Autumn’s temperatures bring with them a host of cool-weather crops we look forward to all summer long: kabocha squash, broccoli, Red Russian kale, Honeycrisp apples…

(Speaking of apples, this mama-to-be is seriously craving some pie.)

You might not think of lettuce as a fall crop, but here in Virginia, it is way too hot to grow the stuff during the summer.  So it’s always such a delight when the temperatures turn and we can grow our lettuce mix again.  It’s sweet, tender, and gorgeous as all get-out — and it’s in your CSA shares this week.  Enjoy!

We’re still in short sleeves around here, and the tomatoes are still on the vine.  In fact, click here to see a video of St. Stephen’s market manager Erin Wright sharing loads of recipe ideas for these last weeks of the tomato season, on Virginia This Morning!

But the mornings are cool and the days are shorter and shorter, and we’re doing lots to gear up for the changing seasons.  Here you can see part of our winter squash harvest, curing in the greenhouse.  And Shannon is headed over to grab some flats of lettuce and mei qing choi — which she and Claire are diligently transplanting into the ground for y’all this very second!

Lest y’all thought we’d become an animal farm and given up on vegetables entirely — here’s proof that ain’t so!  We’ve been quite busy preparing the ground and getting all those good fall veggies into the soil.  Here’s Claire planting some lettuce.  This will be one of the first things to show up again on the market tables and in CSA shares as the weather cools even more.  Lettuce loves cool weather, and we love fall lettuce even more than the spring stuff: it’s sweet and tender without a hint of bitterness.

Also in the ground now, or germinating in the greenhouse: scallions, cooking greens like collards and kale, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, lots of winter squash…

What?  These are some of your favorite vegetables?  Then join our Winter CSA!  There’s still a little space left in this 7-week mini-season that runs from early November to late December.  We’ve got four pick-up sites in Richmond, one in Lynchburg, and one at the farm, all on Wednesdays.  Lots more info here — or go directly to the printable registration form.