With several crates of ripe tomatoes on the front porch plus other “must can soon” crops waiting, I’ve been kind of busy lately. Yep, it’s getting colder every day now. Tonight, it’s supposed to get down to 27 F. We’ve got to heat the hoop houses again to protect the peppers. And turn on the heat in the greenhouse to protect the squash, onions, and pumpkins in there. Meanwhile, I’m getting set to can Sherri’s big celery that I thought I’d have done sooner. But those darned tomatoes and sweet corn got in the way!
After a freeze the crates of sweet corn for canning had to be put up or I would lose them. The corn had been planted twice, and the second planting wasn’t quite as mature as I would have liked but oh well, you take what you can get. I did get many pints and half-pints of both plain sweet corn and Mexican sweet corn with chopped sweet red peppers in it. And, as I’m getting near the end of the tomatoes for seed, I also had a roasting pan full of leftover tomatoes to roast and whiz down in the blender to can as tomato sauce.
Will picked all the Seneca Sunrise sweet corn I had bagged up in the Wolf Garden to protect against bird damage, husked it, and then I started roping it up to hang and dry down for seed. All in all, we had a great crop this year. However, due to getting drowned out twice, some of our corn, like Bear Island Chippewa, did not make it. That’s gardening; some years you get this and lose that.
I also have been shelling out more dry beans, which, all in all, we had a great crop. Some, like Brita’s Footlong and Chippewa, astounded us with their productivity. Most were well above average, despite the crazy weather. Thank you, God! — Jackie
I always read the comments after reading your latest blog, they are so interesting. Thankyou all. Life in Australia is so very different. It’s Spring here and the season is full of promise . About to thin carrots, not easy on my back or knees, lots of ouch and grumble as I age but as you all would agree, well worth it. I’ve been following you for years jackie and have learnt so much. You’re certainly a 💎.
You two are busier than a cat in a litter box! It’s amazing how much you’re storing. The fruits of the labor are plentiful this year.
Nights here are in the 50’s now here in east central Georgia and highs usually run in the 70’s for the rest of the month. It’s been very dry. No rain since the end of September.
The garlic is now in and that completes fall garden planting. Right now there’s an 18′ row of Contender beans we’re picking and today will be the first for the row of Providers. We typically get our first light frost anytime between Oct 17-24 but it might be later this year. It’s a race against Mr. Frosty.
Besides the beans, this year the fall garden has staggered plantings of broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, collards, kale, carrots, cauliflower, cow peas and turnips. Got the first cutting of both collards and kale this past week.
The tomatoes are long gone but the peppers are still hanging in there and I’m still getting a yellow squash now and then. I’m waiting to dig the sweet potatoes right before the first announced frost.
Love the corn hanging there! And I hope you have enough Brita Footlongs to offer them in your catalog come spring. They look amazing!
Yep, we do have lots of Britta’s Footlong beans to add to our catalog. I love them!! We’re having a mix of dark, drizzly days and cool nights (down in the low 40’s) and still a few sunny, nice days, but also kind of cool. Will’s pulled in most of the corn for seed now and we still have cabbages, carrots and potatoes to get in. All in all, we sure can’t complain about the harvest.
It’s church Bazzar time here, so with baking and getting ready for that not much outside work was done last week. Our church of not quite 100 active families served over 1,000 people the meal again this year. Weather is turning cooler, nights in the 40s. God willing rest of this week will be cutting wood and doing some getting ready for winter projects. Jackie, I really enjoy your pictures, the hanging corn garland looks great! I’m curious about roasting tomatoes before canning instead of boiling, is the taste different/better? Peace!
Yes, we really like the savory flavor of the roasted tomato sauce. Roasting seems to bring out hidden flavors in the tomatoes. It also makes canning tomato sauce easier as I just dip out the tomatoes, which are floating in tomato broth (not tomato juice), put them in my blender, skins, seeds and all, then whiz them up with some garlic. Right into the jars then! Nice and thick. It goes much faster and, this year, faster is so necessary! I’m so happy your church included so many in your meal!!
Thanks Jackie, sounds good. I’ll try that next time!
I harvested four huge Hopi Grey squash today because of frost warnings. The vines were starting to look yellow but I hope I did not pick too soon. The rainbow chard and beets were harvested also. I planted purple Musik garlic cloves and wish I hade more garden space as we can use up the garlic in no time. We enjoy the fresh produce from our little garden and I am in awe of the scale of the gardening that you do!
I’m sure your Hopi Pale Grey squash is mature. We’re having one for dinner tonight. I love them so much!!
I’m happy your harvest and planting is going so well.
Jackie, you are too busy! It makes me tired just to read your blog, LOL. I know you are in a cold area but, down to 27 sounds like our February weather. It does get below zero here many times and the wind howls, but a good crockpot of homemade chili makes the hard summer work worth it all. It is so hot and muggy here in the summer and many days were 100 degrees & plus counting the humidity. So, I freeze most of my berries, fruit and then can up jam and pie fillings in the winter months. It helps keep the house warm and sure does smell good. It is getting darker real early now and I know it will be dark at 3:30 after the time change in November. So, get out there and enjoy the sunshine while we have it. And remember, pace yourself! I hope you have many more years to go.
Yes, I admit that a lot of days I’m going to bed like an old lady because I’m so tired. But happy too, looking back at what got done that day. I take breaks while I’m working and sure pace myself. It’s so nice to see all that canning stacking up!!
Oh Miss Jackie…you are cracking me up with your picture of the corn. I would be hard pressed to plant one entire ear and you have at least 50 drying. You surely an amazing woman!!! Pyro
Ha ha, Pyro. That’s just the tip of the iceberg!! I think there are probably 50 strings of corn up so far and several crates to go. We want to have seed for everyone that wants some, especially with the economy being so scary.
Happy you had a good crop!.Boy you sure are busyl
Jackie, I know about full shelves. Mine need beefing up by hubby. I think about California earthquakes, and here in the far north we get “jerks” or “wave” earthquakes, so nothing of my larder has fallen and broken. But, still, the shelves need fixing, just in case. I’m eating right now my homemade and canned mushroom chicken soup. That’s the only ingredients, and it starts with homemade chicken bone broth. Oh, so excellent!! I’m overflowing with buckets of crispin apples; about to make a pie, and have so much canned as sauce, filling, and slices, don’t know what I’ll do with this abundance. Garden is finally put to bed for the winter, today. Love the hard work! And love your blog goings-on!!
And we love hearing what all of you are doing too! Our orchard is still young, and we aren’t getting tons of apples yet, but for some nice culinary crab apples, but we’re getting there. It sure is a good idea, when you live in possible earthquake country, to add a strip of wood across the front of your shelves to keep the jars from falling, should a shake come. Grandpa did that for Grandma, in Montana, as they had several earthquakes back then.
We’re still picking out of the garden, but it is slowing down.
Oh boy, good for you but I just got tired any maybe hurt a bit from just reading what you are doing! lol! Can’t wait to see your pantry’s after all is done!
Well, my pantry’s been in overflow for a couple of years now. I’m going to see if I can get Will to build stronger shelves on the outside walls of the basement to hold the cases of full jars that are now gracing the center floor.