Harvesting

I really should have gotten a post up before now, but things have been so busy here on the farm. But since its pouring down rain and I'm out of spices for the batch of pickles I should be making, I thought I would catch up here a bit.

 

For the last few weeks we have been harvesting cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and zucchini. This picture is just a very small sample showing the variety of our produce. I've been spending a lot of time preserving these foods for us to eat this coming fall and winter. The squash I have been freezing and have produced about 20 quarts of frozen squash so far. This still leaves us a lot to eat fresh.

Our cucumbers have been producing well and what's better to come from them than home made pickles.

 

 

Other things have been going on around the farm as well. Local farmers have been cutting wheat and with that comes the baling of straw.
In one weekend Bob baled and picked up over 200 bales of straw.

This will be used when the time comes to cut and ship watermelons

We will start cutting watermelons and cantaloupes later this week. Just in time for the 4th of July celebrations.


















The sweet corn is coming along well, but with this comes other issues. Look who we caught stealing our corn.



Our cat was not happy with this visitor. Not to worry, no raccoons were harmed in the making of this blog. He was released in a safe area.

Before long we will be picking corn and purple hull peas and with that will come more work and preserving. But all in all very much worth it. The fresh food from our garden will taste very good in the coming months as well as the savings on our grocery bill.

Update

Its been a tough spring here in Southeast Missouri. We have had an unusual amount of rain and this cause many problem. All this rain has made it not only difficult to get around the farm but its hard on the plants as well. However, the plants have persevered and are starting to produce.

The tomatoes are growing well and are loaded with green tomatoes and lots of blooms. Fried green tomatoes are on the menu tonight and I certainly look forward to that first ripe one.

 
 

Our squash has really taken off and is producing some really tastey veggies. The squash its producing appears to be a bit on the small side most likely because of so much rain and cooler nighttime temps. However, the flavor can't be beat and the small squash fries up well.

I can hardly wait to taste our first watermelons of the year. Our plants are starting to produce, we've found melons about the size of softballs as well as plants covered with smaller melons. We have a variety of types planted here at Smith Farms including sugar babies and yellow meats.
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The corn stalks are growing, and while most are taller than I am they still should be a bit taller. However, they are still doing well despite the smaller size (I can relate to this as I have a small stature) and are starting to show signs of tasseling. Won't be long now til we have ripe sweet corn.

All in all, despite the over abundance of rain, the crops are persevering and doing well. I will soon be posting pics of ripe melons, cantaloupes, and tomatoes as well as other veggies.