CANADIAN REGION - What are you doing September 2015

Soon be fall and this month night time takes over daytime.  

Today I took the time to label all the canning I have done in August using my new pressure cooker/canner.

Dill Pickles- one gallon jar
Peaches -          14 x 500ml
Pears -                8 x 500ml
Tomato Sauce -   5 x 500ml plus 2 x 250ml
Apple Sauce -      8 x 500ml plus 5 x 250ml plus many bags in the freezer
Blackcurrant Jam - 6 x 125ml
Pickled Beetroot -   6 x 250ml
Pickled Kohrahbi -  5 x 250ml
Pickled Radishes -  6 x 250ml

That doesn't count the jars I have given away.

Still some pears, pickling cucumbers and red plums to be processed. I am hoping I have come to the end of the apples; they keeping falling off the tree and there are still some left.  The bears were after them two days ago. I pick up the windfalls morning, noon and night so they have slim pickings and are hanging round the neighbourhood.  Walking my dog early this evening round the block and one person told me to look out for them, she has a basement apartment and she was woken up at 1am by a thump and  the bear's face was looking at her through the window.  It was a good job it did not break the glass.

That's a nice pantry of goodies for the future Kelejan.  We have not put much away for the winter.  Mrs Trolleydriver has prepared a lot of tomatoes for freezing.

It seems very quiet on the Canadian part of the forum for the past few days.  I did some work on my composter and harvested some nice compost.  I'm looking forward to picking the melons.

Yes, it does seem quiet, TD.  But like most things, it comes in waves.  In our town last Saturday everything seemed dead, and every store I went into I was the only customer with several shop assistants (or should I say associates? )  hanging around talking to each other. Everyone probably taking advantage of the last weeks of summer holidays.  Then it will still be quiet for a few days until everyone has settle down again to routine.

When I had my little store, the last two weeks of August was hard going.  As the business owner everyone else was on vacation and I had to mind the store by myself. So hard not to fall asleep at times, and wish that I was out in the sunshine and fresh air. Now I have retired and life could not be more pleasant. FREEDOM!

Things are going to pick up this weekend at the TD household.  Our son and his family as well as our daughter and her family will be with us.  My 89 year old mum, who is still recovering from a leg injury, also is with us.  She will be able to enjoy her two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  I don't expect to be doing much gardening for a few days.

Get the grandkids to do some weeding, TD.

KJ, Any chance of a photo of your canning/freezing?

sanderson wrote:KJ,  Any chance of a photo of your canning/freezing?  

When I get around to relearning everything I have forgotten. I do know that pictures will enhance my words.

I am not Canada, but I am about 2 1/2 hrs from Windsor. Honorary Canadian? Here, I am trying to get my plan together for Fall planting season. Radishes, lettuces, try kale, maybe spinach.

Keep on with the cherry tomatoes and Brandywines. Patty pans are doing good, will see if they set a few more. Patiently waiting for PEPPERS........

Hi Scorpio, you are most welcome to be an honorary Canadian.  I've even spelled Hon your way.   I am about 1 1/2 hours north of Washington State and have always been welcomed as an hon. American by friends in Spokane. My DH and I belonged to The Royal Canadian Legion and we were great friends with members of Veterans of Foreign Wars and played International Golf and had lots of other fun.
Alas, the years fly by and things change; but it was a good thirty years and many happy memories to treasure.

In any case we here are all SFGers, so have many interests in common  and we all drop into each others areas and swap information and encouragement.

I have just come in from my garden to collect today's apple windfalls so as to discourage my bear visitors even though I wish them no harm and would really like to feed them for the coming winter, but that is a no-no for safeties sake and to save their lives in the long run as they would become garbage bears and end up being destroyed.

Next to my lone apple tree is my patti pan patch and today I harvested my first  two, each measuring about six inches in diameter. Quite a few more on the way and I should get some large enough before any frost comes. Now I need to find out out to prepare them so I will be using the search box to find out. If you have a good recipe, please share.

I reckon I am about level with you in that I have radishes to pull, chard etc growing carrots, some lettuce.  I have a pipe frame ready to cover them and hope to get some greens this winter.

I also have a pile of cherry tomatoes. I did not know that three plant could produce so many.  Most of them are green and I have to pull the plants aside to get to the ripe ones covered up by all the greenery.

