Hello Farm Friends!  Happy Friday!

Looking at the forecast for the next few days, it sure feels like winter is upon us!  Will definitely be a frosty morning at market tomorrow so we'll have on our layers, for sure!

Today marks the day for planting shallots.  The rain last week created poor soil conditions but it finally dried out enough to get the beds shaped.  Ray and Chris (with the help of the NC A&T State University bedshaper) got several beds made up late yesterday so we will be planting French Red and Greeley shallots today!  Our shallot crop this year was greatly reduced due to last year's intense cold.  We are going to plant a little differently this year and may even add mulch as a protection.  The Greeleys in particular were severely impacted last winter and we lost more than 2/3 of the crop.  Since this is a rare heirloom shallot that we got from a farmer in New Mexico, we have to rebuild our stock. Here's to 2015!

As the weather chills, the more tender plants need protection.  We have two lettuce beds in the Demo garden that now have PVC hoops to create a mini-high tunnel and we are putting down floating row cover over the frissé and lettuce in Raz House.  And then there are the well pumps to cover, ice machine to winterize and greenhouse irrigation to check, ...  The To Do list gets VERY long when cold weather hits!

Okay, folks -- we need your help.  We need to find a good indoor home for our cat, Wally.  He is an affectionate and personable cat but because of these qualities, he is always in search of people and crosses the road to find us.  We really don't want him to meet the same fate of his Mom, so we'd like to find a new home for him.  Please send an email or give a call if you are interested.  We think he would do well with other cats- not sure about a dog.  It will be hard to lose him but we'd rather rehome him than have another hit and run victim.

Don't forget that Saturday, November 29 from 10-4 is our Holiday Market and Open Greenhouse event on Small Business Saturday.  We have partnered with Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery to promote the event at both of our farms.  At our farm, join BeNutty Bakes and Butters, Greenberries Farm and Truffles NC  and try their wonderful products!  We'll have Holiday mistletoe and greenery, veggies, jams, garlic goodies and more along with Christmas tree cutting, a bonfire for s'mores, refreshments and door prizes! Shop Small, ya'll!

Market Update:  

On Saturday, we'll be at Cobblestone Farmers Market at Old Salem (9-12) - just one more regular season market after tomorrow!  What will you find on our tables?  Yes, there's still garlic - smaller quantities -- so get it while you can!  There will be Garlic Powder and Garlic Granules (Spanish Roja, Inchelium Red, Nootka & Music), Culinary garlic -- Elephant, Music, Inchelium Red, Chesnok, German Red, Lorz Italian and Nootka Rose -- and garlic braids.

We'll also have LaRatte Fingerling potatoes as well as the popular Sweet Potatoes (Ginseng, Covington & Sweetie Pie) -- they went FAST last week!  There will be Aji Dulce peppers (the sweet habanero) -- try a taste of our Aji Dulce Sauce -- a zesty and bright Puerto Rican sauce that just begs to go with chicken, beans or pork -- and even chips!  We'll have kits with all the makings and a simple recipe.  We'll also have jalapeños, Sweet Italian Red peppers, and radishes.

Holiday flavors have come to the Jam Department!  Our famous, limited edition Yam's Jam Sweet Potato Butter is back (think sweet potato pie in a jar!  Yummmmmmm!) as well as the tasty Raspberry-Cranberry Jam. 

As a reminder, if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.

Stay warm, tuck in your furry friends, feed the birds, cover those plants and beware of frozen pipes!

Until our next edition,

Cheryl & Ray