This morning, we woke up to about two inches of snow on the ground and lots more coming down heavily. The temp last night was only 14 degrees F, so it was cold enough that the snow is sure sticking around. Yesterday, we made a trip down to pick up some seeds from our friends, Lynn and Jesse, in Wisconsin. It was a beautiful day although not warm. For the past three years, they’ve been learning the seed growing part of our seed business, as next August, they’ll be taking over Seed Treasures, our seed business.
It was fun seeing the equipment Jesse had found to speed up the whole business. I especially loved the antique hand driven corn sheller. We have a corn sheller that you fasten on the side of a barrel but theirs is way faster and pretty darned cool! You just check out the ears of corn for any bad kernels then toss it in the maw of the sheller, turning the side handle. Out pops the empty cob and the shelled corn drops out the bottom into a bucket. Pretty darned slick. Then there was the fanning device which blew chaff off into a bag, leaving clean seed in another bucket. That sure beats the way I do it, pouring one container of seed into another container, winnowing off the chaff in a stiff breeze. It’s faster and you don’t have to go out in bad weather!
We had a great visit, picked up a lot of seed they’d saved for us, then headed home, a five-hour drive. Fortunately, the weather was great until we got about 40 miles from home. We hit a stretch of near-blizzard snow, with snow on the ground and near white-out conditions. But it only lasted for about two miles, then petered out. Whew! When we got home, there were a few light flurries, but nothing much.
Today, I’m seeding out some more squash. I did the naked seeded pumpkin, Olinka, and some Hopi Pale Grey squash, which is our best seller for good reason. It’s so very yummy, any way you fix it. Will brought in a new-to-us squash, the seed given to us by a customer. It’s a gray, ribby squash named Porcupine squash as the donor said porcupines ate up most of their first crop of these squash and tried to get at them for the many years they’d grown it. It’s a large squash with thick meat. I’m going to bake some up tomorrow to test it for flavor. Not all of the squash are pumpkin shaped; some are elongated. But all are gray and beautiful. I’m really excited to try it!
— Jackie
I am SO happy and excited for you, easing your way out of Seed Treasures and handing it off to Jesse and Lynn. They seem to be a perfect fit, by easing their way in and implementing new tools/ideas. They will have the energy and probably some handy helpers growing up. Congratulations, Jackie and Will, on this decision and the transition taking place. And, congrats to the new owners, on this business purchase. Seed Treasures has a vast following, so those orders will keep on coming in!
Thanks Erin. It’s kind of strange as we’re getting our last catalog to the printer and knowing this will be the last year we’ll be selling seeds. Of course, we can’t quit cold turkey, so we’ll be helping Lynn and Jesse out by growing some seeds for them.
They have more resources than we do, including four wonderful kids. This will definitely help them continue the business and help it grow and grow.
26 this morning down here in east central Georgia. We had no first frost in October and the last time that happened in 2020 we got socked with a hard freeze early November. Yesterday we covered up everything in the fall garden. Even though they are brassicas they’ve had no time to harden off and are pretty “juicy”. High winds all day and we lost power for 4 hours in the evening. Fortunately it came back on just as we were warming up the generator! God bless the linesmen who work in such conditions.
So glad you two made it home OK!
Thank you. Sounds like you got some crazy weather. I’m glad your power came back on. We’re supposed to be in a warming trend, which is unusual this time of the year. I’m glad though as I still have garlic and black walnuts to plant. Yep, I’m late as usual. : )
We got 1.5 inches Saturday night/Sunday morning. Little stuck to the roads but nothing better than walking on snow covered leaves! It has been a hectic year so my snow boots never got put away end of last winter. I did get my warmer chore coat out this morning. I do love the change of seasons however. Heaters are in the wildlife water sources – I’ll likely unplug for a few days as we’ll “warm” up. We’re T-Day shopping tomorrow.
It’s such a good idea to shop ahead of Thanksgiving as the prices go up the week before. Our weather is warming up a bit so I think I’ll get my last stuff planted okay. The bears are mostly in hibernation, so my bird feeders are out again. We’ve never had trouble but my sister, who lives near Duluth, has bears after her feeders all the time even though she faithfully takes them in every evening. They’re coming during the day!
Glad you got down to see your Seed Company Transition Friends. Even more Glad you arrived safely at home. Been busy canning up the End of Garden tomatoes, peppers,onions and big bowl of shredded carrots. Bought stalk celery and chopped everything. Made up 17 pints and small kettle of Soup Starter. Jar of that and leftover meats make quick Hearty soup. Always appreciate your inspiration and guidance. Will be making out my order as Soon as I see that Seed Treasures catalog
The new catalog is beautiful and should go to the printer very soon. I love making soup and soup starters. I’m canning away today too. I made a new pepper relish to join Vaquero and Gaucho relishes. Lynn and Jesse had grown us some very nice Anaheim chile peppers and after I seeded out a bunch, I chopped them up and canned them in half pint jars with Cowboy Candy syrup. Those jars look beautiful, shining red. I can’t wait to taste it! It’s now Mexican relish.
