Hi, November! The Latest News from Farm & Larder and Bella Luna Farms

As we turn the corner into late-fall with the arrival of November, the farm is awash in color—from the beautiful fall leaves fluttering to the ground in bright scarlet and yellow hues from our collection of Gingko, chestnut, oak and maple trees, to the crisp and colorful apples and pears we are still harvesting. The birds are busy feasting on the dark purple Evergreen huckleberries, bright orange rose hips and windfall apples both in the garden and orchard. Squirrels are busy seemingly everywhere burying walnuts, hazelnuts and acorns for their winter food.

As November has brought with it some wind and rain, we are catching up on some indoor chores in and around the barn to prep for the upcoming winter, also ducking into the creamery to check on our current batch of cheese, which is ripening and aging in the cave. We are also taking advantage of the wet days by finishing putting up the last of the harvested tomatoes—this fall, we have preserved over 900 pounds of juicy, ripe tomatoes in big batches of our Nonna Pat’s marinara sauce. The orchard apples are also making their way into apple sauces and apple butters, and we are also setting aside spiced pears and beets and making grape preserves.

And as much as we don’t mind the rain, our beloved gaggle of goats couldn’t disagree more, as they despise getting wet! On wet days then, you’ll find our very tame and social goats hanging out in their barn, and now that they have all day to dream up trouble, they seem to be up to even more mischief than usual. They are a curious bunch, keeping their eyes on both what we are up to and all the goings on at the farm.

One special note: There will be no F&L box the week of Thanksgiving (November 22nd). Your delivery will pick back up again on Thursday, November 29th—have a happy turkey day!