Save the Bees: Just Say NO

Pesticides Kill

Bees are important insects. They are essential to many of our food crops; they also pollinated wild food sources providing food for our native wildlife. Without the bees, wildflowers would be in decline along with other heirloom species; bees are needed to keep the planet colorful.

While most are familiar with the honeybee, there are 3,500 known species of native bees to North America. In recent years, all of the bee pollinator species have been declining in population for a variety of reasons.

The honeybee population has been decimated by a mystery disease dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD for short. Scientists and researchers are still seeking clues and a defense for the honeybees. The honeybees are also under attack from several species of mites which have also impacted on the number of hives.

Other bee pollinators could also be affected by CCD and more certainly mites. Researchers also point to other causes for the declines: lack of habitat, lack of food sources and pesticide use.

Cahrles Vorisek, the president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association has, unfortunately, seen it all has has lost upwards of sixty percent of his hives. Others have suffered equal losses and some have lost 100 percent.

Charlie told me he experienced some heavy losses in his hives which we in an area where pesticides were sprayed. He encourages people to be prudent with the sprays, if they even have to be used, and to never use pesticides when flowers are blooming.

Wildflowers are an important food source for all be pollinators; leave field and pasture edges alone, don't bother spraying.  Many wildflowers are considered weeds but think again; they have evolved with the bees in a mutually beneficial relationship for centuries. The relationship between the bees and the wildflowers benefits mankind-it is part of the process which results in the foods we consume. Without the wildflowers, bees are in trouble; without the bees the wildflowers are in trouble. Without either the bees or the wildflowers, mankind is in deep trouble.

Some of the wildflowers have fascinating histories; dandelions and the golden rod are two examples. Often considered nasty weeds, they are actually just the opposite. There are many flowers which attract and provide nourishment for the bees. Generally, the heirlooms have more nectar and pollen; hybrids not as much or none since they were bred to be showy. Bees have good color vision and are generally attracted to blues, purples, yellow and white flowers.

Generally honeybees are very gentle insects; other bees can be more or less aggressive.
Every year about 100 people die from bee stings; many more suffer severe reactions. But there are some common sense steps to take to prevent a bee sting. Here is a good article on how to prevent bee stings.


Blueberry Season

Blueberry season is in full swing in many regions. Blueberries are some of the healthiest berries known but be sure to get those grown organically. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) non-organic blueberries can contain harmful pesticides. Blueberries are listed as one of the Dirty Dozen vegetables which can be contaminated by harmful chemicals.

Organic foods are healthier.Purchase or pick the berries from reputable organic growers. In season, the prices are generally lower and blueberries can be easily froze, canned or dried for future use.

Late Tomato Blight

Late tomato blight is on the move. Be prepared, check your plants every day if possible and spray. There are several organic sprays which can be used. Once late blight appears, it will quickly kill the tomato and potato crops.

Late blight travels quickly and the spores can travel upwards of thirty miles a day with the wind. So far the summer in Northwestern Pennsylvania has been hot, perhaps hotter than normal; few blight cases have been reported. The blight thrives in cool wet weather.

Good Blogs to Read

On Your Way to the Top

Simply Snickers

New York's Southern Tier

Early Harvest

An Early Harvest Season

The July Fourth holiday weekend was busy, hot and sultry for many. For many farms, it was haying season with the dry and hot weather conditions. In northwestern Pennsylvania, it appears to be an excellent crop and the equipment was able to get on the dry fields without any problems.
The corn was much better than "knee high". In many fields it was already chest high.
Potatoes in many fields are also blooming earlier than usual thanks to some great growing weather.
The strawberry crop was also earlier than normal this year and the season for many is now over.
The blueberry crop appears to be earlier than normal this year.

The garlic scapes and even the garlic seems earlier than normal, at least in my neck of the woods. I have one garlic patch which is almost ready for harvest and that is about two weeks earlier than usual.

Who knows what it all means? At least it isn't as cool and rainy as last year, although the storms seem to be more intense this summer.

One the downside, late blight appears to be spreading. It has now been reported in several western Pennsylvania counties. While not harmful to humans, the late blight is a disaster for home gardens with potatoes and tomatoes. One it appears, it's over; the plants will die within a short time, usually less than a week. The late blight destroyed many gardens last year. The fungus travels quickly from garden to garden, county to county and state to state.

There are some actions which can be taken now. There are sprays and home remedies, all of which need to be done before the blight appears.

