Up and “At ’em”

As I prepare to go to the Ligonier Country Market this morning (it’s 03:40 on Saturday morning as I write this), I wonder if folks understand what goes on behind the scenes to get ready for a farmers market.  Well, I’ve been up since 03:00am this morning…coffee first and foremost…checking last minute emails…then, it’s time to get ready (assembling my gear, tables, bushels of produce, etc) and loading it all into the truck.  Most of the harvesting occurred on Thursday and Friday before market day.  Of course, with items that are cured and stored, such as garlic and onions, the harvesting occurred way back in July.  Heck, I’m up even before “Junior”, the rooster.  No big feat there because Junior is a bit of a lazy rooster.  He’ll saunter out of the coop around 06:00 and then think about crowing before he actually does.  Oh well.  Set up at the market occurs from about 06:00 until the first sale can happen at 08:00.  I should make a short film that chronicles a market day from the time the alarm goes off until breakdown of the stand at noon.  Hmmmm…good idea.

I’m hoping to get some squash blossoms this morning before I head out but the amount of useable blossoms was small yesterday when I looked at the plants.  We’ll see.

If you have a chance, come down to the Ligonier Country Market in Ligonier, PA (near Johnstown).  If you don’t know where it is, just google it and find out.  A great bunch of vendors (over 100 each week I think) with everything from wonderful food, to all manner of crafts, music, and of course, vegetables.  Hope to see you there today from 08:00 until noon.

Well, it’s almost 04:00am and I have to get back to work.

Time to play “Catch up”!

Well, well.  Look at the time that’s elapsed since my last entry!  Quite a few things have gone on since then.  A few more rodeos last season with just a few minor injuries.  This year began on a bit of a sour note with winter holding forever this spring.  Had a late start getting things in the ground but playing “catch up” since May.

My friend Todd came by yesterday evening to help till up 6 2ft rows, each 22 ft long to get ready to tunnel.  Tomatoes this season were awful.  I had lots of green ones but by the time they were to get ripe, the late blight got them.

Recently, I got my new ram lamb (picture to come soon).  He’s a cute little bugger (Katahdin/Dorper cross) and very, very feisty.  I suspect he’ll be old enough to breed the ewes come October.  He’s a twin, the ewes are twins, so I’m expecting at least twins from each of the ewes come March 2014.  I’m sure my hands will be full.

Raised various peeps this summer as well.  I currently have a few turkey peeps growing quickly.

Some troubles this summer with my ducks I was raising.  Coons broke into the duck tractor and killed several.  Only one drake left, Ferdinand is his name.

The big successes this summer have been the leeks, the shallots, onions, Yukon gold and red norland taters, and roma and contender green beans.

I’m looking around for a snapshot to post.  Here’s one of me just off a bull ride last July in Colorado with one of my friends/coaches, Char.

Don’t forget the Ligonier Country Market on Saturday!!!