Friday, January 16, 2009

A Wintry Farm Update

Things are alive at the farm even if the ground is frozen hard and the wind is gusting. Planning for the new season is underway--look for 2009 share information in your mailbox soon!

Did you Know?
Is sure is cold this week, but the record low temperature for Millersville is: -16 degrees (1994) (yup, that's negative)

The farm photo blog is updated with some fall and early winter pictures--check out the peeps! www.goodwillathomefieldsfarmcsa.blogspot.com

Got a budding interest in fruit growing?
Tomorrow: Saturday Jan 17th the Backyard Fruit Growers Winter meeting will be held at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center from 10am-4pm. There is a $5.00 suggested donation for non-members, to contribute to the Speakers’ Fund. For more information, contact Chris Manning at byfg@epix.net . In case of severe weather, call (610) 593-6990 for updates.

The Lancaster Farm and Home Center will once again host the Winter Meeting of the Back Yard Fruit Growers on Saturday, January 17. Topics of discussion will include small (or soft) fruit and hardy kiwi fruit. The public is welcome to attend, and to learn more about the BYFG. David Jackson and Holly Laubach of Kiwi Korners will discuss hardy kiwi culture in the morning session. Kiwi Korners, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, has been developing and researching new varieties of hardy kiwi for over 20 years. They are also the first and only certified organic producer of hardy kiwi fruit.

During the afternoon session Kathy Demchak will talk about small fruit in general. She is the Senior Extension Specialist at Penn State University. Her current projects include fall-bearing red raspberry and gooseberry cultivar trials as well as red raspberry pruning trials. Lancaster Farm and Home Center is located at 1383 Arcadia Rd, just off Route 72 south of the Route 30 interchange. The doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will run from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Coffee and donuts will be available before the meeting’s start. Everyone is encouraged to bring a bag lunch.

Keep warm,
Scott