If you search the website “www.hellopoetry.com, you can find all manner of poems on just about any topic. One entry by Lisa Ann Rakow (March 2013) caught my attention. It is entitled “Squash Bugs” and it begins:
How much I loathe you,
You have no idea.
Your eggs are little, brown specks that merely sit on the leaf.
When you hatch, you destroy all the squash plants in your path.
Mercilessly.
Nobody ever pays any attention to you.
Very few even know you exist.
Unfortunately, I DO know you exist.
She writes that she had a summer job that required for one day killing the bugs in the squash field. What a job that would be. These insects are the bane of all growers of squash, summer and winter, including pumpkins, and especially those avoiding application of chemicals to their produce and gardens. And gardeners and farmers are most certainly aware of their existence. There are many non-chemical ways to attempt to lessen the damage of these insects, including planting late (end of June), using row cover, wrapping the steps with aluminum foil, planting radish in the same hill, and using needles and small instruments to surgically remove the borers from the vine. Nothing works completely in my experience. The great thing about summer squash, including the ubiquitous zucchini, is that this plant is so prolific that one can harvest a great deal of squash before the bugs decimate the plant.
Summer squash is in season and check out the full list below of planned vendor selections at this Saturday’s Fayette County Farmers’ Market.
The Market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon and is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets in Washington C.H. SNAP EBT food benefit cards, Senior Farm Market coupons and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for produce receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) for additional fruits and vegetables. So,”buy one, get one” for fruit and vegetables, up to $20 EVERY market day.
The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up for the Saturday Market. Other vendors may participate as well.
Jones Farm Fresh Produce (Jon & Taylor Jones): zucchini, yellow squash, green onions, broccoli, garlic scapes, cucumbers, beets, pork chops, bulk salt and pepper and sage sausage, sausage patties, sweet Italian and jalapeño brats, maple links, ground pork, 1/4# and 1/3# hamburger patties, ground hamburger and brown eggs
Persinger Cottage Foods (David Persinger and Julie Mosny): The Jam Man will have jams, jellies, peach butter.
Wood Designed by DW (Debbie Welch): Wood crafts: decorative bird houses, wooden totes, patriotic & wooden Ohio signs, pigs, cows, chickens. Hand made crocheted dishtowels, clothes, potholders, pocket books and baby booties. Special orders welcome.
Your Other Mother’s Kitchen (Don & Sara Creamer): Artisan breads, whole wheat brownie tarts, and bran muffin tops.
By Thy Hand (Mark and Lori Chrisman): Angel food cakes, specialty breads, pies, cookies, dip mixes.
Chilcote Farm (Bruce & Marlene Chilcote): Hickory Nut cake, honey ,cookies, brownies sheet cake, apple pie.
Miller’s Donut Truck (Richard Miller): Warm, fresh sourdough donuts, coffee
Engedi (Beth Day, Alana Walters, Janet Bick): Assorted home baked goods (cinnamon rolls, bread, yeast rolls, cookies, pies, brownies, cobblers, whoopie pies, small specialty bread) and a special children’s activity.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Wide variety of plants – herbs (basil, sacred basil, lovage, horseradish, parsley, dill, salad burnette, clary sage, lemon grass); perennials (rhubarb, raspberry, echinacea, blanket flower, bee balm, marguerite kelways, milkweed); elderberry, pollinator favorites. Beeswax body care products. Gingersnaps. Lettuce, kale, rhubarb (final week), bok choy.
B.Y.E. Gardens (Brian and Elaine Yoder): Strawberry rhubarb pie, raisin pie, cherry pie, apple pie, peanut butter cookies, cinnamon rolls, sweet breads.
Katrina Bush is a vendor with the Fayette County Farmers’ Market.
