From Bloom Where You're Planted Farm's blog at www.LocalHarvest.org

Now that August has arrived, we can say "The Pumpkin Festival starts next month!" This is a very exciting but somewhat frightening time at our southeast Nebraska pumpkin patch. While we love fall and can't wait to start seeing our customers' smiling faces at the farm, we still have quite a bit on our "to-do" list! But, for the most part we enjoy the pressure and looming deadline, and knowing our months of hard work will be worth it when the first customers of the season begin arriving on opening day, Sept. 17th!

The pumpkins, squash and gourds are growing by leaps and bounds! They're now all flowering and putting on fruit, and the pumpkins that fruited early have softball to volleyball-sized pumpkins on their vines. A big windstorm came through 7/23 which brought down lots of tree limbs and a few dead trees, but thankfully all the plants and farm animals were fine. We're now working on the new overhang on the south side of the barn. This will be used for our admissions and pumpkin weighing stations, as well as retail space. It's being built with reclaimed lumber from a barn we took down and wood from a friend's corn crib, and is coming together nicely.

The Cass County fair starts next week (Aug. 9) and we'll be represented at the Scenic Weeping Water Valley Association's booth in the commercial building. Stop by to pick up one of our new brochures. We're also planning to take our float through the parade Saturday evening.

I'm feverishly ordering gift shop merchandise and working on lots of marketing these days. Our first field trips of the season are on the books. Now is the time to make your field trip, birthday party, or campfire party reservations. There's just over five weeks to go, and we'll plan on seeing you soon at the farm!

Early Summer News from Bloom Where You're Planted Farm

From the localharvest.org blog of Bloom Where You're Planted Farm and Pumpkin Patch

Early summer greetings from our farm and pumpkin patch in southeastern Nebraska!  We've been receiving lots of rain lately, which has been both a blessing and a curse.  The cornfield I see out my kitchen window grows visibly every day, and all the other field crops, grass and flowers are looking great.  It makes it a little hard to get regular weeding done in the pumpkin patches (and unfortunately weeds love the rain, too!) but we've formulated a game plan and have been trying to keep up as much as we can.

The butterfly garden next to the chicken coop is in full bloom

Luckily, there are plenty of projects to keep us occupied when it's too muddy to work in the dirt.  I've continued painting and sprucing things up, and Terry has the new steps into the gift shop framed and ready for cement.  When the ground dries up in a day or two we'll get the gourd garden planted, and the vines should be lush and vigorous by opening day of our Pumpkin Festival.  We renovated the fire pit that we use for our campfire parties and we think it looks great!  It will also be safer for our little visitors.

 On June 23, "Homer", the mascot for the Lincoln Saltdogs baseball team, visited the farm to film part of a promotional video to be shown at Weeping Water Community Night with the Saltdogs in August.  It was a gorgeous, mild day (which the guy in the giant dog suit was thankful for!) for Homer to take a hayride and lots of photos with our young friends.

June 25 was Limestone Day in Weeping Water, and we took our hayrack through the parade.  We're planning to do the July 4th parade in Murdock, so watch for us if you're there!

We had our first fall field trip inquiry of the season the other day, so it's not too early to start thinking about your own field trip, birthday party, or campfire party plans.  We hope to see you soon at the farm!

Spring Chickens (& Calves & Pumpkins)

From Bloom Where You're Planted Farm's Blog on LocalHarvest.org

This is a great time of year at Bloom Where You're Planted Farm. Rain has been plentiful, the grass and trees look lush and healthy, and the iris and peonies are starting to bloom. In the next week or so we'll start planting some of our longer-season pumpkins and gourds. The full planting assault will happen around Memorial Day, hopefully finishing up the first couple days of June. I can't wait to get out in the dirt! Its so exciting to think about all the pumpkins we'll harvest, plus its great exercise!

On April 29 we brought home five hens, a cross between Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshires (so they're very East Coast but seem to be enjoying the Midwest!) April 30 & May 1 was our second-annual Spring Open House. It was good seeing the familiar faces of some of our loyal customers and friends, and exciting to meet some first-time guests, too. The following weekend we held a "Barn Sale" -- basically a big yard sale heavy on the antiques and primitives. We made room for all the "new" antiques, primitives and gift shop merchandise we'll be bringing in for this fall.

The most fun thing this spring has been the arrival of two baby calves. Fern delivered her first calf on May 1, a bull calf we named Mayday. Ten days later, Molly's calf Rosy arrived. I surprised myself (and really surprised Terry, when I told him the story later) by jumping in to help pull her when I realized she was coming out rump-first and upside down. Molly may have been fine without me, but ideally they should come out head/front feet first, and I got scared. Both calves are perfect and they're SO darn cute!

Rosy

Mayday

Well, I'd better get outside to enjoy this great weather and get something accomplished. Have a great spring, and we hope to see you soon at the farm!

