Mostly there is a quiet sense of completion in the patchwork quilt of the farm as we broadcast barley and rye to cover the beds for winter. After everything we have grown this year, we are now picking our final crops: brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and greens. We are organizing the barn to make room to tuck in our tractors for a good long snooze as they hibernate until spring.

While strolling along the C&O canal at Swain’s Lock with my dogs, on a quiet Monday morning unhurried, canopied by vibrant leaves and November skies, greeting blue herons, and catching glimpses of the Potomac I catch myself thinking about next season. There is an excitement in perusing seed catalogs,  implementing new growing tips and contemplating new crops. I plot and plan on google maps where I can actually see our progress for the past two seasons while measuring and blocking out the next one. This was a good year for Norman’s with plenty of successes yet certainly room for improvement to make the next one even better. As Thanksgiving approaches it is time for a well deserved rest and an opportunity to reflect and appreciate upon the things for which we are grateful.

I would like to personally thank all of our customers, members, and crew for being a part of this season’s journey. I hope that each of you has truly experienced the unique flavor of each season as it unfolds and parades across our calendar pages. Whether you have made Norman’s CSA a weekly commitment in your busy schedule, or one of our farm stands a destination stop for your produce; whether you have pioneered our new home delivery program or plunged in with both feet to become part of our seasonal crew, we are thankful for your support and for being an important part of our community and we hope that you continue with us on our journey in 2018.

John Norman