Sunset Farm, 20 Brigham Lane, Amherst, MA (2026)

10/15/2026

Weather , frosts are coming . we still have a 200+' row of cauliflower that hasn't formed cauliflower yet. Light frosts shouldn't be a problem
"Give them a little push: If the plants are massive and healthy-looking but stubbornly bare, some growers lightly root-prune with a shovel or spade a few inches away from the base to shock the plant into thinking its life cycle is ending, which can trigger it to throw a head".
Political thinking , I won't do that ! Did Musk himself write that?

Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Overcast

56°F

13°C

Humidity 66%
Wind Speed N 8 mph
Barometer 30.09 in (1019.3 mb)
Dewpoint 45°F (7°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 15 Oct 5:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

High: 60 °F

Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Low: 42 °F

Mostly Clear
then Chance
Showers

Friday

Friday: Showers, mainly before noon. Patchy fog. High near 67. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

High: 67 °F

Showers and
Patchy Fog
then Chance
Showers and
Patchy Fog

Friday Night

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Low: 41 °F

Chance
Showers

Saturday

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

High: 49 °F

Partly Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 31 °F

Mostly Clear

Sunday

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

High: 55 °F

Sunny

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind.

Low: 33 °F

Mostly Clear

Monday

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

High: 61 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodaySunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
TonightA chance of showers, mainly after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
FridayShowers, mainly before noon. Patchy fog. High near 67. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday NightA chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
SaturdayPartly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

--

Yesterday:
Connie made two wreaths, I pulled the drip tapes from four rows, then I mowed the dead vines into mulch using our mower. Iman and Barbara V picked up nuts as well as potatoes that Jason brought to the surface with the potato digger,
Jason tweaked the carburetor setting on the blue 8N tractor, the electricians reinstalled wires to the yellow cooler , I found my keys, Phyllis checked the yellow cooler pricing.
I found a box of white bags with handles in the cold greenhouse. Barbara V picked tomatillos for the market.
Today
1. disk harrow the upper upper field and spread rye
2. pick up nuts and make 1 lb net bags for the market
3. bag potatoes :need 10 bags for the market
4. Make $4 net bags of onions which AI says is a good deal and should sell well. We will also have loose onions .
5. Remove ,using our stake lifter ,the tomatillo stakes in row 61. ( about 6 )
6. I will bring a large pumpkin to today's Rotary Lunch..They might raffle it. (monetize it)
7. Roll up the black w**d cover where the onions were in the deerfield. (then rows 53,54) We will use them next year in the tomato aisles.
8. pick eggplants and hot peppers for Saturday. Pick the peppers tomorrow,
9. Drive the trailer to the pumpkins and reload it for the market. $8 pumpkins.
10. Where possible, remove the 6x6 netting over the flowers.
11. Using the corded chainsaw, cut the miscellaneous length limbs and logs to 20" lengths Time to neaten. splitting wood is a job waiting to be done.

IMG_6669.JPG Despite its 89 years our 9N ford is pulling the disc harrow these days as we seed the rye.
IMG_6658.JPG Hard to believe these have all been sold. Now the benches have wreath materials .

after thinking for awhile, It is 753am now

Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

10/14/2026

Weather
Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Overcast

63°F

17°C

Humidity 93%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 29.72 in (1006.7 mb)
Dewpoint 60°F (16°C)
Visibility 9.00 mi
Last update 14 Oct 3:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: A slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming west 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

High: 73 °F

Partly Sunny
then Slight
Chance
Showers

Tonight

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Low: 47 °F

Partly Cloudy

Thursday

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

High: 61 °F

Sunny

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: A chance of showers after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 43. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Low: 43 °F

Partly Cloudy
then Chance
Showers

Friday

Friday: Showers. High near 64. Southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

High: 64 °F

Showers

Friday Night

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Low: 38 °F

Chance
Showers

Saturday

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

High: 48 °F

Mostly Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. West wind 3 to 7 mph.

