Is there anyone who really likes to clean up the yard?
I mean, besides the men who hang outside on the weekends afraid to step in the house because their wives will be nagging them about their “To Do List.” Not that I would now anything about that of course.
When it comes to garden clean up {and yes there is a difference between yard, and garden clean up in our house}, getting the job done is totally up to me.
But because I have major OCD, I don’t mind. Garden spaces that were previously untidy, become tidy again. And if I want to spend 23 minutes picking every single leaf out of the dirt, then so be it. It’s my job. And I get to decide when I am finished.
It appears the backyard chickens will have an ample supply of unripened squash to last them through the winter. Which I’m sure will be a nice change from the boring old corn, oatmeal, and bread leftovers we always seem to be giving to them.
Yesterday, I was able to clear 2 areas of unsightliness. The bean trellis, and the pumpkin patch.
I was pretty happy to find a few more pumpkins under the leaves.
And a few more squash for the chickens.
But now the question remains. Do I plant this area with kale, or take my chances and hope I’ll be able to find another 225 pounds of vegetables in the backyard gardens before my December 21st, 2012 deadline?
What do you think?
Plant? Or take my chances?
~Mavis
The Accidental Farmers By Tim Young ~Amazon.com
When Tim and Liz Young decided to leave their comfortable suburban life and become first-time farmers in rural Georgia, they embarked on a journey that would change their lives.
The Accidental Farmers reveals how the couple learned that hamburgers, bacon, and eggs don’t come from the supermarket but from real animals that forge emotional bonds with their human caretakers. Seeking a middle path between a meatless lifestyle and the barbarism of factory food, Tim and Liz created Nature’s Harmony Farm, a sustainable oasis where rare breed animals and humans live together searching for something nearly lost by both humans and the animals…how to live naturally off the land.
Lisa says
Those butternut squash are totally ripe! Don’t feed them to the chickens. They’ll store in a cool dark place for months. My butternut weren’t nearly that creamy colored (a bit green still). I picked them and put them in my storage box.
Mavis says
I thought butternut squash was suppose to be a tan color… these are not tan. Are you sure?
nancypantsgirl says
I wonder if big growers breed for color because it appeals to buyers? It might be that there are many variations of acceptable colors. They certainly look just like Butternuts…
Dorothy Hostler says
I just love your blog…….all the nifty things , recipes , how you get .and barter those food items. I am now making the Baba Ganoush for the third time, it is delicious…..gonna put some in the freezer…..I like that bean trellis, how did you fasten it to the backyard fence..?
Kathy says
Mavis, you are fortunate that you are physically able to do this kind of work. I’m envious!
nancypantsgirl says
Plant!!!
Lisa says
Speaking of Kale, my sister sent me an email yesterday raving about some “kale chips” she had tasted and said they were so good. Yeah, I’ve heard about them from Mavis…is what I wrote back to her! ha!
Kathy says
The butternut are totally okay to store and use. Just made some soup for my sister with ones creamy color and she said it was ripe enough for her. And the soup came out fabulous…spiced apple and butternut squash. Yum!
subienkow says
Keep on planting! What’s going to happen, you’re going to have “too much”?
Whatever you don’t use can be used for chickens or bartering. Plant for as long as the weather lets you (and your own ambition, as well).