Time to Reflect and Smile

We, here at Appleseed Farm have been mourning the passing of yet another family  member.  Chad, a fellow firefighter (Robert was a career firefighter for 19 years before he got hurt and had to be disables) and dear friend, really one of the family died earlier this month.  He was 33.  He left behind a wife and 2 small children.
His passing sure leaves a hole in our family that will never heal over.

You're are probably wondering why I labeled this reflect and SMILE.  When I remember Chad, all I can do is smile.  His hearty laugh, his huge smile, his sunny nature... very rare in today's world.

Newsy farm post tomorrow, I promise
Charlotte

Blessings on the Farm

This past Thanksgiving was so different than any than I have ever experienced.  My Mom decided that the family has gotten too big and we didn't have a large enough house for all of the family to get together.  So this year we didn't.  Robert and I spent the day at home.  It really wasn't like any other day to me.  I fixed lunch and supper (we did have a turkey), cleaned the kitchen and worked on aprons.  So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to count my blessings:

-I have a wonderful husband who wanted to spend the day with me. 

-We had the money to be able to have a turkey dinner at home.

-The critters were all fed special for the holidays.

-I have both parents still alive.  They spent the day with my sister and her family.

-I wasn't traveling when it started sleeting.  I just put another log on the fire and snuggled in to watch TV

-I did get to see Wyatt since he was hunting in the morning with his Dad.  I talked with Sam on the phone.

So see,  I am blessed even when I don't realize it.  Happy Blessings to all

See ya on the farm
Charlotte

Deer Season on the Farm

This is weekend is the openning of shotgun season for deer.  Since I grew up pretty poor and continued that habit after I got married, deer season always meant meat in the freezer for the winter.  I like to look at the pretty deer as much as everybody else but I also understand the need to maintain the size of the herd.

I spend many a spring morning standing at the window looking at the cutest little "bambi's" you have ever seen.  Cute little spots and wobbly long legs.  Those adorable little creatures do have a nasty habit of growing up and eating the plants I put in the market garden, nibble on the blueberries, eat fields of green beans.  Hard to make a living at farming anyway, add in the pests and wow, almost dang impossible.  Prolific little breeders they are too.  They generally have twins and sometimes triplets each year.  They breed as yearling, so deer explosion. 

While I don't mind hunters.  I can't abide the people who don't follow the rules.  Hunting out of season, using a spotlight for after dark, hunting on other people's property...shame on you.  But to me, the worse culprit of all is the dispicable person who shoots the deer and just cuts off it's horns.  Leaving the meat to rot.  If you don't want the meat, at least have the decency to donate it to a shelter.  Let it benefit someone else. 

OK, I'll stop ranting. 4 big bad hunters went hunting this weekend at Appleseed Farm.  I came back victorious.  Good job, Rick.  That 10 pointer was spectacular.

See ya on the farm
Charlotte

I HEART FARM KIDS

APRONS FOR EVERYONE

INTRODUCING OUR APRONS

for our littliest chef

To....

To the more, hmm, experienced chef.

(That is Nanny Dee, my Mom, can't make her mad)

They come in many different colors and patterns. 

E-mail me at appleseedfarm@yahoo.com for more info.

Happy Baking

See ya on the farm,

Charlotte

Let's Play and WIN

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN



We, fearless female farmers at Appleseed Farm miss our grandmas dreadfully at this time of year.  Except Sam, of course.  Both her Grandmother and Great Grandmother are alive and kicking.

We want to hear your favorite Thanksgiving story about you and Grandma.  Doesn't matter what you were doing:  cooking, shopping, playing the quarters drinking game, all goes.  For each reply (only one reply per person) you will have a chance at the prize.  You can earn another chance by posting this on your facebook page with a link to our blog. and yet another if you tweet or have a blog and talk about it.  So, if you are the most social network person alive you can get up to 4 chances to win. 

What do you win:  Jennifer has decided the big giveaway is either:  2 jars of pie filling (your choice of flavors) or an apron.  We are offering choice in case we get a guy to respond.  (OK John Jones, here's your chance)

Both amazing prizes are made by Appleseed Farm.  So here is your chance.  Tell us about Grandma. 

You have until the 12th at midnight to enter.  We will randomly draw a winner. 

Good Luck and...

See ya on the farm

Charlotte

All Things Feeling Neglected

Yesterday I spent about 2 hours in the seedling nursery (greenhouse) getting it ready to go to bed for the winter.  I noticed it had been sorely neglected with weeds growing everywhere.  I also have an invasion of mint in one of the beds from a "thoughtful" husband who knew that I was planting herbs at the time and didn't know that mint is next to impossible to contain and/or kill.  Anyway that got me to thinking about this blog - another thing I have been neglecting.  So...the update as promised.  But sorry, no pictures.  I have lost my canera AGAIN.  I swear that sucker hides from me.

Let't start the update with the blueberries.  We have had a drought, bordering on severe here in our area.  I have done every rain dance I can think of, except nude,but still no rain.  Thank goodness we have a well that is filled with natural springs.  It has never ran dry and I hope never will.  We have to water the blueberries so that they get about an inch a week.  With over 2 thousand bushes that is a lot of water.  We have set up an irrigation system for most of them, so I hope all survive until next spring.  We are hoping for our first harvest this year. 

The gardens are nearing the end of production.  That is good as we only have 2 more farmers markets for the season.  As it is we only have okra, eggplant and peppers to pick.  Everything else has gone to the compost pile.  I hope to have all the raised beds cleaned up by the first of  the month.

Our value added products are going gangbusters.  We are getting better known each year.  It is so exciting.  We have added a few new places for wholesale.  I'll let you know how that is going.  Our newest PourAPie flavor  -  Strawberry Rhubarb has been a hit.  You should try it.

All 4 grandkids are going great.  Growing like weeds.  Wyatt is so tall now it is hard to remember him as a toddler just a few short years ago.  Sam is going to be a butterfly for Halloween.  She is butterfly crazy.  Tucker is a dragon and Lauren will be Raggedy Ann if Nana gets her butt in gear and gets the costume done.

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook.  Hope to have pictures soon.  Fall in the midwest is breathtaking.

See ya on the farm
Charlotte