photo credit: ajagendorf25

Today our side yard has one Amish buggy in the lower drive and one draft house tied to a tree near the barn. A group of Amish are starting to harvest the small branches needed for their furniture.

They only select branches under four inches and cut the trees in such a way that they will grow back, usually with more small branches that can be harvested in four or five years.

The Amish have cut Hickory off of our property on and off for about 15 years. Part of the deal often includes an Amish rocking chair or Amish love seat.

Eli, one of the Amish, told me they would be here cutting for about two weeks. He asked for permission to park the buggy by the barn and tie the horse to a tree. At the end of the their job they will bring several draft horses to haul the hickory bundles off the hill and load them into a wagon.

photo credit: Jan Tik

One year they harvested Hickory in the late spring when there was a foot of snow on the ground. When they came to haul the wood away they used an old wooden sled that could be pulled by horses. The sled was over 10 foot long and six foot wide with sides to hold the hickory bundles in place.

I asked about the history of the sled and was told it was over 100 years old and has been passed down through the family for generations.

So far today the Amish have collected about five bundles of branches. They cut them in four to eight foot sections. They then sort them before they are bundled by length and for what purpose they will be used for later. At this moment they are sorted by length and propped against my front trees.

The harvesting of the hickory will make for an interesting few weeks. The Amish in my area do not allow photographs to be taken. They are from an older sect and their beliefs are more controlled. They believe that the photographic image steals their soul.

So any photos in the article are from Amish groups that allow photographs to be taken.

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photo credit: Spudjnr123

As I was doing outdoor chores and picking up the yard and gardens and preparing them for winter I was distracted by last years gourd collection. The gourds were dry early this summer and I cut and cleaned the interiors about a month ago. I have about 20 I have selected for bird feeders or for hanging plants.

I still need to sand and clean the exterior and seal the insides (if used for plants) to prevent the gourds from attracting moisture and slightly molding. You should not seal the interior of a bird feeder. The sealer will affect the seed and hurt the birds.

You also need to use a pot inside the gourd if you want your gourd planter to last several seasons. Gourds and water really do not mix well, unless the gourd has been sealed on the inside and out.

photo credit: timlewisnm

If I get my outdoor chores done this week I will start on my gourds next week. I have an art show coming up that I would like to display some of the finished gourds.

I have grown gourds in my gardens since my very first garden and each year they add interest and usually a few horror stories for my family member to tell the neighborhood. Many people consider gardening to be a bit boring, but they haven’t visited my gardens!

Here’s a link to my one gourd garden that that still pops up in local neighborhood conversations. Grow your gourds on swing sets.

And one more fun thing to try with gourds is shaping them while they grow. Creative gardening: Shaping your Gourds

I’ll share a few of my finished gourds in a few weeks.

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photo credit: *Micky

I don’t have all the outdoor garden chores done plus I am really not ready for winter weather so I hope they are wrong. Mid October seems too early for a snowfall although I know we usually have a few warning snowfalls before winter sets in.

The leaves are still hanging on the trees and hopefully we will enjoy their beauty for a few more days after our taste of winter weather.
photo credit: dougtone

I believe this might be what they call Squaw Winter, which is usually followed by Indian summer.

As our summer was cold and wet and made for problems with gardens and crops I hope we have a long Indian summer.

For those who make apple cider it is also said that you need a good frost to bring out the best flavor in cider. We have made cider on and off for many years and I do think the best cider is made later in the season.

And for those who follow signs in nature, most wooly bear caterpillars show a long harsh winter. And the Oak trees and Apples trees have few fruit, which usually signifies a mild winter.

So do you believe we will have a harsh or mild winter?

Update: We missed the snow during the day but by Friday morning the snow was clinging to the tree limbs and covered the ground. ANd as typical for the first snow, it is gone, but still cold.

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photo credit: vieux bandit

Fall has always seemed a magical time to me. Yes, summer is over and winter will soon set in. But we have the period of time when fall flowers are at their peak and the air feels alive.

At this time of year the fog lifts slowly off the Conewango Creek each morning. It may take until 10 a.m. before I am sure what type of day we will have. After the fog lifts I take a walk down by the creek and watch the leaves slowly drift on the water and head south.

I also check the apples tree down by the creek to see how the crop is and if I will to able to press fresh apple cider. This year the harvest will be small due to our cold wet summer, but I will press at least one batch of cider at the amish cider press in Lottsville, Pa.

