tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309139102008-09-28T21:26:17.460-04:00Random posts from my trials, tribulations, and successes as a new farm marketer.Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-54481449634002038112008-09-28T21:17:00.004-04:002008-09-28T21:26:17.472-04:00

I'm afraid I gave up on my garden early this year. I was just too discouraged by the damage that the deer, raccoons and groundhogs did. The only crop they didn't destroy was the peppers. Next year I will definitely have some strategies for deterring them before they become a problem. Electric fence? 8-foot tall deer fence? Wire mesh around individual plants? DH is mowing over my filbert trees

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-9300722037573354522008-08-29T19:35:00.003-04:002008-08-29T19:42:07.212-04:00

Instead of a garden I think I have a wildlife preserve. Today I came home from work and chased a raccoon out of the garden. He had the biggest green tomato in my garden in his little paws and he dropped it and raced away. I didn't get his picture but I got a crime scene photo, with the evidence he left behind.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-78238192091836009102008-08-27T21:45:00.002-04:002008-08-27T21:48:21.119-04:00

We've had a mini-drought for the last 2-3 weeks, just a sprinkle one day last week, and no other rain at all. While sunny days are quite pleasant, they're not really very good for the garden. I've watered some, I installed a new soaker hose along some of the rows, but my cucumbers have really had it, and probably aren't going to survive. The tomatoes are going great guns, but the rabbits are

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-81375842092937105022008-08-09T10:24:00.009-04:002008-08-29T23:05:04.337-04:00

It's been a week since the family reunion and I finally feel recovered enough now to write about it! Yesterday we got a beautiful card from a cousin - she said that when they woke up the next morning it seemed like a beautiful dream. Such a nice way of putting it, I felt exactly the same way. We had nearly perfect weather, 80 degrees, low humidity and not a cloud in the sky, and lots of

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-87919048528308794702008-07-18T20:57:00.007-04:002008-07-19T16:28:52.925-04:00

It seems that the tomato scare has changed buying and eating patterns. According to an AP poll, a majority of people surveyed want more information about where their food is coming from. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll finds that nearly half of consumers have changed their eating and buying habits in the past six months because they're afraid they could get sick by eating contaminated food.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-74776188005512059862008-07-18T20:39:00.003-04:002008-07-18T20:42:33.377-04:00

I'm planning a North Central Ohio Farmgirls chapter meeting in August, either the 2nd or 3rd weekend. We'll be putting on our aprons and making cherry pies. It will be a great time, and we'll talk about the possibility of a "henhouse" on Mary Jane's web site. Please register by sending me an email or calling.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-20964103807233307212008-07-18T20:37:00.001-04:002008-07-18T20:39:06.978-04:00

Went to TSC today and priced the electric fencers to keep the deer out of my garden. I ended up buying a product that you spray on your garden plants (or around the perimeter, I hope) that is made of putrified eggs, garlic, and cayenne pepper.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-27174972770057339192008-07-17T22:06:00.004-04:002008-07-17T22:13:06.972-04:00

I see the deer have been making themselves at home in my garden. At least I am pretty sure it is the deer and not the baby rabbit I noticed at the edge of the yard tonight. They've been munching on the lettuce, the cucumbers, and really feasting on the corn. I'm going to be lucky if I harvest two ears of corn here in Ohio. Last year my dog Chip was probably effective at keeping the deer at the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-48851708764188014272008-07-07T22:11:00.002-04:002008-07-07T22:37:58.515-04:00

Yesterday and today I put the bamboo trellises and wire cages around my tomato plants here in Ohio. It might be a few days late for some of them, some varieties are growing like mad. I can really tell the difference between the determinate and indeterminate varieties. I picked the first baby zucchinis today, and fixed them for lunch, tossing them with pasta and mixed vegetables and some

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-84056764094896971982008-07-06T20:48:00.002-04:002008-07-06T20:53:33.537-04:00

I missed the Farmer's Market in Bellville this week. I have several heads of lettuce I could have taken, but didn't go. I did stop by to drop off empty egg cartons and look for fresh eggs, Joan's mother said she sold out early, if I had taken my lettuce I probably would have sold out too, as mostly the people there had baked goods. I've given away 5 heads, used two for DH and myself, plan to

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-82458491658299816162008-07-01T19:14:00.002-04:002008-07-01T22:29:32.185-04:00

The bees are still going out for a last bit of nectar an hour before sunset.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-37194365506157491782008-07-01T19:10:00.002-04:002008-07-01T22:32:12.043-04:00

I trimmed this tree this spring before it leafed out. I don't know what variety it is - but the blossoms came a week or two later than the rest of the orchard. There was a late freeze and a lot of the trees have no apples - but this one does. I still don't know what variety!

