So far we are having a beautiful Fall here.
The past couple of years we’ve had no apple crop to speak of at the farm; but this year it’s bountiful!
I picked a couple of buckets of these(Granny Smith?).
One bucket from Uncle John…
And finally, a few of our Red Delicious from the garden.
Between all the harvesting, canning, freezing, and eating--the apples and I have been having quite the bonding session.
…I mean what used to be the “North Mushroom Farm”. My Grandpa North was raised a farmer, my Grandma North a farmer’s daughter.
Somewhere down the line he became a mushroom farmer and did that in more than one location; but this is the one I grew up across the road from.
All of the land comes to around 40 acres or so. They used the field to grow alfalfa, and made some of that into compost to grow mushrooms in.
If I remember correctly, making compost was not an easy or pleasant job for the men. He’s even wearing goggles…
Note: Any relatives who might be reading feel free to add to or correct anything I’m saying.
They grew them in long,dimly lit buildings (called “mushroom houses) in large,wooden trays filled with compost. The trays were stacked in rows covering most of the length of the building.
The temperature of the buildings had to be right. The atmosphere was permeated with warmth, and moisture, and the unique, earthy smell(not a bad smell, mind you) of the compost.
Uncle John and Grandpa Roy
My grandpa died in ‘99; and they shut down the farm the same year. But all of the buildings they built to live and work in are still there.
Our field
Where my grandma Marion and Uncle Dan live
Uncle John and Aunt Cindy’s
Most of the apple orchard is behind these buildings in my Uncle Dave’s courtyard.
Glimpse of the orchard
So there you have it, a brief historical tour of our farm! :)
Pronounced sink-foil, these are actually in the rose family. They have 5 petals. This one is slightly closed.
So pretty…
You can call this one Sleepingplant or Partridge Pea. This is a native plant. There are many in bloom right now. How nice for us! :)
I did not realize, until today, that if you stroke their leaves they fold up like a sensitive fern! So cool.
Petting these may become a habit of mine. :)
I really like how they look like giant dandelion puffs. :)
It grows in all states except Hawaii, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina.
The name for this plant comes from a town (Deptford) in the south of England, which apparently had a lot of them. :)
Just little-bitty things…
If you get a close look at one, look for twisting pistils in the center.
This is the biggest tomato I have ever gathered from our garden. We have one or more other colors of tomatoes coming/arriving too. :)
It’s almost time to make salsa…
