September at Honeydew Farm: Work, Celebration & Signs of Fall
September at Honeydew Farm is beginning to feel like a season caught between two worlds. There is still plenty growing and plenty of work to do, but signs of fall are showing up everywhere. This week brought progress on the Deep Winter Greenhouse, mushrooms that need checking every day, armfuls of strawflowers headed for the drying racks—and a little time away from farm work for fishing and a birthday celebration with family and friends.
Another Step Forward on the Deep Winter Greenhouse
First, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to our GoFundMe.
The generosity and support we’ve received means so much to us.
This week, the foam board for insulating the Honeydew Farm Deep Winter Greenhouse was delivered. Alex is working on the windows and installing the insulation, bringing us another step closer to completing the build.
There is still work ahead, but it feels good to see another major piece of the project arriving and going into place.
SUPPORT THE DEEP WINTER GREENHOUSE →
Blink and You’ll Miss Them
The mushrooms have been keeping us on a very different schedule.
They have to be checked every day because once they fruit, they need to be picked quickly.
It’s pretty incredible how fast they can go from not-quite-ready to harvest time.
This week’s haul definitely made all that checking worthwhile.
Flowers for the Months Ahead
We’re also constantly cutting and drying more flowers.
These strawflowers will eventually find their way into dried wreaths and ornaments. Their colors hold beautifully as they dry, making them perfect for projects that can carry a little bit of the growing season into winter.
We’re hoping to incorporate some of these into a class later this fall or winter. We’ll share more once those plans come together.
A Birthday Break During September at Honeydew Farm
Farm work took a back seat for a little while this week as we celebrated Amber’s birthday.
There was time on the lake, some fishing, and a birthday party with family and friends. The weather even gave our farmers market tents an unexpected job when rain moved through during the party.
Not a bad way to spend a birthday—and a good excuse to step away from the never-ending farm list for a day.
From the Honeydew Kitchen
Garlic Butter Mushroom & Pepper Skillet
With fresh mushrooms on hand, this simple skillet is an easy way to turn them into a quick side dish or meal.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
Fresh parsley, optional
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the mushrooms and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown.
Add the sliced pepper and cook for another 3–4 minutes, until slightly tender.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter, garlic, salt, pepper and thyme.
Cook for another 1–2 minutes, stirring until everything is coated in the garlic butter.
Finish with fresh parsley if desired.
Serve alongside dinner, spoon over rice or pasta, pile onto toast, or add a fried egg for an easy meal.
Honeydew Farm Tip
Dry Flowers Before They’re Past Their Prime
If you want to save flowers from your garden for dried arrangements, harvest them while they’re still in good condition rather than waiting until they begin to fade on the plant.
Remove excess foliage and give the stems plenty of airflow while they dry. Keeping them out of direct sunlight can also help preserve their color.
Flowers like strawflowers are especially well suited for drying, making it possible to enjoy a little bit of the summer garden long after the growing season ends.
Fresh at the Market
Here’s what we’re planning to bring to market this week:
Fresh Flowers
Dried-flower Pumpkins
Zucchini
Bell Peppers
Hungarian Wax Peppers
Sugar Rush Peach Peppers
Jalapeños
Pickling Cucumbers
Mixed Golden Nugget Tomatoes
Super Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes
As always, availability can change with the harvest.
Looking Ahead
As September at Honeydew Farm continues, we’ll be balancing the work that still needs to happen now with preparations for the colder months ahead. More flowers are being dried, greenhouse work continues, and we’re hoping some of those strawflowers will make their way into a class later this fall or winter.
Visit Us This Week
Thursday | 9 AM–1 PM
Saturday | 9 AM–1 PM
Near the music tent, across from Thielen Motors.
Come see what's fresh this week. As always, availability changes with the harvest.
Thank you for supporting local farms, local food, and local flowers.
We hope to see you at market.
Alex & Amber
Honeydew Farm
Want to Know More About How We Grow?
Visit the Farm Journal for seasonal updates, harvest news, recipes, and life on the farm.
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While we bring a small selection to market each week, our full collection is always available online.
Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift, every purchase helps support what we're building here at Honeydew Farm.
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