Good morning,
Early Sunday in the Valencian orchard. The mud is soft, the air smells of wet earth, and the birds seem to have gathered for the first shift.
With coffee in hand, I review the orders to square away the week. This is how we've done it from the beginning: we harvest to order and go out every morning to cut just what's needed.
And this makes all the difference.
After a light rain, the field breathes. The gentle drip at dawn is the best ally. It enters the soil little by little, doesn't compact it, awakens the good microbes, and helps the roots absorb nutrients better.
With cool soil, plants regulate their temperature better and grow with more vigor. Essentially, a temperate rain is like the glass of water you sip, not a bucket over your head.
But if too much falls, it gets messy. When water stagnates, roots suffocate from lack of air. At first, it's not noticeable; then the tree yellows and the plant slows down. Moreover, prolonged humidity brings fungi, and some fruit spoils if it touches the water. In the field, it's all about balance. Sips, not gulps. 💧
I'll tell you something curious while I walk between rows. Each crop has its sweet spot with water, just like each person with coffee.
I'll give you some examples, and I'll also take the opportunity to tell you about the new additions we have available on the website.
Let's start with one of my favorites: blueberries. These little delights have shallow roots and like the soil to be consistently moist, not waterlogged. If they get thirsty, the fruit remains small and less sweet.
Then, Bobby beans need a boost when they are flowering and setting pods. If they lack water at that moment, the flowers fall off, and you lose yield. Now, if the leaves stay wet for days and days, fungi appear. Again, it's all about balance.
Finally, the harvest of Vivaldi potatoes is ready. As for water, they appreciate fresh, spongy soil with constant water and air between the clods. If they become waterlogged, the tuber suffers, and not in a good way. Think of a soft duvet, not sleeping on a soaked sponge. 🌱
It's always a joy to have new arrivals, freshly picked from the fields of colleagues who tend their plots with skill and care, just like at home. If you decide to place your order today, it makes us happy too. With that information, we fine-tune the week, organize teams, and go out tomorrow to harvest just what's needed, no more, no less.
And if anyone asks for our secret, tell them it's simple. Looking at the sky, listening to the earth, and planning with you in mind. As for emergencies, we already have Mondays for that.
Thank you for being on the other side, taking care of the Spanish countryside with us.
If you feel like starting the week with fruit and vegetables that still smell of the garden, here we are. Tomorrow, in the cool morning, I'll check my notebook, and we'll go out to cut what's yours 😊
Have a lovely Sunday, a big hug from Valencia,
