2009 Harvest Total - Part 1

Over the next few days I will be putting up my harvest numbers and discussing various aspects of my harvest. First a couple of notes:

1) I did not get a scale until harvesting was under way, so some of the early harvests (radishes for example) simply weren't weighed and I have no way to really estimate the harvest. Some things (turnips for example) I have good numbers for the later harvest and none for the early.

2) Some things just never got weighed and never had a chance. My Tumbling Tom tomatoes and ground cherries would be good examples. I snacked on them while working in the garden/yard. I ate a LOT of them, but running in to weigh them would have reduced my enjoyment of them, so, oh well.

3) Some items, herbs primarily, I did not weight because I was usually in a hurry using them or I was drying them, should I use the dry or wet weight?

So, lets get to the big number first, with the understanding that this is actually not a complete number by any means, my spreadsheet says 356 lbs, 224 oz, which, oddly enough comes out to be

370 lbs

I have no idea how that measures up. I have no idea what the real number is, but this is what I have accurately recorded. It doesn't seem like a lot for some reason, but I know how much enjoyment it was, and how much work it was.

Pumpkin Harvest

We officially harvested the pumpkins this weekend. We got 82 lbs 10 oz of pumpkins. Some of them are still shiny as moisture condensates on them because we just brought them in.

Trying to figure out which one to cut up and save for Thanksgiving.

Along Came A Killer Frost

We had a hard frost this morning.

We had good notice so I spent a lot of time last night getting potted herbs in the garage and finishing harvesting a lot of the plants.

Got the Basil, Tarragon, Thyme, Oregano, and Rosemary inside.

Left in the garden? Sweet potatoes, ground cherries, pumpkins, watermelons, Charantais, zuchs, squash, and the pepper plants with a bunch of little peppers which I will probably never see.

Brought in the last of the tomatoes, picked every pepper worth picking (thinking hotsauce), cabbage, broccoli, chard, onions, shallots, cucumbers, etc.

Working on some totals for harvest this year so I can contribute over at Freedom Gardens.

Harvest As Family Activity

One of the best things about a garden is harvesting. Combine that with your children, make it something to look forward to on the way home or when they come to visit. It makes memories. It is a rare and genuine manufactured memory. Buddy went out with me tonite and picked beans, helped dig for potatoes, and pointed out red tomatoes. Then he INSISTED on carrying the harvest bowl into the house all by himself (its a long way for a two year old, steps, etc) and he rendered yeoman service. Joy.

Below we have a work table covered in fruits of the garden. Just the way I like it!

Good Days

Have some more produce coming from the garden. Here we have one of my favorites that I have never grown before. Bought the seed from freedomseeds.org. These are the best tasting turnips I have ever had. Firm and crisp, but so finely grained as to almost be creamy. Amazing!

Also harvested a LOT of radishes, lettuces, strawberries, bok choi.

Here we have the daughters demonstrating their one of their dance routines. Always fun.

We took some time and constructed a tent/fort in the living room. Loads of fun!

Played with balloons for a good long time. A good time was had by all!

Living large.