September 2008

What is Le Tour des Plants?
Honey Crisp Apples have arrived!
Pumpkin Patch is around the corner.

Hello again everybody! My name is Brian Bauman and I am the oldest kid of Rick and Barb Bauman. Along with my parents and the rest of the family Amie, Jeremiah, Hailey, Cari, Sarah, Austin and Allyson we are so happy you choose to shop at Bauman's Farm and Garden. We have a lot of things going on this month and we can't wait for you to see all of the great things that we have planned for the end of the month.

But before I get a head of myself I can't tell you how many people are asking me about the commercials they are seeing on T.V. and the signs they have seen at nurseries across Oregon. What is this Le Tour des Plants? Basically, three years ago the Oregon Association of Nurseries initiated a program to help educate the public on what a great time Fall is for people to garden. They did this by pulling a few garden centers together that offered special deals for a specific week and the association promoted the time to the public. Now three years later there are over 30 garden centers participating and each one has put together a spectacular program for the week of Sept 13 through the 21st. At Bauman Farms we have some great things going and some amazing specials.

We will have seminars going on throughout the week. On Saturday the 13th we will be having our popular cooking class program. We tried to cap the class at 30 people but we blew through that number weeks ago and have made more room. So if you still want to participate don't wait. On Wednesday the 17th, Terra Nova Nurseries will be here talking about the plants that they are creating in Canby, Oregon and we have grown some free plants for all participants. On Friday the 19th Don Sprague will be here to educate us on how to eliminate those pesky gophers and moles from our yard. Finally, on Saturday the 20th we will have our container party, which will feature some local wines and I will help you turn your porch into a fall oasis. For more information go to this link for cost and complete details. Please give us a call at 503-792-3524 to sign up or drop us an e-mail at baumans@baumanfarms.com

For the Tour we have some great specials and have brought in new plants and outstanding pottery. As part of the tour each nursery has three specials that they will be having throughout the week long event. We are very excited to offer these deals:

Falling in Love with Pansies - $10 a flat of 16

Extraordinary Pottery Sale! – 40% off all pottery, purchase $100 or more and receive 60% off.

FREE! Wooden Bushel Basket with all Mum Purchases
(while supplies last)

Tuesday was the first day of Kindergarten for my son Austin. It's an indescribable feeling as you watch your child walk into the classroom on his first day of school and wave goodbye with a look on their face of both excitement and terror. You worry so much and can't possibly imagine how they can go a whole day without you but at the end of the day they look at you with a puzzled look as to say so what was the big deal. I bring up this story because one of my son's favorite things to put in his lunch box is a Honey Crisp apple. For those of us who have tried them you completely understand and for those of you who have not tried them then you need to get some ASAP! We just started picking the first ones and they are absolutely delicious.

In addition to the Honey Crisp we also have Gravensteins, Summer Reds, Summer Golds, Ginger Golds, Paula Reds, Akanes, and Sansas. Apple season is just beginning soon and after the start of apple season is the start of Apple Cider. We are planning on making our first batch of apple cider late next week so by Friday or Saturday we will have our first gallons to sell. I can't wait!

September is definitely a busy month for us on the farm as all of the apples begin to arrive and many of the great fall produce begins to get harvested, but it is also very busy because pumpkin patch is just around the corner. We have been working very hard putting together all of our favorite activities and along the way and we have come up with some new ideas that are going to be over the top. I don't want to let too many things go at this point but I will say the theme on the farm for this year's Pumpkin Patch is going to be PIRATES! There are a number of new activities, games and prizes that are going to center around this theme but you are going to have to wait until the end of the month to hear about them. However, you are welcome to stop by during the month and see how construction is going and I think you will be amazed at what is going to be built out in the field. We hope to see you soon and while pumpkin patch is a lot of work we can't wait for all of you to come and enjoy it.

Thank you from all of us at Bauman's Farm and Garden