Week 4 Update

Boy, have we been busy! The weeds are trying to take over, but we have managed to keep them more under control that in the recent past. If you would like to help us to get them wiped out during an upcoming Saturday morning, let us know. We would be happy to have some more of you knock out your working hours.


Our green house is still has our fall crops that are ready to plant in the fields. We always run out of plowed fields at this time of year. Happily, this year's experiment of growing in this lower land has increased our production almost twofold. We have more of some crops than we need in order to supply you with plenty of veggies. We are planning to pull out some of the kale and maybe chard that we planted so we can make room for some of the fall crops. If you would like to help with this, let us know. We are here working every day until about 5:30. We would love to have you help us.


This past week we had prepared to be a vendor at the Mechanicsburg farmer's market. WE had planned last winter to grow a bit extra for sale at a market. A little extra income is something we do need. I had harvested some greens, flowers, onions, and bunched them nicely. I spent hours making signs to label everything. It took almost all morning. Then the admistrator of the market called to ensure that I was going to be there, because there were no other vendors. I was so disappointed. One vendor is not a market. I declined her invitation. After brainstorming a while, we decided to sell our surplus items during our pick up times. Members who want to preserve things like green beans or chard and kale can do so. We will also begin to sell flowers from our garden. I'm not sure if we will sell bouquets or single stems. Last year we sold single stems that we harvested from the cut your own garden, and were surprised at the success. We will have the free cut your own garden ready in a few weeks, but for now we will only have stems to purchase.

We could use some rain too. Everyone, do your rain dances. Our corn is really struggling to overcome the dry soil. We have it set up to get sprinkled, but that is not nearly as good as rain.

Bug Report: The cabbage moths have been busy forming a strong population in our cabbage fields. We will spray them with BT, a bacteria found in the soil that kills the caterpillar when it comes in contact with them. It does not affect humans. The Friday shares are advised to wash their kale well. Cucumber beetles are showing up in droves now. They don't actually harm the plants, but they carry a disease called Bacterial Wilt that kills cucumbers plants. We will spray them this week too. Japanese beetles are all over everything.

Disease Report: Late blight has been reported in Western PA and Maryland. Our potatoes and tomatoes look pretty strong now. Cross your fingers. In addition, Ethan and I have that joyous head cold that has been going around. I am ready for us all to be healthy again.


Wildlife Report: Northern Mockingbirds and Grey Catbirds are doing a lot of singing. It seems as though a pair of Eastern Kingbirds has made its home in our neighbor's apple tree. The only butterflies that I saw this week were a Question Mark and a few Pearl Crescents. The groundhogs are very prevalent. There are several groups of babies who have moved into our three car garage and around some of other outbuildings. We have begun trapping for them. There has been a chipmunk or a groundhog who is eating some of the seedlings in the greenhouse. We have a trap set in there too.

This coming week we hope to plant sweet potatoes, plant Tuscan kale, and remove the first planting of peas. If things go really well replant that area with cauliflower and fall cabbages.