  
    

        
        
        
        
      

  
  

    
  

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Some Tomato Thoughts

Tomatoes were first discovered back around 1520 and the first tomato cookbook was written about 1690. So tomatoes, in one sense, have a long history in gardens and kitchens. Included in this article are some tips on growing them. In another sense, tomatoes are relatively new vegetables when compared to some others.

Sunchokes:

Sunchokes are an old vegetable grown by the native peoples of North America, perhaps even before the tomato was discovered. Some people call then Jerusalem artichokes.
Regardless, they are healthy, flavorful and easy to grow. They can be tall, towering upwards of ten feet (behind Mike in the photo) and make for a quick privacy hedge. Learn more about the suncokes in this article.

Good Blogs to Read

On Your Way to the Top
Simply Snickers
New York's Southern Tier
Urban Veggie Garden

Over the last several weeks, we have been attempting to work on the layout. Thanks for the patience; it will all come together and be easier to read and navigate.

Deadly Late Blight Emerges

Late tomato blight appears to be re-emerging again this growing season as mentioned in the last past. Some of the latest cases have been discovered in Connecticut. However, other previous cases have also been confirmed in other east coast states: Pennsylvania and Delaware.For the latest updates, check , here ;this is an excellent update with good information. It could be another bad year.

The blight, not harmful to humans is deadly to tomatoes and potatoes. Diseased plants need to be destroyed as soon as possible. Late blight can spread very quickly from neighborhood to neighborhood, state to state.

There are some commercial organic sprays which can be used but they must be applied by the fungal diseases arrives. Some claim that home made remedies can also be helpful such as manure tea and a baking soda spray. Mulch can be helpful for other tomato diseases but is not a cure for late blight. Staking tomatoes is also a good garden practice to help eliminate other tomato diseases, but will not thwart the late blight.

Currently, all tomato varieties can be infected; however, there have been claims that some varieties show more resistance than others. This could vary from region to region and one control measure is to keep posted with county agricultural and garden organizations.

All potatoes eventually succumb to the disease and seed potatoes from last year can harbor the fungus. It is hard but best to destroy saved seed potatoes; however, if the blight was present last year, chances are the seed potatoes are infected. Likewise, it is important to dig and destroy any volunteer potato seedlings sprouting in the garden from last year.

For more information: What to do when Tomato Blight Strikes.

                                     How to control tomato blight.

The Topsy Turvy Fad

Pictured is my topsy turvy tomato plant which seems to be growing quite well, at least as good as the same plants in the ground. It is a Roman Speckled Tomato variety which is an attractive tomato shaped similar to a large Roma.These hanging baskets are easy make at home for next to no cost. These plants were started on Earth Day, April 20th; most went in the ground around May 20th.

The late blight had better stay away!

I also started a topsy turvy jalapeno which is slower than the tomato but growing perhaps better than the plants in the ground. Read more on how to do this at home with little or no expense.
On the top of the tomato hanging basket, I planted basil which just germinated about a week ago. They can be seen growing already.

The Jalapeno Experiment 

On the top of the jalapeno basket I planted some dwarf dahlias, Unwins Mix. They were old seeds from several years ago. They were really nice plants but I didn’t use the entire seed pack and saved them. They were just planted a couple days ago so we’ll give them another week or so and see what happens.

Garlic Scape

The garlic scapes appeared this week. Scapes are odd, twisty seedheads which appear on hardneck varieties. Most growers clipped the scape in order to send energy to the growing bulb. It is believed the bulb grows larger. Scapes are delicious eating and can be used in just about anything. Theyare great chopped and added to hamburg just before grilling.

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The Big Garden

Yike. It is a lot of work but others are involved but somehow it seems I am the working it most. But that’s not a problem. It is an isolated spot away from a lot of noise and confusion.

This year we are trying watermelon. It might be a tad late; the seed package claims eighty days.That would be sometime in mid-September and usually a frost will hold off for another four weeks, maybe mid-October.
Now to stay ahead of the weeds with hoes....

Just a cool photo - at least I thought so

Working the big garden sometimes means not taking care of the other smaller garden and missing some of the magic.

