Pretty darned good, despite the drought, heat, and rain, rain, rain. Some crops, like most of the corn, had to be replanted. But now the earliest is starting to tassel. Most of the squash is awesome. And we have some huge Olinka naked seeded pumpkins this year — twice as big as “normal!” The Provider green bush beans are putting out like they always do. I should be picking a big bunch tomorrow to get canned up.
Meanwhile, our friend, Sherri, went and picked a huge batch of chokecherries she didn’t want to use and asked me if I would like them. Heck yes! Then Will went out to the berry patch fence where there are a couple of very productive chokecherries I can’t get to with the golf cart. He came back with another ice cream bucket loaded. I’ll be doing chokecherry syrup tomorrow and the next day, as well as the green beans. Thank God for the Mehu Liisa steam juicer. Using that gives me tons more juice with no work at all but cleaning and setting it up. It does take several hours on the stove, however. (Don’t believe the directions, which say 2 or 3 hours. Twice that!)
I had a crazy experience getting our AC compressor in the car repaired. After waiting for an appointment for 2 weeks of very hot weather and only one window that would go down, I went in yesterday. I sat for 3 hours while they put in a new one. Yep, lots of cold air! Yea! To celebrate both Will’s work on the haybine and the car’s getting fixed, we went to China Buffett for dinner. Late, like 8 o’clock. When we got out, it was nearly dark and getting cool. I turned the heater on a bit. Oh oh. No heat! Long story short, I took it in and they found out that the NEW compressor they’d put in was defective and not working. Have to put in another one … in two weeks! Only our luck! It was almost funny. Almost.
— Jackie
Fortunately, no big and threatening wild fires here in far north California. This is dry country, too. We get few, if ever, thunderstorms. No rain in summer. Wildfire is a very good reason to have a bug-out place. Here in far north California, a number of primitive, remote, unimproved acreages in our foothills and mountains have been on the market this summer; most at a decent price. They would all make a good bug-out place. We have a motorhome that is our bug-out place. Loaded and ready to go, should we evacuate. My garden has not done well this year. I tried to germinate and then transplant early. It did not work. My plants would not take-off and grow well until the hot heat arrived in July; kinda late. I thought our zone 9, temperate zone-banana belt would help, but it did not. The bear was here early and took our first crop of peaches, but seems to be absent while I wait for our fan-stil pears to ripen and fujis, crispins, and granny smiths, also. And turns out, I get all the almonds and figs this year.
Hi Jackie- lifes up and downs! We have an out of control wildfire VERY close to my town and Im on the edge of the fire. My sister lost her home and all outbuildings two years ago in a wildfire so im very tuned in to how quickly the situation can get out of control. I left town and stayed with family for a week. Thank God we got rain and the amazing fire crews got to map the perimeter of the fire and started building a barrier closest to our town. They amaze me the work they do under unbelievable conditions.
A shout out to those brave hard working fire fighters. Im home again but will keep bags packed for the time being. Wild fires are so unpredictable and I urge everyone to be prepared for very quick evacuation. We all have situations that are tough. I guess my message is hope for the best and prepare for the unexpected these days. Jackie you and Will are wonderful examples of this!
Luckily my garden is ok despite heat and winds and no watering for a week. Thankful for that rain and Gods grace!
Wow, we’ll pray for you. Yes, wildfires are nothing to take for granted!! In Montana, we had several fairly near to us so we were also packed (travel trailer and stock trailer for the critters) and ready to go. I’ve fought fires, myself, in the way-past along with the crews and planes. Things can change in a heartbeat so keep an eye out until it gets under control. Even 80% containment is not safe.
There are virtually no chokecherries in the woods near our place, been a very dry year in western Colorado. Even the chokes we planted up by our house are struggling and they get watered regularly. Bears are going to be hurting this fall, no acorns either.
Yep, we had a summer like that a few years ago. We had not wild fruit, the grass and wild plants dried up and we were worried for the poor bears, going into hibernation not fat enough.
Well I will say that if I had to chose between no heat and no A/C, I’d take no A/C any day. Defective new anything is far too common these days.
Not a fan of climate change is all I can say. Mice in our detached garage and a mummified one in the attic. Better half things due to heat, I am of the opinion winter will be here sooner than later. I am already experiencing static electricity which, to me, is a sign of sooner than later winter.
With the exception of asparagus, it has been a highly productive garden season. Plenty to eat, plenty to share, plenty to put up (produced a lot but we need to plant more potatoes – better half will be on board for the expanded tater patch).
Nasty hot and humid today but I managed to do some weeding. It is looking better though a lot more work to be done. But all the “tall” weeds are gone and that is a mental boost.
There is nothing better than gorging on BLTs with home grown tomatoes, local bread, and local butcher shop bacon. If we can’t grow/raise/make it ourselves, local is where our dollars go.
Ours too, if we can. Of course in Northern Minnesota, we can’t source seedless grapes or even sweet table grapes locally, nor oranges, etc. But we really don’t eat many trucked in foods. Glad you got rid of the tall weeds. We still have way too many in way too many places. Ugh! But, over all, the gardens are starting to put out. I just canned up another big batch of Provider green beans and there are still tons out there. I’m leaving them for seed as everyone I know has plenty. I don’t have time to pick them for the food shelves, which I hate.