I guess what I like best about the season is you never know exactly what the leaves will look like and each day the same scenery has a new look. For an artist I find this amazing. A bucket left by the barn becomes an instant art piece alive with color.

As the fall colors fade outdoors and are replaced by grays, brown and the occasional splash of color I remember the summer and the spring that will arrive none too soon.

I plan to photograph as much as possible this weekend. We have the promise of three days of nice weather (hopefully with a little clouds to help enhance the color for the leaves.) These fall images will take the chill off winter and hopefully lead to a few pieces of artwork.

Below are a few links for fall crafts and saving leaves.

Autumn Craft Projects

Autumn Leaf crafts

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photo credit: PburghStever

But here in NW PA., the Conewango Creek predicts spring. I realize I am taking on both furry ground hogs with this declaration but the creek has never been wrong.

The Conewango creek flows from NY State and runs behind my house before it enters the Allegheny River. As is passes through NY and Pa it wanders though several small towns and the Ackley swamp, a nature swamp well known for its rare plants and wildlife. The creek measures close to 100 feet wide behind my house and is over 35 feet deep. It is home to many waterfowl and animals.

As I watch winter wind down and loose its hold on this area I know that winter is not over until the Canadian Geese leave the Ackley Swamp. Four days ago I saw the Canadian Geese on the creek and two other duck species. The prediction is also based on far in the swamp they return in the evening. So far the geese are close to the edge of the creek.

As the geese have returned to the banks spring is here. We may have those teasing snowflakes but it’s time to think about serious gardening and yard work.

In the past the farmers looked to mother nature to help them predict storms, seasons and much more. I learned a t a young age that when leaves turn upside down it will rain. How close a ring is around the moon is also a sign of rain. Have you heard any garden lore from the past? If so please share it.

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photo credit: ilovemypit

Rhubarb has many uses, both as an edible fruit and herbal uses. The root can even be used to naturally lighten your hair and cover gray. It also looks nice in perennial gardens offering lush green leaves and bright red stems.

I put in a rhubarb patch around eight years ago. If you prepare your patch properly rhubarb is easy to grow.

Rhubarb needs fertile soil that will drain well. I prepared my patch by adding compost and some sand (I have rocky and clay in my soil).  I dug the soil about 10 inches deep and added the compost. I later added sand. After planting rhubarb crowns that had been given to me I watered them well and ignored the patch. To keep the weeds down I applied a thick layer of straw. This patch has supplied a steady source of rhubarb for friends and family.

Rhubarb does better if it is divided every four or five years. I divided my patch three years ago and doubled my plants easily. This year I again divided the plants and gave many plants away to friends. You divide the roots of the plants and set back in the ground with the rhubarb crown even with the soil. Fall is the best time to divide the plants.

Rhubarb is a cool weather plant so its does well if you plant is near a side of a building for shade in the warmer months. Also, if you keep it picked and do not allow a seed head to grow you can harvest rhubarb all summer long.
photo credit: dconlon

Rhubarb and be canned or frozen. If you’re not familiar with rhubarb you use the stem. The leaves can be toxic. Rhubarb can be canned or frozen. It makes great cobbler or jam. Cooked rhubarb that has been cooled is  one of our favorite treats on those  warm  fall nights.

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photo credit: kimberlyfaye

The barn we had at the house were I grew up had three floors. The top floor had a smooth inlaid oak tongue and groove floor. Back in the 1920’s  and 30’s when community parties were held every weekend, this barn was known in three states for having the best square dancing parties.

By the time my parents bought the house and the barn had suffered from neglect in the depression era and the third floor had lost some of its elegance but it still had an air of importance and mystery. I remember looking out the huge third floor windows across the hills and valleys during those hot summer days enjoying the lush hills and quiet of the country.

One of the most amazing things to my brothers and I was the hay chute from the third floor to the first floor. It was as smooth as ice from hay polishing the wood and it made the best slide! The architecture of the barn also intrigued me. I guess this is where my love of barns comes from. The barn fell down many years ago and I still remember that day vividly.

