Sunset Farm

10/23/2026

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

Fair

40°F

4°C

Humidity 69%
Wind Speed NE 7 mph
Barometer 30.26 in (1025.1 mb)
Dewpoint 31°F (-1°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill 35°F (2°C)
Last update 23 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: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

High: 56 °F

Patchy Frost
then Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Widespread frost, mainly after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 23. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 23 °F

Frost

Saturday

Saturday: Widespread frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind.

High: 60 °F

Frost then
Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Widespread frost, mainly after midnight. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 26. Calm wind.

Low: 26 °F

Frost

Sunday

Sunday: Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. Light and variable wind.

High: 62 °F

Areas Frost
then Sunny

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: Patchy frost after 1am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind.

Low: 32 °F

Clear then
Patchy Frost

Monday

Monday: Areas of frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. Light west wind.

High: 68 °F

Areas Frost
then Sunny

Monday Night

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

Low: 38 °F

Mostly Clear

Tuesday

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

High: 57 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayPatchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 7 to 9 mph.
TonightWidespread frost, mainly after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 23. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SaturdayWidespread frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind.
Saturday NightWidespread frost, mainly after midnight. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 26. Calm wind.

That means "killing frost"
Bundle up for our 5 am trip to the market wth the yellow van, blue tractor and pumpkin loaded trailer.

Yesterday and today... tomorrow is our last Saturday Market , it will frost tonight so the yellow van can be loaded during the day .if it is kept in the shade. No need to put lugs of anything in a cooler.
1. 15 quart bags of nuts were made, we have another full lug of nuts to bag for tomorrow's market . They are in the locked gray cooler. When bagging look for any that have splits, holes, or are too small to use. Screening the nuts you bag is the most important issue.
2. pick cilantro : cut them at the gound so it is as long as possible. Last week ( a very successful week) the cilantro had not been bundled : customers made their own.) Cut a full lug.
3. If we have " time and energy" to pick good arugula leaves and leave them loose in a lug.
4. Cut a lug of flat and curly parsley
5. bag 5 more bags of potatoes 7lbs for $5.
6. Put all the pumpkins left in the trailer now . Put two lugs of butternut and acorn squash in the trailer too ( just so much easier than stacking them in the van. after climbing up into the van. )
7. Use a towel to make the squash cleaner.
8. pack wreaths two in a lug. Put in the van.
9. The flowers tomorrow will be on one table and there will be no bouquets.
10. Pull a lugfull of scallion bunches: do not pull the bunches apart, do not grab them and pull, use a spade to loosen them . We do not have a power washer (it is stored at s. prospect st basement out of frost) So trim the roots, swish , brush the bottom Put a rubber band 10" up from the roots on each bunch. and lay them in a lug.
11. Make 4 lb net bags of onions ..all of them.
12. pick any broccoli we have for the market: there is no cauliflower yet .

The john deere tractor will be towed by Bob to his garage in Chicopee on Sunday: it is overheating, runs as if the brakes are on, the battery light is on and the rear hydraulics only sometimes work.
All this occured at once! As a result we will simply disk down what is left in the field and sow rye over all.
We also can't spread manure without it so I will put off getting it delivered till we are sure we can spread it.
The chestnuts are done , they may continue to drop but so are the leaves even a drone would have trouble finding them.
Yesterday afternoon Shiela Wu visited while I napped. I hope she took a bag or two of our Norland potatoes that she planted. Sheila's sister, who lives in the Philippines ,was with her. I woke to find a bunch of packages of Cebu dried mango on the kitchen table. Chewy treats the house loved. One of those times I wish I had been awake. Thank you for helping us and thank you for visiting.
Plan on coming for a week ( or longer) next spring....

IMG_6760.JPG our tomatoe and flower stakes as stored for the winter at the Fearing st barn: they are hardwood and last forever if they are kept dry.
Also , any pile at the farm is a home for chucks. That means the pile would be a mess, since Clover hunts.

