Sunset Farm

Sunset Farm Seasonal Flowers, Vegetables, Chestnuts and more Seasonal Flowers, Vegetables, Chestnuts and more.

before the weather. It's good. Farm items1. the potato fields in Hadley have been hilled at least once ... maybe we can ...
06/01/2026

before the weather. It's good.

Farm items

1. the potato fields in Hadley have been hilled at least once ... maybe we can set the Farmall to spread earth back on the row rather than away.

2. Check all the w**d fabric and set as needed ( I haven't been down yet but I think we are ok on that)

3. Roll out our 16' wide w**d fabric for the watermelon row. put sand bags 8' apart along the perimeter and om a row 12" west of the center. Burn holes 4"x 4" every 24" the length of the row
Plant our yellow melons first and the crimson King melons after them Check the number of plugs of each: we need about 50 each to fill the 200+ row.

4. Hand w**d the rows 50/51 oniion seedlings while you can still pull out the w**ds and not onions too.

5. push in the Roma2 bean seeds in row 52 where there is a blank gap Plant them in two rows each seed 12" apart.

6. push in a full row of okra in the 50's field maybe it is row 59... ( the next blank row)
We had a great time seeing a yankee vs tampa bay team play in Wappinger Falls ( now a kind of bedroom community for NYC) :some residents work at home , work can also get done (uninterrupted) on the train. At least that is the reason homes cost 800,000 and up in this "village " with dutch places.
Seeing your Grandson at bat and chatting with relatives I have not in years was a great way to catch up . Unlike Ebbot's ,the seats had cushions , you need strong glasses to see the scoreboard with balls and strikes- since it is easy to forget. The pitchers have been shorn of their style by a clock (for some reason that was not hard to see). At the end of the game you join the children and take a run abount the bases. They could do this because the entire field was carpeted ( a grower here would worry about the grass ) . Base runners slid extra fast and far when stealing / that changed the game too.
IMG_6414.JPG Out of what must have been 60 vendos 4 had vegetables -- that cost 3-5x what we charge
IMG_6418.JPG
IMG_6413.JPG bags of leavs for lettuce ... no heads for sale
IMG_6408.JPG right on Rt 9D , an excellent place for the Gillen fans .Quiet is back at least there so we could talk.
Very well done... I would think it is one of the best in the world. Although the family was not clear communicating at the end of the game on Sat night,,,, we ALL got the memo and showed up here.
Fishkill NY , at the rt 84 exit.

Done 846am--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

Raining now.Items this weekend ( no report tomorrow ) 1.hand pull w**ds in onion rows 51 and 52 perfect now .. later th...
06/01/2026

Raining now.

Items this weekend ( no report tomorrow )

1.hand pull w**ds in onion rows 51 and 52 perfect now .. later they will likely pull out the onion when you pull them.

2. Water the green house even if it is raining

3. Plant \two 72 flats of scallions. Put a pinch of 8 or so seeds in each plug .

4. Push roma 2 beans 2 across in the blank spot of row 52 it is about twenty feet long. Just push the bean seed down a couple of inches with your finger thru the black plastc.

5. Run the tiller along the east side of row 50 to kill the w**ds.

6. using the small trailer pull a load of bark mulch from the pile t the end of brigham lane to the very wet area at the south end of the pea trellises.We put a ball on the new farmall
Maybe it can pull the trailer.

7. w**d the berry bushes in row 95 --they are out of sight ,I know.

8. Bruce W replanted pumpkins at the south end of the cuke row . The last seeding was picked out so the new seeding is covered till the pumpkins are really on their way

9. Connie and I will be back Sunday night after we attend the Wappinger Falls baseball game where Theo Gillen is playing. His team is owned by the Tampa Bay National League organization.
Bea Ballou and Jesse Johnson have agreed to close up our Farmers' Market Stand... how good is that!

10. we will be pushing in okra seeds for an entire 50's row every 8"; just push them down a couple of inches. Any closer together and you would be making a perforated dotted line that might split apart with the wrong gust.

IMG_6407.JPG our burned open 3" hole with pumpkin seed shell left . A row of holes like this create an opportunity for a strong gust of wind to give the fabric a lift . Now we put a staple next to each hole too.

