Small orchardists truly amaze me, and even more so folk who manage their fruit trees organically. I’ve planted a few fruit trees over many years, most of which have not done very well. The exception was a gorgeous freestone peach that provided a bumper crop every other year….until it didn’t, succumbing to disease.
In 2015, I put in a 14 tree orchard (apples, pears, peach, plums, apricot, and cherry) after researching root stock and different varieties and what was needed for cross pollination, etc. Over the next years, I tried to follow the rules of pruning and shaping, and wished many times that I’d grown up walking around with someone who knew what they were doing, and who had taught me through practice. Reading a book just doesn’t do it (at least not for me), and each tree type has different pruning requirements.
Then the spraying. There is a different spray and spray schedule for a host of insect pests and fungus and diseases. Each spray has different timing and precautions, and to be effective you have to know what is ailing your plant. (Our extension offices are great sources of information and provide help on these topics.) The sprays have to be timed to cause the least damage to pollinators. But any insecticide does some damage as well as addressing a problem. Given my own principles, I’ve adopted the holistic orchard spray regimen as well as planting lots of clover and comfrey around the trees, as well as daffodils for the defense of rodents. But will I have fruit fit to eat?
I repeat….I have great admiration for orchardists who apply organic principles. It is not easy. Many people expect “perfect” looking fruits (and vegetables) and are put off by blemishes, and even more so by worms in the fruit. But there is a movement to support and promote less than perfect, or even ugly, produce. Part of this is about being less wasteful – so much food is thrown away because of blemishes – and part is about increasing awareness of what fruit and vegetables look like, grown in real gardens and fields and with little or no chemical interventions. Something to think about!
The market will have lots to enjoy, including beautiful produce (although, perhaps no fruit). Our special kids activity will be face painting and paper hats. Thanks to funding from Fayette County Travel & Tourism Bureau, Dave Huffman and the Bluegrass Ramblers will be performing 9:30 to 11 a.m., and WCHC-TV will be doing a live remote 9 to 10 a.m.
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 and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for food purchases receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) good only for fruits, vegetables, and food producing plants. So,”buy one, get one” for up to $25 EVERY market day. Five dollar coupons will be available again for FAYETTE COUNTY Farm Bureau members at each Saturday market; these can be spent at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets.
The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up this Saturday. Other vendors may participate as well.
Engeti (Alana Walters): Baked goods including bread, cinnamon rolls, rolls, cakes, pies, cookies.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Garlic. Plants— tomato, ornamental and native pollinator attracting including yarrow, Marguerite Kelways, hyssop, echinacea, astilbe, clary sage and coral bells. Native shrubs/trees: pagoda dogwood, river birch, sweet shrub & walnut. Sourdough crackers.
Jim’s Premium Ground Beef (Jim Hobbs): Premium ground beef in assorted packages (patties, bulk tubes).
Julie G’s Cookies (Julie Greenslade): Chocolate chip, sugar, snickerdoodle, ginger, peanut butter, oatmeal toffee bars, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter jumbos, peanut butter fudge, funfetti, chocolate peanut butter bars, salted caramel bars, and pineapple cookies.
KK’s Grubb Hubb (Kay Terry): Serving breakfast!
Lorre Black Umbrellas, LLC (Lorre Black): Umbrellas to match your personality, your friends’ and family’s personalities, too.
Persinger Produce and Cottage Foods, The Jam Man (David Persinger): Assorted jams/jellies and chocolate Texas sheet cakes.
PPCF & S. Plymouth Raw Honey) (Julie & Dennis Mosny): Local raw honey, assorted pies, cinni mini’s, buns bars and cinnamon rolls. Also, flowering daylilies!
Rural Beans Roastery LLC (Kameron Rinehart): Assorted freshly roasted coffee — beans and ground.
Wood Designs by DW (Debbie Welch): One of a handcrafted wood items— birdhouses, signs, tables, gnomes. Crocheted items including kitchen towels, pot scrubs, pot holders, baby booties, and afghans. Will take custom and special orders.
Your Other Mother’s Kitchen (Don & Sara Creamer): Artisan breads, and other baked goods. Crafts.
Barbara’s Embellished Stretchy Bookmarks (Barbara Black): Bookmarks in dozens of different handmade designs dealing with sports, nature, hobbies, OSU, beach, and more.
Biers Run Mudd (Rachel Shepard & Eric Harris): Wheel thrown stoneware: mugs, bowls, pitchers and more.
Bridge View Garden (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer): Red beets, lettuce, spring onions. Herb plants. Blooming perennials. Homemade bread, butter rolls.
Cheryl’s Country Crafts (Cheryl Braun & David Stewart): Crafts (wood) and homemade soaps.
Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Cozy Baby Blessings: Baby Essentials including crochet blankets and hats, flannel receiving blankets and burp cloths. Also beaded pens, crochet dish cloths and pot scrubbers and wax melts (50+ scents).
DSC Produce Farm (Darren Cox): Salsas, dressings. Sampling new bacon salsa. Purple spring onions —$3/bundle.
