October 20th - Secret Salad Turnip Party

Created on October 20, 2025

2025   ·   coops   mizuna   cabbage   eggs   washing   ·   daily-notes

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TL;DR

We moved the meat bird coop, harvested mizuna and napa cabbage, then did rainy day chores. It didn’t feel like a long day at all, but definitely windy and raw.

A Fresh Patch of Mizuna

As discussed in earlier posts, harvesting mizuna is super easy. Because of its stalky nature, a simple harvest knife (or the personal curved one I use) makes quick work of it. I like to think that I’m shaving the field when I use short, rapid cuts down a row but obviously I’m not a professional farm stylist so I can’t claim that this is any sort of best practice.

Secret Salad Turnip Party

Most of the time, what we think we seeded in the field is what grows there. Sometimes other plants pop up unexpectedly, like the occasional Tokyo Bekana (loose leaf cabbage) or tatsoi that was seeded just before and their seeds were still stuck in the hopper.

Sometimes its easy to identify which crops are in the field and other times less so, especially from afar. The leaves of mizuna and beets are very different than Tokyo Bekana but salad turnips look a lot like daikon radish.

 

I mean, can you tell which is which without seeing the below-ground root veg? If not, don’t feel bad. Sometimes the roots pop out of the ground a little and sometimes not. For the turnips, their leaves are a little more serrated and prickly on the edges. I only know this from bunching hundreds of them this year.

My Cabbages!

It’s napa cabbage time again! These sweet babies are extremely tasty and useful in many recipes, stir-fries and salads. Unfortunately, the bugs love them too. Unlike the cabbage merchant from ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’, our problem is less about them getting knocked over and more about them getting eaten by caterpillars, specifically Imported Cabbageworm (Pieris rapae), before we can get them to market.

Still, we got around 60 heads from a short row, just enough for the first week of the fall CSA. When we get what we need, we don’t need to complain. We just remain grateful, take notes, and move on.

AI Summary from Field Notes

Speaking of notes…from a quick glance of the bullet points, there’s nothing glaringly wrong with today’s summary. There’s also very few ‘confusion keywords’ like ‘wait’, ‘but the user’, or ‘alternatively’ so no interesting graphs like last week’s to show today either.

Summary

Okay, I need to take the provided document and distill it into a consolidated summary. Let me start by understanding the structure of the original content. The user has already broken down the information into main themes, activities, new things, questions, and suggestions. My task is to condense this into a more concise version without missing any key points. First, the main themes. The original has five themes: Farm Operations, Weather Impact, Observations, CSA Deliveries, and Seasonal Planning. I should check if these are accurate and if there's any overlap or redundancy. Maybe "Seasonal Planning" is part of the Farm Operations theme? Or perhaps it's separate. I'll keep them as they are. Next, the activities. The original lists several activities, each with subpoints. I need to make sure all the activities are included here. The user mentioned moving tables, washing eggs, harvesting mizuna, moving the chicken coop, cleaning onions, inspecting pumpkins, cleaning garlic, delivering CSA, and garage maintenance. I should list these as main activities, maybe grouping similar ones if possible. New things: The original lists mizuna in a new patch, deer behavior, rain scheduling, garage processing, and CSA delivery. I need to ensure these are all included. The user also mentioned the process of moving equipment and the impact of rain on the schedule, which are part of the new things. Questions: The original has five questions. I should check if they are all there: deer avoiding mizuna, onion cleaning methods, rain impact on crops, Napa cabbage timing, and CSA delivery efficiency. These seem to be the main questions. Suggestions: The original has five suggestions: document deer behavior, create a rain plan, optimize processing, expand CSA, and track weather data. I need to make sure these are all included and presented clearly. Now, I need to condense this into a summary. The user wants it consolidated, so I should avoid repetition. For example, under main themes, maybe combine Farm Operations and Seasonal Planning into one if possible, but the original separates them. Alternatively, present them as separate points. The same with activities and new things. I should also check for any missing information. The original mentions the intern's observations about the deer not eating mizuna, which is a key point. Also, the process of moving equipment and the impact of rain on work schedules are important for the new things section. I need to ensure that the final summary is clear and each section is well-structured. Maybe use bullet points for each category. Also, check that the questions and suggestions are directly related to the activities and new things mentioned. Let me start drafting the summary. Make sure each section is concise but covers all the points. Avoid using markdown, just plain text with clear headings. Ensure that the main themes, activities, new things, questions, and suggestions are all present and accurately represented.

Consolidated Summary

Main Themes

  1. Farm Operations: Daily tasks such as harvesting, cleaning, and maintenance of crops and equipment.
  2. Weather Impact: Adapting to rainy conditions to minimize crop damage and adjust work schedules.
  3. Observations: Notable findings like deer behavior toward specific plants (e.g., mizuna) and unique processes (e.g., garage-based crop handling).
  4. CSA Deliveries: Managing and optimizing the distribution of produce to customers.
  5. Seasonal Planning: Long-term strategies for crop timing, storage, and resource allocation.

Key Activities

  • Harvesting mizuna, onions, and cabbage.
  • Cleaning and inspecting crops (e.g., onions, garlic).
  • Maintaining equipment and facilities (e.g., moving tables, garage upkeep).
  • Delivering produce to customers via CSA programs.
  • Monitoring and adjusting work schedules based on weather conditions.

New Discoveries/Notables

  • Deer Behavior: Deer avoid mizuna but interact with other crops.
  • Rain-Resilient Scheduling: Adjusting tasks to prioritize indoor work during rain.
  • Garage Processing: Using the garage for crop cleaning and storage.
  • CSA Efficiency: Streamlining delivery processes for scalability.
  • Crop Handling Techniques: Unique methods for cleaning and storing produce.