Low: 31 °F

Mostly Clear

Sunday

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

High: 57 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayA slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming west 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
TonightPartly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
Thursday NightA chance of showers after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 43. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
FridayShowers. High near 64. Southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Friday NightA chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Yesterday
We are picking up nuts , they are very large now but less than 5 lbs / day

I found my keys at the junction of the gravel and brigham lane , where my vans are parked. My theory is that I put them in the wrong pocket of my coveralls that has no pocket :it is access to the pocket in the pants some wear under coveralls..but I don't have trousers under my coveralls so the keys just fell to the ground. Having lost them for a few days, I realize I don't need to carry them .

Jason has seeded the chestnut field except for two potato rows we want to run the digger through again. Our potatoes sell well at $5/ 7lbs.

Our electricians , Paul Miller's company , replaced the downed wires that fed the yellow cooler. We are all set now. They also replaced the broken outlet below the chalkboard.

Our trailer that is parked on Brigham Lane is filled with big pumpkins $8 per. I would love them to sell faster since we still have about 25 sitting in the field. I will ask Robin Brown if Rotary would like a free one that they might auction off at lunch.

Remove the tomatillo stakes and pull the drip tape from row 61 (our lowest row)

Today

1. Pick all beans

2. walk the chestnut grove

3. roll up the 2 w**d fabrics between 51 and 52 they are stapled down about every 3'.

IMG_6750.JPG Cull the drip cord out of row 52 , I did row 53 yesterday using the golf cart see photo.I attached the drip tape to the arm rests at 3 points as I drove north in the row and just drove to the trash barrels. . Then I mowed the row .

4. Pack potatoes in 7 lb bags : pack all the good ones, compost those no good.

5. Continue to pull the drip tapes from ALL of our rows. These underground tapes will be thrown into our dumpster.
Remove 6x6 flower mesh too and their stakes..

Time now 641 am
Bill

--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

10/13/2026

Today:
1. pick up nuts
2. roll up the w**d cover on two aisles where the onions were: former rows 51 and 52. The covers are anchoered with staples that pull or easily/
3. pull the drip tape our from the 54 and 53 tomato rows I tie it to a golf cart or tractor ( we are throwing them away)
4. pick up the old broccoli plants that are in the aisle. use a golf cart. Start from the south end at a dry point so you won't be loaded if yo get stuck. Put them on the compost pile south of the willow trees.
5. take 6x6 grid off the flower beds that are done pull stakes and put them on the edge of an aisle.
6. pull the drip tape from the upperfield tomato rows , then mow those rows , harrow then rye seed then harrow again. The rye we planted a couple of weeks ago in the willow field is 6" high now.
7. use the electric clippers to cut down the entire okra row , we will burn the plants because they are so woody. ( woody doesn't compost)
8. split firewood with our hydraulic splitter. Then stack it. This can't be called "dry" for a year.
9. Pick beans , the french beans now have long ones here and there that are very tasty, now. Put beans now in the gray cooler since the yellow cooler 's electricity was knocked down by the big tree/
IMG_6745.JPG the napa greens are bigger now and a popular salad maker/ These are transplanted self seeded from spring napa that went to seed.

Done yesterday and on the weekend
a. Tim Farnam and I pulled tomatoe stakes and gathered twine on row 53 , we stored the stakes using a golf cart at the 150 Fearing st barn. That completes storing our stakes for this year.
b. Jason cut up blown -down maple tree branches to 20" and stacked them for splitting. Much more to go . The electric corded chainsaw is in perfect shape for this job per Jason.
c. about 15 lbs of nuts were picked up yesterday. I made up a white net bag ,6 lbs for a customer that didn't want to pick them up herself. They were sold for $6/ lb .
d. Connie and I sat and chatted for more than an hour with Tim and Richard in the late afternoon sun . Just what we love to have happen. Besides the warm sun and the cool temperature , there were no bugs. Bugs have been mostly missing the entire summer: potato and bean beetles, mosquitoes... will they come back with a vengeance next year?
e. Jason rye-seeded the chestnut field where we grew potatoes . I see that the seeder is left at full open setting... is that what was used? did the field take a full bushel of seed?
f. Connie is making wreaths now in the empty greenhouse that does have alexa. Hearing npr news floating around the shed area is alexa from the greenhouse. It was programmed a year or two ago to play news at 5pm ..I don't know how to deprogram it ( I haven't even tried, someone will come along who knows how)
g. More than one person came to pick tomatoes yesterday ... I will try to have some late tomatoes next year.. Ours fell to the ground about 2 weeks ago. They are gone.

