Farm Visits October 4, 2012

My farm visits are starting to wind down this year since some of our farmers are slowly starting to drop out for the season. But many of them have replanted fall crops so will continue coming to the Market through December. That’s right; the farmers’ market does not close down the end of October.

Today I setup a time to visit Huns Garden so Pov and Chaxamone could walk me through their fields so I could see what was being harvested for this weekend’s market. I received a complaint from a customer who thought Pov was not growing all the produce which he was selling at the Saturday and Sunday farmers’ market. Whenever I receive a complaint I feel it is my job to see if the complaint is true. Pov was more than happy to meet me and give me the grand tour. I am very happy he did or I would have missed much of what he still had available. Pov does not pull weeds, he grows his crops in the weeds to help protect the plants from the sun and to help keep the soil from drying out. I know it is a little unusual but it works and probably was one of the things that made it possible for them to have produce available all summer. Pov has replanted lettuce and kale which has already come up and should be ready very soon. He is still harvesting Swiss chard, bittermelons, cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley, Asian sorrel, arugula, long beans, water spinach, onions, beets, collard greens, a few carrots, French sorrel and of course flowers. (I am sure I am forgetting something) Many of the items the Huns grow will survive over the winter as long as the temperature does not drop below 24 degrees. Pov has six hoop houses which help to make this possible. Huns Garden has 3 contracted stalls at the Saturday market, one of which is a supplement stall, and two stalls at the Sunday market. They are currently supplementing watermelons and pumpkins. I am happy to say my visit was very enjoyable, but not necessary.

 Last week I did not update my blog but I wanted to share the pictures Deb Churchill took when we visited the North Missouri Produce Auction in Jamesport, Mo. For those of you who have never visited Jamesport it is an Amish community located north of 36 Hwy. The town is full of shops and restaurants and a great day trip. The auction is located right out of town and is worth seeing if you are in the area around 10:00 a.m. on a Tuesday or Friday. Some of our vendors purchase produce from the auction to supplement the produce they grow. All the produce sold at the auction must be harvested within 100 miles of Jamesport so meets the Markets requirements of 500 miles or less. This time of year I visit farms as needed but will keep you posted on what you can find at the market this fall and winter

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