Cahaba Tractor Co.
banner with blue jeans
Issue 56                      
October 2015
 

 

Now that fall is finally here, we can actually look forward to going outside and getting things done! And, we've got some great deals at Cahaba Tractor to help you get ready for the cooler weather season. This month, take advantage of our special price on the Kubota BX25 Tractor Loader Backhoe. See details below.

Thinking about expanding your vegetable garden? How about the front yard? Take a look at this month's Chewin' the Cud article, Front Yard Farming: A Garden of Eatin' for more info on this hot, new trend. 

The October Gardening Guide has some great tips for fall planting and garden maintenance.

Check out the October Activities and Events for activities going on around the state this month.
  

Get This Hot Deal for Fall!
 

Special Price on the Kubota BX25 Tractor Loader Backhoe
Only $18,338 + tax with 0% financing
AND
Get a 4' Land Pride Box Blade FREE!
(See dealer for details) 


  Used Products and Specials  

There's even more great deals on cahabatractor.com.
Get 'em before they're gone!


Fall's a great time to check out our Used Products!
Kubota RTV1100  $12,900
Diesel, Cab with A/C and Heat, Chrome Wheels,
93 hours


Grab these Specials before they're gone!
Kubota Z122RKW-42 Zero Turn Mower   Only $3,899
3 year warranty and 48 months
at 0% financing

Shop now for the best selection on
 Used and Special-priced equipment! 
Chewin' the Cud: The Cahaba Tractor Corner
close up cow   
       Front Yard Farming:
              A Garden of Eatin'
                 

Foodscaping. Edible landscaping. Front yard farming. Whatever term you choose to use, it is growing-literally. As a matter of fact, it is the hottest gardening trend for 2015. Due to the increasing widespread popularity of foodscaping, some say it has become more of a movement than a trend. This hybrid between farming and landscaping uses major lawn areas on private or public property to grow food. In other words, out with the box hedges and in with the blueberry bushes.



Why the sudden turn back to nature? Experts say when the nation experienced the big economic downturn in 2008 and food prices skyrocketed, many green thumb enthusiasts responded by planting their own gardens to help curb costs. Add that to the realization that the food we buy in the store typically travels 1,500-2,000 miles before it reaches our plate, it's pretty much a no brainer. Not only that, but developing an edible landscape cuts back on mowing and weeding time. It also assists in preserving native species.

How is this different from planting a backyard vegetable garden? Foodscaping is a more extensive way of implementing edible foods into the landscape. When we plant a garden, we scope out the right location, select the plants, fertilize the soil and then begin planting. Since creating an edible landscape beautifies our lawns as well as our plates, it's important to work in the right plants so they don't conflict with the landscaping. You might call it "aesthetic agriculture," because no one wants an unsightly mess in the front of their home.



What plants are better suited for your foodscape? There are many vegetables and herbs that can be grown along with traditional edible plants. Strawberries, sweet peppers and lettuce look great paired with basil, fennel, lemon balm and oregano. Dwarf fruit trees are a great addition, too. You can even incorporate portable gardening into your edible landscape, especially for plants that are hard to manage and do not tolerate cold.



The goal is to place the right plant in the best location for maximum growth. Take into consideration that vegetables need about six or more hours of sun each day while some perennials tolerate more shade. Also, think about protection from extreme heat or cold for sensitive plants. Just as you would make a plan for your typical landscape or garden, take the time to make a plan for your edible landscape.

Proper soil conditions play a key role in developing an edible landscape. Taking advantage of natural flows of water within the landscape can provide you with a beautiful edible landscape that requires little effort and saves you money.

With a little planning and some creative ingenuity, you can not only have a beautifully landscaped lawn, but you can eat it, too.

To help develop your landscape, check out the Kubota BX25 Tractor Loader Backhoe at Cahaba Tractor. It's great for home or farm use.
   
 
Fall is a good time for a regular maintenance checkup on your equipment: oil, air and fuel filters, spark plugs, coolant and battery are just some things that should be checked, cleaned or replaced to keep your equipment running strong for years to come.

This month is also a good time to get a head start on preparing to clean and store your equipment for winter. If you have any questions or need replacement parts, call or come see our Parts Department specialists. We keep a large inventory of stock on hand. Our Service Department also offers full service tune up and maintenance on all models.  

