odd one out

odd one out, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Stranger 3/100 Rock

Stranger 3/100 Rock, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Sunday my family went to Rombach Farms pumpkin patch. While my son, daughter and I picked our pumpkins in short order, my husband was still undecided, and continued to look for that elusive perfect carving pumpkin. His pumpkin hunt brings to mind a certain Halloween classic, doesn't it?

While hubby was in search of the great pumpkin, I zeroed in on this fellow as he was restocking pumpkins off of a flatbed farm truck. I asked him if he was a Rombach, he replied, no, he wasn't one, but he had married the only girl. I then asked if I could take his picture for my 100 stranger Flickr group, and he wasn't so sure--I reassured him my intent was to take photo's of people I didn't know, not "strange" people. This brought a chorus of laughter from the other workers up on the farm truck. He allowed the photo's, and when I asked his name, he simply replied Rock. So, stranger number 3 is Rock of Rombach Farms.

www.rombachsfarm.com/



This picture is #3 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Rock, stranger, no let's say, new friend number 3, restocking the inventory.

Rock taking some good natured ribbing from the photo shoot.

My crew, on the annual hunt.

Yes!

Bonnie and Clyde made their annual appearance.

Still on the hunt.

KEEP OFF means....??

Now these are some Great Pumpkins.

I can't tell you how long he looked, but I can tell you I took most of my photo's while he was in search of the  Great Pumpkin. Too much Charlie Brown as a kid, oh Linus....

My selection, it smelled just like watermelon when I carved into it.

A mountain of pumpkins, it looks like a large lumpy piece of candy corn, doesn't it?

Time to head home for some pumpkin carving.

Stranger 2/100 Sharon

I bought Shiitake mushrooms from Sharon of Valley View Farm today, she is my 2nd of 100 strangers. The 100 Stranger's is a group I belong to on Flickr, I joined the 100 strangers group to further my photo journalism interest.

The McCann's own 60 forested acres. During the economy downturn they were looking for ways they could make money with their land without cutting down the trees. They discovered Shiitake growing through a program at Missouri University's agriculture outreach. It's an interesting process:

Inoculation is placing the spawn into the logs so that the 

Shiitake fungus can grow through the wood. Holes are usually 

drilled into the log, filled with spawn, and then covered with 

wax or other material to seal in moisture and protect against 

contamination. Once the Shiitake fungus colonizes the log the first 'fruiting' takes place in roughly 18 mos. 

You can purchase some delectable Shitake's or their farm fresh eggs next weekend, Saturday, October 13 from 9-12 at the Farmers Market at The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis for the last market of the season.

Or, wait...

They will continue to take orders and meet you at The Meadows after the Farmer's Market closes for the season. Contact them at valleyviewfarmproduce@gmail.com. Friend them on FaceBook.

McCann Forest Farm/Valley View Farm Warrenton, MO

Contacts: Richard, Sharon & James McCann

Eggs, Shiitake Mushrooms, produce, craft lumber, laundry soap

This picture is #2 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

 Valley View Farm Shiitake Mushrooms

Defiance

Defiance, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Along the KATY trail.

October Whites

October Whites, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

A collection of autumn pictures with a white theme.

Lake Gazebo

Lake Gazebo, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Forest Park in St. Louis.

Rural Missouri

Rural Missouri, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.