How to Choose a Good Cantaloupe

How to Choose a Good Cantaloupe

(this does not work for watermelon)

Smell the blossom end (opposite of the stem end), there should be a strong, sweet aroma

There should be no stem as a ripe melon “slips” of separates completely from the stem when ripe in the field. If there is stem than the melon was harvested green but could still be ripe if the aroma is strong and sweet.

Skin should have a golden cast to it and strong netting. green ribbing is common in many heirloom ‘loupes and is not an indicator of unripeness

Golden Gopher heirloom melon

2011 127 yard Sale Day 2

Early morning shopper checking out Jules' stuff

Same guy now checking out Carla's stuff 

The Gunn's Display. Note that shopping guy is now leaving the sale (upper left of shot)

Eugene cleans garlic. this is something we do at every sale as the garlic is ready to clean and it gives us something to do during slow times

Rosie Sporting a Boulder Belt 127 Yard Sale Shirt

Robert, a guy we sometimes get honey from, drops off a Doctors Carriage.

Losta Cars

End of Day 2

Day 1 of the US 127 Yard Sale

Early Birds around 7 am, every yard sale has 'em no matter how big

Discussing the Vintage Sears Tractor, no the guy did not buy it but did offer to trade Eugene that tractor (that does not quite run) for a running vintage Gravely mower

Our Port A Johns are one of the most popular features of our sale but this little girl would not use them

Plants for sale

No left Turn. Because of these signs almost no one dares to make a left hand turn out of our drive thus making the sale a lot safer

But despite the signs an accident did happen (the first in 5 year) though this was due to a car slowing down to look at the sale and a teenager texting came roaring up the hill and hit them. Rumor has it that this is the 3rd time the teenager has had this kind of accident. People need to pay attention and not text and drive

Jules Selling Knives late in the day

Evening at the Sale at the Keultjes stand

127 Yard Sale 2011-Setting Up

The Port A Johns are here!!!

Transforming the store from a produce stand...

To a shop of curiosities

Jules Knives at the beginning

Jules' Knives a little further along (and an outside shot)

The Gunn's set up in front (they were done by around 5 pm Wed) and the Pac's are at the back of this shot under the tree getting ready for the big show

Dan the Tie Dye Man arrives Thursday Morning

And finally the Tillman's with their Fabulous Yard Art, arrive Thursday Morning

Boulder Belt Eco-Farm: The Eggplant Head Wishes all a Merry X-mas

Boulder Belt Eco-Farm: The Eggplant Head

A Natural Solution for the Marmorated Stink Bug

This winter when the bulletins about the MSB came out I realized they have been on my farm the past 2 seasons and ruining a lot of the red raspberries. And I assumed this year would be far far worse because there are no known predators of the pests (and also because I now had a name for the scourge and the various state extension services that have issued bulletins had scared the bejeebus outta me over this). So this week the raspberries started to ripen (about 14 days late) and I was prepared for the worse. And on day one of harvest there was quite a bit of damage but it was mainly bird and Japanese beetle damage with only about 10% to 15% being due to MSB-not too bad. By the end of the first full week of harvest the MSB damage had fallen to maybe .1%-about 1 in 1000 berries is effected (and they stink so badly it is very easy to find them and toss them out)

I also noticed a huge number of wheelbug youngsters in their 3rd and 4th instars (and possibly an adult). There were something like 4 per square foot. In past years, since I researched this insect, I would see maybe on every 10 square feet or fewer. I figured they were pretty territorial and that was why we had a lower population as well as being a top predator. But I also knew we had some rather underfed larva the past couple of years which would of course mean fewer making it to adult stage so fewer numbers that could breed to increase the population. So far this year i have seen nothing but fat and happy wheelbug larva

I do know that I definitely saw wheelbugs eating MSBs last year (I wondered what kind of stinkbug it was as it had more white spots on it that the other 3 or 4 species we have around here, now I know) and it would make sense as the MSB population increases that the wheelbug population would increase a couple of years behind them.

So I believe we have a native insect in the Eastern US that can control the MSB scourge.

One Month Until the 127 Yard Sale

It is exactly 30 days until the big yard sale which will be held August 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th.

We will once again rent 10'x 10' spaces to the public for $20 a day non food/$40 a day for food vendors. Ask about our discount for all 4 days. Last year we had over 30k people come through our sale and our vendors were VERY pleased with their weekend both in sales and in fun.

New this year will be our original totes and T-shirts sporting the graphic below, designed by my brother, that you can buy exclusively at our store during the event

Totes are a nice organic cotton canvass and will be $13 ea.
T-s are white 100% cotton and will be $10 ea

GMO Video

GMO Crops Farmer to Farmer

interesting video about how GMO and conventional farmers feel about growing GMO crops. Talks about the broken promises such as single pass farming, better yields, low risk of contamination, etc..

Interesting and disturbing as it is clear many farmers do not want to grow this stuff but have been railroaded into it by Monsanto and other biotech Ag corps.