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-65257228919152554382008-07-01T19:04:00.001-04:002008-07-01T22:34:42.053-04:00

I don't know if the Cloud Nine sweet corn in this field will be "knee-high" by the fourth of July - I doubt it. We planted it the week of Memorial Day - but the soil in this field is poor. DH had some problems with the corn planter, it gave up the last gasp this year, we'll be looking for a new one the next time we plant sweet corn.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-43858920092534110292008-07-01T18:40:00.001-04:002008-07-01T22:36:04.787-04:00

DH planted "How Sweet it Is" sweet corn here - this field has a lot of moisture, in a low spot, but also has good drainage. It should do well.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-48780139281773643672008-07-01T18:38:00.003-04:002008-07-01T22:37:41.788-04:00

I counted 73 tomato plants and 71 pumpkin plants that I planted at the farm. Since I just planted the tomatoes this week and last I don't know if they will actually have time to establish a root system, set flowers, and ripen fruit, but since I don't have room at home to plant them I guess any tomatoes I get here will be a bonus. The pumpkins were an afterthought, since he tilled up the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-10771146240522059482008-06-29T18:01:00.003-04:002008-06-29T18:29:31.081-04:00

We had the grandchildren at the farm this weekend. They had so much fun they cried when it was time to go home. Now that they're gone it is so quiet here.We rode the Gator around the farm, looked at rocks and bugs and plants, including the 30 or so tomato plants I planted last weekend, all in a row down the side of the sweet corn field. I think they are going to survive, although I'm not sure

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-48855515661020322502008-06-26T21:41:00.002-04:002008-06-26T21:44:00.421-04:00

I picked about 2 quarts of peas tonight, an I think I am done with the peas. I pulled many of the vines out. A few days ago I pulled weeds near the peas and planted cucumbers in their place. The lettuce is just about ready, the leaf lettuce is heading up nicely.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-88729633006970475622008-06-23T22:26:00.001-04:002008-06-23T22:27:52.603-04:00

I've never had a problem with cutworms before, but yesterday we got home and I checked the garden and found two tomato plants that were cut off right at the ground. I will put cardboard collars around my remaining plants tomorrow.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-76975335300463234932008-06-21T15:22:00.002-04:002008-06-21T15:40:21.231-04:00

I GOT A GATOR!!!! DH spotted it on Craigslist, it was close to our house, it was in our price range, it worked, and we bought it! It's supposed to be my toy - but DH has been tinkering with it ever since we got it. We borrowed the neighbors' trailer and brought it to the farm this weekend. So much better than riding on the axle of the tractor and balancing on the fender when we both want to

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-67979618234839203942008-06-13T20:09:00.001-04:002008-06-13T20:11:13.734-04:00

Last night I took all the flats out of the garage and put them on the sidewalk next to the garage. Right now they are taking advantage of the wet rain and slightly cooler weather. I am hoping to be able to plant some of them tomorrow morning if it isn't too wet, and maybe get my cucumber seeds into the ground.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-45685327869133506542008-06-11T20:58:00.003-04:002008-06-11T21:11:44.080-04:00

I FINALLY planted my pole beans. I made a tepee from three bamboo poles and then used garden staples to run nylon string from the top to the bottom. Got them in on Sunday - just before the storm came through on Tuesday morning. I checked tonight to see if there are any sprouts yet but didn't see a one. We got quite a bit of rain on Tuesday - but not much of a storm on Monday. The weather

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-28290397266517843682008-05-30T22:31:00.002-04:002008-05-30T22:37:00.526-04:00

We spent the week at the farm. DH miscalculated slightly and plowed and tilled a few more acres than we needed for the sweet corn that we had. He planted Cloud Nine, Illinois X-tra Sweet, Early Xtra-Sweet, Northern, Xtra-Sweet, Xtra-Tender, and an experimental variety we were sent by Vermont Bean Seed. We also had a little package of Indian corn so he planted it too. Since we had available

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-72918941647516899092008-05-27T14:57:00.002-04:002008-05-27T15:05:14.466-04:00

Memorial Day weekend! Past the last frost date, finally. I pulled the black fabric over the garden and pinned it down, then transplanted tomatoes, lettuce and zucchini. If I remember correctly, by this time last year my lettuce was much bigger, but then I planted it out earlier into the garden. The tomato plants were also smallish, only 1 or 2 sets of true leaves, but I'm going on the theory

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-4260866417194891912008-05-16T21:23:00.002-04:002008-05-16T21:27:36.033-04:00

We went ahead anyway. It has been raining off and on for the last two weeks! Today the sun was out and the top layer of the garden was dried out -- but underneath it was still wet. I tilled anyway - first tried the Mantis - DH laughs at me when I try it - then he hauls out the Troy-bilt Junior and tills a few rows and turns it over to me. He thinks my rows look like a drunken sailor tilled

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-74165254449323251652008-05-13T17:38:00.004-04:002008-05-13T17:42:37.801-04:00

I fixed salad for dinner last night and topped it off with baby salad greens from my seedlings - they've really grown, but we've had so much rain in the last week I can't get into the garden. It's nice today, I can't go out tonight because of Master Gardener class - and tomorrow it's supposed to rain again. I have been starting another tray of lettuce every 10 - 14 days, so hopefully I will

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com