Michigan's Largest Pumpkin

Those of you who know me well, know that I'm REALLY into pumpkins. Which is why I was absolutely thrilled to learn that Michigan's State record holder of the largest pumpkin was going to be on display at our local orchard not 3 miles from our home!

Visit Spicer's Orchard

One of my favorite movies to watch around this time of year (if you can look past the low rent, made-for-TV acting and plot) is Growing the Big One. It stars Shannon Doherty and Kavan Smith (When Calls the Heart) and is a fish out of water story about a city girl who enters a pumpkin growing contest. I like this movie because I LOVE anything that hints at small town, good natured competition. I love chili cook-offs, or pie baking contests. I love vegetable growing contests, or pumpkin carving contests. There's just that Norman Rockwell quality about bringing home the Blue Ribbon!


We visited the Michigan State Fair earlier this year and were impressed with this Blue Ribbon winner at 502 lbs.

But they don't compare with Mark Clementz' 2043.5 pound giant!

We spoke with Mark at the Orchard and he has a passion for getting children involved in gardening. His grandson Jackson has a large involvement in the pumpkin tradition.

Visit Mark's Page

I was inspired by Mark and purchased some of his giant pumpkin seeds. The variety is formulated by Mark and named after his Grandson.

Jackson 1513 Seeds

I think Evelyn and I are going to try our hand at "growing a big one" next spring.

Turk's Turban

There are many varieties in the Turban group of squashes, shown above is Turk's Turban. 

The Turban Squash may be once of the most interesting varieties of squash that is available. The squash is usually multicolored with blotches of orange, gold, cream/white and green. Not only is it a colorful variety, but the squash is horizontally bisected into two distinct sections with an almost artificial dividing line. The bottom is a flat, more traditional pumpkin shape and the top is tri-sected into three lobes, similar to that of the Triamble Pumpkin variety. It looks almost as if this was two different fruits squished together as one.

The Turban Squash has a mild-sweet flavor when roasted and can be used to add nutritional bulk to more flavorful dishes and sauces.

To learn more about different pumpkin, gourd and squash varieties, visit the Iron Oak Farm Pumpkin Page.  

My Book Epic Eggs is Available for Pre-Order!

I'm so excited to share that my book Epic Eggs is available on Amazon for per-order! It feels like a dream to finally be a published book author! This book is not a cook book, and not a "how to raise chickens" book (though, there is a chapter on that). Instead it focuses on eggs.

• Breeding for Egg color and quality eggs
• Increasing egg production in your backyard flock
• Sizing and grading your egg harvest
• Understanding the anatomy of an egg and the egg producing anatomy of a chicken.
• How to use this knowledge to raise a healthier flock and healthier eggs. 
• Raising other poultry for eggs

This book is great for beginners who are looking to start out with a great laying flock, but it also delves into the nitty-gritty of breeding which makes it appealing to seasoned chicken keepers looking to specialize in certain egg laying breeds.

Click here to order now. Publication is scheduled for November 1st! Just in time for the Holidays!   

 

KBB Post The House Bee and the Field Bee

Check out my latest Keeping Backyard Bees post and learn the different roles of a worker bee as she ages.

The House Bee and the Filed Bee

KBB Post The Life Cycle of a Baby Bee

Check out my latest Keeping Backyard Bees post; The Life Cycle of a Baby Bee

So What's the Deal with the Cheerios Wildflower Seeds?

Have you heard of the Cheerios Bring Back the Bees Initiative? While the wildflower project sounds admirable, there's a few things to consider before sprinkling those seeds in your backyard.

So What's the Deal with the Cheerios Wildflower Seeds

The Difference Between a Package and a Nuke KBB Post

There are a few different ways to purchase a new colony of bees but packages or nukes are two of the most common. In this article I describe what each is, and some of the benefits/drawbacks to each.

Click on the link below to read more!

The Difference Between a Package and a Nuke