If you have read my boss's corner the last few months, you probably know I mentioned two articles I have written were soon to be published.  One article was on growing sweet potatoes in Michigan and was purchased by Grit Magazine and the other article was on an interesting electronic project I came up with and is titled "Electromagnetic Aluminum Levitator" and was scheduled to appear in Make Magazine.  While I first figured the sweet potato article was to be in Grit's September/October 2010 issue, it was re-scheduled for the November/December 2010 issue.  Well, on Friday I received my author's copies of the Grit with my article in it AND ALSO received issue 24 of Make Magazine with my aluminum levitator project!  This reminds me a bit of the time I was expecting visits by three different people in a week and they all wound up driving up the driveway at the same time!

Make magazine has selected my article for on-line viewing.  All you need do to see it is click http://make-digital.com/make/vol24?pg=103#pg103 . If you are interested in making just about anything, from a remote controlled lawn mower, laser mosquito destroyer, computerized garden controller, home perfumes, worm bin, an automatic chicken coop or much, solar water heater, much more then you should subscribe to Make! For more info click:https://readerservices.makezine.com/MK/subscribe.aspx?PC=MK&PK=M9HPR1

My sweet potato article is in Grit Magazine.  While Grit can be picked up at Tractor Supply, Family Farm and Home and similar stores, keep in mind my article is in the November/December 2010 issue, which isn't out at stores yet.  Also keep in mind my article starts on page 58 and is titled "Taking the Mystery Out of Growing Sweet Potatoes."  The issue has another sweet potato article in it.

I highly recommend Grit magazine for anybody who is interested in rural America, farmer's markets or farm roadside markets.  You don't have to live out in the country to find it fascinating reading!  To find out how to subscribe to Grit click https://www.grit.com/subscribe/subscribe.aspx?promocode=EGRDNAZE

As you also may know, I write workshop columns for both Boys' Quest and Fun For Kidz magazines and I sometimes have an article in Hopscotch magazine.  Subscriptions to any or all of these magazines make wonderful gifts for those wonderful children in your life.  To subscribe click: http://funforkidzmagazines.com/subscribe/

This year we made a rather large planting of turnips and we are starting to harvest both the greens and the roots.  This year we have grown White Lady and Just Right turnips, which are both hybrid all-white turnips and are unbelievably sweet and tender at almost any size.  From past experience we found these are of such high quality that if you grate them they make an excellent cole slaw.  They also are famous for the quality of their greens,  Their only problem is that the cost of their seed is high since they are hybrids.  The other variety we grew is the Purple Top White Globe turnip which is of good quality when young but their roots becomes woody when they get really big.  Purple Top White Globe turnip tops are of a good quality, however, all fall long.  Because its seed cost is low, this variety makes a good fall/winter cover crop.  Right now we only plan on selling hybrid turnip roots this fall.   

While our supply of giant pumpkins has dwindled down, we still have several out in our Magicland Farms pumpkin patch sales area and there are three in the market.  The 251 pounder is $50 OBO, the 318 pounder is $75 OBO and our biggest, 408.8 lbs is $100 firm.  Right now we plan on saving the seed of the 408 pounder which is why we aren't willing to dicker about the price of our biggest pumpkin.  Since anyone interested in the giant pumpkins will likely need help loading, it is best to contact us before wanting to actually purchase the pumpkin so we can arrange for our crew to be there to help load it.

It looks like next weekend will again be beautiful.  As many of you know we aren't down at the market on Sunday HOWEVER we aren't really closed either.  We do keep the market door closed on Sunday but everything left outside, including everything in the pumpkin patch, is labeled and can be purchased.  A checkbook and/or change is recommended if you stop by on Sunday.  There are two slots in the market where you can place your money.

In addition to turnips, pumpkins and other fall decorations, we still have a good supply of potatoes, a great supply of squash of all types, sweet potatoes, a few tomatoes from our low tunnels, sugar snap peas, radishes, parsnips, beets (with and without tops), cabbage, some broccoli and, believe it or not-tender green beans!  Our experiment this year to plant a very late crop of beans and then protect it from frosty nights using a sprinkler has worked well for us.