October Updates from the Homestead

New York Asters in the Garden

Some of the 2010 squash and pumpkin harvest

Swiss chard and purple kohlrabi

Potatoes in the bin and shelving unit.

The harvest months really seem to fly by; especially when combined with the beginning of the school year (which conspires to keep me from making posts).  There has been a lot going on in the County and I hope to get caught up with sharing that news in the next few weeks.  I thought I'd start by reflecting a little on what has been happening around the homestead.  We had a pretty good garden year.  Tomatoes did well - especially after last year's blight took most of them. We harvested lots of potatoes and squash.  Despite a couple of pretty mean frosts/freezes, thanks to our frost cloth we still have some swiss chard, kohlrabi, celery, cabbage, kale, and leeks out in the garden.  We did not do a fall planting of carrots and greens like usual (we just ran out of time and energy). We did manage to get new potato bins built for the root cellar. These are designed to provide lots of airflow and easy for us to monitor and pick out any that might be going bad throughout the winter.

Our solar thermal system being installed.

We've also been enjoying our new solar thermal system that we had installed this summer.  It should provide 80-90% of our hot water needs (100% in the summer months a little less on those dark, damp days of fall, winter, spring).

The farmers market season closes this month, with tonight being the last Homer Market.  There has been discussion about a virtual local winter market - more on that as it develops.  Also as you look for places to get winter veggies and NYS apples, please check out the Farmshed blog and the FREE app for iPhone (works on iTouch and iPad, too) which will map for you local farmers markets, CSA's, U-Pick Farms, local food stores and restaurants serving local foods.  Neil Brody Miller of New Woodstock has developed this resource specifically for Central New York (with potential plans to go national later).