Pear Leaf Blister Mites

Pear Leaf Blister Mites

Many pests, and pathogens, are adept at overwintering among leaf litter, dormant buds, and bark. This means that for fruit trees the dormant season is often the best time to try to remedy pest problems noted in the orchard during the previous year. Last season, as the...
Seeds 2013: Something Old, Something New

Seeds 2013: Something Old, Something New

Although we’re only a few weeks into winter, seed starting has already begun here on the farm.  Our long, mild, growing season doesn’t give us a lot of time off. Last year we were distracted through most of winter, and early spring, with bringing our first...
The November Garden: Native Garden

The November Garden: Native Garden

Last week I was busy wrapping up fall clean-up in the kitchen garden. The weather was warm, almost summer-like. Since then a storm rolled through, and provided some much needed rain. Behind the storm late last week a cold-front brought us our first frost of the...
The November Garden: Kitchen Garden

The November Garden: Kitchen Garden

This week began with afternoon temperatures soaring into the mid-80’s. It felt more like June than November. However, we knew that by week’s end the weather was forecast to change to a more cool fall-like weather pattern, so this week we decided it was...
Tomato Harvest 2012

Tomato Harvest 2012

Last year, after two cold summers in a row, and our worst tomato harvest ever, we were tempted to throw up our hands, and admit defeat. Out of sheer desperation this spring we decided that rather than give up on growing our favorite heirloom varieties, we’d try...
The October Garden

The October Garden

Except for a couple of unseasonably warm days last week, there’s no question fall has arrived. The mornings are crisp and clear, and as the sun tracks lower in the sky, the sunlight has a warmer glow than the harsh overhead sun in mid-summer. Native Garden...