Rainfall Reports for 10/11-10/12
Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Overcast

58°F

14°C

Humidity 88%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 29.96 in (1014.9 mb)
Dewpoint 54°F (12°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 13 Oct 6:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: A chance of showers before 11am, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

High: 60 °F

Chance
Showers and
Patchy Fog

Tonight

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Patchy fog between 2am and 3am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Low: 59 °F

Chance
Showers and
Patchy Fog

Wednesday

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

High: 74 °F

Mostly Sunny

Wednesday Night

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Low: 48 °F

Partly Cloudy

Thursday

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

High: 62 °F

Sunny

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Low: 44 °F

Partly Cloudy
then Chance
Showers

Friday

Friday: Showers. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 63. Southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

High: 63 °F

Showers and
Patchy Fog

Friday Night

Friday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. West wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Low: 38 °F

Showers
Likely then
Mostly Cloudy

Saturday

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.

High: 49 °F

Mostly Sunny
and Breezy

Detailed Forecast
TodayA chance of showers before 11am, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
TonightA chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Patchy fog between 2am and 3am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
WednesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
--

Now 754 am time.
Bill

Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

10/11/2026

Not another report today , unless I learn something.

Yesterday we harvested a row of Imperial broccoli. I noted large new shoots coming from the base stem of the plant at ground level... will these bear if I remove the main plant that I harvested?

Yes, those basal shoots will bear secondary florets if you leave the main plant in the ground. Once the main central head is removed, the plant redirects its energy into these secondary side shoots, extending your harvest for several weeks.

Leave the root system and the main stem intact rather than pulling or replacing the plant. Those low shoots will rapidly size up, especially with the cool autumn temperatures, providing a steady succession of smaller, tender broccoli clusters.

This is the first time I have cut the main stem that produced the big heads away to give the secondary shoots more room.

By the way we still have about 25 heads that will be good for next Saturday's market.

We have about 50 pumpkins left. Any one $8.
I love the arugula (something I can taste)
Shuguang's napa cabbage is ready for eating ... so I 've asked the question:
my napa volunteers have large leaves but have not headed up... s there a market for them
Yes, there's definitely a market for them, though you typically sell loose Napa cabbage leaves or open heads rather than traditional tight, cylindrical heads.

Volunteer Napa brassicas that don't form a tight, solid head often grow more like collards or loose-leaf greens. They are tender and sweet—especially with cool autumn nights—making them a great offering for a farm stand or farmers' market. You can market and price them in a few ways:

Bunched Greens: Tie them in bunches like collards, kale, or Swiss chard for easy display and a quick grab-and-go price point.

Loose-Leaf Packs: Package the large, crisp outer leaves in bags or clear clamshells for stir-fries, braising, or fresh slaws.

Asian Greens / Salad Cut: Market them specifically as tender autumn napa greens or loose-leaf cabbage, which appeals to customers looking for quick-cooking stir-fry greens.

857 am : 40's and cloudy

--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

10/11/2026

Today's farmers' market : a clear cool , not windy day. Yoko and I packed the van and arrived at 5 to fill the tables we set up last night . At 7 am we were done and I went back to sleep.
I parked in the gravelled lot behind our shed , where I found my electric clippers where I had carefully placed it on a ledge of the big transformer there. As soon as I saw it I remembered putting it there. ( i knew all along ...I wonder if AI could have told me or is it keeping secrets?

