Will is busy discing our new pasture on the new 40 acres so it’ll be ready to plant in pasture seeding next spring. I’m trying to get our garden and orchard put to bed for winter. So far, I’ve got the orchard pruned of shoots, broken branches, and branches that have grown so they cross and got the trunks either wrapped with metal window screen or plastic tree trunk wraps. Without this protection, voles (field mice) tunnel under the snow and eat the bark of these young trees, girdling and killing the trees. You won’t notice the damage until the snow melts and you are left with bare, white rings around each tree trunk. So, to protect our trees we are sure to do this each and every fall, before the snow falls.

My next project is taking the tomato vines out of the cages, burning the vines, and stacking the cages and stakes on the side of the garden for next year. We burn our tomato and potato vines to prevent the spread of any disease that might be present and also to kill any insect pests that are trying to over-winter in the vines. We did have potato bugs this year for the first time and we sure don’t want them back next year!

I’m still canning up a storm, nearly every day. The next two projects are Amish coleslaw and barbecue sauce. We had our first 2012 Hopi Pale Grey squash for dinner last night and boy-oh-boy was it good!

6 COMMENTS

  1. I got my original Hopi Pale Grey squash from Baker Creek Heirloom seeds. I only bought one envelope and have saved seeds for subsequent crops. HPG is one of the best varieties I have found to grow here in the southwest, it is where they are from after all. Many of the oldtimers I know prefer it to hubbard or butternut squash.

  3. Tauna,
    YES. Hopi Pale Grey squash make a terrific pumpkin pie! It’s the only one I use when I want to bake one.
    And, yep, I’m still busy. That happens all year, but we’re getting so much accomplished, too. It feels real good!
    You can use your squash any time, but they’re best after a few weeks of storage. We usually have a hard time waiting, so we break one open after only a short time!

    Jackie

  4. Cindy,

    Just send a SASE to the magazine (padded is safest!!) and they’ll forward requests on to us. I have plenty of seed as we’re starting to eat our 2012 crop. Delicious!

    Jackie

  5. Jackie! Sounds like you are STILL so busy.
    I love putting the garden to bed and planning what I’m going to plant next year.
    I grew Hopi Pale Grey this year and have about 10 wonderful big squash. Do you use them for pumpkin pie? I have yet to try to cut into one yet. I didn’t know if they needed to cure or ripen more off the vine.

    Thanks for all you share. You are a treasure.

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