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TL;DR

We harvested eggplants, peppers, and arugula (a.k.a. rocket) then packed up for deliveries and the farmer’s market.

An Arugula by Any Other Name

In the UK, they call it rocket (pro. “row-kit”) but it will always be “arugula” to me. I remember the first time I had it in a salad as a teen and almost choked because I wasn’t expecting it to be so spicy and inhaled a piece of one of the leaves.

Arugula is a leafy green that is quick to grow in warm soil with minimal care. It tastes bright and grassy with a peppery bite. In fancy restaurants, it is often tossed with a light vinaigrette and served with a goat cheese cake, sometimes with candied walnuts or an almond encrusting too. Don’t get me wrong, this is great, but you really have to be in the mood for it.

Like most leafy greens, it spoils quickly if not stored properly, so it’s best to use it as soon as possible. I especially like it chopped and tossed on top of a soup, particularly for dinner on a damp and chilly day like this one started out as, but quickly warmed up when the sun came out.

We seeded this patch about a month ago then kept it under row cover so that the flea beetles and deer wouldn’t bother it too much. Harvesting it is simple: grab a bunch between your thumb and index finger loop then swiftly chop (not saw) through the stems at about 2-3 inches above the soil to get the most of the leafy bits and very little weeds or dirt.

It will continue to grow new leaves from the base a few times before the season is over, and these new growths will be quicker to produce than the first harvest during root establishment, despite less sunlight per day as the winter season approaches.

Back to My Futures

While working today, I had numerous moments where I found my mind wandering to what my career would look like in a year, three years, a decade. In the face of the high tech industry imploding on itself thanks to a hype cycle around AI, I don’t know if I want to be part of that insanity again so soon since departing it last year.

I would love to start my own business but haven’t quite nailed down exactly how that will work and what to focus on. Post-farm production of value-added agricultural products seems to be a promising area of potential. IT consulting for farms would be stellar, but drumming up customers not to mention adequate income from them makes this a less likely option.

In October and November, I am likely going to take the Farm Business Planning Course from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in Beverly. This is not only a pre-requisite to potentially using their incubator farm space in the future but also recognized by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as fulfilling one of their financial management training requirements.

Maybe I’ll finally write a book…“The Sunshine Cafe”…kind of a cookbook and movie recommendations mash-up based on a long-standing idea of me and mine for a combo diner and drive-in movie theater that approximates one we once visited in Vermont. This will not make money which is what I need.

Or I could just get a full-time job like a normal person.

AI Summary from Field Notes

Case in point about the need for better AI training that is organic farming specific. I really stumped Qwen3 today when it couldn’t connect the dots about excess water being a cause of faster decomposition in food. It generated:

“Why is washing plants bad for refrigeration?” (The intern notes that washing speeds up decomposition, but the reasoning is not explained.)

One would thing that somewhere, out in the wide world of the public intarwebs, that there’s more than enough content about how to keep various produce from rotting under the presence of too much water. Yes, different produce needs different levels of moisture. But anyone who’s wondered why fruits and veg go faster than…say… cooked rice in the fridge knows, it’s about the water content. In particular:

water supports the survival and activity of the microorganisms (like bacteria and fungi) that break down organic matter, providing the necessary environment for their metabolism, transport, and enzyme secretion. A lack of water inhibits microbial growth, allowing for longer food preservation, whereas the addition of water creates ideal conditions for these decomposers, accelerating the decay process

…so Google AI search says. All we need to do is teach my process to reach out to Google for additional search results in a RAG model (that I’ve been deferring the work on since May). For now, 95% awesome summary will just have to do.