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

Send a message to learn more

10/21/2026

No frost : sunny cool day
Yesterday
Connie made one wreath, Barbara V and Yoko rolled up the w**d fabric at row 52 .. (wonderful) , I mowed , harrowed and seeded the mid section of the upperfield. , a couple of lbs of nuts were picked ... they are big ...Barbara V cut down all the okra, The fire dept came down to check our burn sites and verify that we qualify for AG-burns. He also renewed our license.

Do today

1.Continue harrowing in the mid upperfield I think I am down to the broccoli.. you can tell by the tire tracks left by the seed spreader amd tractor . Harrow in the seeds I sowed yesterday.
2. mow the eggplant /pepper rows in the deerfield then harrow and sow starting with the west edge of the pumpkin row.
3. pick up the okra stalks and bring to #2 new burn pile in the chestnut field
4. roll up the pumpkin row w**d fabric. pick up the sandbags first. Pull out staples .
5. mow down the basil row.
6. While resting , shuck the chestnuts that are in the gray cooler. throw out small olive size chestnuts, those with cracks and holes , put the remaining in a large bowl of water to identify floaters... throw floaters out. Take the remaining perfect nuts and bag them in the red net bags with the white label. Fill a quart then dump it into the net back.... fast and easy. We are selling one quart bags of nuts. No weighing necessary. $6/ quart .
Put the lug of bagged chestnuts into the locked gray cooler.
7. put all the pumpkins in the trailer and put a sign saying any pumpkins :$8.
8. Get some sales bags from the white van and hang them at the yellow cooler.
9. remove the 6x6 netting using the forks on the deere at the flower rows including the at the swimming pool. Pull out the two drip tapes remaining in that field also. Connie says the flower rows in the swimming pool field can be mowed down now.
IMG_7327.jpg Connie is picking our strawflowers for dryflower bouquets.

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

A Few Clouds

44°F

7°C

Humidity 70%
Wind Speed N 9 mph
Barometer 30.27 in (1025.5 mb)
Dewpoint 34°F (1°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill 39°F (4°C)
Last update 21 Oct 7:55 am EDT
More Information:

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

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.

High: 58 °F

Patchy Frost
then Mostly
Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 7 mph.

Low: 40 °F

Partly Cloudy

Thursday

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

High: 62 °F

Sunny

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Low: 35 °F

Clear

Friday

Friday: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

High: 54 °F

Patchy Frost
then Sunny

Friday Night

Friday Night: Patchy frost after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 30. Light north wind.

Low: 30 °F

Patchy Frost

Saturday

Saturday: Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 59. Light and variable wind.

High: 59 °F

Areas Frost
then Sunny

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind.

Low: 30 °F

Clear

Sunday

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

High: 63 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayPatchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.
TonightPartly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 7 mph.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 62. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Thursday NightClear, with a low around 35. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
FridayPatchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Friday NightPatchy frost after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 30. Light north wind.

--

now 834am

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

10/20/2026

Weather... great temp . Shadows you can't see in.
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Fair

36°F

2°C

Humidity 93%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 30.22 in (1023.8 mb)
Dewpoint 35°F (2°C)
Visibility 9.00 mi
Last update 20 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: Patchy frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

High: 64 °F

Patchy Frost
then Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 8 mph.

Low: 40 °F

Mostly Clear

Wednesday

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind around 9 mph.

High: 58 °F

Mostly Sunny

Wednesday Night

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 6 mph.

Low: 37 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Thursday

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

High: 63 °F

Sunny

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Low: 38 °F

Mostly Clear

Friday

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 10 to 14 mph.

