Pumpkin Brigade

My kids helped pick at least 200 pounds of winter squash, including giant blue hubbards, spaghetti squash, butternut and pumpkins. Ralph (top) is handing a giant blue hubbard to my son. This baby weighed a good 18 pounds and when I held it to take to my car, I found myself patting it and swaying. Oops, not a baby. Scott (bottom) tosses a pumpkin along the brigade. I'll let you know how I end up using the giant blue.

Crowned Queen of the Harvest Festival

This gourd is called a "Crown of Thorns," but I thought it looked like the little girl Octopus from Finding Nemo. On Saturday soccer was canceled so we spent the morning moving and spreading compost. My 6-year old had a blast! We brought home summer squash, tomatoes, corn and green beans as well. Did you know they plant corn at the end of July as a tribute to the Mormon Pioneers who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847? Some years the crop comes through and this year looks like a good year. The corn should be ready this week.

Much help will be needed in November to put the garden to bed under it's leafy comforter. If you come help after the first frost, you're welcome to take home a pumpkin (first come first served). Carrots, celery and winter squash will be available then too.

Mmm Mmm Great

The best chicken soup won't come in a can or even from the grocery store, but from your backyard. My backyard extends a mile to the Community Garden and a quarter mile to the Crop Swap. What I did grow was the chicken and garlic, one potato and an onion. The parsley and some carrots came from the Crop Swap. The rest of the potatoes and carrots, the celery, and an onion came from the Community Garden. Of course you can add plenty more to a good chicken soup (and I don't know how to mine salt or grow black pepper, so it's only 98% "home grown").