Things You'll Never See at the Grocery Store!

Our current industrial food system only allows perfect looking food to be for sale in the grocery stores. The growing interest in organic food has started to change perceptions somewhat; early on in the 'movement' growers brought vegetables and food as is - blemishes, bug bits, etc. However, as the organic movement has grown, even those growers are striving harder for blemish-free, flawless looking vegetables and fruit. But, that certainly isn't how Mother Nature always presents it! This year we've gotten some interesting specimens. Due to heavy rains regularly, cucumbers and zucchini have 'blown up' and look more like little bowling pins. And Siamese twins are everywhere in the summer squash: twinned crookneck squash and twinned patty pans. And how about the little 'people' carrots! You never see those in the grocery store! (Face courtesy of Travis)

Prairie Sweet Potatoes!

And 'they' said it couldn't be done! You may have read a previous post about Aagaard Farms finally scoring some cuttings of sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes don't really grow around here; our season is no way near long enough. It has been almost impossible to find plantable tubers anywhere in Canada, and they can't come across the border from the U.S. because of restrictions about soil moving across borders, etc. We were so excited to find cuttings offered at Vesey's, one of our fav seed suppliers. Well, the cuttings arrived very late, with an apology note that Vesey's had anticipated rooted cuttings and received unrooted cuttings. Instructions said to plant, expect them to almost look dead and then they'd rebound. Well, we did, they did and they are!! They're now growing quite well in large nursery tree pots. The pots are filled with a mix of garden soil and compost. We haven't been getting our usual hot summer weather, unlike Eastern Canada, so I'm a little worried about them producing much. We put them in pots so that we can move them into the hoophouse and even into the sunroom, if we have need, in late fall. If I even get some wee tubers, at least I'll have those to plant next spring! Crossing the fingers now.......