Dave ,the market manager, asked me to move my tractor to the center of the market for a display which I did . We had used the 8N to pull our trailer that was piled with large pumpkins , I also brought the market's little red wagon ..for getting them to the car.

We are still trying to manage all the new firewood. It has to be cut to 20" lengths then split and stacked. The burn piles of the leafed branches at this point are 10' high. .. they will be pulled apart so we won't be so excited as they take off. We will wait for a wet spell or a snow fall.

The farmers' market total $845 ,$100 less than last year. The weather was perfect very bright sun , lower in the sky now and very dark in the shade. Connie moved items into the sun //like the flowers and the three wreaths that sold. Bags of potatoes were a hit again 7lbs:$5. they have beautiful labels by Lenny. My big bold labels bark.
We brought back a trailer load of pumpkins but Connie said we sold "a lot" of them. Our new flat pole beans also flew.
Our new not-even-headed napa cabbage sold well ,
Mindy Domb visited our site .. an enthusiastic supporter. We support her too.
IMG_7300.jpg HARD TO SEE BLACK DOG ( NOT OUR CLOVER) POSING AS KING OF THE TRACTOR.
Sent from my iPhone

to do tomorrow ( I napped all day )
1. Walk the chestnut field. Be extremely discriminating before you " keep " a nut. The have to be perfect: no dark spots, no cracks,no babies.. Later on those filling the red one pound net bags will be grateful since the bags are slow to fill a fistful at a time . Filling them one by one and reinspecting each nut is not possible. Edit them before you keep them in the grove. I just toss them so I then pick them up again as I roam back where I have been. that needs to be managed.
2. disc harrow m spread rye then disk again. the field we grew potatoes in.
3. Bag our potatoes in 7 lb bags. There are only two left.
4. pick up the broccoli plants I cut out and threw into the aisle. Bring thme to the compost pile
5. pick up tomato stakes and the twine attached too... then pull out the drip tapes.
5. take down the tomatillo trellis and remove the drip tape under that row . Throw the tape away.
6. cut the downed maple parts lying around the shed into 20" lengths and split those more than 4" in dia.
7. with the electric clippers cut down the okra , pull

--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

10/09/2026

Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Fog/Mist

40°F

4°C

Humidity 93%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 30.04 in (1017.7 mb)
Dewpoint 38°F (3°C)
Visibility 6.00 mi
Last update 9 Oct 6:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.

High: 66 °F

Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 37 °F

Mostly Clear

Saturday

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Light north wind.

High: 66 °F

Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind.

Low: 44 °F

Partly Cloudy

Sunday

Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

High: 64 °F

Mostly Cloudy
then Chance
Showers

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: Showers. Low around 52. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Low: 52 °F

Showers

Columbus Day

Columbus Day: Showers likely, mainly before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

High: 69 °F

Showers
Likely then
Partly Sunny

Monday Night

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind.

Low: 52 °F

Partly Cloudy

Tuesday

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

High: 67 °F

Partly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodaySunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
TonightMostly clear, with a low around 37. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 66. Light north wind.
Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind.
SundayA chance of showers, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday NightShowers. Low around 52. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Columbus DayShowers likely, mainly before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Harvest /pack day for tomorrow's market

1. Set up 2 10x10 tents at the flower tables to provide the shade we lost due to the big maple fall. Connie asks for a pavilion.
2. walk the nut grove and pack all our nuts in 1 lb bags. Be sure to throw away all imperfect nuts and those smaller than your big toenail.
3. Harvest any large broccolis. Cut cilantro cut it right at the ground to make it as long as possible. Pick the good leaves . Cut parsley, peppers and eggplants.
4. cut all the personal cabbage and trim them down to naked. Scallions , tomatillos, kale, chard, green tomatoes, parsley
5. pick up the tomato stakes that Barbara V and pulled in row 53 , make a single pile we can pick up with the deere on Sunday..
6. harrow and rye seed the chestnut field -- i mowed some rows as I brought down the maple tree branches. Maybe mow what I didn't, then harrow and seed.
7. Fill the Deere tank with diesel first. I was pleased to have filled 5 gal cans of fuel with out a drip on any. My car doesn't smell of that at least.
8. Load more pumpkins on the trailer; you can put a few on top if they are secured somehow.
9. I can't find my electric clippers; has anyone seen them? They are up there with hearing aids in my survival kit. Last night I even dreamt of them. Two pair will be the fix for my need.
10. remove 6x6 netting where the flowers are done

