Holy mackerel, we heard it might happen but we went to bed thinking “gee, it’s surely not going to really snow…” But snow covered the ground early this morning and temps reached 32° F. Luckily, the snow also blanketed our tomatoes that are still out — uncovered — after the last frost a few days ago. So they didn’t freeze. But really, snow the first week of October? Sigh. Oh well, yesterday we picked two trailer loads of pumpkins, squash, and gourds from the very muddy North garden. We won’t be getting in there any time soon as we also had an inch of rain before that snow. It was bad enough before the rain. I picked two 5-gallon buckets full of gourds in the mud and put my back out. Too much dragging my muddy feet and bending over, I guess.

We woke up with snow on the ground this morning!

Today I’ve got a roaster pan full of tomato sauce cooking down in the oven, which I’ll be turning into more spaghetti sauce this afternoon. There are also tons of tomatoes on the front porch waiting to have their seeds saved and more tomato sauce to be made. (If you’d like to find lots of tomato based products to can up, check out my book, Growing and Canning Your Own Food, available through BHM.)

My fingers prune up quickly, seeding tomatoes on the porch during days that are only 40 degrees.

I picked more beans yesterday after the back thing. Some were wonderful Goose Gullet beans we love, which we got from British Columbia. I wish they had a different name as Will and I were joking about having a nice batch of baked Goose Gullets for supper. It doesn’t sound too appetizing, does it?

Will is busy cleaning out the training ring as it has a huge pile of rotted manure in it, which didn’t get cleaned out for a few years. He’s filling the manure spreader, hauling it way around the North garden, and spreading it on a several acre pasture on the north side of it. That makes a long trip, all that way, but he only has a few more trips and that job will be finished. We have butcher steers which need to go in the training ring for fattening soon, and we need it much cleaner for them. To clean out that mucky mess, he’s using the Case crawler/loader on tracks to get around.

David has been busy lately after work. He borrowed his brother, Bill’s, Bobcat skid-steer and is cleaning up around his new cabin. There are lots of smaller stumps, plenty of rocks, and brush he wants to clear out before winter hits. The skid-steer is doing a great job and he’ll actually have a yard when he gets done — very nice!

David is busy, cleaning up stumps, rocks, trees, and brush. He is making a new yard around his cabin.

— Jackie

19 COMMENTS

  1. Hello Miss Jackie…it was wonderful to see your porch looking so full. What a great feeling! Glad to read you are doing better! Sheryl/Pyro

    • Why howdy Pyro! We LOVE this time of the year as finally all the summer’s work pays off in BIG dividends. We are so blessed!

  2. Speaking of saving seeds – where is the best place to store them? Basement that is dry and not too warm?

    • The very best spot is in an airtight container in the freezer, where they will stay viable nearly forever. Next best? The fridge. But a cool basement that is not damp works well; it’s what I use for most of our seed.

  3. Sorry to hear about your back. Just nurse it along the best you can, maybe some stretches too? SNOW EEKKK!!! Not ready for that yet!

    Your tomatoes and peppers are so beautiful and of course just thinking about all of your gourds and pumpkins!!! Makes my mouth water!

    Can’t wait for your catalog this year! Take care!

    • Good news; the back is much better. I get plenty of stretches harvesting. Lol! We are so blessed to have all this great food which is now all over our house.

  4. Wish you could change your web page to include your location. I forget where you are. I love reading your blogs. I’m in northern calif. But I did 5 years in Marquette michican, so I know snow!!!

  5. We have been blessed thus far not having frost in Duluth. I know it is coming soon though but as we all hope it stays away as long as possible. I always wonder where summer went as fall is here and all the preparation before winter takes so much time in such a short number of days. We still have about 18 cords of wood to stack. Thankfully it is all cut and split already. Plan on digging potatoes, beets and carrots this weekend. Hope your back gets better. Having a hurting back when so much to do is so vary hard.

    • It sure is. But the back is getting much better now. Most of our wood is in but we still have to dig potatoes and carrots.

  6. So sorry about your back…that will make fall harvest so much harder. Sending healing your way. Blessings as you tackle this season’s bounty….even the grass is beautiful there.

    • We are sometimes overwhelmed at the bounty around us. I’m so glad you love our seeds as we do.

  8. Hi Jackie, we had 97 degrees today in North Georgia. We set a new record for this date. Hopefully, it’s to cool off next week. We seldom get snow, we usually get a dusting once or twice a year. Of course, around here everything closes because we don’t have snow clearing equipment. Everyone runs to the store for milk and bread. The shelves are empty in a matter hours. That’s the South.

    • Wow, 97! I hope you cooled off too. That’s a bit warm for this time of the year, even for Georgia.

  10. Hi Jackie- Snow!There was 100cm (about4ft)in southern Alberta last week! Happy I live on Vancouver Island! I do love snow but not at the beginning of October. What a harvest on the front porch. I’d love to get your seed catalogue. Where do I send for it? You are an amazing family!

    • Wow! Four FEET of snow is a lot. I won’t complain any more. You can just click on the Seed Treasures box on this blog or give me your address and I’ll send you a catalog. Just e-mail me at jackieclay2007@yahoo.com.

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