High: 52 °F

Sunny

Friday Night

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Low: 33 °F

Mostly Clear

Saturday

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

High: 58 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayPatchy frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
TonightMostly clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 8 mph.
WednesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind around 9 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 6 mph.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 63. North wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 38. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
FridaySunny, with a high near 52. North wind 10 to 14 mph.
Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Today items to do

1. roll up the now unstapled and loose black w**d fabric next to the b sprouts. I will pick the roll up with the Deere
2. pick any hot peppers with color for Connie's wreath making
3.take a quick walk for more nuts , then shuck those that are stored in the gray cooler.
4. remove 6x6 mesh from all flower rows
5. move he pumpkins at the yellow shed to the trailer.. I will move the trailer so it is directly in front of the yellow cooler.
6. chain saw into 20" lengths the wood under the chalkboard and elsewhere. Add branches around the shed and yellow cooler to the ashes of
yesterday's burn (near the wash tub)
7. mow down the eggplant and peppers , cut down the rest of the okra with the electric clippers bring it to a burn pile.
harrow the deerfield and sow rye, then disk harrow again.

Yesterday

Diner-breakfast for Iman who is returning to Egypt today. Connie said the diner ,by Stop and Shop ,was perfect. Good time had by all.
Iman will come back ;not known when, but for sure after the onions are planted.

Bob Cyr came up with his tool laden truck about 4 pm : The battery light did not show up on the Deere dashboard and the voltage readings of the battery ,with and without ,a load were acceptable (ten year old battery at that) ..No one knows why "battery" came up in red ,now and then , on the dashboard. The rear hydraulic lines suddenly became active and normal after Bob lifted the front shovel to its highest point and then lowered it. Must have been an "air bubble" in the hydraulic fluid. Up till then, he had been just making plans to come back today with the trailer and bring it home to Chicopee to fix it . Instead Bob took home a pumpkin and vegetables.

Brbara Van removed staples and rolled up the w**d fabric at row 52 . Rolling it up ( 225' long ) was more exercise than you would get at a health club... what a deal!
image1.jpeg Iman reporting for work ... and I don't look that happy very often.

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

10/19/2026

Now it is 36 went to 30 earlier. Rest of the week is warmer..will be sunny

our local forecast office is
Norton, MA

Autumn Temperatures for Eastern Third of the Country; Developing Offshore Coastal Storm
Cooler and less humid conditions for most of the eastern third of the nation as high pressure dominates the weather pattern. Otherwise, rather tranquil weather for most of the nation for the end of the weekend into the start of this week. We continue to monitor a developing coastal storm offshore of the Carolinas; Coastal flooding and beach erosion possible along portions of the Mid-Atlantic. Read More >

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

Fair

36°F

2°C

Humidity 80%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 30.55 in (1035.1 mb)
Dewpoint 31°F (-1°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 18 Oct 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: Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind.

High: 57 °F

Patchy Frost
then Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Patchy frost after midnight. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind.

Low: 30 °F

Clear then
Patchy Frost

Monday

Monday: Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a high near 62. Light north wind.

High: 62 °F

Areas Frost
then Mostly
Sunny

Monday Night

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph after midnight.

Low: 40 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Tuesday

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 9 to 11 mph.

High: 64 °F

Partly Sunny

Tuesday Night

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

Low: 38 °F

Partly Cloudy

Wednesday

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.

High: 58 °F

Sunny

Wednesday Night

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Low: 40 °F

Partly Cloudy

Thursday

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

High: 62 °F

Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayPatchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind.
TonightPatchy frost after midnight. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind.
MondayAreas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a high near 62. Light north wind.
Monday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph after midnight.
TuesdayPartly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 9 to 11 mph.
Tuesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