Thanks for the recipe! By-the-way, did you say you canned shredded carrots? Have not heard of that before, but why not!
Winter is definitely here in Copper Basin, Alaska. About four inches on the ground and it slipped below zero last night. What are you going to do with all the garden ground, seed some down for pasture. Glad you got home safe. Howard
At 14 this morning, it was near zero, but not quite. Brrr. We’re going to plant some in spring wheat and some will become pasture, the wettest sides of two gardens.
16 degrees here this morning, but still no snow. And supposed to be 70 by Friday! So glad you got home safely. Guess I’m an antique, lol, I remember using a hand operated corn sheller like that as a child on ears we’d go get that had fallen in the field. Wonderful that Lynn & Jesse use both the old (antique sheller) and the newer (chain link panel) to get things done! Keep warm and safe, Peace to all.
Yep, we were sure glad to get home safe too. Will counted 19 dead deer along the highway in Wisconsin and we saw 3 live ones. Makes one nervous!
One thing we’ve learned in the seed business is that you always need to “color outside the lines” and it seems that they have learned that very well.
I hope you see that 70 on Friday. I still have garlic and black walnuts to plant yet. Maybe we’ll also get warm enough.
Fortunate that you made the trip before the storm caught you.2 miles of white out are more than enough to drive. Pictures are a1000 words. As your s showing the cool corn dryer. You’re fortunate to have such good friends who share your knowledge on the seed business. Looking forward to seeing what your ‘new freedom from business ‘ brings you. They sound very equipped for the seed treasure company. Still enjoying fall colors and scattered sun breaks in the 33/54 temps. Alas, bugs are too! Need a good freeze to get a decent bug kill. Stay warm inside-when possible-
Our trees are all bare now so no more fall color. Although on our trip back from Lynn and Jesse’s, the sun was setting and shining bright orange on the bare tree tops. Very beautiful!! We won’t be dropping the seed business cold turkey. We’ll still be growing seeds for them to help out, as they have helped us while learning.
But I will be more free of the pressure of running the business and ensuring everyone gets the seeds they want. I’ll have more time to homestead, bake and can up more recipes.
We still have ticks! Will pulled two off of Hondo today. I’ll swear they were wearing coats and hats!
I think ticks, like poison ivy, are benefiting from climate change! That is the one thing I don’t miss having indoor only pets.
Let me tell you about retirement. You are retiring from your seed business, but you will be busier than ever. I promise….You just wait and see! LOL Plus, you will have more time for canning and hopefully writing books to share your knowledge with others.
We had 27 degrees here in southern middle Tennessee this morning and no warmup until Wednesday. So, we are making soup in crockpot for tonight, quilting, and planning next year’s canning season.
Stay safe and warm.
Oh, I know “retiring” from the seed business won’t mean slowing down. I will just stuff more things into any vacant spaces. No daytime TV and naps for me! Ish. I’ve got plenty to get to doing as I have the time. Fans have been nagging unmercifully about the 5th Western novel, wanting to know what Jess Hazzard is up to.
I took a year off work after fulfilling my end of my contract. Trust me, there is no shortage of things to do. It was nice as it was a bumper year of strawberries – to the point I took a kettle full to my folks and said do what you want with them (they shared/helped a widowed neighbor – sad story about her husband losing part of his arm in a factory accident). We ate our fair share, shared as well as freezing at least twenty one gallon bags. And dust, there is always dust lol.
Jacki, you know how a picture can capture character? Well these pics show us just why you would hand off your precious seed business to this couple.
That’s so true. I love the pictures of Lynn and Jesse! A very nice couple that works hard and is raising four wonderful kids to boot.
Giving up the seed business? What are your plans for all the time you will have on your hands?
Time on my hands. Ha ha! I’ll still be full time homesteading, gardening, writing, baking, canning and getting my neglected flower beds into better shape. Plus, I hope, having my grandchildren over to “help” out more often.
No snow yet but last two nights were 24 and 21 with heavy frost.
It’s coming…… I promise. : )
Gorgeous pumpkin!
Will cut it open and it has the thickest meat of any squash we’ve ever grown. There’s a lot of eating in one squash. I’ll make a couple of “pumpkin” pies out of it. I’ll bet it will be great. It’s such fun, finding new-to-us varieties.