November 13th - Secret Parsnip Party

Created on November 12, 2025

2025   ·   parsnips   tatsoi   carrots   wreaths   garlic   field   ·   daily-notes

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TL;DR

We harvested a secret patch of parsnips, then also some tatsoi and carrots. We also worked on projects like demo wreath makings and preparing the new garlic fields.

We also delayed our end-of-season crew outing until next week, considering the store opening and some various other last minute schedule complications. This also gives us all more time to work on our spooky stories, artworks, etc.

Parsnips Are the Taste of Fall in New England

I know there are other things people associate more with tastes from New England…apple cider, maple syrup, nutmeg in every pie and custard, and of course Dunkin’ Donuts. But for me, the taste of fall in New England is the parsnip. Like humans who grow up vacillating between extremes of cold and hot every year, under intense competitive market pressures living in the oldest part of a broader space, often considered “an uglier, whiter” carrot, to me the parsnip is a symbol of the resilience and understated beauty. I’m Scottish by blood and genetics so naturally I’ll stick up for this little guy.

I didn’t even know that this patch of parsnips was growing in the field until yesterday, even after working along side them for over 6 months. I never stopped to ask, “why are we letting that patch grow weeds all year”, maybe because I was also so busy doing everything else. I mean, it was seeded early and by someone else, so I have that excuse but this also makes me want to know ahead of time what crops are where and generally when might they start to be harvested.

If you’ve been following along with these notes this year, you may have noticed my trend of using the phrase “secret…party”. Carrots, salad turnips, celeriac, and now parsnips. It’s a reference to one of my favorite children’s book “Secret Pizza Party” by Adam Rubin. There are just some inside jokes that I feel are also deserving of becoming outside jokes any chance they get.

AI Summary from Field Notes

Aside from some minor confusion in the LLM reasoning over today’s notes which is to be expected occasionally, I also had a thought in the field today about why there’s a tendency to mash up all the activities I mention into one list as if I did them all, even though I mention explicitly in the audio notes that I did some things while ‘others did this and that else’.

I think the maths behind a prompt that starts with ‘the following is a transcript of field activities by a farm intern’ is a problem because it infers that the intern did all the activities mentioned in the transcript, or otherwise the statistical weight of an up-front indicator like this is too high. This kind of issue will require re-summarization at a later time…why I have kept all my original voice recordings as well as the transcripts, not just the summaries generated at a point in (real) time.

For today, the transcript stands, even though the AI in it is very, very curious about the store and the workshops coming up while generally speaking, I am not.

Part 1

Okay, let's tackle this query. The user provided a transcript of field notes from a farm intern. They want me to identify the main themes, list the activities, new things not yet encountered, questions for future research, and any suggested actions. </section> First, I need to parse the transcript carefully. The intern mentions preparing with the garlic field, but another person was making wreaths with pine and other components. There are wreaths ready for sale and demonstration models for the general store. The store will have workshops, and that's the end of the day. Main themes: Farm work, wreath making, store operations, workshops. The intern was involved in garlic field prep, but the wreath making was done by others. The store has a wreath-making program. Activities: The intern was preparing the garlic field. Others made wreaths, which were for sale and demonstrations. The store has workshops. New things: The intern might not have encountered wreath making before, as it's a different activity from farm work. Also, the store's workshop schedule is new to them. Questions for research: Maybe how the wreath-making workshops are structured, the materials used, or the target audience. Also, how the garlic field prep is done, or the role of the intern in that. Suggested actions: The intern might need to observe the wreath-making process, ask about the workshop details, or learn more about the store's operations. Also, maybe document the garlic field preparation methods. Wait, the user mentioned "suggestion actions in this conversation." The transcript doesn't have explicit suggestions, but the intern might be implying that they should note the wreath-making process or the store's plans. Maybe the intern is suggesting to document the wreath-making activities or the workshop schedule for future reference. I need to make sure I'm not missing any key points. The main themes are the farm work (garlic field) and the wreath-making activities. The intern was involved in the garlic field, but others did the wreaths. The store has workshops, which is a new thing for the intern. The intern might have questions about how the wreath-making is organized, the materials, or the workshops. Also, the intern might need to learn more about the store's operations or the wreath-making process. The suggested actions could be to observe the wreath-making, document the workshop schedule, or ask about the materials used.

Main Themes

  1. Agricultural Work: Preparing the garlic field.
  2. Wreath Making: Creating wreaths for sale and demonstration.
  3. Store Operations: The general store’s wreath-making workshops and their role in the farm’s activities.

Activities the Intern Did

  1. Garlic Field Preparation: Assisted in preparing the garlic field (specific tasks not detailed).
  2. Observation of Wreath Making: Noted that others were making wreaths with pine and other components.
  3. Documentation: Recorded the creation of wreaths for sale and demonstration models.

