October
31, 2005
Happy Halloween! It's a bright, glorious, golden day and
we are especially grateful because so many days lately have
been cold, rainy and gray. (We also celebrate Rosie's birthday
on Halloween so it's a very happy day here!)
In spite of the cold and rain, though, much of early Autumn
was delightful, and the first frost didn't hit us until October
21 - the latest I've ever recorded. Our long beds of zinnias
and nasturtiums were dazzling up to then and trees held on
to their leaves longer than ever as well.
Harvest of our berries broke records too this year, and
abundant rains ensured that the new fruit trees are in strong
shape going into winter.
To celebrate our good fortune, we are donating 20% of our
sales in November and December to our two local animal shelters
- The Pioneer Valley Humane Society and The Monadnock Area
Humane Society and also to Kitty Angels - a shelter for cats
that's dear to the heart of our web-wizard Steve Lionel.
The people at these organizations do vital work all year
long, and the humane societies have now taken on extra care
for canine and feline victims of Hurricane Katrina. They
are our heroes, and we want to help them help the animals.
We also encourage you to donate directly, and Steve will
add the links to their sites. (Pioneer
Valley Humane Society, Monadnock
Area Humane Society, Kitty
Angels)
Last year we donated 20% of sales from December's mail order
and internet business. By including November sales, we can
also include our sales at Stonewall Farm's Thanksgiving Farm
Faire, and at Monadnock Music's Christmas Fair in Peterborough.
We've also decided to be open here at the farm for the first
time ever. On November 12, December 10 and December 11, we'll
have an open house (well, really open kitchen) here where
folks can have some fun tasting our offerings and choosing
their favorites. (We've never been "open" here
before....for one thing, Ralph is a reserved fellow who cherishes
his privacy, and also because our road was such a bear for
so many years all who visited risked losing their exhaust
systems. But, the town paved the road so we might as
well take advantage if it.) Call or email if you'd like directions.
Thanks once again to our wonderful friends at the Farmers'
Markets in Newton and Greenfield! You warm our hearts again
and again and we will miss you!
Bright Blessings!

Hey, it's really warm out there and I've got a bushel of
garlic to plant..........! |