Black walnuts

This is the time of the year that black walnuts are falling from the trees.

Last winter we built a tractor powered nut cracker that works fairly nicely. There is also a tractor powered machine in the area that removes the outer green or black hull for us to use. If any body has walnuts that you do not need I would love to have some of them. This is mostly a hobby homestead type of project so I am not paying money out for them however if you bring nuts you can get nuts back after I cure and crack them if you wish. It does not matter if the outer hulls on the nuts are nice and green or black and squishy. They should be nuts that have fallen fairly recently ( not shriveled nuts that fell prematurely) After they are picked up they should be brought to the stand with in a few days or a week and be stored with some air. We cannot use them if they are a moldy mess. (black and squishy is ok.) In some cases I may be able to come with the children and help pick nuts up however we are also doing the stand and lots of other harvest so our time away from the farm is limited this time of the year. Daniel

Yes we are open on Columbus day.

Hello, Yes we are open on Columbus day. We had several frosts which trim the list back however there is still lots of food here including greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, and lots of peppers. All the fall stuff like spinach, kale, leeks, celery, brussel sprouts etc. is in full swing. My Dad is steadily working at finishing the apple picking. We have over 100 bushels of nice organic heirloom apples in the coolers. We finished the sweet potato harvest last week with a yield of about 6,000 lbs which is right about average with what we normally expect in our somewhat short cooler summers. We plan to do the main irish potato harvest starting late next week and into the following week as weather permits. Potatoes store better if they can remain in the ground for 10 days or so after the vines die (the frost kills them) before they are dug. Enjoy the beauty of the fall color. Daniel

Sweet potatoes and onion storage

Hello again. An era is coming to an end. We are moving into fall and winter preparation. In front of the farmstand are lots of mums waiting to move to your front steps. We have not had a frost yet so there are still summer things such as beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers left. There is lots of lettuce, spinach, radish and leeks. The big sweet potato harvest is planned for late this week. After they are dug and washed they need to be put in a warm (80-90 degrees) moist place for 7-10 days to cure for best storage. After they are cured then they can be stored in a dry airy place that stays warmer than 50 degrees. The onions and garlic are dry and ready to store. They also like a dry airy place but do not care if they are warm or cold (not freezing) with the one limitation that if they are stored cool (35-50 degrees) for a prolonged period then they need to be kept cool or they will sprout. This often happens in home storage that they are cool in the mid winter then in the spring the storage space warms up and the onions that are left sprout quickly.

The gardens are moving toward finish- patch by patch they are finished till spring.

A farmers life is characterized by a lot of waiting and patience. In the spring we tend to be impatient- it is so cold and wet. Then after things are planted we need to wait many days for the harvest.
If you are a gardener you have also probably noticed that plant growth is not linear. Little plants tend to grow very slowly for a number of weeks and then in a short time grow a great deal.
The farmers life is also characterized by a great deal of precision. Besides waiting we need the be prepared to act in a precise window of time when it is time to plant, harvest etc.
The seasons also come and go more than we tend to be aware of in the spiritual realms. If it is time to reach out and love someone, or listen to your child etc. do it now- tommorrow life has moved on. Daniel

Honey

Hello,
It is almost autumn already. Tomatoes are at their peak. Most of the time we have a few boxes of canners packed and ready to go with no need to order ahead. We also have lots of yellow beans by the box or by the pound. We dug the first sweet potatoes today and carrots are abundant. Storage onions are cured and ready to bag. As we get to it we bag onions or you can fill a bag of whatever you like.
Peter extracted about 2,000 lbs of honey and today he left for PA with 97 of his hives. He hopes that the bees he has left up here winter well however he is spreading his risk by taking some of his hives to a warmer climate for the winter. He can also start making splits earlier in the spring down there and bring stronger hives up in the spring that can better use the early spring flowers. We have honey to sell now and if all goes well he should have bees to sell in the spring for those of you that wish to become beekeepers. Peter and Carl also still have several butcher hogs (organic feed, pasture raised) that are not spoken for. Daniel

Watermelon, Cantaloupe and Edamame

It is the time of the year for lots of watermelon, cantaloupe and green soybeans (edamame) We have the sample table set up and will be cutting watermelon and cantaloupe samples throughout the following days. If a whole melon is too much for you we can cut them and sell you just a part of a melon. I planted a bed of green soybeans that are ready now. After the pods are picked off the plant we boil them for a short time in salty water till the beans pop out of the pods when the pod is squeezed. They are very good just like that… pop them right in your mouth or into a bowl for later use. The meal can be completed with a salad or tomato sandwich or corn on the cob. I only have one planting of the edamame soybeans so they will be here for just a few days then they are gone again. Daniel

Sweet onions and Carrots

Below is an updated ‘in season now’ list from Martins Farmstand. We have lots of cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, sweet onions, broccoli and so much more at the market now.
Today there is lots of corn available in small amounts or by the bagful ($20 per bag with 4-5 dozen per bag) and I have enough broccoli to sell some by the boxful. There are lots of little pickles and cucumbers. Carrots are getting nice and big. They are available with tops off by the lb or big 25lb bags. We are about half finished with the main onion harvest. The onion crop is good this year. Daniel

Cabbage, Beans, Peppers and Tomatoes

Below is an updated ‘in season now’ list from Martins Farmstand. We have lots of cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans and so much more. Look at the list below. Daniel

Basil, Beets and Beans in Abundance

Dear Customer:
Below is an updated ‘in season now’ list from Martins Farmstand. The steady warm weather and moisure aid the gardens. Even the weeds are growing so well that we are very busy weeding and picking. We have lots of canning beans today. The sweet onions are big enough to harvest with the onion field in general looking like a good crop. A very nice garlic crop is all harvested and curing. Basil, beets, beans, cucumbers, sunflowers, lettuce and so much more… God gives us good things to eat. The wild blackberry crop is ripening but it looks like they are few and small in the areas I am familiar with so not so good for them. Daniel

Broccoli and beans galore

Below is an updated ‘in season now’ list from Martins Farmstand. I have a large amount of very nice broccoli today. Beans and broccoli are both available by the box. ($15/ box) Tomatatoes are plenty today also. The first sweet corn is ready and lots of beans, basil, spinach, scallions, romaine and so much more. In addition to all this good food, God blessed us with an almost perfect, warm, soaking rain yesterday. The gardens will grow quickly now with sunshine, rain, and warmth. Come and get it. Daniel

Corn, Pickles, Beans today

We have lots of little pickler cukes, beans, zucchini, blueberries, tomatoes and basil today. The first 20 dozen sweet corn is ready today. (started from transplants). We have lots of other vegetables too. Come and get it. Daniel