Farmers’ Market: A new season
The change of seasons is always a time of mixed feelings and some ambivalence.
We look back at the summer of projects large and small, some executed, some still only partially complete, and some not even off the drawing board, so to speak. For some members of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market, Columbus Day Weekend (or Canadian Thanksgiving) represents an anticipation of a quieter time to come. Though the fields and gardens are not quite through yet and still need some input to be “put to bed” properly, our Saturdays will now be our own to accomplish those goals and many others related to preparing for winter cold and snow, when the demands outside are not so strident.
Through October, the Millers’ bees may still line up across the bottom board, quivering their wing muscles and leaning into the early morning sun, for all the world like fighter jets warming their oil in anticipation of punching the accelerator and launching off the tarmac once the air warms enough. But on the cool rainy days, they remain in their cluster around their queen, huddled for warmth and packing away the last of summer’s sweetness for dark, cold days ahead. The York’s flowers are done for this season; the garlic and onions are dug and bagged. The weather this year severely challenged the folks at Whole Earth Farm; having struggled mightily, losing seed to cold and washouts, followed by discouraging blight and fungus dramatically reducing their salvageable crops. Who could blame them for packing it in and heading south?
For others of us, this won’t be an option! Chores in winter require more human input; the “animal people” feel a step up in activity when the pastures are done for the year and the ease of automatic waterers is challenged by frosty mornings. The Maynards, the Doaks, and the O’Mearas are all looking carefully at their hay stores to feed hooved stock; poultry at Delphinium Blue Farm and at O’Meara’s Family Farm begin to gather around grain feeders and babble indignantly at their keepers should the pails fall empty. The Doaks make plans for cold-weather lambing, investing time and effort in preparing their ewes. Cold weather and livestock always equals at least a few sleepless nights.
Meanwhile, Mark and Gloria Goughan stretch their farming days as far as possible, harvesting fall vegetables like pumpkins both painted and plain, squash, gourds, rutabaga, broccoli and potatoes. This year’s corn maze continues to delight children of all ages. The greenhouses will need to be stripped of hoses that may still hold water, pots scrubbed and stacked, and the whole place cleaned up and shut down before winter. Soon their crew will be tipping balsam fir for wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces as well as hauling to the farm store Christmas trees for customers to select and take home. If they ever do in fact gear down, it is only briefly in the darkest days. Once the maple sap begins to run, Mark will be running as well.
Today we say good-bye and thank you to our customers who have joined us in the mall parking lot on Saturday mornings this summer. We want you all to know how much we appreciate your support and patronage. Have a safe and warm winter season; we look forward to seeing you again in the spring.
Editor’s note: This weekly column is written by members of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market. For more information or to join, contact their secretary/treasurer Steve Miller of Westmanland at 896-5860 or via e-mail at beetree@xpressamerica.net. The group’s website is https://sites.google.com/site/presqueislefarmersmarket/
