As a surprise, Will’s daughter, Jenna, drove up from Illinois to visit us! Fortunately, we’ve gotten over the rain and are having beautiful fall days. She can stay a week, so Dad gave her the tour of the homestead on the back of the ATV. (What trail?) Bump, bump, bump. Duck the branch! She got to pet the horses, mule, and cows, see all the gardens, taste test tomatoes, and is now helping do computer stuff which she’s very capable of (and I’m not!).
Yesterday, our helpers, Sherri, Dara, and Mike came out and helped pack seeds in the foggy, wet morning, then went out and picked beans in the afternoon. I’m shelling beans every day as they’re still kind of damp from all the rain we had. Pole beans are drier, so that’s what we’re working on right now. Meanwhile, I set about seeding out more tomatoes. As the sun has come out, the tomatoes are ripening very fast now. I sent Dara and Mike home with a crate of tomatoes for her to can.
In the evening, we took our daughter to Ziegler Cat, where David works to tour the facility. She works for Komatsu in Illinois so is interested in that type of business. It was fun, exploring all those huge machines, from the giant haul trucks they use in the iron ore mines to the loaders with huge buckets.
Tomorrow, I’d like to take her up along the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to see all the lakes and fall colors. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate! — Jackie
I have tried to grow your Bill Bean tomatoes for 2 seasons now with no success. The other tomatoes I planted have done very well so it isn’t the soil or the care. I do get vines to a point then the leaves kind of shrivel a little. I haven’t gotten one tomato. Maybe they don’t like Idaho? I don’t know what else to do.
That’s very strange, as we have lots of customers in Idaho who brag on their Bill Beans. In fact, our friend and former apprentice, Alisha, lives in Idaho and grows them every year.
I have huge Hopi Grey squash this year. We are about three weeks away from nite freezing so I will let them keep going. Lots of zucchini and tomatoes are still growing also. Not much fall color yet here in eastern WA. Fires from Canada and other parts are creating hazy days.
Yes, that’s what I do with all my squash, especially those for seed. We haven’t had much smoke from the fires lately and we’re so happy about that after smoke all summer.
Too much fun. But I know you all enjoyed her visit. I had a friend from Minnesota in college, and he showed me pictures of his house with snow up to the eaves. I can’t imagine! The old folks here say we are in for a cold snowy winter. But I have stockpiled lots of veggies and supplies if we get snowed in. By that, I mean 5 inches. LOL We actually did not get our mail delivered for 4 days (year before last) due to 5 inches of snow. But I guess if you are used to it, you can adapt! I have Jackies Anthology books, cookbooks and Self-Reliance books; so, I can stay busy learning all winter! I won’t get bored, and I have a whole forest of birds to feed, too.
No, 5 inches of snow is “plain-old” snow here. And they don’t close the schools until -45. We, too, always keep everything topped off so if we should have to stay home for any length of time, we’ll be fine. (Remembering COVID.) Actually, the snow seldom bothers us as we have prepared for it in the fall.
What lovely visit! A whole week ! Glad the rain paused for a fun tour of the farm. Every time you post huge equipment photos,I’m amazed at their size! Combine, they are big but not like the blade family stands in! Still processing tomato paste. Night dare in 40’s so really slow down on the ripening. Last count (from 3 plants)9 Huge Hopi grey squash! Never had them before so excited about them! They and one lonely honey dew melon is all I got out out of all the watermelon,squash,pumpkins. One weird growing season here!
Yep, here too! Our most challenging garden so far. We’re so grateful for all we are harvesting daily. I’m still picking tons of tomatoes and beans every day. Our melons were less than stunning this year, for sure. Pumpkins and squash did well though.
Sounds like you all had a well deserved time with his daughter! I love the Boundary Waters area but never actually got a permit to canoe or camp! We are so blessed.to live in such a beautiful area even though my husband hates the winters lol!
When we go, we always go to the less-traveled lakes, requiring long portages or several of them. We go to the wilderness to be completely away from people, not camp near them. : )
We haven’t made our trip this time as Jenna took it upon herself to get us caught up on recording the 2025 seed orders on the computer, not have “fun”. Oh well, like father, like daughter….. Actually, we love winter, even if it does get really cold and snowy.
She’s not far from my neck-o-the-woods (even if Peoria not that far away per se). Tis 5 hours from house to MSPL so not a horrid drive for her. Glad she can visit (especially before the even more so today) unpredictable winter weather starts.
Will pull the last zuke plant (from seed I bought from you in 2021). Garlic is *supposed* to be on its way soon.
Week ago we got the word corn is ready to pick (we feed the wildlife during the winter). Still no US soybean orders from what used to be the largest buyer.
Making good progress on beefing up supplies. Perhaps an additional freezer (small) for beef/pork is in the future. Both kiddos have had freezers since they got their own homes. Both make good use of them.
I might need to buy a dehydrator – mine went to one kiddo. Glad kiddo uses it but might have been best if I had been consulted before it happened!
Yeah, I hear you. But I’m always glad when one of my kids makes use of my dehydrator or canning equipment. If the interest is sparked, hopefully the fire will catch! We feed the deer and wild turkeys all winter, as well as the birds. We enjoy it and so do they.
We ended up with four freezers, and none small. All electric, and we’re off grid. Gee, it’s sad to have too much meat… Ha ha!
My brother-in-law and wife returned their new, in-box, unopened freeze-dryer because they decided they don’t see any reason for it. I agreed. That was a few weeks ago when I believed there was a status quo in this country that would not be changing. And then aggressive incidences suddenly escalate. Then seeing these incidences, my husband says it must be the last days; which is odd for him to think.
I think that us homesteaders better keep on keeping on!
Oh, my. My husband has his own heavy equipment. Living on this mountain demands it. I’ve even gotten to ride along. I want to come along on your tour of the canoe wilderness! Sounds wonderful. Have a wonderful time!
Yep, living where you need heavy equipment makes sense to own it! We’re confident, come winter, that between our plow truck, the crawler loader, big bulldozer and tractors with buckets, we can always get out, if need be. We’re having so much fun this week!!