a disastrous year for massachusetts farming

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“Governor Deval Patrick today asked federal officials to declare most of Massachusetts a disaster zone for agricultural production losses, which are expected to amount to tens of millions of dollars …. He said the state estimates it lost more than 30 percent of the value of its tomato crop, about 50 percent of the value of its corn crops, and nearly 100 percent of the tobacco crop.” Boston Globe
 
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giant belgium tomatoes

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A real prize! Two Giant Belgium tomatoes are ripe on the vine. Looks like this plant will only produce 3 or 4 fruits this year. They are bigger than last year’s and very meaty and sweet.
 
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seed swap day

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I’m organizing a Seed Swap Day and Harvest Celebration at our Community Garden on Saturday, October 3. Stop by if you are in the area. If you want to donate free seeds or prizes for a giant vegetable contest, let me know!
 
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peeling a watermelon

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This is a watermelon from Piccadilly Farm, but I had to post the photos of Elaine peeling it. I’ve never seen a watermelon prepared this way. (And I’ve never seen an yellow watermelon!) Once peeled, you can just cut off slices from the top. Delicious! As always, I tried a slice in a martini. Maybe the best martini yet! Cheers to Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer.
 
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zinnias

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Benary’s Giant Purple zinnia (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
 
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full corn moon

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There’s a beautiful full moon out there these nights. The September full moon name is the Corn moon, however, the full moon closest to the Atumnal equinox is called the Harvest moon, and sometimes the September moon is the Harvest moon. This year, September’s moon falls on September 4. The equinox falls on September 22 and the October moon is full October 4. The Harvest moon will be Ocrtober’s full moon. – from Small Farm Life
 
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35 ears of popcorn drying

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I husked and hung 35 ears of popcorn. I picked about 50 ears total, but many were not pollinated. That’s what I get with a small corn patch I guess. I enjoy the different colors. I planted two varieties: Faribo White Hulless and Baby Golden. I’m wondering if the multicolored ears were pollinated by both of two types? With corn, each kernel gets pollinated separately by a grain of pollen that comes down the silk. Most of the ears have round kernels, but a few of the ears have pointed…
 
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purple hyacinth beans

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As I was admiring the honey bees fighting over my purple hyacinth bean flowers, a big female ruby throated hummingbird joined in the feast. I almost dropped the camera! A very busy patch of purple color in my vegetable garden. Seeds are from Botanical Interests
 
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evening sunlight

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Its hard to believe how beautiful the fields are in the evening sunlight. I think maybe this was the most beautiful day of the year? One of many…
 
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Kathy Martin
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy


weeks and counting until my last spring frost

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

Make your own customized planting calendar. Try out my app!
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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

Flickr

Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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