At the house where I live now I am also blessed with a barn. It’s not the architectural wonder of the other barn but its in very good shape. It has an interesting history of being moved from four miles away and reassembled. Overall its 45 foot wide and 75 foot long. The second floor was not put back in when it was moved but the barn has a peek of about five stories tall.
photo credit: BinaryApe

Since my family has lived here the barn has been used for cows, sheep, as a machine shop and to repairs car in. It was also used to sell pumpkins from and for several years fall was an enchanting time for children and adults alike. Today it’s used for huge garden sales and to create art and furniture from found items.

I have future plans for the barn but the most important plan to keep it standing. Barns are fast becoming a fading memory in our area and it’s wonderful to see any barn remain intact. It is part of our rural history and one of a few barns left in Pinegrove Township.

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I woke to find the first snow this morning.
photo credit: mcthebest

We had a few teasing snowflakes one week ago but it lasted a mere 29 minutes and the sun came out. This morning it snowed until the ground was covered. I sat with a cup of warm coffee watching the snowflakes dance on the wind and appreciated the fact I was in a warm house.  My plans for the day changed with cold weather and I spent the morning bracing myself for a cold windy trip to town and cleaning off the car for the first time this winter season.

As I prepared to head downtown I would look outside and watch the snow cling to the trees and the few leaves that were left clinging to the trees. The white snow emphasized the reds and yellows and stood out against the dark foreboding skyline.

It snowed the better part of the morning and afternoon and we actually accumulated three to four inches of snow. As soon as the sun came out around 3 p.m. the snow melted but the reminder that the gardening season is over and its time to bundle up against the cold remained.
photo credit: mcthebest

One my drive home from town I had the opportunity to see the last remaining colored leaves reflecting brightly in the waters of the Conewango Creek. This reminded me that cooler days are ahead but its perfect weather for relaxing days and staying in the house and creating artwork or planning next springs gardens.

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photo credit: wsilver

It’s amazing how the look of the land changes when the leaves fall and the grasses die back. I walk one dirt road in NW PA almost daily and watch the seasons work its magic on the scenery. It’s like a new painting on canvas every day.

With the leaves falling the last few days the view has changed so much I have trouble placing my location on the winding scenic road. I have more of a view of the creek all the small streams that feed into the Conewango. This evening I watched 14 turkeys cross the road. My companion, Nikia, a big white Husky, enjoyed the parade as much as I did.
photo credit: SFB579

After a four-mile walk, enjoying the scenery and the sound of crunching leaves under my feet, it’s time to return home and collect apples for making cider.

It’s been several years since I made cider. We have many apple trees on the property so cider pressing has been a tradition for many years. I try to mix the apple varieties in a manner that makes a good cider. That’s usually two thirds red apples to one-third yellow or green apples. And if you’re lucky to have pears you can add a half bushel to bushel of those. Pears add a sweetness that emphasizes the apples taste.

I press my cider at an Amish cider press and that always makes for a fun day. A battery instead of electricity operates their cider press. Homemade jelly, fresh bread and pies are often for sale in the office areas and as many puppy and small children are running around the yard.

I collected ten bushels of apples for my cider this time. That’s should make 30 or more gallons. I will sell some and use the rest. Hopefully I will make another cider batch for Halloween.
photo credit: waferboard

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photo credit: JazarellaMozarella

Select pumpkins that are uniformly orange. Bruises, cuts or nicks will cause a pumpkin to spoil quicker so look them over carefully. Smooth pumpkins are easier to paint or carve.

Never carry a pumpkin by its stem. It may break and a stem adds character to a pumpkin. If the handle does break off clean the area with bleach and seal with varnish. You can also glue the stem back in place.

One of the first things I do when I get a pumpkin home is wash it well then use a bleach wash to clean the pumpkin. This will kill any bacteria on the pumpkin and help prevent rot.

One additional thing most people don’t think about is that frost can shorten a pumpkins life so on a cold night cover it up with a towel.

For several years my brother raised pumpkins and had them for sale on my property in front of the house. There would be 5 or 6 hay wagons filled with pumpkins, apple cider, and other Halloween decorations and fun. It was a lot of work but it was also fun to watch children pick out the perfect pumpkin.

One other thing you may want to try, roasting the pumpkin seeds. They make great snacks and it easy! MY father always did this and we would have a great snack on those crispy fall evenings.
photo credit: Hamed Parham

Fall and Halloween are a colorful fun time so enjoy the season!

Technorati Tags: country living, Picking the perfect pumpkin, taking care of your pumpkin

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