The tomatoes are still alive but are ripening extremely slowly.

 A beautiful day for harvesting carrots.

 Muddy carrots harvested for storage.

Liz is REALLY excited to be washing all those carrots.

Remember: we are accepting CSA payments. And we will be in both Corning Farmers' Market (1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month) and Elmira  (every Sunday at Chamberlain Acres greenhouse) starting next week.

Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
Brussels sprouts
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
hakurei turnips
pie pumpkins
parsnips
baby chinese cabbage (Tokyo bekana)
pac choi
spicy greens mix
lettuce mix
ginger
delicata, carnival, butternut squash
sweet onions
peppers
parsley
cherry tomatoes
potatoes
tomatoes
cabbage
garlic
carrots
beets
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

 Our cat "Mouse" helping to lay the weedmat fabric into which our garlic crop will be planted.

The drainage system which we had installed last winter is flowing for the first time since early Spring. We hope it will drain away the excess water in the soil so our storage carrots, which are still in the ground, don't rot.


Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
Brussels sprouts
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
hakurei turnips
pie pumpkins
parsnips
baby chinese cabbage (Tokyo bekana)
pac choi
spicy greens mix
lettuce mix
ginger
delicata, carnival, butternut squash
sweet onions
peppers
parsley
cherry tomatoes
potatoes
tomatoes
cabbage
garlic
carrots
beets
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

 These potato plants are a variety called "Papa Cacho" and they are a long, red fingerling. The plants are amazing for their size - as you can see the vines are almost as long as me. And they are still growing lushly when the rest of our potato varieties matured and died back naturally weeks ago. Even though they are still growing we are going to have to mow the plants down this week so we can harvest the potatoes before the weather gets to cold. Look forward to lots of them available for your Winter CSA.

 Our wild chicks are doing well roaming free. I think its about time they join the rest of the flock, though. So some evening this week we will have to go collect them while they are sleeping and relocate them.

Our fall harvest is getting into full swing. Potato harvest is underway and all of the cabbages are in the cooler. Next up for this week: beets. Then carrots, turnips, radishes, rutabagas, celeriac, leeks and parsnips. So far the weather is cooperating nicely. Also, we already have a great supply of onions, garlic and winter squash in storage. And the winter supply of greens (lettuce, spinach, pac choi) are coming along nicely.
Remember the regular season CSA runs through October 31, then the Fall/Winter CSA starts Nov 5 and 6 (Corning and Elmira)

 Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
Brussels sprouts
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
hakurei turnips
pie pumpkins and squashes
parsnips
baby chinese cabbage (Tokyo bekana)
pac choi
spicy greens mix
lettuce mix
ginger
delicata, carnival, butternut squash
sweet onions
peppers
parsley
cherry tomatoes
potatoes
tomatoes
cabbage
garlic
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

 Broccoli plants thriving under protective netting

 The end of another beautiful autumn day at Muddy Fingers

Remember the start of our Fall/Winter CSA in November. We will be at the Corning and Painted Post Farmers' Markets and the Chamberlain Acres Farmers' Market in Elmira. Ask us at market for more details or see last week's post.

Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
Brussels sprouts (they are kind of rough looking, especially because of the drought)
parsnips
hakurei turnips
radishes - watermelon and daikon (purple and white)
green beans or dragon tongue beans
ginger
butternut squash
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
cherry tomatoes
sweet onions
potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
Brussels sprouts
parsnips
green beans or dragon tongue beans
ginger
delicata squash and carnival squash
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
cherry tomatoes
sweet onions
potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

 Whoops...looks like we waited too long to harvest some of our cabbages and they split on us.
If anyone would like to come pick your own (for making kraut, etc.), you would be welcome to come take some for free.

 Some are quite beautiful, though.

Breaking news...we will be offering a Fall/Winter CSA again this year. The shares will be designed like last year. Compared to our summer CSA, the Fall/Winter CSA is more flexible. Instead of everyone paying the same price, members just prepay however much they anticipate using at our stand from November through February and we apply a 10% discount. Then you come to "shop" at our stand and we apply however much you spend to your balance. This way you don't have to come every week and you don't miss out too much if we get snowed in and can't get to market. We keep track of your balance for you. You can add to your balance whenever you want. And you can see your balance at our GoogleDoc spreadsheet.We plan to have CSA pickup available in Corning and Elmira this year. The market in Corning has not been finalized yet but it seems that it will continue to be on Saturdays in the Information Center like previous years. We will be having a farmers' market at Chamberlain Acres on Broadway Ave in Elmira  in one of their greenhouses. The market will be on Sundays 11:00-3:00 starting November 6.

You can copy, paste and print the form below or follow the link on the right side of the page.