Your picking for someone else to grow and fill their own food shelves. I’ve had to compost a couple of cukes that got too big. But I figure it it not going to waste per se.
I’m chuking all my cucumbers; they are so bitter!
I have the exact same steam juicer. I LOVE it. I got mine shortly after you got yours. After seeing it on your blog I fell in love with it.
And every single time I use it I remember the wonderful group at one of our seminars who gifted it to me!! It sure makes juicing much easier and more productive. I get more than twice as much juice as when I used the old boil and jelly bag method.
It is sooo hot here; I can’t imagine not having cool air in the car. I’m sure glad you got the air fixed. But we don’t go many places; but I do go to local Amish farms to buy produce. From their farms I have canned 2 bushels of green beans and put up 2 bushel of corn in the freezer. I have made corn relish, bread and butter pickles, etc. If it can be canned, I have canned it. It seems like the canning is never done. Today I just “shopped” at the farms and took my granddaughter and her fiancé along for the ride. We stopped at a friend’s house and 2 yr old Samuel toddled up to my granddaughter and handed her a baby chicken. I think he likes her, LOL. Tonight they had green beans, corn on the cob and roasted chicken on the grill. I also sent some sour dough bread, honey, molasses, fresh potatoes, tomatoes and squash. They took home quite a haul. One farm actually had toy poodles for sale. I “almost” bought one as they are so cute. I am showing my granddaughter the benefits of living on a farm and her partner is really excited about the country living. I am hoping they will eventually get out of college and settle near me. It is looking promising! She is very interested in canning, dehydrating and the “old ways”. So I am praying that they will come near me.
Well, the AC worked for exactly one day, and when I went to turn a bit of heat on that evening, there was NO heat! Took it back the next day and they fixed the heater; the blend door was stuck shut. I jumped in the car and NO AC!! Back inside. Turns out the new AC compressor was no good. Now no AC for 2 weeks until I can go in and have them put in another one. Luckily, there’ll be no charge. But I have to sit for 3 hours and my butt gets petrified!
I’m so glad your granddaughter and her partner are seriously thinking about settling near you and are interested in country living!! Wouldn’t that be a blessing if they’d start their own homestead close by?
Oh, what a blessing that would be, Jan, to have family interested in putting-up (in all forms). My family lacks that. I do it alone. One daughter is overwhelmed taking care of 2 little children, the other overwhelmed taking care of 3 teens (trouble), our son and wife expecting their first and living in a motorhome in the desert. I tried.
Aren’t re-repairs fun? Not! My re-repairs today were a bit different, the new crown put on my tooth yesterday moved the old one next to it just enough that the old crown needed to be ground down a little bit. It sure feels better now! Doc said he’d never seen that one before. He’s a good dentist and honest too.
Your garden as always looks amazing! Thanks for sharing, Peace!
Ish, dentists!! I hate having someone poking around in my mouth. Necessary though.
Hi, Vickie, These elder years seem to be filled with doctor appointments: crowns on teeth, a new knee, a Vivaer nose job, and my shoulders need help, too.
Crazy how “new parts” can be defective. I’m actually looking forward to the cooler weather of fall and winter. It’s been so hot and humid here. Even standing still, I drip. My tomatoes are huge but turning ripe SO slowly. Cabbage heads are the biggest I’ve ever had (late Flat Dutch). We have 2-3 days of sunshine and then rain and more rain. Each year a different challenge. This year I’ll have peaches -after planting 4 years ago. The variety is Contender. I pray the birds and bugs leave them alone. I’d like a piece of your apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The harvest is ongoing for me.
Our tomatoes are slow this year too because of the crazy weather. Will’s going nuts, trying to hay. One or two hot, sunny days, then just enough rain to keep him from getting in the field. I’ve tried peaches hear for 20 years, Reliance and Contender. No dice. Our winter’s just too much for them. Boo hoo. But I do have black walnuts on the tree I planted from seed about 10 years ago, which is a Zone 4 tree and we’re definitely in Zone 3.
Yep, we’re in harvest mode. I’m canning green beans today.
Wow, your squash is amazing. Mine are just coming on but the vines are everywhere, so hoping for some surprises later in the fall! I am have been trying to find seeds for dry black beans. Not sure if I can grow them up here in Minnesota, but I sure love my black beans! If you have a source you tell me about, I will be totally appreciative! Tomatoes are starting to ripen and beans are coming along well, except 1 set…not sure about those, but oh well! Have a great rest of the summer!
Try Jackies Trail of Tears black beans. Her company Seed Treasures sells them.
I am in northern MN and I have had great luck with them.
Thanks Nancy! I thought Jackie grew them, but alas, I am getting old and barely remember what, where, when or how! Have a great day!
We tried Black Turtle black beans and could never the them. I now grow Black Manitoba, which tastes better and produces here like crazy. We’re only 80 miles south of Canada. You might try them. And, like Nancy says, Cherokee Trail of Tears also produces wonderful black beans and they grow here well too.