Weeping Water Community Garage Sales

May 6 & 7 -- Over 20 sales in or near Weeping Water. Stop by the Express Lane or Stop N Shop for a map. A listing of sales can be found by clicking this link to a Craig's List post:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/gms/2359119974.html

LOFTE THEATRE RECEIVES TWO AWARDS

LOFTE RECEIVES TWO AWARDS at competition -- The Lofte Community Theatre of Manley was one of two Nebraska arts organizations recently selected to represent the state at the AACT Regional play competition held in Kansas.  Players from the Lofte performed a one hour cutting from "Leaving Iowa," a comedy by Tim Clue & Spike Manton that revolves around one man's memories of childhood family vacations.
 In all, there were ten entries from the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Missouri.
 The Lofte awards: "Best Costumes" and actor Larry Bauers of Louisville was "Best Supporting Actor."
 The full-length version of "Leaving Iowa," will open the Lofte's 2011 season.  Performances will run May 28-June 12.  Tickets are $17 and can be purchased online at www.Lofte.com or by calling the Lofte box office (402) 234-2553.

Eagle Raceway - America's Home Track

Sanford, Armstrong, Neal, Olsen & Dover win on Media Night
Although Mother Nature held sway over the first scheduled event for Eagle Raceway, the Icebreaker Challenge, she relented a little for Media Night presented by KX 96.9 Saturday. Even though she gave the large crowd sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-sixties, she reminded everyone that she was around with strong winds throughout the day and evening. Both KX9.9 and The Eagle 92.9 were on hand, doing live broadcasts. There were other media outlets were on hand also, with several folks being treated to free rides during the heat races in the 2-seater modified.
A record car count of 180 (surpassing the previous record by 30), combined with the unrelenting winds, led to dry-slick track conditions by the time that the features rolled around.  Read more at www.EagleRaceway.com

See Lincoln's KLKN tv story on Eagle's Opening Night:
http://www.klkntv.com/category/190066/klkn-channel-8-video?clipId=5811072&topVideoCatNo=148324&autoStart=true

"Spring Into the Valley" Specials Announced!

"Spring Into the Valley" April 29 through May 1

Check out the great specials and promotions below. Pick up your "Spring Into the Valley" Passport at any business listed, obtain five stamps from participating businesses (no purchase necessary) then turn your Passport in for a free four-pack of annuals from Plantman Nursery!


Friday Only

Lake Ridge Golf Course (Beaver Lake) - Unlimited Golf Friday, April 29 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a sack lunch for $22.50 or hot lunch for $26.50.


Friday Saturday, Sunday

Cryin' Creek Candles/Farmhouse Lounge (Weeping Water) will have discounts on craft beers and glasses of Nebraska wine all weekend long. Any customer who brings in a newspaper for recycling will receive a FREE Cinnamon Bun-shaped candle (limit one per customer - while supplies last). Specials on new scents, enter for gift certificate drawing, free non-alcoholic refreshments all weekend!

G.A.R. Veterans Museum (Elmwood) will be open 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Fri., Sat., & Sun. for the Spring Into the Valley event.

Plantman Nursery (Nehawka) Fri. 10-7; Sat. 10-5; Sun. 1-4 -- 25% discount on all flowering hanging baskets

Stop N Shop (Weeping Water)- Free 32 oz. fountain or 20 oz. coffee with Passport.

Tammy’s Soap Shack & Soy Glo Candle Co. (Weeping Water) - Hours Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free refreshments, bring in any non-perishable food item (to be donated to the WW food pantry) and get 10% off your purchase. In store specials, drawings held daily for gift certificates.


Friday & Saturday

Grandpa Snazzy's Victorian Emporium and Coffee House- (Weeping Water)
Stop in Friday or Saturday and browse our Victorian gift shop while enjoying a fresh baked slice of pie or homemade cinnamon roll and a cup coffee. Saturday only- 7:30 to Noon, Our special guest “The Whole Dorf” will have a great selection of pre planted floral and herb baskets, as well as organic and heirloom bedding plants for sale.

Slattery Vintage Estates (Nehawka) will have grab-bag specials & free stuff!
Hours, Friday & Saturday 1-6 p.m. Sunday CLOSED for a private event.


Saturday & Sunday

Bloom Where You're Planted Farm (Avoca) -- "Spring in Bloom" Open House
Sat. 4/30 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 5/1 noon-4 p.m. Experience Springtime on the farm for FREE! Visit the horses, cows, goats and chickens, challenge your family members to yard games, hike the nature trail and enjoy the play areas around the farm. The Schoolhouse Cafe will be serving lunch (including smoked pulled pork sandwiches), fresh popcorn, homemade desserts and University of Nebraska Dairy Store ice cream each day.

Bess Streeter Aldrich House (Elmwood) - Open Sat. & Sun., 2:00-5:00 p.m. Show passport for $1.00 off admission (regularly $5.00).


Saturday Evening Events

Grandpa Snazzy's Victorian Emporium and Coffee House (Weeping Water)
6:30pm-10:30pm join us for "Pickin', Pluckin' & Pie." Bring an instrument or just come and enjoy great music and Pie. This family-friendly evening of old fashioned fun has become a tradition with many! Come and see what it’s all about.

Eagle Raceway...America's Home Track in Eagle, NE! Media Night April 30th, 2011-Featuring Budweiser Sprints, RevHoney IMCA Modifieds, NAPA IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks and Exhaust Pro's Sport Compacts. Gates open at 5:30.