[CH] Tornado, Floods, & Open Fields 2004
jim@wildpepper.com
Tue, 01 Jun 2004 19:45:22 -0500
Greetings all!
Just got done moving the chiles down to the fields today. As those of
you who pay attention to the news might have noted, we've had a bit of
weather move through these parts ;-) Once again, the Open Fields event
survived (through the Grace of God) another VERY near miss... even
closer than the last one! A tornado moved through the south side of
Indy missing the chiles in the greenhouse by a scant 100 yards (last
year was 400 yards- they're getting closer! :-) The greenhouse took
some damage (missing glass, missing houses- but not the one with the
chiles!) but is otherwise doing okay. I've moved just over 7,000 chiles
down to the fields and hope to have them planted later this week...
provided the torrential amounts of rain we're having abate :-) We'll
have over entire acre of chiles to run nekkid in, if so desired. Again,
I plan NO harvest at all from this field- it is being planted strictly
for your alls' enjoyment- no restrictions on harvest at all. Help
yourselves!!!
Jeff is putting the final touches on the 2004 Poster as we 'speak' and I
hope to have it up on the site within a couple of weeks. "Amber waves
of pain" is the theme and it features Scott's (KCK) chile habanero
pepper brand on a typical Indiana farm field- pretty cool if I do say so
myself! There does lurk some talent on this list... as if any of us
would be surprised at that!
The dates of the Open Fields this year are the same as last year-
September 24, 25 26, though you're welcome to stay later, arrive earlier
as is needed. If anyone is needing help, directions, bus fare, or
anything else, please contact me off list. Though I'll believe it when
I see it, FoodTV is rumoured to be planning another film expedition to
the event (Roker Productions).
The chiles, with the exception of the Chimayo and Tabasco again, are
looking pretty good. John T's (thanks again) oddball stuff had a near
100% germination rate (60 plants) and we'll also have TONS of Fatili's
and Manzano's... if they survive till then. All three of those
varieties are nearly 18" tall already! There should be a pretty good
mix of ALL types- from Mild to Wild of course :-P I'll have 4 varieties
of Habanero, several Frutescens, LOTS of Annumns, Pubescens, and
Godonlyknowswhatelse :-) Lots of mild roasting chiles as well- be sure
to bring the torch Hobby :-)
I hope to see bunches of people here. The I-69 project is scheduled to
overlay HWY 37 and is expected to have a MAJOR impact on the fields-
they're talking about a 2,000' wide control zone which would carve out a
big chunk of the fields. I can't say for certain that this will be the
last one, but before too much longer, there will be needed some MAJOR
changes to the event.
Consider this the 2nd official announcement and invite :-) 1 or 2 more
coming.
-Jim C
Mild to Wild(R)