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Monday, October 16, 2006

Catalpa Ridge News Vol 11 No 20 - Week of October 16th

Global Warming?
Not at the Farm!!

With overnight temperatures around 33°F before the middle of October we are definitely not experience any global warming. The low temperature Sunday night was 24°F and any warm weather field crops are now "toast" and unfortunately some of the cold weather crops are toast too. The chard wasn't doing well anyway, so in a way this was a merciful killing. We do however have some herbs and greens in the greenhouse, but with these very cold temperatures, they may be at risk also.
Trip to the Farm - October 29th

usually things get started around 11 am & we round things up between 3-4 pm (Raindate will be 11/4). Please RSVP so we can plan our campfire lunch & let us know if you would like to bring anything for a potluck bbq. Dress in layers (it can get cold). We'll have work gloves available.

Garlic Planting Project task list:

  • Garlic Popping
  • Garlic Planting
  • Mulching
  • Lunch!!

From the Fields:Back in August we planted radishes & mustard in the old garlic beds as usually the deer don't eat them but guess what! We have a deer that likes the radish green-mustard combination. The freeze took out our red chard, burned some kale which is very unusual for mid-October. Before next season we will be taking down the old fencing by the big greenhouse & replacing with new. We also plan on expanding the field next to the greenhouse. In front of the big greenhouse we will also be removing the cinder blocks that lined one of the old garlic patches and incorporate that field into new raised beds for crops. The main field by the lower greenhouse also needs fence replacement. These will be ongoing projects after the season ends on the 31st and in the early spring before planting begins. If time & help permit, we might even start these projects on the 29ths Trip to the Farm!

Weather Report:Repeated below freezing temperatures 4-5 days in a row with a low of 24°F. We usually have a few frosts before a freeze in which a frost takes down a layer at a time. The freeze wipes out the crops instead of just loosing a layer at a time.


Fruit Report: Mutso Apples from Windy Brow Farm. This variety is a Golden Delicious x Indo cross named in 1948 by the Aomori Apple Experiment Station, Kuroishi, Japan. Currently it is one of the favorite apples in Japan, along with Fuji. Mutsu apples are very large with yellow-golden skin. The crisp, creamy-white flesh is rather coarse in texture and is good for fresh eating, processing (sauces, pies, baking), salads, and freezing. These apples are very juicy with a mostly sweet flavor.

Upcoming Events:
Garlic Day @ Arboretum - October 22nd - Frelinghuysen Arboretum Morristown 11am-4pm

Annual End-of-Season Potluck!!!

Potluck.jpg



November 11th -

1301 Hudson Street in Hoboken

(a parking garage is close by). All CSA members are invited from all our drop-off locations - Ramsey, Hoboken Midtown, Hoboken West,, Vernon Valley & On-Farm Pick-up!

More details to follow over the next few weeks!

Pick of the Week:

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