August-Lest I Forget the Rain
Last week I wrote about adventure, an idea inspired by a particular sheet of rain we had weeks ago at market. Ideas are sparked this time of the year and I try to fan their flames until I can manage to sit down to write. By the time I could carve out an hour to write about adventure, more recent inspiration had surfaced. However, today I was reminded of the original idea. When I rose earlier than any other day of the week to pack our trailer so full of produce that the tires look fit to pop, I immediately checked the radar to see a wall of rain was bound to hit market and only retreat within the last hour. I fell back down into our bed as if an extra five minutes of snooze would imbue me with the energy it takes to pop up and run a shop amidst a three-hour rainstorm.
But it also made me giddy. It's like that greatest of pitchers, Mother Nature, is giving us a grin as she winds up, while we wiggle our bat, ready to play ball. I tossed my all-weather gear in the passenger seat and this little piggy went to market. The energy is frenetic between the vendors fastening side walls onto their tents, cowering under the sky, and the early bird customers hoping to be in and out before a line forms or they get washed out in the storm. I've noticed that the rain-or-shiners aren't only steadfast, but also steeped in gratitude. This does not go unnoticed and supplies our tanks with the energy we missed out on by waking so early after a couple of big harvest days.
In reality, by this time of the year we are working seven days a week and pulling out all the stops to keep up with the field. This year has offered us very regular and generous rains, which has allowed the plants to fruit more, but the weeds to be ultra competitive. Typically by this time of the year, the conditions are drier and hot and the grasses and the perennial plantlife are going to seed instead of putting on mega green growth. But why follow a pattern? 2026 is wet. Beginning with a damaging spring rain season, we eased into summer which has seen intermittent and heavy rains. That's this year's story.
The rain satiates the land during the hot season and the appreciation at market waters us. We saw more folks come out for produce today than we ever have at an August market in our growing history. They joined us in our rain or shine game, standing in line in the rain, and splashed their way back to their vehicles or even down the sidewalks to their cozy homes. There's something thrilling about being out in the rain...perhaps the memories from youth when the rain conjured our imaginations as almost no other weather can. It's an ultra sensory experience, lest we forget.
Often times, Rich and I retreat during the rain into the hoop houses or the barn, or we even take that hard-to-come-by break and have a coffee on the couch. However, at market or on deliveries we embrace the rain. And so, at the tail end of that particular market weeks ago, a great bucket in the sky tipped over and the inundation of rainwater was immense. I was sure the oldest of our three tents would relent. In such a moment, all I could do was throw my head back and laugh. It was as if we had just been inserted into a Looney Tunes episode in which one single dark cloud sat itself above us and just unleashed. Direct hit. The energy changed from the anticipatory frenzy of incoming rain to a disbelieving merriment. No dangerous winds or lightning accompanied the rain, just gallons of water a minute...or so it seemed.
Julie, in the tent next door, laughed with us. And I ran through the rain, wet to the skivvies within seconds. I thought we would beat it when we unloaded our goods first thing the morning and had left my raincoat in the truck. Another lesson from that Mother...always be prepared. Or is her lesson to forget your coat and revel in the rain? I ran between tents of vendors who were speed-packing and down the alley to fetch the truck with my now-senseless rain jacket inside. My hair was heavy, flying behind me, and everywhere was a puddle. I wished I could "I Dream of Jeannie" the kids to me that moment so that they could enjoy the neverending puddle too. There's just nowhere for that much water to go when it's still falling.
Backing the trailer up to our booth, Rich and I tag-teamed loading up. And despite the fact that we would have extra work to do on the back end, taking all of our equipment out to dry in the barn when we got home, we had both just shared an experience to add to our summer collection of adventures. Wet to the undies, after finding homes for countless veggies, knowing that back at the farm this epic rain in cooperation with the week of sun to follow would ensure another big harvest for the next market, we felt we had successfully hit another curveball. Chock it up as a win.
Updates from the Farm:
-Wild Oakwood Market Days: Since the cyclosporosis outbreak, we have noticed a hugely increased demand at market. Rich and I are attempting to meet it the best we can. Thanks to my family for helping out at market to restock and hand out preorders while we see such an influx of market customers overnight. Thank you to all for being patient as we try to step it up. And thank you for trusting us to feed you. It's our great pleasure to do so. This is a great time of the year to eat local with so much being in season.
-Suspicious Activity in the Hen House: We suspect that we could see the hens' first eggs begin this month. We are waiting with bated breath. The hens are reaching sexual maturity and we have even discovered we have a rooster who is showing himself. He has been dubbed Mr. Grey by Jack.
-Ever Supportive Restaurant Partners: As we don't have a ton of new news...just harvesting like mad here midseason, I wanted to shoutout our restaurant partners who continue to source locally to feed you quality, delicious food. Thanks to Silver Slipper, Little Fish, Resonant, Bella Sorella, Grist, Rays Wine Spirits and Grill (Englewood), Fête, Salt Block Biscuit Co, Fei, and Mulberry and Main (Brookville). Beyond restaurants, Dorothy Lane Market continues to support us local farmers through thick and thin.
Thank you for reading
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