Our driveway takes a wide bend here onto the lane that serves the three properties on Turkey Flatt Road.
Vegetables were in dwindling supply at the Casey County Produce Auction today, mostly offered in small lots.
Much of the floor was filled with ranks of mums, with more waiting on flatbed trailers parked alongside.
Colorful beauties, but I'm reluctant to spend for plants that have a short life.
A bin of cushaws.
Warty pumpkins. I gather these are mainly for autumn decorations rather than having food value.
'Gremlin' gourds.
The August planting of green beans is providing us with the best harvest of the season. Intermittent showers all week mean that picking is a bit problematic, mud splashed onto the bean bushes, bits of leaf and grass clinging onto the beans,
Much of yesterday afternoon was spent snipping ends, rinsing, cutting.
8 pints went into the pressure canner, more saved out for fresh eating.
The dreaded Japanese beetles have run their course and there are a few fall roses to cherish.
Today's lineup of blooms spaced along the kitchen windowsill.
Rain began to pelt down at 5 p.m. accompanied by rattles of distant thunder.
It was nearly full dark by 6, raining hard, thunder and lightning moving closer.
The air has felt close and heavy all day.
Jim peeled apples for me this morning to make two pies--we long for the crisp apples of New England and upstate New York; the same varieties grown locally or shipped in from nearby states lack the tart/sweet flavors and keeping qualities with which we are familiar.
Matt and Gina invited us to go with them to the produce auction, the next to the last of the season.
Matt had his eye on 3 buckets of everbearing strawberries, a carton of rhubarb and several small boxes of tomatoes. He snagged then at good prices and shared with us a bucket of strawberries and a box of the tomatoes. We declined the offer of rhubarb.
Jim treated us to a buffet meal at Bread of Life.
Thunder crashing with sudden vigor, startling Nellie-cat who is reclining on my desk; others of the feline crew seem agitated.
I don't enjoy T-storms and intend to lower the blinds and curl up with a book.
Many years ago, when we lived in Dorset, we used to go to a produce auction at Wareham, but it wasn't anything like as well stocked as the ones you go to. I've not seen its like here in Wales, which is a shame.
ReplyDeleteWell done with the green beans. Our veg plot needs lots of nutrients on it over the winter (hoping to chat up the local farmer for some well-rotted manure) - the chap who cleared the plot for us took away all the topsoil, which wasn't terribly helpful. Tam hasn't been very interested in her side of it either and I've had to keep watering tomato plants and peppers. Ah well. Next year I shall just grow a couple of things I enjoy - peas, runner beans, cucumbers and some Heritage tomatoes.
The evenings are drawing in here too and when the clocks change at the end of the month we really will notice the difference.
Jennie; we are blessed with resources for produce here and not having to depend on the big chain markets. Getting a plot of ground into shape for successful growing is sometimes a process that takes several years. I'm still pushing for raised beds--which may never happen. Matt and Gina have been harvesting wonderful crops from theirs with a lot less work than the traditional way.
DeleteGood to catch up somewhat with your posts. Always a joy to read and to see photos. Happy Fall ~ FlowerLady
ReplyDeleteRainey; I need to make an effort to post more regularly--I think many of us have fallen out of the habit. Fall is my favorite time of year. Thus far its been a mild one.
DeleteLovely to chat to you the other night Sharon and just to reiterate I do occasionally take blogs off my site just really because I feel embarrassed about them. We never have that sumptuous offer of boxes of vegetables or fruit, the wide range of squashes you can buy is marvellous.
ReplyDeleteThelma; I daresay I've posted blogs when I should perhaps have waited for a better time! I try not to get on Facebook when in ranting mode. I always enjoy exploring ancestry--my own and others.
DeleteWe are near a year round produce market--offerings vary in type and quality. The Beachy Amish produce and salvaged goods store a mile away has an interesting assortment of fresh fruit and veg and offers throughout the year when one can order in citrus or berries. I have supposed that in most parts of England similar crops could be grown as in our temperate zones.
The market is wonderful - it would be great to have access to something like that here. I'm sure there are some, but none that I know of locally. We have lots of smaller farmer's markets, though. So nice to have such a late harvest of green beans. You live in a lovely place to have a vegetable garden. I harvest rocks :) I do have an overabundance of blackberries, though! It's always nice to be inside and cozy during a thunderstorm. x K
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