The rain could not slow down the Harvest Fair
After a prolonged dry spell and a light frost at the Stratford Ecology Center on Liberty Road, the rain arrived the night before our annual harvest fair on Saturday 14th October and the showers continued throughout the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. That didn’t deter local vendors and organizations from setting up their tents, or visitors who fished in the pond, fed the chickens, watched the animals in the barn and blacksmith shop, made cider or swung on the lawn with live popular music.
Inside the education building, the bee group spread tarps and manually scraped the wax off the combs, as this technique worked better than using the $300 automated equipment! Visitors followed the entire process as the combs were spun in the centrifuge and the honey was strained into a bucket before bottling. The kids were content to sit for a while and make crafts, while the parents enjoyed hot cider and coffee. The Harvest Fair takes a lot of effort to ensure a happy day, but it’s always worth it.
Our Enchanted Night fundraiser at the end of August turned out to be a fun and well-charged time as we circulated and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres. It was easier to read the name tags and stop to enjoy a conversation. During the dinner, the silent auction continued online and guests did not have to leave their seats to check the bidding. Our guests supported us very generously, resulting in an exceptional, record-breaking event, the impact of which will be felt in many ways.
Farmers spent several Tuesdays trying to locate a water pipe laid years ago from the lookout lawn to a spike on the east side of Field 3. In the intervening time, six raised beds were built along of the route to grow vegetables for PIN and natives. plants from the Delaware Master Gardeners, and a closer water source was needed. Using a backhoe, and even a divining rod, unfortunately without success, the initial trench did not reveal the pipe. It was decided to dig another between two of the raised beds in the hope of intercepting the pipe. And well, they did, maybe sooner than expected, as the hoe caught the pipe and cracked it, and since the water hadn’t shut off yet, it sprayed everywhere. everywhere! Soon all was fixed, a new spike was set up with a large pole to protect it during mowing, and the ground was rounded and seeded.
We have a new goat named Shale, to replace Duncan, who arrived in early spring. Duncan was bottle-fed for half of his life before we bought him, so he didn’t gain any immunity from drinking his mother’s milk. He succumbed to an infestation of parasites so quickly that there was no warning sign that he was sick. The newcomer is an Alpine, born last February, with a beautiful black stripe running down his back. Charlie Peanut, a small nanny, raised on the farm, has joined him for company. Farmer Jeff plans to have Shale put on more weight before breeding with the other baby goats starting November 7th.
Farmer Jeff planted spelled on the north end of field 2, part of field 4, and one acre in the middle of field 3 on October 10. As Nos. 2 and 4 were extremely dry, seedbed preparations included a lot of disc and chisel plowing, and a final pass on No. 4 with a spiked tine harrow. After a tight cut during the last hay harvest at #3, spelled was planted directly into the foxtail, alfalfa and clover, all of which will be baled as hay next year.
Tuesday gardeners are switching to winter crops in the greenhouse and making one last push to prepare the flower beds and catch up on weeding in the children’s and rain gardens. Nearby, students in the fifth-grade Messages program were in high spirits as they gathered to end the day. His guide shared, when asked if he needs a nap when he gets home, that he doesn’t, but he does ask his wife if he could have a quiet period!
We hope the weather holds out for a while and you can visit. There is still maple syrup available, honey supplies have been replenished, and there is plenty of beef and lamb, some pork shoulder and loin roasts, as well as ground goat that can be used in place of of beef or lamb in almost any recipe. Three pigs went to market on October 24th and more pork will be available soon. Hens are laying fewer eggs due to the decrease in daylight hours. The greens continue to bloom.
Pauline Scott is a farm and nature guide at Stratford Ecological Center, 3083 Liberty Road, Delaware. She can be reached at 740-363-2548 or by email at [email protected]. Website: StratfordEcologicalCenter.org.
