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2022 Squash Bug Resistant C. moschata Landrace Grow Report
Summer 2022 held some challenges in the garden... ...as we experienced over a month of drought mixed with temps in the upper 90s, many days even over 100! It was very difficult to keep everything alive and many plants stalled in growth. Flowers bloomed and wilted before they could set fruit and many fruits dried on the vine. That said, the squash hung in there! I did water more than 2021- for some weeks in June and July even watering every day or every other day simply to keep things alive.
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Ozark C. Moschata Grex 2021 Season Wrap Up
2021 was an exciting year in squash growing. I started the year off with anticipation toward the squash project. I was curious as to how the genetics I had crossed in 2020 would fare in relation to the squash bugs. You can read my beginning of the season post to get an idea of the specifics of the project. In short summary of the project’s goals and aims for 2021: I created a Cucurbita moschata grex which is a flock of genetics crossing at random (think pollinators: we thank our 6 honeybee hives, among other populations of native bees, for their ample pollination). I didn’t manage for squash bugs at…
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Community Squash Tasting Day
Saving seed and growing food is inherently place based. The characteristics of the seeds you save becomes the nourishment that fills your and possibly others’ bodies. It is one of the great gifts of growing food. Cooking it and sharing it brings us together and infuses us with a sense of place.
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Introducing Air Potatoes
Given our shifting climate, increased drought and flooding events and general instability, I think it is wise to start allying with a myriad of crops- especially those that are notably vigorous. I love potatoes and sweet potatoes a lot, and they do really well for us here, AND diversity is key in creating resilient systems. After a few seasons growing D. batatas and one growing D. bulbifera, I feel encouraged to continue experimenting with these plants. The batatas especially, given its cold hardy nature, would do well in and amongst shrubs and trees. In this instance, it has even taken a liking to one of our common food forest nitrogen…
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Growing Yardlong Beans: Easy Gardening Success
This year in growing the yardlongs we are “staying on top of” our bean harvest, enjoying faster prep time in the kitchen and delicious homegrown meals. We will be saving these seeds and growing them again!
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Tour of our 3 Year Old Permaculture Gardens
Summer 2019 we took a stroll through our permaculture gardens and brought you with us!
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Why We’ve Chosen Perennial Agriculture
Why Perennial Agriculture? You hear us talk about perennials, edible landscapes and food forests a lot. Why have we chosen to focus on perennial agriculture? Through this missive I hope to clarify our motivations.