Muddy Fingers Farm

2016/2017 FALL/ WINTER CSA

We plan to have the following vegetables available:

Potatoes, Onions, Winter Squash, Garlic, Brussells Sprouts, Carrots, Parsnips, Kale, Chard, Cabbage, Turnips, Radishes, Lettuce Mix, Greens Mix, Tokyo Bekana, Beets, Rutabagas, Celeriac, Spinach, Leeks, Fennel, Chinese Cabbage

Please complete this form:

Amount__________________________

I am donating __________for low income shares

Name____________________________

Phone___________________________

e-mail__________________________

Make check payable to Muddy Fingers Farm

Muddy Fingers Farm

3859 Dugue Rd.

Hector, NY 14841

Any questions???? Contact us at 607-546-4535 maglenn_1999@yahoo.com

CSA pick-up will be available at :

Corning Winter Farmers' Market (Saturdays 11:00-3:00)

Chamberlain Acres Market in Elmira (Sundays 11:00-3:00)

Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
green beans or dragon tongue beans
ginger
delicata squash
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
cherry tomatoes
sweet onions
potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

 snake in the ginger

 protected broccoli plants

 colorful potato mix

loaded for market

Hey, thank goodness for some rain last night!

Expected vegetables, small shares choose 8, large shares choose 10
green beans or dragon tongue beans
ginger
delicata squash
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
cherry tomatoes
sweet onions
potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
leeks
hot pepper mix
flour
black beans

 Five chicks were hatched on the farm this week. We didn't even know this hen was sitting on eggs until we found her and the chicks in one of the hoophouses.

This is the section of the field planted with winter squash this year. This picture was taken a couple weeks ago and as you can see the plants grew quite well this year despite the drought. The varieties are ripening now. Delicatas are now available for you share.


Expected vegetables, small shares Choose 8, large shares choose 10
delicata squash
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
husk cherries
cherry tomatoes
sweet onions
new potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
leeks
flour
black beans

Don't think we have anything new this week. Sorry about photos that did not display last couple of weeks. I will try to get some photos for next week.

Expected vegetables, small shares Choose 8, large shares choose 10
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
dill
husk cherries
cherry tomatoes
burr gherkins
green onions
new potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
scallions
flour
black beans

 Pumping water for irrigating from our generous neighbor's pond





Sweet onion harvest


Expected vegetables, small shares Choose 8, large shares choose 10
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
dill
husk cherries
cherry tomatoes
burr gherkins
green onions
new potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
scallions
flour
black beans

 Wow...lots of flea beetles destroying our kale plants

 Healthy husk cherry plants

Expected vegetables, small shares Choose 8, large shares choose 10
sweet onions
peppers
basil
parsley
dill
husk cherries
cherry tomatoes
burr gherkins
green onions
new potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
scallions
flour
black beans

Expected vegetables, small shares Choose 8, large shares choose 10
husk cherries
cherry tomatoes
burr gherkins
green onions
new potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
scallions
flour
black beans

We are starting to really see the effects of the heat and drought now. It looks like our cucumbers are succumbing to the drought, heat, insects and disease. But more importantly we will not have salad greens of any kind for at least a couple weeks. A couple plantings of lettuce did not germinate, the greens mix has not had enough moisture to grow and the spinach bolted very quickly in all of this heat. We are sorry about this. We strive very hard to have at least some kind of salad green every week.
And now our pond is almost empty. This is shaping up to be the roughest year of weather we have had since we started farming 13 years ago.
Sorry to be so negative. I know I should try to stay more positive, but not really feeling it right now.

Expected vegetables, Choose 7
cherry tomatoes
burr gherkins
green onions
new potatoes
tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
kale
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
flour
black beans

Expected vegetables, Choose 7
new potatoes
maybe green beans
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
green onions
basil
broccoli? (if there are any side shoots that the groundhogs don't devour)
cabbage
garlic
zucchini/squash
carrots
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
radishes
lettuce? (if there are any that have not yet bolted)
lettuce mix
kale
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
flour
black beans

Groundhogs, rabbits and drought.
Well the three of these have conspired to make these two farmers pretty grumpy lately. The drought has been the worst by decreasing our yields and giving us more work by having to water and irrigate all the time. Irrigating keeps the plants alive, but they really aren't thriving without rain and with the hot weather. But the rabbits ate all of our eggplant plants this Spring and then groundhogs ate all of our broccoli!!!! Too late, but the dogs have recently dispatched with two groundhogs.

Expected vegetables, Choose 7
new potatoes
a few tomatoes
broccoli
cabbage
garlic scapes
zucchini/squash
carrots
cilantro
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
radishes
lettuce heads
lettuce mix
kale
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
flour
black beans

 


 Husk cherries ripening



 Winter squashes - gonna be no weeds here this year!

Rain??? Please!!?? Our irrigation pond is starting to look really sad and the green heron that calls it home is getting worried that we will completely drain it.

