Hello Farm Friends!  Happy Friday!

Tonight is the Harvest Full Moon, so we are trying to do our part by harvesting as much as possible -- at least the hay!  The recent dry weather has created terrific conditions for making hay, so it was time to get some out of the field this week.

Typically we devote at least a week to the process of mowing, tedding (fluffing the hay so it dries better), raking, baling and getting it in the barn.  We really don't have that much time to devote to hay now (a VERY long to-do list -- strawberry plants are on the way!), so we decided to approach the task in smaller chunks.

After spending most of Monday trying to fix the sicklebar attachment for the tractor (unsuccessfully), we went to Plan B on Tuesday.  Chris mowed about 2 acres using the walk-behind tractor with its sicklebar attachment. He powered through that in about 2 hours -- Way to go, Chris!  With the warm, dry conditions essential for getting quality hay, we were able to get it all raked, baled and in storage by yesterday afternoon!  And our little livestock family is 53 bales better for their winter feed!

Raking hay

Chris and Andrew picking up hay behind the baler

Everybody has to get in on the act

We even have some purple grasses in our hay mix -- how appropriate!

We are still getting more fall crops seeded and transplanted to keep the pipeline full as we move into the fall.  And we are excited to report that the green beans are almost ready!

Garlic Growing Workshop

It's time to think about planting garlic!  Mid-October is the traditional start date for garlic planting in this area.  We are holding our 2nd Annual hands-on garlic growing workshop here at the farm on Sunday, October 9 from 2-5.  The workshop will provide extensive information on garlic growing as well as an opportunity to plant garlic in a raised bed.  In addition to instruction, participants will receive 1/2 pound of seed garlic.  Class size is limited to 20 participants and registration and prepayment is required.  Cost of the course is $30.  Please email us at farm@plumgrannyfarm.com for a registration form or pick up one at market.

Market Update

We'll be at Cobblestone Farmers Market in Old Salem (Saturday) and at the King Farmers Market at the Stokes Family YMCA (Wednesday) with lots of Certified Organic tastiness!  It's Okra-Palooza under our purple tent at Cobblestone tomorrow!  We'll have special LOWER pricing on lots of heirloom okra (Burgundy and Cajun Jewel) along with samples of some the tasty pickles you can make with the okra!  If you are thinking about canning pickles, NOW is the time!

We'll also have other Certified Organic goodness including LaRatte Fingerling Potatoes, Bintje Potatoes, Teensy Weensy Taters Boxes, boxes of Creamer Potatoes, Garlic (6 varieties including the amazing Lahontan), Tomato Fruit Boxes, Sunflower Shoots, a little bit of summer squash, Garlic Chives and Garlic Braids.  We'll also have our Garlic Scape Pesto which adds garlicky goodness to your early fall soups!

We hope to see you at Old Salem from 9-noon and at King from 11-1.  Please note that we may not always have every item at all markets.  If you'd like us to save something for you, please send us an email by 10 p.m. prior to market.

And don't forget -- today is the Harvest Full Moon and it is even a Lunar Eclipse! And I dare you to keep a certain song out of your head...

"Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon, up in the sky. I ain't had no loving since January, February, June or July...."

Talk with you soon,

Cheryl & Ray