An Effortless Guide to Growing Pumpkins

1. This coming Fall, take a field trip to the pumpkin patch and pick out an orange beauty. Or, grab a pumpkin out of the big cardboard box in front of the grocery store when you run in for milk.

2. Place the pumpkin on your porch, or maybe in the center of your dining table, and bask in it's warm glow on those cold, short autumn days.

3. Save your precious pumpkin from would be squash surgeons who seek to personify your pumpkin with a devilish grin, set it aglow with flame for one short night in late October, and send it to an early grave.

4. When the days become shorter and colder, and orange is no longer the color of the season, and you are ready to surround yourself with green pine boughs and red holly berries, find a spot for your orange friend in your backyard and bid him farewell.

5. After you have completely detached yourself from the pumpkin, let your son have at him with hammers, baseball bats, and any other would be weapons in the hands of a small boy.

6. Wait six months, and you will notice several small green leaves sprouting in the same place where the massacre occurred. Watch closely as these leaves grow and send forth new leaves, followed by huge yellow flowers, and pale green curly cues.

7. Tenderly water this plant by hand, all the while apologizing for the fate of his forefather. If you are forgiven, the plant will bless you with several fruits, save you the chore of buying a pumpkin come fall, and provide you with your own personal pumpkin patch, which will amuse your children and their friends to no end.

8. If steps 1-7 do not work, pray that a bird drops a fertile pumpkin seed bomb somewhere in your yard.

Life is giving me...

Lemons,
apples,
cucumbers,
and sugar snap peas.

My dad once asked me if I had all the time in the world to study just one subject, what would it be? I answered, botany. I love all things green and growing. I would love to know the healing properties of all plants and trees, the flavoring properties of all herbs, the Latin name for all things sprouting from the earth. One of my favorite books is the Sunset Western Garden Book, and I love to check out herbal reference books from the library.

After several years of casual research and careful observation, I now know much more about trees and plants than I did when my dad asked me that very important question. I can identify trees, growing conditions for certain fruits and vegetables, organic soil amendments and natural pesticides. Friends and neighbors actually ask me, ME, for gardening advice. I have so much more to learn, and I am enjoying the process.

It is a goal of our family to grow as much of our food as we can. It will take years to reach this goal, but we have made a good start this year. The kids love to see seeds sprout, pick their own food, observe bugs, smell and taste herbs. We have dirt under our nails, a slight green tinge on our thumbs, and a craving for food from our garden. Thank you Dad for helping me discover such a satisfying and rewarding course of study.

Blueberry Harvest

Just a few short weeks ago, our blueberries weren't even showing signs of blue. They ripened very fast in the hot weather, and we had our first harvest last night. The kids had so much fun! Aidan wanted to make a blueberry pie with his basket of berries, and Avery wanted a blueberry cake. They settled on individual blueberry crisps which they made (mostly) themselves. This is a very easy recipe for kids, and cooks up fast in the toaster oven or Easy-Bake oven.

Blueberry Crisp

Mix until crumbly in small bowl:
1 Tablespoon butter
2Tablespoons oats
1Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon flour
Dash of cinnamon

Put a handful of blueberries (or chopped peach, apple, any variety of berries) in the bottom of a small baking dish. Cover with crumbly mix. Bake at 350 until top begins to brown and fruit bubbles, about 10 minutes. Cool and enjoy alone or with ice cream, whipped cream, or icing (which my daughter makes from powdered sugar with a dash of milk).

The kids did not share, but they really enjoyed making their own treats with the fruit of their labor.