Sincerely,
Cahaba Tractor Co.
2411 Hwy. 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 663-1470 


Cahaba Tractor location
Why settle for less when you can have the best?



Here's Happy Pig
Mud
In
Your
Eye
       Who's the Boss?
A retiring farmer, in preparation for selling his land, needed to get rid of his farm of animals. So he went to every house in his town.

To the houses where the man is the boss, he gave a horse. To the houses where the woman is the boss, a chicken was given.

He got toward the end of the street and saw a couple outside gardening. "Who's the boss around here?" he asked.

"I am." said the man.

"I have a black horse and a brown horse," the farmer said, "which one would you like?"

The man thought for a minute and said, "The black one."

"No, no, no, get the brown one." the man's wife said.

"Here's your chicken." said the farmer.

--Anonymous

 
Planting
October
Gardening Guide 

Fruits and Nuts:

Strawberry planting season begins in South Alabama. Clear out debris in orchard.  

Vegetable Seed:

Plant turnip, mustard, kale, rape, spinach and onion sets. Follow the AL Vegetable Garden Planting Chart for planting dates.

Vegetable Plants:
Harvest mature, green tomatoes, pumpkins and winter squash before first frost. Store in a cool, dark location.

Annuals and Perennials:
Look for mums in garden centers. After first killing frost, clean up debris immediately.

Bulbs: 
Dig caladiums; clean and store in warm, dry place. Plant tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses, Dutch irises, anemones and ranunculuses. Plant bulbs 3x as deep as the bulb height with point end up.

Roses:
Continue insect and disease control.
   
Shrubs:

Begin planting shrubs. Water and mulch as needed.  

 

Lawns:

Continue mowing until no new growth is noticeable. 

 

Miscellaneous: 

*Loosen and replenish packed mulch around shrubs and rose beds.  

 

*Spray shrubs and rose bushes with oils to kill scales and mites before freezing weather.

 

*Remove dead stems and trash from flower beds.

 

*Transplant any cuttings acquired in small pots for winter.   

 

The gardening guide is based upon the USDA hardiness zones for Alabama.

The state zones are: 

North Alabama - 7a
Birmingham area - 7b
South Alabama - 8a
Mobile area - 8b
 
For more gardening info, visit:
October
 Activities and Events
  
Antiques at the Gardens Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Oct. 1-4

Scarecrows in the Park
Lake Frank Jackson
Opp
Oct. 1 thru Nov. 30

Alabama Coastal Birdfest
Spanish Fort
Oct. 1-3

TN Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Athens
Oct. 2-3

Alabama Butterbean Festival
Pinson
Oct. 2-3

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop
Columbiana
Oct. 2-4

Bayfest Music Festival
Mobile
Oct. 2-4

2nd Annual Cowboy Up for Cancer Rodeo
Odenville
Oct. 3

Bluff Park Art Show
Hoover
Oct. 3

Oak Mountain State Park Fall Festival
Pelham
Oct. 3

Grand Fest of Art By The Bay
Fairhope
Oct. 3, 10am-5pm

Alabama Gun Collectors Association Fall Show
BJCC
Birmingham
Oct. 3-4

Pumpkin Patch Express
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Calera
Sat. & Sun. - Oct. 3-25

Whispers from the Past: A Native American Experience
Aldridge Gardens
Hoover
Oct. 4

Shelby County Fair
Columbiana
Oct. 5-10

Central Alabama Fair
Selma
Oct. 5-10

AWF Wild Game Cook-Off
Decatur
Oct. 6, 5:30pm

Moundville Native American Festival
Oct. 7-10

Cullman Oktoberfest
Oct. 7-11

National Shrimp Festival
Gulf Shores
Oct. 8-11

Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Workshop
Mentone
Oct. 13

Fall Farm Day
Dothan
Oct. 17-18

Talladega 500 Weekend
Oct. 23-25

**For more listings on statewide events for October, visit the websites below.

For more Alabama events this month, visit birmingham365.org or

    

Contact Us:
Cahaba Tractor Co.

2411 Hwy 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 663-1470
sales@cahabatractor.com
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm M-F

          8:00am-12:00pm Sat.


Join Our Mailing List