Being somewhat of a procrastinator, now is about the right time for me to start getting ready for winter. The biggest task before me is for sure cleaning out all of my garden beds which number about twelve this year. It also seems reasonable that I get ready to replace all of the bed’s rotting wood used in the sides of the beds. It’s been about seven years since they were first built for most of the beds in the side yard garden and next year I will be trying out some new construction designs which may be sturdier and easier to deal with. 

Also, I need to get new garden gates in place and check all the fencing since something did manage to get into the front yard garden and seriously chow down on all my prized mustard green plants that I have been babying along with great care, but whatever it is it seems to love mustard greens as much as I do and it didn’t devour any of my Swiss chard or anything else growing in the same bed. Second year in a row this has happened-and the culprit is still on the loose! So, the fencing needs to be double checked before winter sets in and the ground freezes. 

Then around the end of October, I cut back all my perennial beds but not rake it out as the dead stalks do provide a wonderful hibernating environment for the bees. Last year, I had read an article about not raking and tried it, and I must say I did see many more bees in the garden this year.

The second important task is buying firewood for my stove which is a real champ heating my house. Last year a cord of wood before the season was $250. During the heating season if I ran low the price from the same local guy was $275. When I contacted him this week a cord is now $300. For those who don’t know a full cord of firewood measures four feet high by eight feet long and four feet deep. It generally has about 600 to 800 pieces of wood. A face cord of firewood is also four feet high by eight feet long but only sixteen inches deep and will have about 200 to 275 pieces of firewood. A face cord is considered to be one third of a full cord of wood. The other factor in the price is now some firewood vendors spray some type of fire burning chemicals on their firewood and I have to find out from my stove installer /cleaning guy whether these chemicals pose a hazard to damage my stove and chimney. Last year a sprayed face cord was $300, so firewood prices are definitely going up quickly. I will certainly have to start contacting vendors and shop around this year. 

Right now, it’s still Fall and there are some great outdoor events happening. My favorite is Farm Fest and it’s a wonderful family friendly event. The 2025 Farm Fest will be held on Saturday, September 27 from 11am-4pm at the Hilly Acres Farm located at 32 Wahl Road in Jeffersonville. Those of us in Highland are very familiar with Hilly Acres Farms and the Hahn family as they are one of the longtime Barryville Farmers Market vendors.  Farm Fest offers free admission and features fun activities such as tractor pulled hayrides, pumpkin painting and kids crafts, live music, farm fresh food, and meeting all the farm animals and experiencing how a working farm operates. 

This year’s Farm Fest at the Hilly Acres Farm will also support the Jaclene Poley Memorial Fund, established in memory of Jaclene who worked at Jeff Bank and who tragically passed away in August. The Memorial Fund’s beneficiaries are to benefit her two young children. Donations can be sent  to the Jaclene Poley Memorial Fund c/o Jeff Bank, Post Office Box 398, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.