September Newsletter
We 're so focused on getting ready for the Pumpkin Patch that I know fall is close but you could not prove it by the temperatures. The days are getting shorter and the fall vegetables are almost ready so fall must be here but again you can't prove it by the temperature. It's hard to get excited about the fall activities when you're sweating. The rain has been nice but it would be better spread out a little more and it does seem to cool things off for at least a few hours.
We are still working on getting the Rolling Market on the road and scheduling locations for stops. It will probably be November before we can actually schedule new stops since we are so busy with the Pumpkin Patch in October. We plan to start CSA vegetable deliveries the week of October 10th. Everyone will be welcome to stop by the Rolling Market during CSA vegetable stops to purchase any additional vegetables we have available. We'll also have eggs, beef, pork, jams, honey, jellies, pickles, and salsas for sale on the Rolling Market.
CSA Vegetable Drop Locations (starting October 11th)
Tuesday 4:30-6:00 at the Pour House Maybank Hwy James Island
Wednesday 3:30-4:15 at Trident Tech next to Building 620 Rivers Ave.N. Chas.
Wednesday 4:45-6:00 at the parking lot next to Food Lion near Costco West Ashley
Thursday 4:30-6:00 411 Hibben St. at Pickled Palate Mt Pleasant
We still have a little planting to do for the fall vegetables and will soon be planting winter vegetables. The chicks from the Rent A Chick program in the spring have just begun to lay eggs so it's time to start culling out old chickens. Chickens lay eggs for many year but their best producing years are the first 4 years. Once they aren't producing as well, it's time for them to find a new home. It just doesn't make sense to feed chickens that aren't producing. All the animals on the farm (except maybe the horses) have to earn their keep.
Since the Pumpkin Patch opens in a few days I thought I'd tell you a little about pumpkins this month. Pumpkins are extremely hard to grow on the coast of SC. They grow fairly easy in the early spring before powdery mildew becomes a problem but who wants pumpkins in the spring. We have found a few varieties that can grown here but it is still a struggle.
Pumpkins come in all sizes and shapes. The largest pumpkin ever recorded was 2145 pounds and was grown in Illinois. Pumpkins are typically orange which is caused by the high amounts of lutein and alpha and beta carotene. However pumpkins come in red, pink, green, tan, white, and blue. Almost all pumpkins have some variation of orange flesh which is rich in Vitamin A and lots of other vitamins, minerals, and heart healthy antioxidants.
A lot of plants have male and female varieties, but the pumpkin plant have both sexes on the same vine. The male flower appears first and attract the bees then die off. The female flower then appears and the bees return to pollinate them. This allows for a lot of cross pollination and often strange and new varieties. A lot of the striped and textured pumpkins came from these crosses. One of our best sellers is the miniature striped pumpkins, about the size of a softball with orange or green stripes. We'll have a lot of different ones to choose from including the pie pumpkin that is high in sugar.
Calendar
October Pumpkin Patch
October 21st and 22nd Haunted Weekend
November Thanksgiving on the Farm field trips
November 26 Holiday Open House
Feature of the Month
The Pumpkin Patch is the Feature of the Month. We open Saturday October 1st at 10:00 am. We'll be open for school field trips every Tuesday through Friday and Monday October 31st. We're open to the public Fridays 5-8pm, Saturdays 10am-8pm, and Sundays 1-6pm. Lots of fun stuff to do including pumpkin picking, hayride to feed the cows, build your own scarecrow, duck races, gem mine, visit the farm animals, feed the fish and turtles, walk the trails of the Nature Quest, play in the playground, jump in the jump castle, ride the horse, get lost in the mini maze, and enjoy good Legare Farms' food at the concession stand. You can also have your birthday party at the Pumpkin Patch. We offer special deals for parties and groups, just call us for the details.
Haunted Weekend
This year we will be doing the Haunted Weekend on October 21st and 22nd. We start at dark around 8:00 pm. We will have a small haunted house, a trail of terror, and a haunted hayride. Tickets will be available in advance or you can buy then when you arrive.
If you would like to volunteer to help scare people, please get in touch with us. All the profits from this event go to our Education Foundation. We can always use more volunteers and I know a lot of you are scary.
Special of the Month
FREE gate tickets to the Pumpkin Patch. Go HERE to print tickets to get in the front gate FREE. Print one for everyone over the age of 2 and present at the front gate.
Recipe of the Month
Slowly Deviled Beef
2 lbs lean stew beef, cut in 1 inch cubes
½ envelopes Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix
1 can tomato paste (6oz.)
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 onion, sliced
½ cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
Place beef in slow cooker. Stir together all remaining ingredients and pour over beef. Stir to mix. Cover and cook 4 ½ to 5 hours on high setting. Do not uncover or stir until almost done (lifting cover will greatly ingrease cooking time). Serve over cooked noodles or rice. Can also be cooked in 2 quart casserole for 2 to 2 ½ hours in a 325 degree oven.
Hope you all will visit us at the farm in October. Please be sure to speak to us. We love having everyone at the farm and want to meet you and know who is reading the newsletter.
If you have any questions or suggestions, call or email us,
Did I mention the Pumpkin Patch?
Helen Legare-Floyd