Good Blogs to Read

On Your Way to the Top

Urban Veggie Garden

New York’s Southern Tier

Simply Snickers

Growing Season 2010

Growing Season 2010

Plants are part of the Christmas season just as much as the yule tree. Holly is one which comes to mind almost immediately, so does the Christmas cactus and the poinsettia.
Poinsettia plants have a lot of nostalgia but have a bad reputation as being poisonous; in reality though, that attribute is a big myth. Not even the family cat is going to croak after nibbling on a few leaves.
Mistletoe, however, is sort of an odd plant to use as a Christmas decoration. It is usually hung in doorways or from the ceiling. According to long held traditions, a person standing under it, can be freely kissed.
But the plant is a vampire of sorts, a parasite. It sucks the blood out of trees and shrubs. Granted it might be a good looking plant with pretty berries with an ancient history steeped in folklore, but it is a parasite.
Then there is the native Christmas Fern found in woodlands throughout much of northern North America. Perhaps, because they are not tropical or colorful, the Christmas Fern is often overlooked and forgotten today. Except for moss, the ferns are the only remaining green-ery in a woods in December and throughout the rest of winter.
Some ferns are still collected today and used for Christmas decorations; it was much more common, however in the early 1900's. So many plants were harvested from the woods back then that concerns were raised about over harvesting.
Today, the plants are readily available online, in many garden centers and nurseries. There are many landscaping possibilities around the home for the Christmas Fern because they are hardy (zones four through nine), evergreen and enjoy shady. moist areas. Additionally, for the most part, they are generally disease and pest free and are not eaten by deer or other wildlife.
Go native and plant a living Christmas decoration for the 2010 growing season.

A Plant with More Publicity for Growing 2010

The International Herb Association named Dill as the Herb of the Year for 2010. Dill is a nice garden plant and has more uses than just for pickles. It can be used in dips, salads, a seasoning for fish, lamb and breads.
Dill is attractive, somewhat ornamental and draws the attention of many beneficial insects. It is rather hardy, easy to direct sow and grow and is generally trouble free. Dill is a good choice for the 2010 growing season.
Dill attracts many good insects, like honeybees and other pollinators, to the garden. Dill can help the declining numbers of our pollinators which are in decline and necessary for food production. It is also a rich food source for the swallowtail caterpillar.
Dill is a good companion plant for onions and potatoes; however, it is not overly friendly with either carrots or tomatoes. There are smaller somewhat dwarf type plants which can be used in patio container gardens.
Next year (2011), the selected herb will be horseradish. Last year was bay laurel. Herbs, according to the Web site for the organization are chosen for their medicinal and culinary or decorative uses.



Looking for Ideas
See some of the ads for Christmas gifts at the end of this post for some ideas. Most are from local farms and organizations and there is no commissions or whatever. Just good items. The final ad is from Graden-Plantings. They contacted me about placing a link, since it is Christmas, I did. Thanks.


Tomatoes – 2010 Growing Season



Late Blight made for a troublesome year for tomatoes in the backyard. The fungal disease is fatal to both tomatoes and potatoes as way too many backyard gardeners discovered in rainy and cold 2009.
The good news is that late blight doesn't survive the winter; it needs living tissue to live. However, it can survive if the potatoes left in the ground were blighted or if infected plant material was added to the compost pile where it can stay warm.
If volunteer potatoes sprout during the 2010 spring weather get rid of them quickly. The late blight can spread rapidly from neighborhood to neighborhood.
Consider starting your own tomato plants this year or find a reputable grower in your area. Tomatoes are easy to start from seed as long as they have plenty of light and warm temperatures. Infected tomatoes from a large grower in 2009 were shipped north to many big box stores and were then purchased by many backyard growers. The infected plants and the cold and rainy weather in many areas created perfect conditions for the blight to spread rapidly.
If seeds were saved from 2009, they will not carry the blight. Your safe.
Some of the seed catalogs are already appearing in the mailbox. The five which have arrived so far did not contain any information regarding steps which can be taken to control not only the late blight, but also two other common blights which can diminish a tomato crop. There are actions that can be taken by home gardeners to control and manage next year's tomato garden. Those simple and inexpensive steps will be posted in the next several posts.
The 2010 growing season does not have to be a repeat.

