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Greetings!
 | | Cinderella |
Passing seasons become passing years and for me, events are remembered in relation to the children in my life. There was "pre-parenthood", then the age my daughter was when the event took place, then post live-in daughter and now, our granddaughter's age. It's hard to believe this is the third year I've included a Halloween picture of Raquel in our newsletter.
This is the first year she has chosen her own costume and it's fun to see that our rock collecting, daredevil tricycle rider chose to be Cinderella. She's familiar with the story and she likes that the pumpkin turns into a carriage and mice become horses. She's into the slippers too. Thankfully, no mention of Prince Charming at the moment.
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Join me for the 25th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference
DECEMBER 3 - 5, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
I am often asked about good educational resources for beginning and growing small farmers - THIS IS IT! The CFSA's annual conference sessions have been a great resource for Windcrest Farm over the last few years and I am proud they have asked me to be part of the event this year.
Greenhouse Production of Transplants by Mary Roberts, Windcrest Farm
Learn about the optimal conditions for growing seedlings from the early stages of plant growth up to transplanting stage. Topics include the desirable characteristics of propagation media, common container formats, sowing seeds, managing irrigation, when and how to deliver supplemental fertilization, how to manage pests and pathogens, and getting transplants ready for the field.
[more information about the conference...]
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Windrest Farm Flowers
We were proud to have our certified organic flowers grace the Shade of Green Events table at this week's Charlotte Green Team vendor fair. Rebecca Stoddard, owner of Shade of Green Events provides event planning that combines eco-friendliness and sustainability with style and creativity, making events memorable for clients and gentle on the earth. We hope you will consider Rebecca's services for your corporate events, social milestones and weddings.
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Daddy Long Legs
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Opiliones Harvestmen
Photo by: Arad |
Now that the temperature has finally cooled, outside wildlife is moving into the warmer temps of the greenhouses and hoop houses. Most of our seasonal immigrants are harmless and/or beneficial so we don't mind sharing our space with them. For instance, the Daddy Long Legs or Harvestmen is in abundance everywhere right now. Here's some interesting facts about this often misunderstood creature:
- They are not spiders, but are still in the arachnid family and are closely related to mites.
- There are over 6400 species worldwide.
- They have 8 legs and the second pair of legs doubles as antennae. It's generally thought that the length of harvestmen legs, combined with the fact that they easily detach from the body, serves as a means of protection from predators. In attempting to capture the harvestmen, an enemy is almost sure to seize a leg instead of the juicy middle. If a leg becomes detached, it may continue to twitch independently as if alive, further confusing a predator.
- They can eat chunks of food and are not restricted to liquids like other arachnids.
- They are generally carnivorous, feeding on live invertebrate prey. Some species prefer to dine on dead animals.
- They do not have a sucking stomach, but have a feeding mechanism in front of their mouth and will ingest bits of food.
- They have a single pair of eyes in the middle of their head, but because they can't form images, they use their second pair of legs as antennae to help "see the sights" around them.
- In the northern part of the United States, most harvestmen die in the fall after eggs are laid, but, in southern states, they hide under organic matter through the winter. Using an ovipositor that can be extended to a great length, their eggs are laid in the ground, under stones, or in crevices of wood.The females will lay eggs shortly after mating or may lay them months after mating, and the eggs can hatch anywhere from 20 days up to 6 months. In some species, the male is responsible for guarding the eggs.
- Some species glue debris onto their bodies or play dead to detour predators-they will also detach their legs, which will keep twitching to mystify their predators, while they escape.
- They are not venomous!A common myth is that they are the most poisonous spiders that don't have mouth parts big enough to bit humans. Not true - none of the know species have venom glands or fangs.
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We hope to see you at market this week!
Sincerly,
Mary Roberts
Windcrest Farm |
To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given the chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life.
- Bette Davis |
| Windcrest Farm
Monroe, North Carolina 28112
704.764.7746
All photos taken at Windcrest Farm unless otherwise noted. |
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