Expected vegetables, Choose 7
broccoli
cabbage
garlic scapes
zucchini/squash
baby carrots
romanesca caulifower
green beans
cilantro
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
radishes
white salad turnips
lettuce heads
lettuce mix
spinach
kale
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
flour
black beans

Expected vegetables for this week - choose 6:
zucchini
baby carrots
romanesca caulifower
green beans
cilantro
beets
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
radishes
white salad turnips
lettuce heads
lettuce mix
spinach
kale
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
flour
black beans

 A toad hiding in the dirt.

There are several different researchers doing studies at our farm this year. This one involves aphids on potatoes and the thing in the picture is an insect trap. This is a picture of a bed of potatoes before they sprouted. The one green plant behind the trap is tobacco. The researchers planted them among the potatoes as part of their study. We also have studies involving the Swede midge, tomato pests and diseases and the Colorado potato beetle.
Still no rain so we have the irrigation running every morning and every evening.

Expected vegetables for this week - choose 6:
baby carrots
romanesca caulifower
green beans
cilantro
beets or beet greens
pea shoots
sunflower shoots
radishes
white salad turnips
lettuce heads
lettuce mix
spinach
kale
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
potatoes
eggs (counts as 2 items)
flour
black beans

Well no rain today so that means we need to stop procrastinating and put together our irrigation tomorrow.
Expected vegetables for this week - choose 5:
cilantro
beet greens
pea shoots
radishes
white salad turnips
lettuce heads
lettuce mix
spicy mix
baby kale
spinach
kale
collards
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
potatoes
other available items: vegetable plants, eggs (1 dozen counts as two items), local organic flour and dry black beans,

 Tilling in some cover crop seeds before it rains. We trying a new cover crop here - something called Sunn hemp (not hemp at all, just misnamed). It is actually a fast growing legume!

 Beans on the left, two beds of tomatoes and tiny pepper plants on the right. They are growing fast in this heat!

CSA starts this week - pick up Grove Park, Monday 3-6 PM, Corning Farmers' Market, Thursday 10AM-3PM, Friday on farm, Noon-Dark.
Expected vegetables for this week - choose 5:
cilantro
beet greens
pea shoots
radishes
white salad turnips
lettuce heads
lettuce mix
spicy mix
baby kale
spinach
kale
collards
chard
scallions
daikon radishes
watermelon radishes
potatoes
other available items: vegetable plants, eggs (1 dozen counts as two items), local organic flour and dry black beans,

Muddy Fingers Farm Plant Sale Dates

Muddy Fingers Farm Plant Sale Days
On-Farm: 3859 Dugue Rd. Hector, NY

April 23 9:00 - 5:00 
We will have many different vegetable plants for sale for your early garden. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, chard, lettuce, onions, leeks, shallots, parsley.

May 21 9:00 - 5:00
We will have many vegetable and herb plants for your summer vegetable garden. Basil, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Celeriac, Chard, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Husk Cherries, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Parsley, Peppers, Pumpkins, Shallots, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Winter Squash. 

These plants will also be available for CSA members in the first two weeks of your CSA share in June. 

So we have 4 new high tunnels that are ready to have the plastic put on them. And we have two other tunnels already up and running on our farm. All of these high tunnels can get confusing when trying to communicate and differentiate among them all. So we decided they need names. We have 6 tunnels which need their own names. So we thought maybe there was somebody in the CSA with a creative mind to come up with some great names. Any suggestions?

Hoophouse construction invitation Sunday March 6 1:00 pm

Our new hoophouses in pieces.

 

We will be constructing our new hoophouses on Sunday afternoon March 6. We will start around 1:00 though you are welcome to show up later if you need. The weather looks relatively mild at this time.We anticipate spending a few hours on construction. We will have dinner prepared for anyone who would like to stay afterward. If you would like to come help, please, please, please RSVP and give us an idea on what time you plan to arrive. Thanks 

Hooray, we finally had drainage installed in our fields a couple weeks ago and while it created quite a mess we are hopefully it will help our vegetables grow more happily.

Event tonight:
Local Food Fest at the Union Hall in Corning from 5:00-8:00. We will be selling our usual supply of vegetables and promoting the CSA. Come on by and join the summer CSA tonight.Or just pick up your CSA share. I believe there is an admission fee but it is all for a good cause - Cornell Cooperative Extension's promotion of local agriculture.
Also: Saturday we will be at the Painted Post Farmers' Market at Union Hall on Steuben St. from 11:00-3:00. Yes, I know its supposed to be cold, but it is winter after all even though it hasn't felt like it before now.

HI All,
Just a note to let you know that Muddy Fingers Farm will be set up tomorrow (Saturday January 30) at both the Painted Post Farmers' Market at the Union Hall on Steuben St. from 11:00-3:00 and the Ithaca Farmers' Market in the Space@Greenstar from 11:00-2:00.

2016 CSA Membership Form

 Winter Farmers Market in Corning

We are now accepting CSA memberships for the 2016 Season. Please see the link to the right for further information. We are getting excited for the upcoming growing season. As you can see above we still have lots of great vegetables available but we are looking forward to getting planting again.