Week of September 5, 2021

TAProots Farm has tried to grow GOURDS for the last three years on a 75 foot trellis built over a large collection of well-rotted horse manure. The initial effort was most productive, including the production of a number of full-sized pumpkins. Last year, we had another successful seeding, but a lengthy dry spell ensued and unwittingly, we watered the drooping vines. To our shock, the omnipresent deer herd moved in and demolished the vines, even eating large pumpkins. We surmise that the moisture was the attractor. This year, our over-abundance of rain has prevented any grazing, rather resulting in a remarkable overgrowth of the vines to a 75’ long, 7’ tall, and 30’ wide mass of vines and gourds. The gourd seeds were purchased from the Mennonite nursery store with a huge variety of sizes and types of gourds. At least one picking of the blossoms were stuffed and fried as a squash blossom appetizer. As the summer winds down, they are picked, washed, and set out on the picnic tables to dry and harden for fall decorations for enjoyment of their brilliant textures and colors through the autumn.