SAVING TOMATO SEED.
If you bust open a tomato and examine the juices you'll notice thousands of tiny seeds floating around. All those seeds have a small, visible sack around them which prevents each from germinating inside the tomato. What's required to render the seed viable and remove the sack, and what makes Hannah and I particularly fond of saving tomato seed, is a little bit of fermentation.You see, in order to save seed on almost any plant, all that's necessary is to imitate what nature does. How, you must ask yourself, would this plant reproduce in nature? For tomatoes, they rely on the fruit to mature, fall from the plant, rot on the ground and re-seed. That, in essence, is what you have to replicate!So here's how we do it:Take two very ripe heirloom tomatoes of the same variety and crush the seeds and juices into a jar (basic red tomatoes are generally hybrids and will not give you seeds true-to-type––you will get plants...but they will be a mystery). Use two tomatoes for a little diversity, but choose healthy tomatoes from the most productive plants. If you like the shape or size or color of a certain tomato....choose that one!Add a tablespoon or two of water to the cup with the seeds. Stir a couple times a day for a few days. It will smell, be prepared! After three days or so––don't go much over four days––remove seeds by using a strainer or cloth and rinse them. Lay seeds on a lid or plate––not paper, as it will stick––and let them dry. Then? Place them in a baggie and freeze them. Et Voila!Every one of our heirloom tomatoes plants this year are from seed we saved last year. That's an exciting feeling, not only knowing you chose what kind of tomato to grow, but everything about it!- Jesse.
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| (some of last year's heirlooms....that are currently growing in the garden!) |
WENDELL WEDNESDAY.
Wendell's been working on some new looks lately. He calls this one his Elvis.
MEET ELLEN.
I told you we had a new member of the farmstead, and here he is: our brand new Black Cochin rooster, Ellen.
Although it may seem strange, Jesse and I actually want a rooster in our flock. We wanted a little protection for the girls, plus, we simply prefer fertile eggs. We assumed that at least a few of the pullets we bought a couple months ago would end up being boys.....but we got all girls! So when some dear friends and shareholders offered us a rooster, we were intrigued. We weren't sure about how our small, young hens would do with a full-grown rooster, but shortly after meeting him this past weekend he was in the backseat of the car, on his way home with us. As you can see, he is super friendly....characteristic of the breed. He is getting along great with the chickens, although Wendell isn't quite sure about him yet. Now, hopefully having a man around will encourage our ladies to finally LAY!
- Hannah.
LOUISVILLE, CONTINUED.
Many many many months ago, I saw that my favorite Rufus Wainwright was playing a show in Louisville in August and bought tickets the day they went on sale. Last week, Jesse and I were shocked to discover that it was AUGUST somehow....seriously, where did it come from? Luckily, Jesse's mother stepped in and saved the day, watching the farm for us and allowing us to stay a few days in Louisville. We haven't been away from the farm...well, EVER...since we moved here earlier in the year. It was a wonderful treat, a chance to catch up with old friends, listen to some magical music, and eat lots of good food. The trip was mostly full of coffee shops, book stores, Indian food, and maybe even some ice cream. We went to Hillbilly Tea, where we had lunch on our wedding day last December....so delicious. We also saw the movie Beasts of the Southern Wild- suspecting it probably wouldn't make it to the Danville Cinemas 8 anytime soon. It was a BEAUTIFUL film! Basically, we had a great time feeling like "city folks" for a couple days...walking around town, eating brunch, staying out late. But it was quickly back to the farm life for us....chasing down escaped rabbits and harvesting melons and trying to contain the overflowing tomato pile on our kitchen counters. And we wouldn't have it any other way.