Yesterday

a . we had some gusts in mid day. 20-30 lbs of nuts fell. Still , most of them are still up there, there is nothing we can do but pick them up.
b. At least two families came and drove a golf cart to the pumpkins. Happy adventures.
c. I heard about a "roger" , I can't remember its name, but you put it on the dining table and it will Bluetooth the conversation in a noisy restaurant to your hearing aids. Has anyone tried it?
I hope I can at least hear the conversation so I can participate. I hope I have something to say too.
d. Ben Lynch split a couple of golf cart loads of the new maple.. he confirmed that the new wood splits easier than old wood but it is so heavy. The expert advice said this is firewood for the fall of 2027. (planning ahead) We are cluttered with piles of wood to cut to 20" length , then split. Come help it you want to get out and try our electric chainsaws and hydraulic splitter. AI can only tell you: here is your chance to learn by doing.

Now 736 (no research this morning. )

--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

10/08/2026

Now
1. I hope we can repair the broken tent using parts from a matching broken tent ... to give some shade to the flower arrangement table. The shade of the big maple that fell is missed at the water trough ; in full sun now.

2. clean up the small stuff in the prep area and the graveled entry.

3. connect the yellow cooler ac unit via a long extension cord to the main shed power . Today the temp will be up , we have to cool the yellow cooler.

4. Pick our trellis-mounted flat beans in the upperfield

5. Number one should have been .. walk the chestnut field looking down., we need nuts for the market! Another brief wind storm would be perfect.

6. harrow and spread rye , run the mower over the w**ds where the potatoes were grown. Then sow the rye. as soon as possible.

7. clip down the okra remove it to the burn pile.

8. The burn pile is large , make another one to the northwest, 30' west of the hydrant. Jesse said that once that pile dries and is lit ..you will want more than a garden hose.

9. Cut a handful of winter berries for wreath making first thing this am.

done : we are cutting up and cleaning up the fallen tree at the shed. The flowers survived the 32 degree temp yesterday morning ! a very close call. Temperature is not forecast to go below 32 for the next 7 days. Visit the chestnut grove, it looks great.

Isaias Expected To Be A Strong Hurricane Approaching The Northern Gulf Coast Friday
Isaias is expected to strengthen and be a strong hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday. Damaging hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge impacts are expected Friday into Saturday. Isaias will bring heavy rainfall to the northern Gulf Coast and much of the Southeast U.S. Friday into the weekend. Read More >

Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Mostly Cloudy

56°F

13°C

Humidity 85%
Wind Speed S 9 mph
Barometer 29.74 in (1007.4 mb)
Dewpoint 51°F (11°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 8 Oct 6:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: A slight chance of showers before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 7 to 13 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

High: 70 °F

Slight Chance
Showers then
Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 43 °F

Mostly Clear

Friday

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

High: 65 °F

Sunny

Friday Night

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 37 °F

Clear

Saturday

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

High: 66 °F

Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind.

Low: 46 °F

Partly Cloudy

Sunday

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

High: 69 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: Showers, mainly after 10pm. Low around 55. South wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Low: 55 °F

Showers

Columbus Day

Columbus Day: Showers likely, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

High: 70 °F

Showers
Likely then
Partly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayA slight chance of showers before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 7 to 13 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
TonightMostly clear, with a low around 43. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
FridaySunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.
Friday NightClear, with a low around 37. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind.
SundayMostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday NightShowers, mainly after 10pm. Low around 55. South wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

--

In a hurry to my 9am hearing aid checkup.

Bill

Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

Sunset Farm

10/15/2026

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