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

Light Rain Fog/Mist and Breezy

47°F

8°C

Humidity 83%
Wind Speed N 24 G 31 mph
Barometer 29.78 in (1008.8 mb)
Dewpoint 42°F (6°C)
Visibility 3.00 mi
Wind Chill 39°F (4°C)
Last update 30 May 8:55 am EDT
More Information:

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

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Showers, mainly before 1pm. High near 57. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

High: 57 °F

Showers and
Breezy

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 42 °F

Mostly Clear

Sunday

Sunday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 72. Light northwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

High: 72 °F

Increasing
Clouds

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly between 8pm and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Low: 50 °F

Chance
Showers

Monday

Monday: Showers likely, mainly between 11am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

High: 69 °F

Showers
Likely

Monday Night

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Light north wind.

Low: 46 °F

Mostly Clear

Tuesday

Tuesday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

High: 73 °F

Sunny then
Chance
Showers

Tuesday Night

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Light north wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Low: 48 °F

Chance
Showers then
Partly Cloudy

Wednesday

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

High: 73 °F

Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayShowers, mainly before 1pm. High near 57. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
TonightMostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SundayIncreasing clouds, with a high near 72. Light northwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday NightA chance of showers, mainly between 8pm and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
MondayShowers likely, mainly between 11am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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

Extended Forecast forAmherst MATodayToday: A slight chance of showers between 3pm and 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a hi...
05/29/2026

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: A slight chance of showers between 3pm and 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 73. West wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

High: 73 °F

Mostly Sunny
then Slight
Chance
Showers

Tonight

Tonight: A chance of showers before 1am, then a slight chance of showers after 5am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Low: 43 °F

Chance
Showers

Saturday

Saturday: Rain likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a north wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

High: 55 °F

Rain Likely
and Breezy

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 42 °F

Partly Cloudy

Sunday

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

High: 75 °F

Mostly Sunny

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Light west wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Low: 51 °F

Chance
Showers

Monday

Monday: A chance of showers after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

High: 72 °F

Chance
Showers

Monday Night

Monday Night: A chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Low: 48 °F

Chance
Showers then
Mostly Cloudy

Tuesday

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

High: 70 °F

Chance
Showers

Detailed Forecast
TodayA slight chance of showers between 3pm and 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 73. West wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
TonightA chance of showers before 1am, then a slight chance of showers after 5am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
SaturdayRain likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a north wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Sunday NightA chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Light west wind. Chance of

Harvest for Market today: Vegetables.... There are flowers too but no list is needed. See weather forecast : strong gusts !!!! they lift the heavy w**d fabric and have pulled it completely away as happened yesterday at 6pm. ...Four of us pulled the three adjoining 8' wide rows in the willow field back and put many staples and moresand bags down.Today we will laydown some ten ft to***co poles in the aisles ;;The holes for the seedlings are causing an uplift . later when the seedlings cover the holes it will net be a problem.Today though it is a panic.

1. lettuce leaves, fennel, scallions, beets (row 16 south end) kohlrabi 17 south end, kale 16 , cilantro 35 south end
2. look at starts at the brigham lane display: put id sticks in each pack. put those that are not so tall into the deeper black lugs and stack them in the yellow van .
3. I hope that Lenny will do signs again .
Lettuce sign: Come cut your own at Sunset Farm or fill a bag here : $5. cilantro bunch $4, Kale for life $4, Last chance to plant seed potatoes . spring beets red and yellow with greens.
Kohlrabi , everyone likes them...we waste the tops but shouldn't . $4 / bunch with tops.
4. Seed roma2 beans with your finger 8" apart each way in the blank section in the middle of row 52. Put an ID in too. We all will know beans but which beans are they is the question so we put a little white 4" stake with the name and seed # on it,at the Northend of ech patch .
5. Time to push in okra seeds in an entire plastic row . We have to make one more plastic row in the willow field for that. May be it will be row 49.
6. We have a big burn pile now in the chestnut field..let me know when you would like to see it/do it.
7. can we find a ball for the new farmall's drawbar so we can use it to pull the trailer around.

IMG_6407.JPG You can see a blue seed for sugar pumpkin in the hole : an animal that likes pumpkin seed dug them all up and ate them... I think it is a bird or a squirrel. Bruce Wilcox will redo this: he will staple over the seeds a section of white cover till they germinate and get a couple of real leaves. (at at the south end of the cuke row #8 I think)

IMG_6405.JPG Our potatoes are up...this was taken a few days ago they are big cluster now. Even so the Hadley field are a week ahead of us.

