After that second frost yesterday morning, we’ve been crazy busy, pulling things in that should be in, ahead of the rains that are forecast. Will loaded up the truck with a heaping pile of Hopi Pale Grey squash while I did the final tilling of the section of the Wolf Garden that had two failed corn crops this year, due to the crazy weather. Obviously, there were too many squash to put in the house. So, Will backed up to the barn and unloaded them there. They’ll keep until Lynn and Jesse come get their haul, before the weather turns very cold. In the barn, they’ll be protected from any future frosts. At least for a while. Then, on a roll, Will gathered up a big load of Porcupine and Costata Romanesco squash from the Sand Garden, finishing up with a big load of Gete Okosomin squash from the Main Garden.
Meanwhile, I went out to the North Garden and picked Sweet Fall squash and another big crate of sweet corn for me to can. As it had been frosted, I knew it wouldn’t keep too long on the stalk before getting starchy. It was pick it or lose it. I’d offered it to several people but had no takers. I also picked two crates plus some in a bucket, of dry beans in the Wolf Garden — Crawford and Folsom Indian Ruin. We were tired puppies last night!
Today, it’s raining steadily and pretty cool out. But I’m sitting on the front porch, shucking and cutting sweet corn off the cob while a big roasting pan of tomato sauce is cooking down in the oven to can up later today as spaghetti sauce. Between that and the sweet corn, it’s going to be a busy, busy day. But it’s that time of the year and we’re very grateful to have such a good harvest.
There are some huge Leelanau Sweet Glo watermelons in the Wolf Garden, yet to pick. I want to make some watermelon rind sweet pickles from the rinds. We really love it. (If you’ve never had homemade watermelon rind pickles, you’re missing something!) I’ve got quite a few jalapeños out in the Sand and Wolf Gardens, plus quite a few Sugar Rush and Striped Sugar Rush Peach hot peppers in the hoop houses, along with some sweet peppers in the hoop houses too. I can’t wait to make Gaucho Relish and Cowboy Candy! — Jackie
I, too, have made watermelon rind pickles-great stuff. No frost here, but much cooler. Wood stove cleaned out and ready. Now I’m doing fall cleanup. Picked the last of the green beans. Some more squash to pick. Busy time as we “button down the hatches”. I’ve had two mature hens die for no apparent reason. Things happen that I can’t explain. Whatever happened to those acreage lots for sale near you? I hope nothing.
Sadly, your emails were going into my spam folder for months before I found them there yesterday and marked them as ‘not spam’! Reading this made me realize how much I’ve been missing. Reading your updates makes me shake my head in amazement at just how much you and Will do in one day. Surely you must each have a clone? Where can I get mine? :) Glad to be back to catching up with you.
Gee, I’m so sorry that happened!!! And I’m glad you’re back. Nope, neither Will nor I have a clone but I’m sure wishing we had a couple right now. I’ve got spaghetti sauce in the canner and corn cut off the cob to pressure can this evening. We’ve got to take a “break” and go pick our car up at the repair shop, where we’ll, I’m sure, be dropping off a good chunk of change. Ouch!! It has nearly 300,000 miles on it so I can’t grouse too much. Sure, wouldn’t buy a new one. That’s for sure!
It’s a busy time of year. No frost here in central MO but cool and probably rain for about a week.
I am guessing the picture is your house in the foreground and barn in the back?
I love your enthusiasm about gardening and canning. It is contagious. We don’t have that much here, but it is enough to keep us busy.
We will be harvesting honey soon.
That picture is me standing on the front porch, pointing toward our storage barn. It’s for “junk”, not animals. It also includes our woodshed on the near end.
Oh, honey!! That’s a big one. I’m so happy for you!