New Things Not Yet Encountered

  1. Wreath Making: The intern likely did not engage in wreath-making before, as it was a separate activity.
  2. Store Workshops: The intern may not have been familiar with the general store’s planned wreath-making workshops.
  3. Collaborative Farm Tasks: The intern observed others working on wreaths while they focused on the garlic field, indicating a division of labor.

Questions and Future Research Areas

  1. Wreath-Making Process: How are the wreaths structured (e.g., materials, design, assembly)?
  2. Store Workshops: What is the target audience for the workshops? How are they organized?
  3. Farm-Wreath Connection: Is there a link between the garlic field and the wreath-making activities (e.g., using farm products)?
  4. Intern’s Role: What is the intern’s specific responsibility in the garlic field prep?
  5. Sustainability/Revenue: How do the wreaths contribute to the farm’s revenue or community engagement?

Suggested Actions

  1. Observe Wreath-Making: Document the process, materials, and collaboration with others.
  2. Interview Store Staff: Clarify the purpose, structure, and target audience of the wreath-making workshops.
  3. Track Farm-Wreath Interactions: Investigate if farm products (e.g., pine, herbs) are used in wreath-making.
  4. Reflect on Intern’s Role: Clarify the intern’s responsibilities in the garlic field and how they align with the farm’s goals.
  5. Research Market Demand: Explore the demand for wreaths in the local community and how the store plans to sustain the workshops.

Part 2

Okay, let's tackle this query. The user provided a transcript of field notes from a farm intern and wants me to identify main themes, list activities, new things encountered, questions for research, and any suggested actions. First, I need to read through the transcript carefully. The intern is talking about their workday on November 12th. The main activities mentioned are washing bins, preparing for harvest, and then harvesting parsnips for the first time. They mention the cold weather affecting the water in the bins and the temperature changes throughout the day. For the main themes, I should look for overarching topics. Harvesting parsnips, the cold weather, and the intern's first experience with the crop are key. The cold weather is a significant theme as it affects the work and the environment. Next, the activities: washing bins, preparing for harvest, harvesting parsnips, and dealing with the frozen water. The intern also notes the difficulty in harvesting parsnips compared to carrots, which is a new thing they encountered. New things not yet encountered would be the parsnips, the process of harvesting them, and the cold weather impact. The intern didn't know about the parsnips growing there until the harvest, so that's a new experience. Questions for research could be about the timing of planting, the impact of cold weather on crops, and the specific harvesting techniques for parsnips. The intern might be curious why the parsnips weren't mentioned earlier, how the cold affected the work, and the best practices for harvesting. Suggested actions might include documenting the cold weather's effect on the farm, researching the parsnip harvesting techniques, and noting the importance of temperature in the harvest process. Also, maybe checking if the parsnips were planted early, which the intern mentions was seeded very early. I need to make sure I'm not missing any details. The intern also mentions the temperature changes, so that's part of the main themes. The cold weather is a key factor in the activities and the new things. The questions should be based on the intern's observations and what they noticed during the day. The suggested actions should be things that the intern might want to do next, like further research or documentation.

Main Themes

  1. Harvesting Parsnips: First-time experience with harvesting a surprise crop (parsnips), learning their unique characteristics and harvesting techniques.
  2. Cold Weather Impact: The effect of cold temperatures on farm operations (frozen water in bins, temperature fluctuations throughout the day).
  3. Farm Preparation and Workflow: Preparing bins for harvest, teamwork, and the importance of proper techniques for different crops.

Activities Performed by the Intern

  1. Helped wash bins and prepare for harvest.
  2. Participated in harvesting parsnips for the first time.
  3. Observed and documented the cold weather conditions (frozen water, temperature changes).
  4. Noted the differences in harvesting techniques between parsnips and carrots.

New Things Encountered

  1. Parsnips: A surprise crop that had been growing on the farm all year, not previously known to the intern.
  2. Harvesting Techniques: The complexity of digging parsnips (deeper roots, avoiding splitting or nicking them).
  3. Weather Effects: How cold temperatures impacted farm operations (frozen water, slower warming).

Questions and Future Research Areas

  1. Why were parsnips not mentioned in previous planning or crop rotations?
  2. How does the early seeding of parsnips affect their growth and harvest timing?
  3. What are the optimal temperature ranges for harvesting parsnips to avoid damage?
  4. How does cold weather affect the quality or yield of crops like parsnips?
  5. Are there best practices for preventing soil compaction or root damage during harvesting?