Summary

Okay, the user wants me to take the provided summary and distill it into a consolidated version. Let me start by reading through the original summary carefully. The original summary is divided into sections: Main Themes, Activities, New Things, Questions, and Suggestions. The user has already structured it that way, but they want it more concise. I need to make sure that each section is clear and not redundant. First, the Main Themes. The original lists five themes. I can check if they are all covered and maybe combine similar points. For example, "Farm Operations and Labor" and "Collaboration" might be merged into one theme if they are closely related. Wait, no, the original separates them as distinct. So I should keep them as they are but maybe rephrase slightly for clarity. Next, Activities. The original has 10 activities. I need to ensure that each activity is listed clearly without repetition. Maybe some can be grouped, but the original lists them individually, so I should keep them as separate points unless there's a way to combine them. New Things: The original lists five new things. I need to check if they are all unique and not overlapping. The user mentioned things like crop storage, different buckets, coop movement, CSA logistics, and field layout. These seem distinct, so they should stay as is. Questions: The original has six questions. They are all about understanding the rationale behind certain practices. I need to ensure that each question is clear and not redundant. Suggestions: The original has six suggestions. They are actionable steps based on the observations. I should check if they are all distinct and relevant. Now, the user wants a consolidated summary. So I need to make sure each section is concise, maybe using bullet points or numbered lists. Also, check for any overlap or redundancy between sections. For example, the "New Things" might be related to the "Activities," but in the original, they are separate, so I should keep them as such. I should also make sure that the language is clear and that each point is directly derived from the original summary. No new information should be added. The user might be looking for a more streamlined version for a report or a presentation, so clarity and brevity are key. Let me go through each section again to ensure that I haven't missed anything. For example, under "Main Themes," the original includes sustainable practices, which is about washing and decomposition. That's a good point. The activities include moving irrigation and the coop, which are maintenance tasks. The new things include the use of different buckets for crops, which is a unique observation. In the questions, the user is asking about the science behind washing and decomposition, which is a key point. The suggestions include documenting the rationale, which is a logical next step. I think that's all. Now, I'll structure each section concisely, making sure that each part is clear and not redundant. Use bullet points or numbered lists where appropriate. Avoid using markdown, as per the user's instruction, but since they provided a markdown example, maybe they expect a similar structure but more concise.

Consolidated Summary

Main Themes

Farm Operations and Labor: Daily tasks, crop management, and infrastructure maintenance (e.g., irrigation, coops).
Collaboration: Teamwork among farm staff, including decisions on crop handling and logistics.
Sustainable Practices: Crop storage techniques (e.g., washing vs. unwashing) and decomposition rates.
Logistics and Distribution: CSA delivery systems, field layout, and crop zoning.
Infrastructure Management: Movement of farm equipment (e.g., coops, irrigation systems).

Key Activities

Crop harvesting and storage (e.g., washing vs. unwashing).
Maintenance of irrigation systems and meat bird coops.
Organizing and distributing CSA shares (full/half shares to Beverly, Salem).
Mapping fields for specific crops (e.g., beets, eggplants, arugula).
Documenting farm layout and infrastructure.

New Observations

Crop Handling Decisions: Crops are washed or unwashed based on storage needs.
Field Zoning: Clear separation of fields for different crops.
Coop and Irrigation Movement: Regular relocations of infrastructure.
CSA Logistics: Specific delivery routes and share distribution.
Decomposition Science: Washing speeds up decomposition, but rationale not fully explained.

Key Questions

Why does washing speed up decomposition, and how is this decision made?
What criteria determine which crops are washed vs. unwashed?
How is the meat bird coop and irrigation system managed?
How are fields divided for crop types?
What impact does not washing eggplants have on shelf life or quality?
How does the farm schedule irrigation and harvesting?

Recommended Actions

Investigate Decomposition Science: Study the impact of washing on crop preservation.
Map Farm Infrastructure: Document field zones, coops, and irrigation systems.
Optimize CSA Processes: Analyze efficiency in share distribution and packaging.
Track Infrastructure Movement: Record timelines for coop and irrigation relocations.
Clarify Crop Handling Policies: Interview staff to understand decision-making.
Document Storage Practices: Create guidelines for washing/unwashing based on crop type.

