16 September 2009

The big and the little

It's the big one...

We've got whopping big potatoes this year, must be all the rain. And even this pound-and-a-halfer had barely a spot of hollow heart in the middle, solid potato all the way through, and enough to fill the dinner plate!

And all the little ones...

We're expecting a real Zero degree frost tonight, so the squash and pumpkins have been brought in to cure. We had a late crop, and there were a dozen or so of these little promising would-be squash. Not sure how much flavor they have, or how green they are, at best I'm hoping for something like zucchini. I figure I'll try them breaded and fried, after all, everything tastes good breaded and fried! If not, I'm sure the goats and chickens will make quick work of them.

All tucked in for the night...
We put our peppers, tomatoes and ground cherries in one long bed so that we can cover them easily. We procured some heavy plastic house-wrap from a mini-house mover. He usually has to pay to take it to the dump, so he's always keen to pass it along. It is very heavy duty plastic, we have also used it as the weather-proof layer to our board and baton barn roofs, and it has out-performed anything we have purchased. At least it's diverted from the waste-stream, it's hard to believe that plastic this heavy, with so much potential for re-use, is trashed after a single use.

8 comments:

ChicagoMike said...

What an awesome potato!

bikejuju said...

Studly spud. But zero degree frost? Come on. You guys still pondering a move to more temperate climes?

Green Bean said...

Good God, that is one BIG potato!

Freija and Beringian Fritillary said...

ChicagoMike, it's a record potato for us, but we did have a 2 pound carrot last year!

bikejuju, yeah the long winters are a bit trying out here, especially with climate extremes mucking with the short summers we do have!

Green Bean, isn't it?! :0

Anonymous said...

Girl, I have been remiss and you have been busy!! :) So glad all is well for you, and your pics, as always, are amazing!! Isn't this an amazing time of the year? Makes you want to LIVE outdoors! :)

Freija and Beringian Fritillary said...

farm mom, Hi There! Hope all's well on the homefront. Yes it is beautiful outdoors. Especially these days with the canning going full blast, we picnic and nap on a blanket under the apple tree most days. Just lovely.

Tammy said...

Your under-ripe squash made me think of a story in one of the Little House books once about Ma Ingalls basically using green pumpkins like apples in a pie (they harvested because of frost as well) . It sounded like she seasoned like an apple pie as well and Pa Ingalls thought he was eating apple pie. I've always wondered if it worked. I was fortunate to get my pumpkins in and we haven't had frost yet so I won't be able to try that idea yet.

Freija and Beringian Fritillary said...

Tammy, I never got too inspired to use the under-ripe squash. I've managed to keep a few zucchini bushes covered from the frost so I haven't been much tempted. Besides, our milkin goat gobbles them up with such enthusiasm, I'd hate to rob her of the treat! Great story though, nothing gets wasted in a homestead kitchen.