Done 805 am Bill Gillen

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

farm items today.. not hot today :perfect for transplanting (if you turn on the drip tape for the row on ) 1. plant fl...
05/28/2026

farm items today.. not hot today :perfect for transplanting (if you turn on the drip tape for the row on )

1. plant flower starts in the already 1/2 planted row . Connie is turning on the irrigating drip tape now so you will be planting into wet soil.

2. plant "turkish delight" -- an unlikely name for a popular shiny long eggplant at the south 80 feet of row 56 . The rest of that row is planted to "classic" eggplant. The flats are at the north foot of the row The row is still soaked from yesterday's irrigation.

3. Finish planting the 54 with Mariana plum tomatoes , the flats are there. I planted half way down the row last night in the shade. Bugs though.

4. Jason was able to do perfect sweeps of the aisles in the upperfields to take out the 2" w**ds,, lets continue that . do it again at the potato rows Today we also will set out the w**d fabric (16' wide ) for watermelon in the willow field where the over wintered spinach was.

5. fix the electric wire around the current berry row in the chestnut field row 90 or so. Pull out w**ds trying to squeeze into the berry holes.

6. cultivate the aisles in the swimming pool field rows 73,74,75

7. we have a 20' bare patch in row 52 : plant that to a double row of beans , 8" apart in the rows push the beans thru the plastic with your finger. Make a white id stake for with permanent black inc
put in the # of the seed ... we have 6 bean varieties . I will put a bag of seeds on the shed table. I will set out a bag of #3.05 "Roma 2" flat beans which will benefit from the black plastic since they are so long the ends often touch the ground and get a non perfect end.

8. The Deere left front tire came off again...it was repaired that morning by college motors who also delivered it. We need to replace the tire they said . I have to get a new one. meanwhile we will check the air pressure frequently. I love our compressors. We still have to go to a garage for filling a tubeless tractor tire. A Compressor larger than ours is required.
I felt old and was , when I asked Anita , a young customer ( and a professional soprano ) ,if she would help me remount our just-fixed tractor tire . I could not hold up the tire to match the holes and screw in a bolt at the same time. Done! I was able to drive the tractor that had been disabled and Anita drove golf cart to get back to the stand. Her maiden solo golf cart drive.


IMG_6402.JPG the tractor missing its left front wheel and the aisles in the swimming pool that I hope to till today. . Those w**ds show the impact of several truckloads of horse manure that were piled there last fall.

On my way down.... 748 am.

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

05/27/2026

1. The tire came off the front left rim this afternoon of the deere. I will bring it to College Motors in the morning.

2. All the peppers were planted yesterday by Bill and Bruce Wilcox in row 55. today

3. All the butternuts were planted today by Naomi , Holly and Bill .

4. Bruce seeded sugar pumpkin seeds at the south end of the cucumber row.

5. Today plant the eggplants in 56 : connect the drip irrigation and turn it on..before you start planting.

6. plant the plum (marianne tomatoes ) in row 53 . Hold off planting anything in 54 I hope to plant San Marzano tomatoes there.

7. I have to get a bag of 101010 to feritlize the watermelon row which I hope to plant tomorrow. Today we will spread the w**d fabric cover for alll the waterelons red and yellow in one row.
The major issue with w**d fabric is keeping the cover from blowing off. Even if it doesn't blow off , wind that gets under makes the fabric puff up adn fall back .This damages the tender seedlings. we add staples every 6 feet between the planted plugs. Removing the staples will be a major issue in the fall.

8. We should seed a couple of rows of beans now in the wilow field.

Weather ... whatever , we can't stop now.

42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Fair

57°F

14°C

Humidity 84%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 29.85 in (1011.1 mb)
Dewpoint 52°F (11°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 27 May 4:55 am EDT
More Information:

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

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming west 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

High: 87 °F

Partly Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind around 6 mph.

Low: 57 °F

Partly Cloudy

Thursday

Thursday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 74. North wind 8 to 15 mph.

High: 74 °F

Increasing
Clouds

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Low: 52 °F

Mostly Clear

Friday

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.

