and have it all to myself,

than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

~Henry David Thoreau

Our heirloom pumpkin harvest is still a few weeks off. Though the vines are starting to die back a bit and the [...]]]>

I would rather sit on a pumpkin

and have it all to myself,

than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

~Henry David Thoreau

Our heirloom pumpkin harvest is still a few weeks off. Though the vines are starting to die back a bit and the leaves beginning to show some signs of powder mildew from the cool, rainy days, the stems are still very green and new blossoms are still being produced… albeit few and far between. This is the perfect time, about three weeks before the harvest, for a fun fall pumpkin project.

We grow four varieties of pumpkins and winter squash each year and every bit of the sweet flesh is steamed, pureed and stored for using all winter (we love winter squash), but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a bit of fun with them first. Shallow etching of words and pictures into the shells of the squash before they are harvested results in a very cool design that slowly appears as the “wound” heals over. It’s easy, fun and a unique way to show off your harvest!

What You Need:

• Pumpkins large enough to etch, still attached to the vine and about three weeks shy of harvest time.
• A carving tool. We use the point of an old corkscrew. Anything with a fine, sharp point works well, including a small drill bit.
• A pen or marker to draw the design. (optional)
• A rag or sponge.

What You Do:

• Using the tip of your chosen tool, trace a shallow imprint of your design into the shell of the pumpkin.
• Retrace the design, pressing harder to etch the shell to a depth no more than 1/4″. The designs can be as simple or complex as you’d like.
• A vegetable peeler tip is perfect to remove any bits of colored shell left.
• When you are finished, soak a rag/sponge with chamomile tea and wipe the shell. (Chamomile has anti-bacterial properties which will help protect the etched areas.)
• Do not use bleach or soap…especially if you plan to eat the squash later.

That’s it!  Watch the pumpkins carefully the first few days and continue to wipe them down until the etched areas have begun to heal over. It’s a lot of fun to see the design become more pronounced as time passes…and the look on friends’ faces when they see your ‘talking pumpkins’ is priceless! Happy gardening!

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Annie Dillard

Happy day-after-Thanksgiving!  Black Friday shopping lust is in full swing for many…all the more reason to stay home, sip tea and spend time in the indoor garden. It was a day of “firsts” for the garden today. I [...]]]>

‘How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Annie Dillard

Happy day-after-Thanksgiving!  Black Friday shopping lust is in full swing for many…all the more reason to stay home, sip tea and spend time in the indoor garden. It was a day of “firsts” for the garden today. I cut the first of the lettuce to use on turkey sandwiches for lunch. How strange to snip lettuces in the spare bedroom and carry them to the kitchen! It was fresh, organic and just wonderful!

I also observed the first “pest” in the garden. A small fruit fly buzzing near the tomatoes. It was easily taken care of but a reminder that indoor growing has it’s own cares and concerns. I followed the discovery with a spritzing of chamomile tea on all of the seedlings to deter any chewing insects. The Chinese broccoli (Kailaan) needed re-potting today as well so there are five more pots on the shelf this afternoon. The rest of my puttering today consisted of bottom-watering/fertilizing nearly everything except the okra. I was pleased to see the Five Color Silverbeet (Swiss Chard) has emerged, I love the bright colors of the stems and chard is one of my favorite greens.

Kailaan seedling.

Bright stems of Five Color Silverbeet.

With the garden chores completed I had time to look through my knitting patterns. I’m making more fingerless mittens for my daughter and her friends this year. They were quite popular last year when she gave them paired with a contrasting pair of stretch-knit gloves to layer underneath. They’re perfect for gift giving, too, one skein of bulky yarn makes two pair and they knit up quickly. I need to make myself a few pair for spring garden chores, they keep my hands warm but my fingers are free for planting peas etc.

Wear alone or with a stretch-knit glove underneath.

Not to be left out, the kids were crafty this afternoon as well. Paper ornaments and hand-stamped garden markers were easy to make and they enjoyed matching them with the recipients. They even picked out seeds for a “children’s garden” as a gift for a family friend to plant this spring with her new grandchild.

It was a nice way to spend a dreary and cold Friday here in Rochester. I admit I’d rather be home than fighting off angry mobs of shoppers anyday. The good news is… so would our kids!

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