Having been so busy in August and now the beginning of September, canning, freezing and dehydrating produce I am wondering if I will be able to get my garlic planted in time, also daffodils and tulips that need to go in their permanent spots.

I keep hoping that the apples will soon be off the tree but they keep coming down and I keep processing them.  Today I picked four jars if dill pickles,  I finished making plum jam from six pounds of fruit given me and finished off some pears with a few more to go.  Then another neighbour called this afternoon and gave me some prune plums. I keep telling myself, another week and I can get back to the garden.
The only consolation about the garden is that the weather has been too hot, the too dry and smokey from the fires, now too wet so I have had to get on with the preserving side of gardening. The grass is all green again and about six inches high so that needs cutting. The flowering shrubs all need pruning, and with the bears still around I cannot work mindlessly, one has to be on alert.

Heck, I have just remembered I have potatoes to dig up.  Not tonight though, it gets dark earlier and that is when mama bear and her two babies wander along.  Got to get the dog walked now. Bye!

Wow, thanks Kelegan, had no idea you were that far away from me! We live in big country. Ilove your doggy, what breed is he? I have a mutt, 1/2 black lab. and 1/2 Jack Russell, yeah, he is highly strung! bUt I live him!

Garden this year has been great. I have done the original SFG at a diff location, and have had really interesting results with the present sitch...

Love learning from everyone, and will see ya soon!

Scorpio, my dog is a Terrier Mix on his birth certificate.  His mom, Annie, is a Silkie, a breed descended from Yorkies, Australian and Cairn Terriers.  His sire is unknown.
His mom is a puppy mill rescue from twelve years ago, one of 95 animals rescued from pitiful conditions, mainly malnourished and filthy, living in their own feces. Six of the witches were pregnant, and his mom had six puppies, the three females died and the three males survived. We never knew who the father was, I expect just another cute dog to produce cute puppies.
Officially Jazz is a SPCA dog although of course he has never had anything bad in his life, unlike his mom; she was still scared of people and one had to move carefully around her.
Jazz is now twelve years old and I hope to have him for a few more years.  But it still seems that he only came to me just yesterday and I know I will be heartbroken when he goes.

Back on Topic.   Yesterday evening I had four young men from the Mormons come to help me with the apples on my tree.  Between us we stripped as many as we could reach, I reckon about 25 pounds in weight.  There are still more left and the bears will get them as they drop.

It was interesting how they worked.

The two older ones just stood around while they "worked". Maybe they were supervising the two younger ones?  One of the youngsters was on the tall ladder and put some of the apples in the bag and many he just dropped and they fell on the concrete and split which means a lot of work picking out the usable bits.  The second youngster was the best of all.  He stood on the step ladder and carefully picked each one and handed it to me so his apples will be the ones I use first later this morning when I slice and dehydrate them.

Based on my experience as an employer, admittedly not extensive, there would only be one that I would consider employing.  It is also based on my experience as an employed person when working with others.

Kelejan, about your patty pans and a recipe-- you picked yours at six inches. I often pick them much smaller, roll them about in olive oil with salt and pepper, and bake them on a cookie sheet until tender. (When young, they're already pretty tender.) Then I just slice them in half or dig out the tops, and eat them like that, either as-is or with some garlic butter. They're really good, I think. There's no problem eating the skin when they're young.

Thanks, Marc.  I should have looked into the matter when I planted them. there are some smaller ones there so tomorrow I will pick them  and treat them as you say.

Perhaps I will steam the larger ones and then follow suit.

Back to my apple tree.  Went out this morning to check and found one apple on the ground. I can only see four apples left; I bet my  neighbour is happy.   Today I have nearly finished dehydrating them. just a few more pounds to go.

Sure enjoyed your screeds about bears and canning and apples and who you would employ.  Thanks for the more "getting to know you."

Rosina,  have often heard the message that one should not give too much information about oneself.  I do sometimes wonder if I could be traced and taken advantage of.
What does anyone else think?

The answer is "Yes."

I tried to get my location removed from the site, but it couldn't be done at the time. I still don't feel good about it.