High: 74 °F

Partly Sunny

Friday Night

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Low: 51 °F

Chance
Showers

Saturday

Saturday: A chance of showers before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

High: 67 °F

Chance
Showers then
Mostly Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 6 to 10 mph.

Low: 45 °F

Partly Cloudy

Sunday

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

High: 72 °F

Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayPartly sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming west 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
TonightPartly cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind around 6 mph.
ThursdayIncreasing clouds, with a high near 74. North wind 8 to 15 mph.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
FridayPartly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
Friday NightA chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
SaturdayA chance of showers before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

--

No time for thought, I have to get the flat off the deere and bring it to College Motors

Bill @ 646am

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

1. plant mariana ( determinates that we grew last year too) tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in the plastic-covered rows...
05/26/2026

1. plant mariana ( determinates that we grew last year too) tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in the plastic-covered rows of the Deerfield. Do not plant in the row with the high stakes it is set for San Marzano plum tomatoes that have not been picked up at Harvest Farm yet. Plant everything 30" apart. Two and a half of your feet.

2. We have one big woodchuck that hides under our shed . It feeds when I nap in the afternoon. Get rid of it. We have set elec wires around row 17. I lowered the to 6" above the ground as it continues eating by going under the shock; The first day it was 2 plants as of last night it was 25 plants! I should not be affected so much, been there.

3. Today check the chestnut field: I think we have some cultivating to do with the seeded row and perhaps the potatoes are showing and could be cultivated with the farmalll too.

4. run the rotary push cultivator up and down the carrot rows/ Those 3 rows were cultivated with the farmall yesterday but need the last 2" eaither side swiped before the w**ds have to be pulled by hand. I wll leave the push cultivator leaning against the wash tub.

5. hoe or hand w**d the seeded red beet row ( 29 or so) in the willow field. Just east of the spring spinach row. Everyone will hand w**d a part of a row every day, it will keep you in touch. Ask others to come a long and experience a farm spell.

6. Connie has flower starts to plant too. Do not damage the drip tape that is under the black bioplastic rows. Keep an eye on where it is before you make a hole for a flower plug.

7. we have so much water and mud at the south end of the 15,16,17 18 rows . Lets bring bark mulch from our pile at the foot of Brigham Lane and spread it so we can at least walk on it without losing a shoe.

8. Burn holes, 30" apart, down the center of the new w**d fabric row I think it is #23. This row will be all butternut squash . The keeper squash that we will still be cooking in the spring of 27.
Might last longer than we .

IMG_6400.JPG It was a lot of work to roll out and try to tie down 3 8' rows of w**d fabric: I should have j rolled one 24' wide roll. That would mean we would have to fertilize using the drip tape. Between many of the sand bags there are landscape staples too. I hope our big drag magnet will find those we miss. when rolling it up again for next year
IMG_6399.JPG Rocket / stock flowers at the south end of the deerfield 50's rows. They create patches of fragrant fumes too. Since they live on the edge they have long stems . Is this why some cultures make tall people ? Life on the edge is a stretch. .
IMG_6398.JPG
ended at 644

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

Light NE rains for next two days it says. PERFECT for transplanting . We have at least one pancho and other rain gear. ...
05/24/2026

Light NE rains for next two days it says. PERFECT for transplanting . We have at least one pancho and other rain gear.

1. Plant peppers, eggplants in the 50's rows. Plant Mariana plum tomatoes in an unsticked row in the 50 rows too. They are determinate so they need 4' stakes not 5'. We'll install the stakes later plant them 30" apart :use the same spacing for the peppers and eggplants. I will bring 100 4' stakes to that row from the red barn this morning.

2. Remove the covers from the upper field. I found at my door this am, an amazon box of 50 gal 1.5 mil clear bags , specifically to store the covers in . I row , one bag, one clover.
Any deer damage now will be controlled with electric wires when it happens. And I will spray (using our 50 gal tractor pulled sprayer) Captain Jack's biological spinosad) as soon as I see the dancing white cabbage butterflies . Their eggs cause skeletonization in just a couple of days in the Brassica family. Spinosad is made from fermented soil bacteria:so I read. It might come today too.

3. Our farmers' market sales were great yesterday $998 . $600 last year, Big bags of loose lettuce $5 were the big hit. Compared to the very identicle highly printed , fashionable little bags at Whole foods they were so good that people came back for more a week later. ... or maybe the garden club perennial sale at the common brought more salad customers . If one threw it against the wall ... none would stick... gotta be a good sign. The six tubs of lettuce contained mixed green and red with some tubs , mesclun. I don't know if the mesclun was welcome or did they think I added some w**ds by mistake ?

