7th Annual REALLY Local Farm Market and Craft Fair

We are going to cautiously proceed with our Outdoor Craft Fair held in Marengo Ohio on October 10th. Wallace Homestead & Cackleberry Hollow  On August 15th, we will start taking applications for vendors.  As usual, we will be limited vendors to HANDMADE ONLY and will jury and select only one of each type of craft. (or jewelery, wood signs, sewing.) Jury selection will be made by September 5th.  

Last year was an amazing success and some of our wonderful vendors have already asked to come back!

Feel free to reply here or PM for info and a link to the application.

I love animals...

I have always loved animals. When I was a child I loved animals.  I was "destined" to have a zillion animals.  I would be taking the dinner bowl out to our dog, Pedro, and it would take an hour as I wandered around the yard feeding all my pretend animals.  Yes, I had imaginary cows, too!

Fast forward to 17-18 when you are REALLY looking at what you want to BE.  I loved animals so much there was actually no way I could be a vet.  It would break my heart to see them in pain, have to put someone's pet to sleep, or even "give a shot!"

Fast-fast forward thirty-mumble years.... yes I still love animals. So much so, as I've had to put beloved pets down. I have seen my pets hurt or sick.  I have bawled while taking animals to their ultimate goal of nourishing our family.  And I've given shots... lots of shots.

Funny how life works out.

Spring is coming - 12 weeks before last Frost

This week we will actually start sowing some of our cold weather crops inside to get them started for replanting outside.

You should be sowing the following:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower 
• Leeks
• Head Lettuce
• Onion
• Parsley

We will be growing our starts in the cellar for the next few weeks as it has some of the heat from our home.  Once we actually see sprouts, we will turn on the grow lights. 

BROCCOLI SOWING AND PLANTING TIPS

• Start broccoli from seed.
• Seed is viable for 3 years.
• Start seeds in individual pots
• Sow seed ¼ to ½ (6-8 mm) inch deep in the seed-starting mix.
• Keep the mix moist but not wet.
• Seeds should germinate in 5 to 10 days at an optimal temperature of 77°F or thereabouts.
• Transplant seedlings into the garden when they 4 to 6 inches tall with 2- to 4-leaves.
• Grow broccoli in full sun for best yield, but broccoli will tolerate partial shade.
• Add 3- to 4- inches of compost and well-aged manure into planting bed, before transplanting; broccoli needs friable, moisture-holding soil.
• Avoid planting where cabbage family crops have grown recently.
• Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart; plants spaced 10 to 12 inches ) apart will yield smaller heads.
• Space rows 36 inches  apart.
• Protect seedlings from the cold for 2 to 3 weeks after planting covering them with a cloche or plastic tunnel or cold frame.
• Fertilize with an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion at half strength.

Spring is coming!! 14 Weeks before the last Frost.

I posted our CSA information late last year and will be reposting next week....and we hope that you will become one of our CSA families....but even if you don't...

I think everyone wants to garden...either a little or a LOT!  One of the things about doing large scale gardening is to PLAN!  And pretty far in advance too.  I thought I would share a weekly post on what I am (and you can be) doing to get ready for the official beginning of gardening season (the last Frost date.)   Here in central Ohio (zone 5b) our average last frost date is April 30.

This week and next are fun weeks in that you should be looking trough all your seed catalogs, websites and dreaming of warmer weather.  Decide the seeds / plants you want to plant and get them ordered.  Or know that your local hardware stores and nurseries will have seeds and plants starting around the April beginning of May.

Below is a chart if you are wanting to grow enough to can for you family for the whole year.  Or maybe you just plant a few pots on your patio.  Either way...DIRT THERAPY is Great!

Crops	Harvest Needed (lbs)	Row Length (ft)	Plants Needed
Artichoke	12	24	6
Asparagus	8	27	18
Basil	2	5	5
Lima Beans (bush)	12	48	144
Lima Beans (pole)	12	24	18
Snap Beans (bush)	60	50	150
Snap Beans (pole)	60	40	80
Soy Beans	60	120	144
Beets	14	10	60
Bok Choy	12	10	15
Broccoli	32	32	22
Brussel Sprouts	24	32	22
Cabbage	60	40	27
Carrots	40	40	48
Cauliflower	36	36	24
Celery	16	27	41
Cilantro	1	2	3
Collards	8	8	8
Corn	100	125	94
Cucumbers	32	27	14
Dill	1	2	2
Eggplant	16	16	10
Fennel	4	5	5
Garlic	4	16	32
Jerusalem Artichoke	6	4	3
Kale	4	4	4
Kohlrabi	6	8	16
Leek	4	9	27
Lettuce	24	48	42
Melons	24	22	7
Mustard	4	8	16
Okra	4	4	3
Onions	32	32	96
Parsley	1	4	6
Parsnip	12	12	36
Peas	12	30	90
Peppers	12	20	15
Potatoes	100	100	100
Pumpkins	40	40	12
Radish	8	20	60
Rhubarb	16	16	48
Rutabaga	6	5	10
Spinach	12	30	30
Summer Squash	40	27	14
Winter Squash	24	24	9
Strawberry	52	38	23
Sweet Potatoes	12	12	11
Swiss Chard	12	15	18
Tomatoes	96	96	39
Cherry Tomatoes	68	46	35
Turnips	20	27	54
Watermelons	48	24	5