Thanks - larger market wanted money and insurance certificate with application, I emailed them asking if they would hold my check until they guaranteed the space (since this is nonprofit run by volunteers I wanted to make sure 1 person didn't cash the check while another collected names & decided who to give space to!). Also asked if I could wait and have certificate sent to them after I was approved since it will cost me $50 to get certificate. I hope this didn't come across too much as PITA, but they also wanted "specific items to be sold" - so I started typing out a list of all my seeds for them, said in email "Some are guaranteed spots in the beds, but others I am not sure would be good sellers based on sales at X market last year, though they might be in yours. If you have any "must haves" please indicate those in your reply and I will be sure to plant those. Of course, I cannot guarantee that everything I plant will make it to market due to weather, pests, or disease losses." I also found last year that I didn't quite have enough of some things to support 2 markets, but I had enough of others (esp. tomatoes) to sell wholesale and to sell to people at DH's work, either the next day (leftovers) or midweek (with 3-4 days to go til next market!). So online orders, in addition to the Thurs/Fri deliveries at work and weekend farmstand, might work out well with a Wed night market. Last year was tough with Fri AM orders going to work and Fri night market. Of course I can do "preorders" to deliver at market too, that might work out esp. well with things in short supply, or eggs that need to be kept cool (if they pick up at the beginning of market). Oh, I just got email from town Ag commission - they're updating the farm map and want $25 to add (or keep) a farm, to go towards printing costs. I don't think I can get on the online map without being on print, though I MAY be able to get listed on website without being on the map (they haven't updated the listings yet). Think it's worth it since I'm on the outskirts of town? They'd have to redraw the map since they don't go far enough west to show the main road that I have frontage on (in another town). I don't want them to add a circle with a vague location on my "official" address where I don't have frontage. Everyone would get confused like the tax assessor did when they came out to see the house after we built!

Just a reminder! If you're in northeastern Mass. or southeastern New Hampshire/Maine, and you're interested in poultry, the big poultry auction is at the Topsfield Fairgrounds on Sunday, October 15 (tomorrow as I type this post). It's an annual fundraiser for the local chapter of Future Farmers of America (at Essex Agricultural & Technical Institute, a state-run aggie). The kids get 25% of proceeds to help pay for their chapter activities. There are always lots of great buys. Laying hens, bantams chickens, ducks of different breeds, exotic pheasants and gamebirds, turkeys, guinea fowl, bunnies, cage birds (finches, doves, budgies) and the occasional chinchilla or guinea pig. There also are lots of non-livestock goods, such as donated bushels of fresh apples from local farms, bags of poultry feed, nest boxes, small equipment (farming, poultry keeping) and cages, and whatnot. It's a fun afternoon - the auction starts at noon and runs until everything is sold. If you are coming to sell, your poultry/items must be checked in before 11:30am. All poultry (excepting waterfowl) must be blood tested for pullorum and AI. The kids sell hot dogs, chips and tonic/soda if you need a snack. Come on over! The weather is supposed to be nice all day, and you don't have to bid or sell. Just come enjoy the atmosphere.

Hi, Ladies-Have been reading posts with different ideas & thought I would share my opinion (which, by the way, opinions are just like noses, everyone has one!Ha). I really think this swap was something that Hazelnutbunny was really looking forward to & wanted us all to share with each other. She has made it so simple & not expensive which I think is great. I am not sure that she would want us to cancel due to the problems she is having. I sent a box to her today & included things for Valentine's Day for the family. Just my opinion & I might be wrong but I think Melissa would be disappointed if we cancelled. I think it is great that Maryann has helped out in Melissa's place & has stated she would assign partners. The decision needs to be made if we are to get them sent in time for next Saturday as some of us are quite a distance from others. Thanks & Blessings, Margaret

Hi! I have so much to say to get everyone updated on myself but I only have time to say that my oldest DS & DDIL gave me a DGD on Aug. 26. She is a BEAUTY! I cannot get enough of her. She lives in Dallas. Milkdud's birthday was overlooked. I had her name & was in Dallas at the time. We got together & had some fun. Welcome Lime Coke! Jen~I'd love to have pics of the girls. I know exactly what you mean about passing up the trip. I got an open-ended trip to Dallas & then begged Dave to come & pick me up. I didn't want to get on the plane again. That is when they kept changing all of the rules & I was afraid that I would bend one. I definitely got on here at the right time. I was hoping that I hadn't missed the talk for Christmas. Please include me. Tikanis~I am absolutely SO proud of you. We need to get on the phone & talk to each other again. It has been way to long. NH Suzanne~Loved the pic of your rooster. He is very pretty. I will address everyone else later. I don't mean to leave anyone out. Just have a lot going on. Take care. Oh, Milkdud, had a DGD, a month after I did and they both have the same name but different spellings. Isn't that cool? Patti