We also had a few tubs of spring (Ashley ) spinach. Notable in that there were no "stems" so it was much easier to harvest.

4. Lennie Freidlander made little white bag signs so you could select the pepper or tomato variety without haveing to put your glasses on and try to read our six pack labels. Those little tags are extremely important to have back home because all pepper and tomatoes look alike. Lennie's signs are the best, they look at you.

5. We have to cultivate the aisles soon, before the w**ds make it a handpull project. As soon as possible the tilling should be done and the flail mower installed. I am thinking we could use a new rotary mower attached to the 9N when the other mower is not on the Deere. Our rotary mowers are so worn out that we need a new one ready to go on the 9N.

6. Come down just to drive around on our now fixed golf carts , give your feet and your appetite a rest and just tour around. Text me or tell me if you see something that needs doing.

IMG_6386.JPG broccoli row and cauliflower and a general early spring row are now ready to be uncovered Broccoli never looked so good ( likes our cool damp weather...and survived our way too hot weather last week. The broccoli is pushing the roof. see the bad row of w**ds next to the middle row? Next photo they will be gone.

IMG_6385.JPG Our row 23 in the willow field . The drip tape laid on top and held in place by a few staples. Notice the brass shut off with a long enough handle for old fingers to turn again the 40 psi pressure. Keeping the w**d fabric from blowing off is purpose of the sand bags and staples here and there too.
Hoops will be removed very carefully since one left in the field can kill the big rotary tiller for the season. They blend in the with color of the ground and are difficult to see.

done after breakfast and a haircut ( # 536 by Connie as in one every 8 weeks or so for 67 years. 955 am

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

Perfect weather 60' and cloudy se breeze when it comes. Do asap:1. complete planting the cuke row in the upper field ....
05/23/2026

Perfect weather 60' and cloudy se breeze when it comes.
Do asap:

1. complete planting the cuke row in the upper field . I left a flat in the row and there are more at the greenhouse. Fill the row.

2.Behind the north side of the greenhouse find and plant them in the row after the tomato stakes : #55 2 feet apart down the center DO NOT EVER HIT THE DRIP TAPE THAT IS UNDER THE PLASTIC. Begin row with the "red " on the nursery tag

3. the next row will be eggplants : start with " classic"

4. Plant the "indeteminate " big bee " and carolina tomatoes in the 5' high stake row in the upper field ) about row 8.

5. Thanks to Jason's love of technical puzzles, he fully repaired the dead roofed-golf cart. The hard part was lining up the bolt holes in reassembling the seat and roof. Both of the belts installed by the golf cart pro last fall were the wrong size about 1/4" too wide

6. I ran the drip tape down the topside of the w**d fabric in row 24 or so where we planted the zukes, cougars and kabocha squash . How are they doing? I loosely stapled the tape right adjacent to the single row.

7. cut spinach for yourself ,ready for the next 7 days of "ashley " spring seeded spinach in row 28 It has no "fat stems the cook doesn;; want"

8. jason or I will cultivate the carrot rows as well as aisles that need their edge w**ds gone. Do it now or hand hoe later and get bitten and burned.. Yes the first sounds of mosquitoes were noticed Thursday.

9. Nice to be assured by AI that our potatoes need 2-4 weeks to show , we're good. btw the seed potatoes can be eaten just knock off any sprouts first.

IMG_6386.JPG remove the covers over the broccoli and cauliflower , they are pushing to get out. Remove all the hoops put he covers in individaul plastic bags I will get abox of clear bags.
IMG_6385.JPG w**d fabric with drip tape on top .. zukes too. The brass shut off is great. The row to the left will be planted to acorn and delicata squash .
Keeping the fabric from blowing off is the big deal. We had used both sand bags and staples. Staples might cause flats if they are not removed when...but there is no alternative now..I'm sticking them in.
IMG_6373.JPG you have to remove the whole cargo bin to work on this engine. They are both working now!

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

Clear, stll and light since 5 am: had my coffee . Not hot for a few days. Farm Items1. harvest spinach both the overwin...
05/22/2026

Clear, stll and light since 5 am: had my coffee . Not hot for a few days.