Re your patty's again -- they'll be good at almost any size. I've eaten huge ones that were still good. So you may want to only eat the smaller ones if you've got a really big harvest and plenty to spare. Or as a special, very pretty veggie dish when company is coming over. They're a very versatile squash.

Marc Iverson wrote:The answer is "Yes."

I tried to get my location removed from the site, but it couldn't be done at the time.  I still don't feel good about it.

Re your patty's again -- they'll be good at almost any size. I've eaten huge ones that were still good.  So you may want to only eat the smaller ones if you've got a really big harvest and plenty to spare.  Or as a special, very pretty veggie dish when company is coming over.  They're a very versatile squash.

Oh dear!  Somehow I don't think I will change.  I must warn everyone that Jazz is a veritable tiger in my defence and will bite your head off. He weighs about 150 pounds and has very sharp teeth.

Yesterday  I think the bears were around again so we went out on to the deck/veranda that is enclosed. This was at three in the morning.   Jazz had barked, so I picked him up so that he was quiet, but he was so strung up and quivering I had a job to hold him. Like a coiled spring all ready for action. I would never let him off the leash when bears are around as I am sure he would kill them and we would end up in jail.

Kelejan wrote:I must warn everyone that Jazz is a veritable tiger in my defence and will bite your head off. He weighs about 150 pounds and has very sharp teeth.

Yesterday  I think the bears were around again so we went out on to the deck/veranda that is enclosed. This was at three in the morning.   Jazz had barked, so I picked him up so that he was quiet, but he was so strung up and quivering I had a job to hold him. Like a coiled spring all ready for action. I would never let him off the leash when bears are around as I am sure he would kill them and we would end up in jail.

I have digressed too much Off Topic so   I had better write something On Topic for a change.

I think most Canadian gardeners must be in a similar latitude and the amount of daylight therefore must be similar.

Where I live the amount of daylight today will be 13 hours and 12 minutes.

Remember to get your winter seeds in ASAP because when daylight reaches only ten hours a day growth slows significantly.  Therefore greens etc. need to be in, but stuff like garlic and tulip bulbs can wait as they only need to grow roots not tops during the winter.

P.S. in my previous post about my tiger-dog, I made a typo.  Jazz only weighs about 15 pounds.  Sorry if you visualised me lifting 150 pounds.

Marc Iverson wrote:
I tried to get my location removed from the site, but it couldn't be done at the time.  I still don't feel good about it.

what does the above quote mean Marc?  Have I missed something?

Kelejan wrote: Jazz is a veritable tiger .... He weighs about 150 pounds and has very sharp teeth.
... I picked him up so that he was quiet...

I repeat, I soooooo want to be you when I grow up!!!

CC

CapeCoddess wrote:

Kelejan wrote: Jazz is a veritable tiger .... He weighs about 150 pounds and has very sharp teeth.
... I picked him up so that he was quiet...

I repeat, I soooooo want to be you when I grow up!!!

CC

CC, I hope you have read my correction where I state that Jazz weighs 15 not 150 pounds. No way could I lift 150 pounds even in my hey- day.

Oh, Marc and Kelejan.  I can get a bit paranoid too but who the heck would care where you live?  To steal some of your canned foods or your produce from the garden?  If so,I doubt the sort of person interested in that wouldn't be so creative as to pick you out by your location.   I could be wrong.  I love seeing the locations of all our sfg friends.  Please keep them in.

I just finally looked up where some of you live so I could get a better idea of what you are dealing with, especially weather wise.  I'm abashed to say I am extremely ignorant of the Canadian geography.

On that note, it looks like the next hurricane, Jimena, is slowing down to a tropical depression.  We have been blessed with lots of moisture and pulling weeds is easy.

Rosina, do not be abashed that you were not too familiar with Canadian Geography.it is a very large country but as not a lot happens in Canada, it is a rather dull country so no one knows much about us, which suits me fine.

In any event, I watched a TV documentary about Hawaii and I was amazed how much I learned about the formation of the chain of islands.  How it was formed from the earth moving over a volcano and producing each island in turn.

kauairosina wrote:

Marc Iverson wrote:
I tried to get my location removed from the site, but it couldn't be done at the time.  I still don't feel good about it.

what does the above quote mean Marc?  Have I missed something?

Certain details entered into the forum software cannot be removed once entered.