Storing Winter Squash

Nothing beats fresh pumpkin pie at dinner in January. How about a fresh baked acorn squash in February? Yum...baked Hubbard.
Storing winter squash is really very easy. Most winter squash like pumpkin, acorn, buttercup and others store well right into March. However, the process begins in the fall.
In order for winter squash to store well, you must let the vine die with the fruit still on it. You then pick it, and leave it out for a couple of weeks to let the rind harden up. Remember to take them in before a heavy frost.
If you aren't lucky enough to have a root cellar, you can simply use a dark corner of your basement. Be sure to store them up off the ground. Make sure they have plenty of air circulation to prevent early rotting. You can even store them in a cold hallway, or unheated mudroom. Just be sure to keep them out of direct light.
Other varieties of winter squash that store well would include, butternut squash, blue hubbard, turban squash, and pink banana.
Stored properly, these winter squashes should take you through until the spring greens are coming up.

Fresh Carrots for Dinner...In January?

Yup, you can have fresh carrots for dinner in January and beyond if you store them correctly in the ground.
As the season is winding down and the first frost is upon you, mulch dirt up and around the carrots at least 12 inches. As the tops die off, the carrots will stay fresh under the approximate 18 inches of dirt that now lay onto of them.
Now, in order to pick them, you have to have a thaw...or a good pick ax. They freeze in there pretty hard. Much to our dismay we found this out the hard way when we went to dig some up in mid-December. We did however have a thaw right before Christmas, so we had fresh carrots on the table that year.
You can if you wish store them in a root cellar. If you are storing them your root cellar be sure to layer them between sand. A bucket works well, and keeps any lurking critters out. Mice and moles love to nibble.
Be sure to check on them periodically for mold or decay.
Stored properly, you should have carrots throughout the winter months.

No...Not More Snow

Last night we were talking spring and summer gardens, today we are shoveling out from under 8 inches of snow. We awoke this morning to a winter wonderland of snow falling from the sky.
We already have half the snow we usually get for the whole winter. I guess it is making up for last year. We didn't get any snow until mid January last year. Well, I think it has more than made up for last year...and then some. According to the weather, we have gotten around 40 inches just in December. Also too, we are in for more this week. So, it a weeks time we will get around 20 inches or so. Tough to think about planning a garden in this.
I vote for winter to be over, or at least the snow to stop falling. It is beautiful, but enough already. We definitely need to get a snow plow, or maybe a snow blower. That would make it so much easier.

Thinking Spring

It may be winter, but we are already thinking about next year's produce and herb gardens. We will be expanding our operation by 50% . That will give us the opportunity to branch out into heirloom produce and herbs. We have been perusing the seed catalogs, and there are so many heirloom varities to choose from. At times like this we wish the farm was bigger. But I know when it comes to weeding next season, that is one wish I will be glad that didn't come true.

We are mapping out plans for our Herbal Healing Garden and Labryinth. This will be a welcomed addtion to all our customers. They are looking forward to us completing this project. One will be able to meander through the Herbal Healing Garden, and wind up at the Labryinth. As you walk the paths of the Labryinth, you will be able to sit and rest to meditate or whatever you choose to do.