Fall clean-up

If you haven't cut back your plants yet.......GOOD! Let them die back naturally after the first frost, them clean-up. Next ques: should I prune back & clean-up my perennials in the fall, or wait till spring.

My reasoning is this: fall is best.

• if you like to 'catch the snow' w/your plants for coverage, try hay/straw
• I would rather work with fresher debris, then slimy rotted stuff
• any diseased material is not sitting around till next spring
• if you have time in the fall...you will be sooo happy in the spring that, that job is done
• you will be removing zillions of insect eggs out of your area
• DO NOT TILL YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN DEBRIS IN, rake off-burn or throw away
• do not place your vegetable garden debris in your compost heap, want the same problems?

BAKING CLASSES OFFERED

What baking at Earthworks Gardens? YES, well kinda. I will be offering fall/winter classes at my home. Most of my career has been in Food Management. So I still peddle food now, just in a different way. Click on this link to find out more. http://www.mybakingclasses.blogspot.com/
Get ready to smell the cinnamon........

NOT at the Market Saturday

Hey Folks, We will not be at the Mankato Market this Saturday. Too much rain and wind to get enough product together. If you want raspberries in the near future, call me. Someone stole 4 packs from my 'self serve' table in the field, so likely will not leave them there anymore. Nice. I'll have them until hard frost. Hopefully next week we will be at the market. Done at Whiskey River for the year as well. I have to admit, I do enjoy a little time at home.

Wintertime bird treats

I know it's a ways away, but you have to start saving your goodies now to make it. I only feed the birds in the winter. If I fed them all year long, they won't be tempted to eat my weed seeds, which is what I really want them to do. Every year I start saving my bacon grease from those scrumptious BLT's during tomato season. Last night I saved the raspberry solids that I strained off for jelly. Last week I saved the raw beef fat (suet) we trimmed for stew, and along the way I freeze other tidbits and apples/berries on the decline etc. Then........I melt the bacon fat, place in a humongous bowl & stir all the goodies together, adding birdseed, peanut butter and a variety of other things like oatmeal, cornmeal (not rice though). As the bacon fat hardens, it will hold the mass together. I usually pack it it into 3-4 Cup containers & store in the freezer. Take out as needed, remove from container and place on bird feeder, they LOVE it! I don't use any 'special' amounts of anything, but you will need about 1 Cup of bacon fat to hold together 1/2 - 1 gallon of ingredients. If your offerings are not all eaten by spring, you may have to throw out, otherwise the fat may melt and drip on your deck/patio. Great to help our feathered friends through the winter.

Tropical Downpours?

This is what WCCO has on their website. So is it a storm from the tropics? Either way....I don't want any part of it! The field is already saturated. To early to cut all my flowers today, so hard to predict at this point if we will be at the market Sat. I'll post later in the week in regards. Flower class was awesome, except for the mosquitoes, it was perfect. Flowers, wine, pie and great conversation......does it get any better? One of the best things about the farm this year is all the new girlfriends (& guys) that I have met this year. Soooo much fun! Since I know I'll miss you all this winter, I think I might have some yeast bread, sweet dough classes, more details later, anyone interested? And.....maybe we'll light up the wood fired pizza oven I haven't found time to use yet!!!!

Floral Class tonight

At my floral shop at my home. Small group, so decided not to haul everything to the Community Center, besided we can make a bigger mess here and it won't matter! Still time to join in, just show up, but a phone call ahead of time would be helpful 507-382-9337.
Class from 6:30-8:30.

Feels like........looks like........

A spring morning, all foggy and dewey. Makes me want to go back to bed. Why did I get up a 5 am, did I forget I am a retired person? This time of year...more like a TIRED person. Last week the news said cooler than usual for Sept., than warmer than usual for October. Late October I will be cutting back the thousands of iris plants in the field, getting them ready to cover for winter. If you have scissors experience, come on over. Only hiring people that will work for food.
Did I mention I am a fairly good cook?

Sunday

We are NOT at Whiskey River today, but we do have self serve at the field. Lots of squash, watermelon, potatoes etc. No raspberries or tomatoes today, Monday though!