Blogs:

Vincent di Fondi

On Your Way to the Top

New York's Southern Tier

Urban Veggie

Simply Snickers

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Gift Ideas

Gift baskets from farms in the northwestern Pennsylvania can be purchased. These unique gifts are filled with all locally produced and crafted items. For more information, hunterfarm@yahoo.com
Two local brand new cookbooks are also available. One, The Meadville Marketplace Cookbook, features local recipes with historical footnotes and photographs. The proceeds go to the old Market House.
The other was produced the Col Drake Chapter of the DAR and the proceeds go to a scholarship fund. The Heritage Cookbook is another great source for recipes and historical insights. Some of the recipes included in the 150 page book include pumpkin fudge and red pickles. There is also a recipe for homemade gingerale which I listed in another blog I write for GoErie in the GoCrawford section found here. For more information, email cchsresearch@zoominternet.net at the Crawford County Historical Society. They also have other unique gifts including a great calendar.
One more gift ad:
Garden Fountains



Pictured are the gift baskets available from Hunter Farm

November 4th Full Moon: Thoughts to Ponder

How to Deal with the Late Tomato Blight in November

Just about everyone can agree, the back yard vegetable gardens did not do so well this past season. The late blight came early and ruined many tomato and potato crops. Infected plants from a large grower were shipped to many states and sold in big box stores.
The weather was also a major factor in the widespread outbreak. Cool, rainy conditions persisted through much of the summer, perfect conditions for a backyard disaster. While weather conditions are far beyond our control, there are some steps that can be taken to prevent a repeat performance.
If the tomatoes were blighted do not place them in the compost pile. The compost pile might be warm enough that the spores will live. It is best to pull the dead plants and burn them or bag them and throw away in the garbage after the bags have sat in the sun for a dew days. The late blight will not survive a northern winter in the soil.
The problem is with potatoes. If the potatoes were blighted, double check to see that they were all dug. Any volunteer sprouts that appear in the spring should be immediately dug and destroyed.
Another hiding spot for the blight spores can be in some weeds in and near the garden. It is best to yank them, burn or dspose.
Carefully select where you will purchase tomato plants next year or grow your own. Many farms and nurseries sell tomato plants in the spring and it is better to buy locally.
There are other blights which can harm tomatoes besides the always fatal late blight. Some of these blights can survive the winter. Prevent those problems by rotating crops every year.
There have been some reports that there will be tomatoes available next year which were bred to be resistant to the late blight. But the time honored favorite varieties will should be okay if the proper steps are taken now. More information on what to do now can be found here from Penn State.

November Thoughts for the Plan

Herbs can play an important role in vegetable gardens and even in flowers gardens. Herbs can attract many beneficial insects and are useful in cooking. Winter is a time to plan for next spring and what herbs to include.
Many herbs can be grown in containers like sage, parsley, thyme, oregano and even rosemary. One herb which probably won't work very well in a container is lovage; it can almost reach six feet tall and three feet wide. With an herb plant that large one or two will be enough.

Lovage can be used as a substitute for celery; it has a taste almost identical; the leaves even look similar to celery leaves and the seeds very similar to celery seeds. Even the roots of this herb can be used, generally in soups and stews.
Lovage, a perennial is winter hardy and isn't bothered by insects, rabbits or deer. While doing a little research on the herb, I discovered that it was a very popular herb in another century and it was often used for a cordial drink.
Another worthwhile plant is salsify. It isn't really an herb but a root crop which has a really mild oyster like flavor. Sometimes it is also called the oyster plant. This vegetable needs about 120 days to mature, but it can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked. It's a good veggie for anyone who wants to get a jump start on the season as soon as the snows melt.
Salsify, like lovage, are plants which were grown generations ago. They have sort of fallen by the wayside. Yet both are flavorful, healthy and easy to grow.

Learn and Keep Updated on H1N1

Click the ad for updates, click here about swine and the virus discovered in Minnesota and what it means.


November Turkey

Turkey season in Pennsylvania opened on Halloween. The bird pictured had an 11 ¼ inch beard and was taken at 9:50 am Halloween morning. Turkey are plentiful in the woods this year and the populations seem to be increasing every year. The wild birds taste a lot better than most of the factory farmed birds sold in supermarkets. The stuffing can be made from herbs grown in the garden; sage, lovage and parsley are good to use and the flavor will be nothing like the store boughten mix.
Thanksgiving is the 26th this year.
Seems everyone likes to mention something about Ben Franklin. Here's one of Ben's thoughts. Franklin was so impressed with the turkey that he suggested we use it as a national symbol instead of the eagle. Thomas Jefferson told Ben to go fly a kite on that one.
Wild turkeys can run fast - up too 25 miles per hour. They can fly even faster reaching a top speed of 55 miles per hour.
Today, November 4th is the Full Moon, called the Beaver Moon since in the early days it was a good time to set traps in the swamps. Beaver pelts were important for warm winter clothing. Many animals are more active during the Full Moon phases, including deer. Buck rubs are becoming more common in the woods indicating hunting hot spots. To read more, click here. Be careful driving during the full moon phases, deer can run pretty fast across the roads unexpectedly and cause a lot of damage, possible injuries or worse.