Suggested Actions

  1. Document Temperature Effects: Record daily temperature trends and their impact on farm tasks (e.g., frozen water, worker efficiency).
  2. Research Parsnip Harvesting Techniques: Study detailed methods for harvesting parsnips to improve efficiency and minimize damage.
  3. Track Crop Growth Patterns: Monitor the growth of parsnips and other surprise crops to understand their planting and harvesting cycles.
  4. Improve Bin Preparation: Develop strategies to prevent water freezing in bins during cold weather (e.g., using heated containers or thawing methods).
  5. Team Training: Share insights on parsnip harvesting with other farm workers to standardize techniques.

Part 3

Okay, let's tackle this query. The user provided a transcript of field notes from a farm intern and wants me to identify main themes, list activities, new things, questions, and suggestions. First, I need to read through the transcript carefully. The intern talks about harvesting parsnips, top soy, and then moving to other tasks like consolidating produce, preparing the garlic field, cleaning the honey spinner, spreading fertilizer, and more. There's also mention of the cold weather affecting their work and the need to accelerate harvesting. Main themes: Harvesting different crops, preparing for the general store, managing the garlic field, equipment maintenance, and the impact of weather on farming. Activities: Harvesting parsnips, top soy, consolidating produce, preparing garlic field, spreading fertilizer, cleaning equipment, washing parsnips, delivering to the general store, watering pigs and chickens, sorting winter squash. New things: The honey spinner (maybe a type of equipment?), the specific process of harvesting top soy (stripping leaves, bunching), the timing of garlic planting, the issue with the cedar tractor. Questions: The intern mentions the problem with the cedar tractor's linkage needing grease. Also, the need to prioritize tasks and timing for the general store. Maybe questions about the effectiveness of manual spreading vs. machinery, or the impact of cold weather on other crops. Suggestions: Repairing the cedar tractor, planning for garlic planting, ensuring proper timing for harvesting, maintaining equipment, improving storage for the general store. Wait, the user also wants a separate section for suggestions. Let me check if the transcript mentions any actions. The intern mentions bringing the cedar over for inspection, spreading fertilizer manually, and planning for the general store. So those are the suggestions.

Main Themes

  1. Crop Harvesting and Preparation: Harvesting parsnips, top soy, and winter squash; processing produce for the general store and CSA.
  2. Farm Maintenance and Planning: Preparing the garlic field, cleaning equipment (honey spinner), and maintaining machinery (cedar tractor).
  3. Weather and Timing: Cold weather affecting work, prioritizing harvests, and accelerating tasks to avoid spoilage.
  4. Logistics and Distribution: Consolidating produce for the general store, sorting for CSA members, and managing delivery bags.

Activities Performed by the Intern

  1. Harvested parsnips: Noted size variation along rows, cleaned and bundled for sale.
  2. Harvested top soy: Stripped nibbled leaves, bundled into small, crisp heads for sale.
  3. Consolidated produce: Organized items for the general store and CSA.
  4. Prepared garlic field: Tilled soil, manually spread fertilizer and rock phosphate.
  5. Maintained equipment: Cleaned and sanitized the honey spinner, inspected the cedar tractor.
  6. Delivered produce: Filled delivery bags with harvested items.
  7. Animal care: Watered pigs and chickens.
  8. Sorted winter squash: Separated small squash for CSA and larger squash for the general store.

New Things Not Yet Encountered

  1. Honey Spinner: A specific piece of equipment (possibly a tool for spreading fertilizer or soil preparation).
  2. Top Soy Harvesting Process: Stripping nibbled leaves and bundling small heads for sale.
  3. Garlic Field Preparation: Manual spreading of fertilizer and rock phosphate, tilling soil for planting.
  4. Cedar Tractor Issue: A mechanical problem with the tractor’s linkage and tire shaft.

Questions and Future Research Areas

  1. Equipment Maintenance: How to fix the cedar tractor’s linkage issue (e.g., grease application or repairs).
  2. Harvest Timing: Optimal timing for harvesting top soy and garlic to maximize quality and yield.
  3. Cold Weather Impact: Effects of cold temperatures on crop storage and worker safety.
  4. Manual vs. Mechanical Spreaders: Efficiency of manual fertilizer spreading compared to machinery.
  5. Garlic Planting Strategy: Best timing and methods for planting garlic (e.g., soil preparation, spacing).

Suggestions for Action

  1. Repair Cedar Tractor: Inspect and grease the linkage issue to restore functionality.
  2. Accelerate Garlic Planting: Plan for planting garlic in the next few days to avoid delays.
  3. Optimize Harvest Scheduling: Prioritize cold-sensitive crops (e.g., top soy) to prevent spoilage.
  4. Improve Equipment Maintenance: Regularly check machinery (e.g., honey spinner, cedar tractor) to avoid downtime.
  5. Enhance Produce Sorting: Develop a system to efficiently separate squash for CSA and retail.

[end of post]



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