November 7, 2021
It’s a sunny day, but chilly - bright for November, which is a hard month to love, especially with the return to standard time, which brings the afternoons to a smashing halt way too early.
Most of the trees have shed their leaves, leaving the oaks to stand alone in the landscape - their spreading crowns the only color but for the evergreens. The pears in the orchard, too, keep their leaves for a while and provide some color, and the witch hazels in the woods give me a grin when I see their blooms - blossoming in autumn in opposition to all the other trees and shrubs.
The winter birds - juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, and tufted titmouses are back and scrambling for the last seeds of the sunflowers and cosmos. Woodpeckers are drilling away everywhere - pecking into the trees, the house, the woodshed and other outbuildings, and even Tiny Farmstand. Oh well, it’s what they do…
We’ve been busy in the kitchen, cooking every day and heating the house by making preserves. Ralph’s working in there as I write, putting up Chili Pepper Mustard - between the chili pepper vinegar and the cayenne flakes, it’s hot in there!
This newsletter will be short, with important information as we head into the winter holidays.
Tiny Farmstand has a tiny heater, and we’ll try to stay open until the end of the year, weather permitting - and opening again in March. Starting today hours will change to 9-5 every day (we’ll stay open until 6 on Fridays and Saturdays for the pie and Mooncakes lovers) - but if you need to come by after hours, just send an email and you can shop or pick up an order. We have exterior lighting and 2 signs that indicate when we’re open or closed.
Mail Order has already begun in earnest. It’s a good idea to order early since the Postmaster General has promised longer delivery times and increased rates. That said, 12 jars can go almost anywhere in the country for $16.25 - west coast for about $22.00. Up to 9 jars can go in New England and the Northeast for around $10.00. Last year deliveries were crazy and unpredictable. We can promise that we put up orders by the next day (or 2), and we’ll provide you with email notification from the USPS so you can easily find out where your package is. Everything is insured so don’t be shy about letting me know if something doesn’t arrive!
Our stock is good right now, with a few caveats.
Black Currants, the beloved berry of the north, was severely impacted by last year’s drought and we have only a few jars (3 dozen+). My British, European, and Canadian friends and All who love this iconic berry, please order soon!
Elderberry Syrup is flying out of here and we only have about 5 cases left, and just a half gallon of berries remaining in the freezer. It doesn’t look like we’ll have enough for the whole winter - probably enough for the holiday season - I hope.
Strawberries - by careful and timely watering we had a great year and a great yield (especially since we were only picking from about 300’ of beds), but it’s the star centerpiece of Ralph’s delicious “Dark Chocolate Moon Cakes filled with strawberries and whipped cream” AND a popular PattiPop - so we’re running low on the berries to make the preserve many call their favorite.
Blueberries - like the Black Currants, were hurt by the drought of 2020. We’ll have just enough for the holiday season, then we’re saving the rest for Triple Berry Pie and Triple Berry Preserve.
Raspberries were saved by our late-season Carolines (thank goodness!), and Red Currants, Blackberries, and Peaches had terrific yields. The Damson Plum trees are in tough shape - the damage wrought by porcupines about 9 years ago rendered them unable to fight off Black Knot - but somehow they still persist and make a small crop every year, and we’re grateful for each and every plum! The annual crops of tomatoes and peppers yielded a fine harvest, so we’ll have plenty of Tomatoes Rustica and Mad Hatter’s Pepper Preserve.
We had a smashing garlic year and plenty of herbs, so we’re in good shape mustard-wise. Ralph prepared the bed and Lara and Elisha planted the garlic last week, so the first planting of the 2022 season is in the ground!
Speaking of stock, our supplier of jars and bottles is completely out of stock until who knows when! So if you’re local and can get empty jars back to us, we’d really appreciate it!
The gift of gray November is that it’s the season to go inward and reflect - the season of gratitude. We’re grateful for every berry, herb, flower, and vegetable the earth provides. We're grateful to live in a beautiful place, where so many of our friends and neighbors raise the food we love to eat. We’re grateful for Lisha and Lara who do so much to help us in the gardens and kitchen. And we’re especially grateful to YOU - the folks who support us so we can do the work we love.
Abbey the Joyful loves life and our walks around the gardens and into the woods. Our circles are getting smaller with time and age, and that suits us all. Her days are spent sleeping under the old cherry tree where she can keep an eye on the gardens - unless the girls are here when she follows them everywhere.
Sending the Powers of Love and Light,
Patti & Ralph & Abbey
Tiny Farmstand - like the TARDIS, is bigger on the inside.