Support Your Local Bookstore

Buy a book, click the ad and support your local bookstore. Maybe a good book on useful herbs in the backyard? Or a book on how to grow tomatoes? Or Vincent di Fondi's latest novel Blessed Abduction?
Shop Indie Bookstores
For the Heck of it:

November 10, 1951 -This is amazing. On this day, the first coast to coast direct dialing system was available.
became available.
November 10, 1975 - The Edmund Fitzgerald sank.

November 11 is Veterans Day, an important and solemn day.

November 13 – Not so solemn and important but a fun day for some, Sadie Hawkins Day.

November 22 – John Kennedy, the youngest person ever elected US president was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963.

Blogs Worth the Read

Vincent di Fondi

On Your Way to the Top

New York's Southern Tier

Urban Veggie Garden

Simply Snickers

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HubPages

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HubPages

Save Money: the Autumn Clean -Up

Garden Clean-Up

Spring clean-ups get a lot of attention. Autumn clean-ups sometimes fall by the wayside. Healthy and money saving vegetable gardens are often pushed to the bottom of the “to do things” as winter begins to knock on the back door. But September and October are the perfect season for garden cleanliness to begin to take care of some of the problems of growing 2009.

Garden cleanliness is a key to an improved 2010 vegetable harvest. Three of the most common tomato blights, the nightmares of 2009, can overwinter. Vegetable blights, along with slugs and snails had a great year, with the abundant moisture and cool temperatures. Fall is pay back time for these fellas.

The three most common blights are Early Blight, Septoria Blight and the Late Blight. All three are caused by different fungi and all three can winter over and create problems next year. For information on how to identify a particular blight, click, here.

The fungus spores can live on in the winter in weeds and old tomato vines. Fatal late blight, a disease which infects both tomatoes and potatoes, normally need live plant material to live. It can winter over in potatoes missed when digging the harvest.

Burn all dead or dying tomato vines and rotten fruit or bag it in plastic, let it cook in the sun for several days and throw in the trash. Re-check the potato patch. To be on the safe side, burn or properly get rid of all vegetable plants that appear to be infected. Remember not to compost any of this material.

The blight fungus spores can also live in the weeds. Clear them out as well. Slugs and snails like to hide under boards, pots and other garden junk. Clean it -up, take away the hiding spots. Overturning the soil exposes their eggs to birds and to harsh weather conditions.


Winter cover crops can be planted. They help the soil, protect good soil microbes and suppress weeds. Mustard greens are one often unnoticed choice for fall planting. Other options, depending on the first frost dates, are: oats, buckwheat, winter rye or wheat.

Plan to rotate crops next year. Nightshade plants such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants should be located in another garden area.

Compost makes for healthy soil and healthy soil makes for healthier plants. The autumn months are a good time to renew composting efforts. Yard cleanliness, like raking leaves and the grass clippings from the last mowing are gold for the compost pile along with kitchen scraps. By next spring the compost should be mature enough to use as a soil additive or as mulch.

Mulch is important to help prevent water splashing up on the plants which could splash blight disease spores on the plants. Besides, a good mulch cover helps to control the weeds and will help retain soil moisture

An autumn afternoon clean-up in the garden can solve future blight problems, gets ride of some snails and slugs and can improve the soil. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” applies to the vegetable garden as well as us and hospitals, restaurants and restrooms and the like, and don't forget, the environment. Save money with a fall clean-up.

Buy a Book

Books make good gifts and winter reading. Buy from your local independent book store. Click on the ad below. How about a book on good organic gardening practices? Or books published by Sam Hossler or contributor Vincent di Fondi?



Other Fall Stuff

Fall is a great time for projects. Acorns are plentiful. Start your own oak tree; your oak tree can last hundreds of years. Pine cones are dropping and luckily the squirrels are doing a lot of work stacking the cones on the ground in piles called a cache. It's easy pickings.



The pine cones can be used for fire starters for the wood stove or fireplace, bird feeders, and winter decorations.

While the leaves get all the attention, the many wildflowers are putting on the best free garden show in town.

H1N1

Flu season is just about here, Get informed by clicking the ad below for the latest updates and information.


Crawford County Grange

September 18-19 Grange food booth at the Crawford Fairgrounds during the annual Horse Sale.
Scholarship application for college students available, deadline November 1st.
Hayfield chicken-b-que October 4th at noon, take outs available. Great food.

