Pumpkins, Pumpkins, and Squash

Hurry, hurry rush, rush! Stack that firewood, chase those pesky turkeys, harvest the last of the outdoor tomatoes, pumpkins, winter squash ….. what to do next? Wait, wait, how do I choose? Sometimes I feel just like those pesky little furry critters trying to decide which way to run when they get in front of your car. Sooooo much to do, and the days ARE getting shorter…..

Corn and melons have vanished for the season, but beets, turnips and fall carrots have been dug, I hope for Brussels sprouts and cranberries next week!

Our outdoor markets in Cumberland and Falmouth will finish up at the end of the month, some of our vendors will move to inside markets and others will take the winter to plan, plan plan and rest up for 2022. And for this chipmunk? Oh the farm life is never a dull one, it will slow down, but I will stay plenty busy! I thank you all for your support of local foods and excellent small Maine farms, and my thrifty Yankee soul appreciates all the boxes, egg cartons and grocery bags you folks return back to me to reuse and recycle. Happy Fall All! Let the leaves begin their descent!

Kath

Duck, duck...poop!

Cool weather sleeping………..dew on the grass in the morning………….gold, scarlet and brilliant yellow on the trees on our country roads….. fall mums……. pumpkins of all colors in the rainbow …….gorgeous red, red apples on trees in orchards cultivated and wild……..and best of all? NO BUGS ! Yippee, they are gone! Even the ticks that were horrible this early spring have been unseen for the past almost 3 months…you bet, I am fallin’ for fall… I do every year.

So, last night at 3 am, I bolted from my snug little bed by the sounds of ducks quacking and quacking in the pond in front of our farmhouse…..oh gosh, that means raccoons, coy dogs, predators of some type going after our ducks! RUN, RUN RUN to grab the spotlight, yelling for my husband to grab the rifle, hurry up something BAD is happening. In my barefeet and long wooly robe I run out to defend the lives or our birds, prepared to see some sort of nightmarish scene……………….OH NOOOOOOOO , they were having a party and forgot to let us know…..yup, 3 am and they are having the best time splashing and playing and chasing each other all the while hollering at the top of their mighty duck lungs. OK, so I trudge back to the house relieved that we don’t have a massacre and then, CRAP! Barefeet and all I stepped and then SLIPPED in it…..I said a few more choice words than crap, but you get the picture….NOT PRETTY….and now it is 3:30 AM.

This week we have a new menu for the month, cantaloupes have vanished for the season, watermelons are becoming scarce. Corn is beginning to become as short as our daylight, and the shiitake mushrooms have begun to bloom in the cooler weather, and if you have enjoyed the peaches this will be the last week for them too….

As always , I appreciate your support and consideration for our excellent small Maine farms, I am fortunate to do what I love and love what I do…. I look forward to chatting with you all, Happy Fall !

Kath

Geese and Signs of Fall

Hi All!

I saw my first V of geese fly overhead this weekend! What? Oh no….. that seems a bit too early….. other signs of fall ? Pumpkin picking and winter squash harvest, so many colors

and great winter bounty, our “wild “ apples trees are weighted down this year.. great forage for the sheep, turkeys and pigs. Our holiday turkeys are roaming the yard during daylight hours, picking bugs and grit and gravel from the driveway. They head back into their pens at dusk for their evening meal of grain. Easy keepers so long as the hawks don’t spy them and flash down for an easy meal of fresh bird. The younger turkeys in particular are prime size for these guys as they migrate through to their winter hunting grounds.

In the farm house, we have 2 young kittens, honest to goodness,,the energy and crazy antics of these youngsters! So funny…….anyone want one? Or two? I am serious, I’ll send photos if you are interested! They come from good mouser stocks, their parents patrol our barns and pens keeping the rodents down.

Our melon season has just about come to an end, I will try to fill orders for them, but they are becoming very scarce. Cukes too, seem to be slowing down along with zukes and summer squash!

The cooler night temps will be helpful in hardening up the apples , and it adds an extra bit of sweetness to the corn…. So darn good!

As always, my thanks for your ongoing support of local foods and excellent small Maine farms, stop by one of the local farmers markets when you are out and about!

So much bounty to choose from!

Kath