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Hello Faircrest Farms Friends!
Winter has officially announced its arrival! Fall's first frost has finally come, and the sparkle of ice crystals across the farm gives us a glimpse of the season ahead. Fortunately, we've managed to protect our tomatoes and beans, although their production is slowing dramatically with just 10 hours and 10 minutes of daylight. Nature is gently reminding us that it's time to wind down.
This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming Trudy Stain from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). We discussed opportunities to grow more of this good food while addressing some of the challenges and gaps that come with farming on a small scale. I'm grateful for partners like NRCS who recognize the important role small farms play in strengthening our local food system!
 This Week's Offering
Yukon Gold potatoes are here! A big thank-you to our farm crew for the hard work of digging, gathering, and bringing in this delicious harvest. We're excited to finally offer them to you!
Our salad mix and arugula are looking strong, and we're grateful that the beans and peas continue to produce. With less sunlight, leafy greens are beginning to slow down, and a few of our root crops are nearing the end of their season. Golden beets and carrots are among the remaining treasures waiting to be harvested.
 In the Field
Go, cucumbers, go! Our fall crop of Salt and Pepper cucumbers has reached about three inches long. We're not sure how much longer they'll keep growing as temperatures drop, but we're holding out hope for a little Thanksgiving cucumber harvest. Wouldn't that be a treat?
With the potato harvest behind us, we're turning our attention to rebuilding and protecting the soil. We're seeding cover crops and blanketing harvested beds with wood chips to nourish the soil and prepare for next spring.
We also discovered a massive, long-forgotten cucumber hiding in the field! Its seeds are now drying, ready to become part of next year's planting. We'll continue collecting and processing seeds from our remaining fruits and flowers before tucking the farm in for its winter rest.
There's something satisfying about saving seeds. It's a way of carrying a little of this year's abundance into the next growing season.
 Words of Wisdom
"Connecting with nature positively affects health and well-being, providing physical, cognitive, psychological, and social benefits."
β Messer Diehl (2007); Soga et al. (2016)
As the days grow shorter and we spend more time indoors, it's worth remembering that time spent in nature is more than a pleasant diversion. It's nourishment for the body, mind, and spirit. Even a few moments in the garden can make a difference!
Keep Us Growing
Every purchase from Faircrest Farms helps strengthen a local food system rooted in healthy soil, healthy people, and a healthier community.
Taste the Difference β Enjoy food grown with care and harvested at its peak.
 Shop This Week's Harvest β Bring home the freshest flavors of the season.
Visit the Farm β Experience regenerative farming firsthand and see where your food begins.
 Volunteer With Us β Put your hands in the soil and help cultivate food and community.
 Share the Harvest β Forward this newsletter to a friend who values local food and local farming.
 Love Your Faircrest Farms Experience? We'd be grateful if you would take a moment to leave us a Google Business Review. Your kind words help more neighbors discover their local farm.
Thank you for supporting small farms, regenerative agriculture, and food you can know and trust. Every order helps us keep growing good food, nurturing healthy soil, and cultivating community.
With gratitude,
Farmer Karl & Rita
And the Faircrest Farms Crew
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