Key Questions

  1. Why do deer avoid mizuna? (Texture, taste, or chemical factors?)
  2. How does onion cleaning affect shelf life, and can it be optimized?
  3. What are best practices for harvesting and storing crops during rain?
  4. When is the ideal time to harvest Napa cabbage for quality?
  5. How can CSA delivery be made more efficient for larger orders?

Recommended Actions

  1. Study Deer Behavior: Compare interactions with different crops to understand plant characteristics.
  2. Create a Rain-Resilient Plan: Prioritize indoor tasks and adjust outdoor schedules during wet weather.
  3. Test Cleaning Methods: Experiment with alternative techniques for onions and garlic to improve efficiency.
  4. Expand CSA Options: Partner with more customers or use delivery services for larger orders.
  5. Track Weather-Crop Data: Log weather patterns and their impact on harvests and processing.

This summary captures the core elements of the original document, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and structured categorization.

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 parse through the transcript carefully. The intern starts by talking about finishing the cleanup from the potluck, which involved moving tables and chairs, dealing with sawhorses, and then moving to the garage. Then they mention washing eggs, harvesting mizuna, moving the chicken coop, cleaning onions, inspecting pumpkins, cleaning garlic, delivering a CSA share, and harvesting Napa cabbage. The weather is mentioned as rainy, affecting the work schedule. Main themes would be the daily tasks of a farm intern, including cleanup, harvesting, processing, and maintenance. The intern also mentions some observations about the deer not eating mizuna, which might be a point of interest. Activities: Cleaning up after potluck, washing eggs, harvesting mizuna, moving chicken coop, cleaning onions, inspecting pumpkins, cleaning garlic, delivering CSA share, harvesting Napa cabbage, cleaning garage. New things: The intern mentions mizuna being in a new patch, the deer not eating it, the specific process of cleaning onions, and the delivery of a CSA share. Also, the use of sawhorses and moving equipment between locations. Questions for future research: Why don't deer eat mizuna? How does the cleaning process for onions affect their shelf life? What's the optimal time for harvesting Napa cabbage? How does the weather affect the farm's operations? Suggestions: Maybe the intern could research deer behavior around different plants, study the cleaning methods for onions, track the shelf life of mizuna, and plan for future harvests based on weather patterns. I need to make sure I didn't miss any activities or new things. The intern also mentions the weather and the forecast, which might relate to future planning. The deer behavior is a unique observation that could be a topic for further study. Also, the process of moving equipment and the impact of rain on work schedule are points to consider.

Main Themes

  1. Farm Operations and Daily Tasks: Cleaning, harvesting, processing, and maintenance activities.
  2. Weather Impact: Rain affecting work schedules and crop handling.
  3. Observations and Notes: Animal behavior (deer), plant characteristics (mizuna), and crop management.
  4. CSA and Delivery Logistics: Managing deliveries and customer interactions.
  5. Seasonal Planning: Preparing for future harvests based on weather and crop conditions.

Activities Performed by the Intern

  1. Cleanup After Potluck:
    • Moved tables, chairs, and sawhorses.
    • Organized equipment and cleaned the area.
  2. Egg Washing:
    • Washed eggs in the garage.
  3. Harvesting:
    • Collected mizuna from a new patch.
    • Harvested Napa cabbage.
  4. Chicken Coop Maintenance:
    • Moved the chicken coop (one coop, not three).
  5. Crop Processing:
    • Cleaned onions and garlic.
    • Inspected and sorted pumpkins.
  6. CSA Deliveries:
    • Packaged and delivered a half-share CSA bag.
  7. Garage Maintenance:
    • Washed and packed Napa cabbage.
    • Cleaned the garage area.

New Things Not Yet Encountered

  1. Mizuna in a New Patch: The intern observed mizuna in a new location, possibly for the first time.
  2. Deer Behavior: Noted that deer do not eat mizuna, which is unusual.
  3. Rain-Induced Work Scheduling: The intern adjusted tasks based on rain, emphasizing indoor work.
  4. Garage-Based Crop Processing: The process of sorting, washing, and packing crops in the garage.
  5. CSA Delivery Logistics: Delivering a CSA share directly to a customer at the gate.

Questions and Future Research Areas

  1. Why Do Deer Avoid Mizuna?
    • What makes mizuna unappealing to deer compared to other plants?
    • Could this be due to its texture, taste, or chemical composition?
  2. Optimal Onion Cleaning Methods:
    • How does the cleaning process affect the shelf life of onions?
    • Are there more efficient methods for large-scale processing?
  3. Impact of Rain on Crop Handling:
    • How can the farm adapt to rainy days to minimize damage to crops?
    • What are the best practices for harvesting and storing crops during wet weather?
  4. Napa Cabbage Harvesting Timing:
    • What is the ideal time to harvest Napa cabbage for maximum quality?
    • How does weather (rain, sun) influence this?
  5. CSA Delivery Efficiency:
    • Can the delivery process be streamlined for larger orders or more customers?

Suggestions for Action

  1. Document Deer Behavior:
    • Conduct a study to compare deer interactions with different plants (e.g., mizuna vs. other crops).
  2. Develop a Rain-Resilient Work Plan:
    • Create a schedule that prioritizes indoor tasks during rain and adjusts outdoor activities accordingly.
  3. Optimize Crop Processing:
    • Test alternative methods for cleaning onions and garlic to improve efficiency.
  4. Expand CSA Delivery Options:
    • Explore partnerships with more customers or use a delivery service for larger orders.
  5. Track Weather and Crop Data:
    • Maintain a log of weather conditions and their impact on harvests, processing, and crop quality.

This structured breakdown highlights the intern’s responsibilities, unique observations, and opportunities for further investigation.

[end of post]



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