Where is the Eggplant?





My family and I took a mini vacation. Our destination was built around an auction my hubby wanted to attend. As we traveled whining roads, with a breathtaking rural backdrop of large white square farmhouses, my children’s excitement grew. The first sighting of a black carriage being pulled by a single horse was amazing.  The game started of counting how many we passed before we arrived at the hotel. Sighs were long and loud as we entered a small town, only to be replaced with shouts of glee when we exited and came across more. As much as I will cherish these memories, none will mean more to me than “Where is the Eggplant?”.

We had spent the day traveling the area and enjoying Amish Country, when we stopped at a farm supply store. As we started to walk thru the aisles, two of my yahoos went missing. I called them and followed the tiny voices to a seed display.  I rounded the front of the display and my oldest is standing there holding two seed packets and asked “Where is the eggplant?”.  Now I know this doesn’t seem like much, but my little man is living with autism. At that moment, my eyes welling with tears, my heart about to split, all the hard work was justified. Why you might ask? Four years ago, Shag Bark Hickory Farms didn’t exist. There was just a stay at home mom who fought tooth, nail and stick to help give her son those words. If we couldn’t afford the therapy, I researched and then used it with him. The local library was my best friend.  And if the library was my best friend, the garden was my sanity. After a pretty rough time, I read an article about programing being dropped for young adults pertaining to work assistance. Thankfully Michigan is still one of the states with assistance past the age of 18, but who knows how long that will last. I want my sons to be productive members of society, able to support themselves and a family if God is willing. We were already generations of a farming family and I love…. No NEED… to garden.   So that is how SBHF came about. It was not easy. My time was now divided, and it became the subject of a few disagreements. Blame it on my Irish ancestry and the inherited stubbornness, but this was it. The one thing that makes work, well NOT work.  But last year when we moved to the five acre plot, self-doubt ran wild. I don’t know how many times I heard “I don’t wanna pick the tomatoes”…. Lol.   It became a family joke and made my stomach hurt at the same time. Was all this going to be worthless in the end?

As I write this, just days later, the moment still brings tears to my eyes.  My hubby is just shaking his head, giving me a look that clearly states I am certifiable. But he was holding two seed packets he had already chosen. One was carrots, understandable since his 4H project is rabbits. The other packet being his favorite fruit, was watermelon. He picked them out, with a desire to GROW seeds. Maybe..... I AM doing this right. Eggplant is a mystery to me,  on the whys. We couldn’t find a single packet on the racks that day, so he was disappointed when we left the store. But mom has that wonderful bucket full of seeds and will make darn sure he has some come planting time.

 

Let's Talk Squash

The middle of winter has arrived with blistery northern winds and subzero temperatures.   Apparently, 20 degrees was too warm of us here in Michigan. Mother Nature has turned down the thermostat and delivered an old fashion winter.  It has been a while since a true Michigan winter was upon us. Plans for a high tunnel have been postponed. Who wants to be out in 5 degree weather trying to hammer support rods into a frozen snow covered landscape. While I might be in love with winter, I do not LOVE the 5 degrees. I am very grateful for our corn furnace, chugging along keeping us toasty warm. With the cooler weather, my hands have been itching to create warm cozy creations. Quilting and Crocheting are my top choices, although felting is a skill I desire to learn. I have been earnestly working on my hubby to let me get a small flock of sheep. “It would be a great learning experience” has been my line of reasoning. I co-lead a 4H group with two of my children enrolled. When, in fact I just want to learn how to spin wool.  But on to the subject I had already promised. Let's talk squash.

I have to confess that squash is just not inspiring me at this moment. Lol. It might be the months of eating squash and trying to find new ways to cook with it. Stuffed squash, cubed squash, squash with brown sugar and marshmallow, breads, cakes, roasted squash, you name… I probably have cooked it. My Favorite Recipes board on Pinterest is loaded with squash recipes.  But I do have to say I love to grow squash. There are so many varieties out there.  There is summer squash and winter squash (think zucchini vs. pumpkins).  What most people do not know is there are four main squash species. You can grow one of each and not worry about cross pollination. Meaning, you can save seeds from each, and they will grow “true” to seed or produce the same squash again. For someone with limited space this is great news. For those who would like to learn more on the subject, I highly recommend “The Complete Squash” by Amy Goldman.  Squash is part of the Cucurbita family. I will abbreviate with C.

C. Pepo: Think summer squash. They are quick growing. Zucchini and Scallop varieties would be in this group. Although I grow them every year for the market, I love other varieties more. Pick a new zucchini this year, not the standard green or yellow. There are many more in a rainbow of hues.  Think French or Italian.

Fordhook Acorn: Small, tan, and ribbed. These cuties are 1 ½ lbs. with grainy mildly sweet flesh. Great shelf life.  Perfect for stuffing and individual servings.  Introduced in 1890 by Burpee.

Winter Luxury: I was impressed with this little baking pumpkin. Not only was it prolific (with very long reach), but it was covered with a web like netting. Very striking and unique. The flesh is smooth, sweet, and fiber – free. I liked it better than Amish Paste. The only down side is that it is not the best keeper.

Patisson Strie Melange: A French Scallop mix that is striped, warted, and sports many colors. Pick young to eat or let age to use as fall decorations. One of my favorites and receives a lot of attention at the market.

C. Maxima: These come in all shape and sizes. Hubbard, Buttercup, Mammoth and Turban are examples of this species of squash. I always have a hard time in this variety just selecting a few.

Galeux D’Ensines : A French baking pumpkin with gorgeous salmon colored skin covered in tan warts.  A true beauty that has become popular for fall decorations.  One of my favorites.

Guatemalan Blue Banana: This was a trial squash last year and my customers raved about it. The Banana group is noted for their fine table quality. Dark “Blue” with light stripes, thick firm golden flesh.  Can be sliced to bake or roast.

Blue Hubbard: This one comes large or mini. Either way they are unique. “Blue” with warted skin and the shape of what makes a Hubbard stand out. Fine grained yellow sweet flesh. Excellent quality.

C. Moschata: These would be your cheese pumpkins, butternuts, and other necked varieties. They tend to harvest later in my experience, but still well worth the wait.

Musquee De Provence: A cheese pumpkin for the South of France. Shaped like a wheel of cheese ripening from green to burnt sienna. Deep orange flesh is dense and of superb quality.

Seminole: I know I listed this in the previous blog, but it is that good.

Yokohama: The skin of this reminded me of black velvet. While the texture wasn’t there, the color was that amazing. Very flat, ribbed and dark-green with tan skin. Has a dry, fine-grained and sweet flesh. Another trial from last year that did great.

C. Mixta: With a limited seed list, this group has some interesting varieties including Cushaw. I have not ventured into this group much. I will strive to plant at least one new variety this year. Lol. There has also be a name change for this group, although not all the seed catalogs are reflecting it. C. Argyrosperma is the correct species.

Tennessee Sweet Potato: Beautiful pear-shaped fruit with white skin and faint green stripes.  Old descriptions in seed catalogs compare it to a sweet potato, but I think more like a regular potato.

Well, that just about covers the ins and outs for the squash world. All the listed varieties can be found in either the Seed Savors Exchange or Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds websites or catalogs. Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Until next time,

Christi Kotus