Farm Items

1. harvest spinach both the overwintered and the new ashley spring spinach: we we will have all of our big tubs full , put them in the gray cooler immediately. The pressure washer will be at the ready at the wash stand to make those tubs clean first.

2. Harvest 4 metal tubs of spinach leaves.. put them in the cooler too with wet towels covering them so they don't wither.

3. In row 35 there are beets red and yellow pick golfball sized (not cherry size) beets . Careful with the tops since they are prized with young beets. Pressure wash the beets so they show their color.
lay them all lined up in shallow black lugs. , they will be bunched here or at the market into $4 bundles "BEETS WITH GREENS $4"is the sign.

4. Will Lenny Friedlander make bag signs this week?? hope so.

5. Pick chard in row 36 , cut the chard at the base, it will regrow. Cut what you can into a black tub. ( a cleaned tub that does not touch the ground and get muddy! put it in the gray cooler too.

6. Jason will reassemble the roofless cart this afternoon , almost in time. He probably doesn't know golf , but he has a sunset degree in golf carts mechanics now. Our little farm is appropriately an educational/skill school. If we had to trailer the cart to Southwick for repairs.... so much would not be getting done. Thank you.

7. We have all our tomato, eggplant, pepper , celery starts now to plant and to sell . Those going to the market must must have name sticks in each 6 pack. You can not not tell if a pepper is sweet or hot or a tomato is a cherry or a plum by looking at the leaves. TODAY !!! MAKE AND STICK IN STICKS IN EACH 6 PACK. Enjoy the shade and company at the table while making stick labels. Use a permant black pen.

8. Probably no rhubarb today: the stems must be fat let them grow fat and long , I will take a look and pick what I think is the right size.

9. Pick kohlrabi that are larger than a lemon in row 35 . Use a clipper to cut their very tough root.I doubt there is more than a dozen .

10. finish planting the cukes in the upper field row 8 or so. Yvon burned holes the entire length of that row for cukes. Replace those that have died in that row too.

11. I am waiting on 100 seedlings of San Marzano tomatoes : these will be planted in row 54 with the tall 5' stakes San Marzanos are indeterminate and need the height

12. Plant indeterminate Big beef in the upper field 5' high row of stakes. About row 6. Also carolina gold in the southern half of the row. (big yellow globular tomato) also indeterminates that grow till frost.

13. We have peppers and eggplants to plant in the already plasticed rows in the deerield : 57, 58 , 59 , 60

IMG_6381.JPG zukes, yellow (cougar) squash, and kabocha planted in next rows 7" away will be planted the other squashes. This is to eliminate the w**ds that we can't keep up with in vine row. This is black w**d fabric fro Walmart! ( as in China) Planted last night by Naiomi, Connie 2, Yvon , and another friend ( I know but can't remember) It was thrilling to get so much done so fast.
IMG_6373.JPG Jason jumped right on repairing the roofed-golf cart. He had to remove the cargo back to get at the service hole. Many repair operations are incredibly difficult to get to ... and they all bruise your hands. It might be be operational this afternoon.
IMG_6379.JPG flowers discovered under the chestnut trees might be incorporated in arrangements today. Strudi's phone app says they are " star of bethlehem"

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

Fair

43°F

6°C

Humidity 79%
Wind Speed NE 5 mph
Barometer 30.35 in (1028.2 mb)
Dewpoint 37°F (3°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill 40°F (4°C)
Last update 22 May 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: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

High: 69 °F

Partly Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind.

Low: 48 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Saturday

Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

High: 65 °F

Cloudy then
Slight Chance
Showers

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Showers, mainly after 11pm. Low around 45. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Low: 45 °F

Showers

Sunday

Sunday: Showers. High near 55. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

High: 55 °F

Showers

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Low: 50 °F

Showers
Likely

Memorial Day

Memorial Day: A chance of showers before 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

High: 76 °F

Chance
Showers

Monday Night

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind.

Low: 55 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Tuesday

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon.

High: 84 °F

Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayPartly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
TonightMostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind.
SaturdayA slight chance of showers after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday NightShowers, mainly after 11pm. Low around 45. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New

--

Done at 658am

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

Address

20 Brigham Lane
Amherst, MA
01002

Telephone

+14133745193

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