This month's notes: May 2013: The cool weather has delayed blooms and slowed growth by a couple of weeks, but don't miss strawberries: they started in most Southern areas in late April, and in late May up north. Click here for strawberry facts and picking tips, and this page for easy strawberry jam making directions. Blueberries will come in June in most areas. Of course, Florida, southern Texas, and other very warm areas are already picking both crops! See this page for hundreds of easy canning and freezing instructions/recipes, canning equipment guide! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Then see each state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. Organic farms are identified in green!  See our guide to local fruit and vegetable festivals!. Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!

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Haybale Art - When farmers get bored, fun hay bale sculptures result!

When farmers with extra hay bales get bored, watch out! Funny and risqué farm art results.  We've all seen the standard hay bale maze (below), but scroll down this page for some funny, elaborate and impressive haybale displays!

I wish I knew where these cam from so I could credit the creators!  If you have a photo like this to share, email it to me!

Hayabale maze Hay bale rocket

Hay bale windmillHay bale stonehenge

Hay bale ferris wheel

Hay bale fortHay bale fort 2

 

Hay bale dinosaurHay bale couple

Hay bale coupleHay bale people

Hay bale pigHay bale foxHay bale rabbitHay bale spider

Hay bale pumpkinsHay bale pumpkinsHay bale pumpkinsHay bale working

Hay bale bird

 



Picking Tips

[General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable] [How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)] [Selecting the right varieties to pick] [All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!]  [Picking tips for Vegetables] [ Strawberry picking tips] [ Blueberries picking tips]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

All About Home Canning, Freezing and Making Jams, Pickles, Sauces, etc. ] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]