--

Today
0.9 Roll up the two aisles of black w**d plastic where the onions were , rows 50 . 51 They have a lot
of staples holding them down.
1. walk the chestnut grove give it a 15-minute walk for big ones. Yesterday, 3 lbs were picked up, lovely large ones.
2. Disk and sow rye seed in the upper field. Seed where you , around islands of blooms and ornamentals (for next week's market and wreaths.)
3. I didn't burn yesterday,... I will burn small piles in the upperfield today.. rake up the small wood in the area where the tree fell as well as small stuff here and there (next to the trash barrels)
4. Remove the drip tapes from the swimming pool field , just tie the ends to the golf cart , drive away pulling up the drip tape as you go. put the tapes in the yellow van . I will take them to our dumpster.
5. pull the 6x6 netting off the flower rows in the swimming pool field. Pull up all stakes which go to the barn
6. cut down the rest of the okra row and bring the stalks to the new small burn pile in the chestnut field. ( where we burn , we need a hose)
7. bring more pumpkins up to our stand.
8. roll up the surface mounted drip tape at the pumpkin row

Yesterday.

While lifting the 6x6 of the upperfield flower rows, the rear hydraulics got very slow. Also the battery light came up on the dash intermittently. I called Bob Cyr who will be up this afternoon.after work. (Jason is on vacation this week) Bob noted it is the original battery ... more than 5 years old.
IMG_6736.JPG at the upper left you can see a bit of the 6x6 pvc mesh that holds up the zinnias. The zinnias died with the frost and now the netting must be pulled out or it will tangle the mower.
I asked about "zinnia" : Carl Linnaeus named the genus Zinnia in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn, an 18th-century German botanist, professor of medicine, and anatomist.
Linnaeus gave the flower this name to recognize Zinn's pioneering botanical work, which included writing early, detailed descriptions of the plant and studying specimens brought over from Mexico.

He also named plants for people who paid him to.

902 am now

Bill

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

10/16/2026

Weather -- 27 degrees Sat night. all the zinnias, lizzies ,eggplant, pepper , beans will be killed. Napa, b sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, scallions, parsley, chard will be fine.

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

Overcast

54°F

12°C

Humidity 86%
Wind Speed S 6 mph
Barometer 29.91 in (1013.3 mb)
Dewpoint 50°F (10°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill 52°F (11°C)
Last update 16 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: Showers. Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. High near 68. South wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

High: 68 °F

Showers and
Patchy Fog
then Showers
Likely

Tonight

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 11pm. Low around 44. West wind 7 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Low: 44 °F

Showers then
Mostly Cloudy

Saturday

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

High: 51 °F

Decreasing
Clouds

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 27 °F

Clear

Sunday

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

High: 56 °F

Sunny

Sunday Night

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

Low: 33 °F

Mostly Clear

Monday

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

High: 59 °F

Mostly Sunny

Monday Night

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Light north wind.

Low: 37 °F

Partly Cloudy

Tuesday

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 6 mph.

High: 64 °F

Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayShowers. Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. High near 68. South wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
TonightShowers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 11pm. Low around 44. West wind 7 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
SaturdayMostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Saturday NightClear, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SundaySunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind.

yesterday:A beautiful day
Phyllis bagged potatoes for the market. Tim Farnham and I disked and seeded the upper half of the upper field to Rye. I pulled the seeder and Tim followed with the discs. A wonderful sense of completion.
Connie and Lisa Adis cut flowers and made bouquets, Lenny prepared signs
The drip tape for 10 rows has been pulled... the dumpster looks funny. Nice to have a van.

-
IMG_6751.JPG

Today- raincoats till noon.

1. bag 4 lbs for $4 net onion bags
2. bag chestnuts in lb net bags check each nut to be sure it is perfect.
3. harvest personal cabbages and a bunch of scallions .
4. cut all the broccoli
5. pick all the flat trellised beans.
6. pick a lug of rubberbanded Napa cabbage
7. fill the trailer with pumpkins
8. pick all the eggplant (frost Saturday night) and peppers.
9. bring the new baskets to the market shallow "bushel baskets made in India"
10. Get Chard, fennel, cilantro, parsley,
11. cut down the rest of the okra row and lug it to the burn-pile #2 in the chestnut field. Pile #1 is too high.

done at 733 am
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

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