Punkins' world....SUNSHINE, seeds and no more drought!

[punkin]

Spent the whole day yesterday working in daddy's beans. He had 6 rows, 90 ft long of white 1/2 runners. He waits until most are ready, then just pulls the strings and rips up the whole vine. Those, he tosses in the tractor cart and we sit and pick them off under the shaded porch. We started at 8 am and I brought my 3 five gallon buckets home to break at 3 pm.

Again, this year, he waited too long. He watches the beans on the top to be ready. Meanwhile, the beans on the bottom are yellow and tough. So, not only do we have to string them, but shell a good portion of them.

We ended up with 6 five gallon buckets of picked off beans. Out of the 3 buckets that I brought home to break, we have about 5 gallons of broken beans. To me, it's just too much time and work for such a small amount.

I think next year he is going to plant the Blue Lake Bush Bean like I did. I hope so, my fingers are sore. I still have close to 2 gallons to break.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

We planted contenders this year. They are my DH's favorite. We usually pick as they come on so the plants will continue to produce, but we've had so much going on we didn't get them picked regularly like we normally do. They've all turned yellow so we'll be shelling them and saving the seeds for next years planting.

 

[Farmfresh]

My family just won't eat that many green beans. If I can get them to eat green beans once in a week I am doing good.

I still stand by MY favorite bean however ... Rattlesnake pole beans. Long, tender, sweet and tasty, very few strings and they will produce every couple of days ALL season long!

My husband's family always planted bush beans. TOO much stooping and too much work! Although the rip them all out and work under a shade tree idea sounds a lot smarter!

 

[user251]

snake beans are my favorite also, the only thing i dislike about them is there needs to be a shut off switch on those bloomin things , im up to 80 quarts and still going strong, im going to have to give them to someone from now on im running out of space and still have late peas more tomatoes and butter peas to can. NOT complaining its funny actually. Last year i lost my part time job so before now i could never devote my full attention to garden care soooo, now that i can weed and hoe and pick bugs the garden is out of this world and producing like mad. ill probably offset the cost of losing my part time work with food that i wont have to purchase. life is good aint it.

 

[Farmfresh]

They DO have a shut off switch ... of sorts.

Let the beans mature on the vine for soup beans! That slows them down a ton and they make a pretty decent dry bean as well!

 

[user251]

you are right, its just what Ive always done pick'em till the frost, bugs or rabbits kill them, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. ill try the soup beans thanks.

 

[punkin]

snake beans are my favorite also, the only thing i dislike about them is there needs to be a shut off switch on those bloomin things , im up to 80 quarts and still going strong, im going to have to give them to someone from now on im running out of space and still have late peas more tomatoes and butter peas to can. NOT complaining its funny actually. Last year i lost my part time job so before now i could never devote my full attention to garden care soooo, now that i can weed and hoe and pick bugs the garden is out of this world and producing like mad. ill probably offset the cost of losing my part time work with food that i wont have to purchase. life is good aint it.

It does all seem to even out doesn't it?

 

[punkin]

Just finished with daddy's beans, ended up with 55 1/2 qts. (and a few left over for supper)

DH and I are going to pull our bush beans tonight after supper. We have already canned 32 qts of them, so . . . enough is enough. Daddy and I will get them in the canner tomorrow.

We are kind of rushed, or else I would wait till Friday. DS has a race in Hurrican Mills, TN, so we will be gone all weekend. Plus, I need to take the day off so I can mow and get a few little things done around the house.

Also, last night, DH brought in some masonry rock that he scrounged from a property in bankruptcy (with permission). It is the type of faux rock that you would put on the foundation of a house. It looks like large, smooth river rock on the front with a flat backside. There are 6-7 boxes (3x3x3) full. At first I thought about using it for a walkway. Now, I'm thinking about an outside built in canning area. Kind of like a bar style with 3 propane burners, prep area with an umbrella hole. That would be a fall project, if we can swing it.

 

[punkin]

Early tomorrow morning we will be heading out to Hurricane Mills, TN. Loretta Lynn's Ranch sponsers a National Quad Race and DS is going to race. There are supposed to be around 300 quads in different categories and abilities. I think DS is going to race in 2 different classes.

I'm not looking forward to the dust and the heat, but I am looking forward to getting away from the garden, canning, cooking and cleaning. It will be some nice down time. Then again, who am I kiddin'? It is going to be a nail biting, exciting, anxiety and prayer filled weekend. DS is really good, but put him and 8-10 other quads on a track going 45-55 mph with jumps and hairpin turns . . . UGH!!! Just thinking about it gives me the willies.

If you have time, please say a prayer for Andy (DS) and his buddy Timmy that they will come home in one piece and knowing that they did their best.

Today I am trying to get some things done before we leave. I got some more tomatoes in the freezer, along with some green peppers. I was mowing the yard but ran out of diesel fuel. (Why I'm on here now.) DH is going to bring some home with him and I will finish up. I still need to get the house spiffed up, cause I hate coming home to a dirty house.

Daddy is going to feed and check on the dogs and we've arranged for someone to take care of the chickens.


So, if I'm not on again, everyone have a safe and wonderful weekend.

 

[Farmfresh]

Punkin!!!!

Before you go on your trip I just wanted to BRAG!

Your recipe of icicle pickles just won a THIRD place ribbon at the Missouri State Fair!!

:bun

And remember I have always RUINED my pickles before!!!

Thanks again for a delicious recipe!!!!