Comments on: Why I’ve been so busy…

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:44:10 +0000

I would like to second Nola's advice. We've got a few pumpkins inside right now that are ripening nicely. :)

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:28:16 +0000

Wow you have been busy. I have been wanting to do some pickles, but haven't found a good dill recipe. Everything I see is for bread and butter.

By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:06:15 +0000

Shirley, that's incredible! I'm glad that your garden went so well this year! That makes me really want a bigger garden, even though this one was plenty to handle with two littles and no helpers. I'll check out your post, because I just love to be encouraged by what others are producing from their gardens!

And 88 gallons, wow! I probably canned about 15-20 in total, plus froze some, and of course, we ate tons and are still growing fall crops. It really is amazing what you can produce, though, isn't it?

By: Shirley Mom of 6

Shirley Mom of 6 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:24:14 +0000

This year was our first real garden too. I was able to preserve over 88 gallons of produce either canned or frozen. Plus I have butternut squash, speg squash, sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, and turnips that are NOT included in that total. The total doesn't include all the food we ate throughout the season too. We are still getting spinach, lettuce, carrots, celery, and parsley from our garden. The goats and chickens ate my entire fall pea crop. :-( Next year I will plant them in a bed inside the garden instead of trying to use the garden fence as my trellis. If you want to read more about our gardens bounty from this year here is my blog link listing everything: http://reesespiecesgang.blogspot.com/2008/10/gardens-bounty.html

By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:51:02 +0000

Faith, I know that there are other things you can plant for spring, but that is all that I'm doing this year. I'd be interested to know what others are planting, though. Donielle, don't feel too bad about it. It's just a season, right? Next year will be better (esp. with a sweet little baby by your side!) Nola, thanks for the ripening tip! I didn't know that, but I'm so glad to hear it! Candace, I could probably grow a few other greens this winter, but spinach and lettuce are all that I'm doing. I'm a bit worn out from this year, the first year that I've really gone all out with gardening. Maybe next year I'll get more into the winter gardening, and grow some great greens.

By: Candace

Candace — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:20:58 +0000

Hi Stephanie,
Great job with all of your preserving!
Have you thought about kale for the winter?
And there is also claytonia and other obscure greens that love cold weather.

By: Nola

Nola — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:58:30 +0000

oops...by ripening "inside" I meant inside the house...like a coolish basement...not meaning the pumpkins ripen inside the pumpkin. Hope that was clear...

By: Nola

Nola — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:57:35 +0000

I don't have time to read all the comments but I wanted to say two things: first of all congratulations on all your hard work, I know how much work it is! I also did a ton and I am glad it was during the second trimester! Now I am totally not up to it but its done!

Secondly, I was told at the farmer's market and tried it last year and then tried it this year with my own (sadly only 3 due to blossom end rot) pumpkins is that they totally ripen inside. Since we were going to get a frost, I picked mine and they were still mostly green. Within a few days they turned more orange, and now, a month later, we have 3 beautifully orange pumpkins. My daughter loved to go check on them in the basement and report back how orange they were "mommy, no green! orange!" Like I said the lady at the farmer's market told me the same thing and last year I tried it with her pumpkin.

I had some butternut squash and pumpkin cross. I have squash-shaped pumpkins! LOL. I am also curious to see the insides. I was told to avoid that, to plant them as far apart as possible so the bees don't cross the pollen as easily.

Oh could you tell me where you get your seeds again? I can't find where you posted about that. Thanks!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:37:16 +0000

I can only dream of accomplishing that much food storage. Way to go!

By: Donielle @ Naturally Knocked Up

Donielle @ Naturally Knocked Up — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:00:16 +0000

You have been busy! I was kinda bummed the first trimester exhaustion and feeling yuck hit me right at the peak of harvest around here. I forced myself to can a few pints of tomato sauce but now they smell so bad to me I can't get myself to eat them! I actually riped up my plants while some tomatoes were still green and tossed them into the woods cause I couldn't stand to look at them anymore, bleah! Oh well, there's always next year right? :-)And at least now I know what I need to plant in the spring and how much of everything else I'll need to buy.