Part 1

Okay, let's tackle this query. The user provided a transcript of field notes from a farm intern and wants me to identify the main themes, list the activities, new things, questions, and suggestions. First, I need to read through the transcript carefully. The intern is talking about their day on the farm, starting with washing buckets, helping Jamie with chores, harvesting eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, mizuna, arugula, and then preparing CSA deliveries. There's also mention of moving irrigation and a coop, weeding beets, and driving to the market. Main themes would be the daily tasks on a farm, the collaboration with Jamie, harvesting different crops, processing and storing produce, preparing for market, and maintenance tasks like moving coops and irrigation. Also, the intern's role in both labor and administrative tasks. Activities: Washing buckets, chicken and pig chores, harvesting eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, mizuna, arugula, washing and binning produce, preparing CSA deliveries, moving irrigation and coop, weeding beets, driving to market, watering pigs and chickens. New things: The intern mentions that washing plants speeds up decomposition, so they didn't wash eggplants. Also, the use of different buckets for different crops, the CSA delivery process, moving the coop, and the specific areas of the field for different crops. Questions: Why is washing plants bad for refrigeration? How does the farm handle different types of produce? What's the process for moving the coop? Are there specific times for irrigation? How are the CSA deliveries organized? What's the impact of not washing eggplants? Suggestions: The intern might need to research the reason behind not washing eggplants, or the benefits of different storage methods. Also, maybe the process of moving the coop and irrigation could be documented. The CSA delivery process could be studied for efficiency. I need to make sure I didn't miss any details. Let me check again. The intern also mentions the time of day for each activity, which is part of the schedule. The movement of the coop and irrigation is a maintenance task. The intern also did some weeding and driving to the market. The CSA deliveries are part of the market prep. The part about washing plants and decomposition is a new thing. The intern might not know the reason for that, so that's a question. Also, the different types of buckets used for different crops might be a new thing. The intern might not have encountered that before. I think that's all. Now, structure the answer into the sections requested: main themes, activities, new things, questions, and suggestions.

Main Themes

Farm Operations and Labor: Daily tasks involving harvesting, washing, and processing produce, as well as animal care and infrastructure maintenance.
Collaboration: Working with Jamie (the farmer) and another person, emphasizing teamwork and shared responsibilities.
Crop Management: Harvesting and preparing multiple crops (eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, mizuna, arugula) and understanding their storage and handling.
Market Preparation: Organizing CSA deliveries, packaging produce, and logistical planning for distribution.
Sustainable Practices: Observing how washing and refrigeration affect decomposition, and decisions about crop handling.

Activities Performed by the Intern

Washed buckets (as many as possible) in the morning.
Helped Jamie with chicken and pig chores.
Harvested eggplants, green peppers, and tomatoes.
Washed and binned peppers and arugula, while keeping eggplants un-washed.
Bagged mizuna for CSA deliveries and market distribution.
Moved irrigation and the meat bird coop.
Weeded beets in a specific field.
Prepared and loaded CSA delivery bags.
Drove to the market (in the intern’s car) while Jamie drove the electric van.
Watered pigs and chickens after lunch.

New Things Not Yet Encountered

Crops and Storage: The intern observed that some crops (e.g., eggplants) are not washed before refrigeration to prevent faster decomposition.
Crop Varieties: Harvesting multiple varieties of eggplants and using different buckets for different crops.
Coop and Irrigation Management: Moving the meat bird coop and adjusting irrigation systems.
CSA Logistics: Organizing and delivering CSA shares (full and half shares) to specific areas (Beverly, Salem).
Field Layout: The farm’s layout, including specific fields for beets, eggplants, and arugula.

Questions and Future Research Areas

Why is washing plants bad for refrigeration? (The intern notes that washing speeds up decomposition, but the reasoning is not explained.)
How does the farm decide which crops to wash and which to leave unwashed?
What is the process for moving the meat bird coop and irrigation?
How are the fields divided for different crops (e.g., eggplants, peppers, beets)?
What is the impact of not washing eggplants on their shelf life or quality?
How does the farm handle the timing of irrigation and crop harvesting?

Suggestions for Action

Document the rationale for washing vs. not washing crops: Investigate the science behind decomposition rates and storage practices.
Map the farm’s field layout: Create a visual or written record of crop zones and infrastructure (coops, irrigation).
Analyze CSA delivery processes: Study how shares are organized, packaged, and distributed to optimize efficiency.
Track the movement of the meat bird coop: Record the timeline and reasons for its relocation.
Research decomposition and storage practices: Explore how different crops are handled to minimize spoilage.
Interview Jamie or other staff: Clarify decisions about crop handling, irrigation, and coop management.

September 18th - An Arugula by Any Other Name