LOVE the fresh Veggies. Makes it all worth it. we've had squash tomatoes cucumbers and beans steady for a couple weeks. damn squash bugs got to our plants so hopefully the second planting will give us some in a while.
I know a lot about a lot of things BUT I still have a lot to learn. Life is what you make of it. So, why not make a working machine to make it easier.
We would be lost without our veggies! A lot of work,--BUT the taste of your own home grown stuff cant be bought from anyplace! We are still trying to do onions and sweetcorn in the freeze drier . Corn started getting ready , so we had to switch to it and do a couple runs, or however many we can get before it gets too hard. Also putting some in pint jars and running the pressure canner at the same time! Everything comes in at the same time and its a bear to get a handle on the harvest. We have people come get whatever they want and usually not much ever goes to waste from our gardens.
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
got around to steamin some pumpkin and Virginia made some pies from the first batch. We are putting some of the pumpkin in the freezer and will try one batch in the freeze-drier to see if that will work,---never did it before, so it just a test. Finally got most of the onions done. Gave 400 pounds of them to the food bank.
This first pumpkin weighed 16 pounds. the one I am holding weighs 31 pounds. Most of the rest range from 10 to 15 pound range average.
This is the best commercial pie pumpkin out there. Steams down to a non-stringy pie ready filler, just add sugar, eggs, milk, cinnamon, and what ever you want to it, pour into the pan and bake.
The last pic is the big boy at 31 pounds. Garden is winding down for the season with a lot of rain now making it hard to do and fall work. Hope to plow before the ground freezes.
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
Dont look like I will get gardens plowed this fall due to the weather. I think the ground is about ready to freeze from the looks of the forecasts for the next week or so. Need to dig some horseradish roots up and grind them. Usually do enough to last the winter then early spring do the summer allotment so we have some to use the year round and it's always fresh that way. It keeps good in the fridge for 6 months or so,---longer in the deep freezer if you needed to.
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
Coaxing my Elderberry plant. Got some new roots and a little green on the stick. water from the fishpond works well but guess it's time for some dirt or good potting soil. I'll put it in the ground in the spring. It'll stay inside for the winter.
I know a lot about a lot of things BUT I still have a lot to learn. Life is what you make of it. So, why not make a working machine to make it easier.
Just put dirt in there and it will be good til spring planting! Sis has elderberry bushes growing wild at her place and they put tons of berry heads on them. They are a very hardy plant! lol!
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
I'm hoping. Always had bushes growing around the house back up in NY. Found these growing in the ditch here. I actually have a bush growing out behind my shop but it's Very Scraggly and doesn't produce enough to make 1 pie. So I dug this one up out of the ditch. City property & they've been mowing it every down year so I haven't been able to collect any berries for a couple years now. Plan on starting my own patch not just 1 bush.
I know a lot about a lot of things BUT I still have a lot to learn. Life is what you make of it. So, why not make a working machine to make it easier.
They are a hardy plant,--you can winter them over in the bucket OR if the ground is not froze, plant them directly in now! Sis replants them all year long and they always grow for her! lol! Ya, it takes several bushes to get many berries. Some people south of us here have 10 acres of commercial elderberries growing and they harvest them by hand and make juice that is sent out somewhere.
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
Takes 4 hours for Kathy & I to hull enough berries to make 1 pie. Totally worth it to me I LOVE elderberry pie. Elderberries are a high dollar crop. I need to get some Anti Bird netting, or I won't get any with only 1 bush. My stick is looking good. as soon as I know were good with the weather hear I'll plant it. Feb is the cold month. When I can ride the Polaris again, I'll take another cruise out to the ditch & see if I can find a couple more plants before the City mows it all down again.
I know a lot about a lot of things BUT I still have a lot to learn. Life is what you make of it. So, why not make a working machine to make it easier.
I use bird net here on my little cherry tree,--without it we dont get 1 cherry! Also have to put it over the strawberries. We have 3 or 4 nets. The first really old one I got is 16' x 75' and its been used for 15 years on the berries and then later it goes over the cherry tree in the years it sets fruit crop.
The people down the road from us that have the 10 acre patch claim that elderberries help fight cancer and kept their dad going for another 2 years after doc. gave him 6 months to live. --- Thats their story and I dont think the berries had anything to do with it but who knows!
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."