Vegetables Incoming!
The month of Harvest/Ingathering ends today, but the work continues.
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| Pantry is all back together |
First of all, our freezer was delivered on the morning of the 20th. By that afternoon the pantry was put back together and the freezer was halfway filled. Now it's nearly all filled.
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| Refinishing the worktable |
During that long waiting period, I refinished the small worktable that sits beside the freezer, as well as the tops of our two sofa tables.
This is the season when the garden production really peaks.
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| 1 1/2 gallons of calendula flowers |
I've put away the Calendula flowers that I dried for autumn and winter teas.
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| Bob cleans shallots |
Bob helped me by cleaning the shallots...
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| Cleaning garlic |
... while I cleaned the garlic.
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| Garlic and shallots hung for storage |
Now they're all hanging in the cellar, ready for winter use.
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| Tomatoes for the freezer |
Green beans and tomatoes are coming on strong now. I've finished freezing beans and can only fit in three more jars of tomatoes. I've begun dehydrating beans and will soon be drying tomato leathers.
I've made pasta sauce and frozen my quota (seven pints).
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| Shiitake mushrooms ready to harvest |
Shiitake mushrooms have been sauteed and frozen and I have begun freezing corn.
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| Aduki Beans are drying |
The Aduki beans are beginning to dry. We've made three pickings so far. That's a bushel in the cellar.
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| Bob digging potatoes |
Bob's been busy with potatoes. He dug all of the regular potatoes, which I packed and put into the root cellar.
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| A couple bushels of potatoes |
Just the other day, we both worked to dig the sweet potatoes.
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| Sweet potatoes |
We got about a bushel of those. They're curing now. In a couple of weeks, they will be individually wrapped and stored in a warm part of the cellar. (In the space beneath the hanging garlic and shallots.)
We got away just a couple of times during this busy season.
We went to visit my oldest brother one afternoon. A couple of days later we had some errands to do near my hometown, so we had a visit with a cousin of mine. Then we picnicked at Selkirk Shores State Park on Lake Ontario.
Beautiful weather and two nice visits.
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| Rescued Sunflowers |
Fall seems to be coming right along. Our weather is beginning to fluctuate between short spans of cool and warm temperatures. The winds are picking up, so typical of spring and autumn.
The strong winds tend to knock down our tall sunflowers. When that happens, I cut off what blossoms I can save and bring them inside for a little extra cheer. We need all we can get these days.
The harvest is really what's taking up my time this month. Bob's time has been divided between the garden and his civic activities.
We continue to live as responsible, thinking citizens in this time of escalating chaos.
Be strong and determined.
Till next time,
Kathleen and Bob
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| Sunset reflected in Cumulus clouds |
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| Morning sun reveals spider web |