For the Heck of It:

Goldenrods, now blooming with purple asters are good food and some of the last meals for the insects. Goldenrods, at one time, were considered a source of domestic rubber production. Read more, here.

A strain of the fungus, Phytophthora infestans, responsible for the Great Irish Tomato Famine in the mid- 1800's is the late blight fungus causing headaches this season.

The late blight virus is not harmful to human health, nor are the others harmful.


Other Blogs:

Vincent di Fondi

On Your Way to the Top

New York's Southern Tier

Urban Veggie

Simply Snickers

more »
HubPages

Ripe Tomatoes: Late Blight - Stay Away

Harvest Season: Buy Local

I ate the first ripe tomatoes yesterday. In the excitement, I forgot to take a photograph So my friend Mike on the guitar was chosen for this post. (Besides, forty years ago today was the last day of the Woodstock Festival). There are some things to sing about, some songs could be –well, the blues. Late blight, a disease which kills tomatoes and potatoes, is rearing it's ugly head.

It is a late harvest because of the rain and cool conditions over much of the summer; many garden crops are stunted or have failed. However, the roadside stands appear to have plenty of produce available. Corn, tomatoes cucumbers, melons and peppers, even late strawberries are just now starting to be picked.

Support your local growers and shop at the farmers markets and roadside stands. They are local family, friends, and neighbors. Buy local. It is better for the environment, better for the local community and the produce is better for you.

So far so good with the late blight in my garden, although some things didn't do so well, like the spring peas. The pole beans are late but I am going to get a harvest. However, while the tomatoes look okay, that could change overnight, no sense singing too much just yet..

The first ripe tomatoes I picked were a variety called Speckled Roman. I was introduced to this variety by a grower several years ago and have been saving my own seeds ever since. They are an orange-red color with yellow streaks and look like a giant Roma tomato about five inches long.

They are indeterminate, a variety which will keep on producing until the first frost. A paste tomato, they make a great sauce and are great for fresh eating or for drying. Speckled Roman is a tomato which was developed by crossing an Antique Roman with a variety called Banana Legs by a plant breeder, Jim Swenson. If the blight stays away, I'll have hundreds of them; the plants are loaded with green tomatoes. Otherwise, I'll be singing the blues.

The Late Blight:Buy Local Seedlings

While weather conditions were perfect for a severe outbreak of this deadly disease, diseased plants, according to an editorial in the New York Times, from Bonnie Plants in Alabama shipped infected plants to many northeast and mid west retail garden centers. The infected plants were not discovered and recalled until June 26th. The damage was done and many unsuspecting home gardeners purchased the infected plants.

Consumer Note: It is better to start your own plants or purchase them from a reputable grower. Plants grown and shipped from 2,000 miles away have problems just like the food shipped from 2,000 miles away. It is better to buy local once again. Your chances of purchasing diseased plants are much less. Both heirlooms and hybrids can fall to the late blight. The late blight spores don't care.

Employment Fresh from the Vines is looking to hire someone at their bakery located on the farm; 20 to 40 hours, experieince helpful but commitment is more important. Contact rebecca@freshfromthevines.com

A New Introduction:

The link posted below is for books being sold at local, independent book stores in your area. Once again, purchasing from local bookstores is better for the environment and keep profits and money in the local community. I checked this site out and it is user friendly. Just enter your zip code in the menu box and you'll get a list of book stores in your area.

I found Vincent di Fondi's book, Blessed Abduction, listed as well as local northwestern Pennsylvania author, Sam Hossler, from the Canadohta Lake area. Sam's three novels, A Bloodstained Land, The Summer of 1763, and The Great Land Grab, are all based on actual historical records about events that happened in western Pennsylvania. To learn more about Sam, www.samhossler.com
Buy from your local book store through this site. It is easy and convenient.

Yes, I do get a small commission from books purchased through Koyote Hill. It is a tough recession and not a perfect world. Purchase a book and get ready for Christmas a little early.
Click the Indie Ad below:




For the Heck of It:

As of today, there are 36 days left until the first day of autumn.
Lettuce can be planted just before the really cold weather sets in this fall for an early spring crop. Plant the seeds and cover with a good layer of much. Once the weather warms in the spring remove the mulch and enjoy an early crop.
No, the buckwheat planted Friday has not germinated just yet and I am catching birds eating the seeds.
Just singin in the rain....thanks

Blogs

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available through the link above under Introduction. Or check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

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