Hello again friends!  Ahh, finally a rain day for this farmer to catch up on some office time.  Central NY has been low on rain these past few months so, although I had to cancel a gardening appointment, I'm happy to be writing.  We've had showers and thunderstorms all week, with the weekend looking like a washout.  Wondering how much of the farmer's market crowd will show up....
   We've been happy with our sales at the market.  We even have 'regulars' at our booth!  Eleven varieties of heirloom tomatoes were the big hit last weekend.  Salad greens and cooking greens always sell out early.  Our herbs sell themselves as I place them in our display.  I've assembled a 'shingle' to hang at our booth: a pink oval hanging from twine that declares Aunt Bee's Farm.  I love it, and have received lots of feedback.  Someday we will have a scrap book with our pink bee hives.  Truth bee known, I'm not into pink, it just happened to be the only paint available.  It does look pretty cool to see the pink hives peeking through the goldenrod and asters right now.
   There are four more weeks left for our market.  Time has really flown!  I've been collecting suggestions and ideas for next year, so please speak up if you are inspired.  My lists include different ways to package veggies, signage, types and varieties to try next year.  I'd like to carry mega amounts of basil for the hard-core kitchen types...how about a pesto marathon?  I'd like to give some more thought to a recycled container program/canvas bag voucher/frequent flyer promo...
   Tis' garlic planting season!  We purchased certified seed stock from a local farmer last fall, and had good yield this summer.  We held onto all of it for planting out, no sales from this round.  Our selection includes Polish White, German Red, and a few Elephant.  Wow, was the German ever delicious!!!  I reeked for days after eating raw cloves while planting them last year.  We're dedicating a corner of the field for 'perennial' crops, ones that we don't want to plow under each year, including the herbs.  Hopefully I'll be able to work the row after all of this wonderful rain.....