So we are 9 months into this project now and we are still going strong. Along the way we have lost a few volunteers for various reasons, but we have also gained some. We have had failures, but also surprisingly many successes far beyond what we had anticipated. All in all, we are very happy with the progress so far.
New volunteers this month include Tabitha and Zack. Welcome!
We have started a new tradition. Every Monday at the end of work we are having a little BBQ lunch. So far we are using primarily what our garden produces. Last week we had sloppy joes over mashed potatoes. While the beef was from the garden, it was local. It came from Michelle Galimba. This week we had tomato soup, fried sweet potatoes, cucumber ice cream and haupia.
We have replanted chinese cabbage since we found that almost everyone likes the green leaves. The variety doesn't head up for us but the leaves are excellent. Since it bolts quickly, it is one of those crops we need to replant on a regular basis.
By majority request we are going to replant those ugly, gnarly white sweet potatoes. While they are a frightly sight, they really do taste good and make excellent fried sweets.
The gourds are doing very well and we have sold a number of them so far. The plants are taking a rest right now, so we don't expect anymore ready for a couple of weeks. Wew have also sole close to a dozen of the edible gourds and are getting requests for more. This surprises us because we didn't know that anyone would be interested.
We are hoping to start offering workshops. It all depends upon whether or not we can hold them on the garden grounds or if we need to find another venue. But I will keep you posted.
September 20th
We are harvesting lots of gourds now. Yes, we knew that these days would come, but it only now that the reality of it is hitting us...... right between the eyes! This week Sue J took out over 60 gourds of various types and uses out of the gourd patch. Amazing.
I already told you that we were expanding the garden size. Well, we are at the point where we can start rototillering. There is still some of that vining type grass to hand pull, but we are going to get the tiller working. There are lots of baby plants ready to plant, some more taro huli, some pipinola, and more sweet potato slips. So we'll till bit by bit and plant as we go.
October is almost upon us and that's the month that we need to replant gourds. Yes, start a new gourd patch. With all the mature gourds that we are now taking from the garden, it is really hard to think that we need to plant more. What? More? Are we crazy? Not really, because if we don't plant them now, we won't have gourds next spring.
We are changing our approach to planting gourds. This time we will give them far more space and make better and different trellises. Because of the amount of moisture here, we need to have the vines more open to the air flow. Climbing around the current gourd patch is difficult, so we will attempt to train the vines better, making the patch navigable.
We are also changing the way we are growing the grape and cherry tomatoes. The trellises were far to skimpy, so we are constructing larger, more robust permanent trellising. While the trellises will be permanent, the crop won't. We will rotate through crops that will be using trellising: vining tomatoes, vining sweet potatoes, jicama, vining lima and green beans, vining peas, etc.
Lots of veggies are being harvested. The list includes: mustard spinach, arugula, chinese cabbage, broccoli, chard, carrots, peas, snap beans, aztec spinach, grape and cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, edible gourds, herbs (dill, genovese basil, thai basil, greek oregano, stick oregano, salad burnet, cilantro, parsley, tulsi, garlic chives, common chives, celery), and potatoes.
Last night we got 2 inches of rain. Relief. Looks like we won't need to use irrigation for a while.
September 25th
So what did we goof up? Aaaawww, we just picked 20 gourds too early, that's all. Yup, we mixed up our dates and happily chopped away until someone pointed out that we were off by 30 days. Yikes. Wow, no wonder the gourds looked so perfect and pretty. So now we have 20 gourds that go to feed the chickens. So it's not a total waste, but it still isn't a pretty sight, all those lost gourds.
On a happier note, we did get mature gourds from the patch and sold three right on the spot. And Linda planted out a whole lot of seedlings from the hoophouse. Many of the seeds are germinating in the hoophouse. The watermelon vine is setting 4 more fruits. And the eggplants are starting to produce.
A section along the driveway has been mowed and we had a conference as to what to plant there. We decided upon a row of fruit trees set back from the driveway, and sunflowers, cosmos, and cherry tomatoes. The flowers can go up against the fence for support and we'll build trellises for the tomatoes.
We have scheduled our first gourd workshop to be held right here on the farm. A basic beginners introduction to gourds. Should be fun!
Harvest today included cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, leeks, white potatoes, yellow sweet potatoes, two different types of green beans, snap peas, and herbs. Our youthful volunteers did a great job with the heavy digging. Thank you!
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