks, a plan that has been in the works for awhile and is now finally happening. We have been granted an affordable lease for a three bedroom farmhouse from the 1700's and seven acres of land. It is a five year lease, and an incredible opportunity for a farmer on Martha's Vineyard where land is expensive and limited and year-round housing difficult to find. Christian, Collins, Jason, and myself will all be living in the house and working the land together. Very, very exciting. 

And for my friend Annie, lots of photos in this week's post: 

Green Apple Eggplant

Blue ribbon carrots, waiting to go to the Fair

Okra

Newly planted baby lettuce

Sunrise on Market Morning

Purple Kolrabi

Tomatoes

Heirlooms

Our tomatoes are in! Nothing beats the flavor of a summertime field tomato, and I have been eating tomato sandwiches non-stop, picking up a loaf of bread and some cheese or mayonnaise for lunchtime.

Unfortunately the birds like them too: just as the fruits begin to turn red, the birds, thirsty from all the dry weather this season, peck at them to get to the juices inside, ruining the tomato. In order to prevent this at Slip Away, we strung colorful, reflective string throughout the field to spook them away from the plants. We also pick the tomatoes a day or two early and allow them to fully ripen off the vine, safely away from the thirsty birds. 

We will have plenty of 'maters at the West Tisbury Market tomorrow, so come stop by and pick up a few for lunch.