October 20, 2016

Good morning, a very interesting thing is happening at market this coming weekend. The two markets will rejoin once again on Murphy street. This will hopefully end the never ending question of why are there two markets.

Since the Alpine Farmers Market moved to Murphy Street we have enjoyed a steady and constant growth. After the split we became a 10 vendor market but we began to grow again.

Last winter we consistently had 15 vendors. This was a first. Previous winters we would slip back down to 10 or so.

Yes some times it is slow in the winter but we do have some die hard vendors and more importantly die hard customers. These customers have grown to expect us to be at market every week. We are more than glad to accommodate them. After all it is more than a market it has become a social event too.

Probably the biggest the market gets is on Earth day where we have swollen to nearly fifty vendors. Talk about a festive event even though this is a one market day event. This really inspires me to strive for this kind of turnout every Saturday.

Last Saturday we had 24 vendors. This may be our largest non Earth day attendance.

Something that Deb and I have noticed since we have moved from behind the Hotel walls is our visibility catches the eyes of passers by which draws them into market. This past weekend, I am sure it was because of this added visibility, we did not have the 11.00AM slow down. The Market kept humming up until noon. This is a first for a non Earth Day market.

Sooo anyway we will be welcoming back the other market vendors. With their attendance we can only grow in a positive way. If you haven't been to market lately, you should come down and visit and maybe check out our unique wares while you are at it!!!

And for a little side note Alice and Rob Leese (YT Ranch grass feed beef ) will be at market November 12. So mark your calendars and I will keep all posted on any changes.

The garden is progressing along into fall. There have been a few fits and starts with cutworms and other caterpillars. Maybe I have been too distracted. Well I have “put out most of those fires” so I can hopefully get back on tract. It is hard to believe that October is nearly over and my allium plant date is quickly arriving on the first of November. This sow date has worked very well for bulb onion the last couple years. I hope I can make three years in a row.

I have discovered a new root knot nematode treatment. It will be administered through my drip system. Two applications 15 days apart have shown to reduce populations by 70%. Reports show that this works well on eggs and juveniles. It doesn't work as well on adults. Most adults have a 26 day life span but it does appear that some “Methuselah's” can over winter.

This last summer I used AzaGuard (a neem oil by product). This seemed to work quite well until I stopped using it when the rains were so heavy.

The Promax (my new RKN fighting tool) has been suggested to chemigate twice this fall then again just before planting followed up with another application during the summer. This will be a lot easier than doing the AzaGuard every 2 weeks all summer. I have great hopes that maybe this will control these guys. Of course it does not mean I wont keep doing all my other RKN control measure. Not doing so would not be prudent.

Harvest quantities are quite diminished but I hope to harvest chard, kale, green onions, carrots, asian greens, boc choy, turnip greens, chilies, okra and summer squash. In storage are butternut squash and sweet potatoes.

Please email me with your desires and availability. Transition times can be unsettling but this too will pass.