Yes, I'm a Dumpster Diver Seed Saver

10-14-2018

Who saves seeds? Is that a "thing"?  This past summer I bought a cantaloupe, of course no one wanted to eat it at my house! So I cut it open to slice it for my chickens, ya know, so they all get even amounts so there is no fighting (just like kids!).  There was a tremendous amount of seeds in this small melon. I decided to scoop it all out with my hand and put in a strainer.  I later rinsed them all real well and laid them out to dry on paper towels. After about a week, they were totally dry so I found them a nice long fence line in the chicken garden, and planted them.

They grew so fast and plentiful!  It worked, it really worked!! What else can I save and grow, for FREE, technically free.  My P1 brought me home handpicked fresh lemons from his travels to speed week in California.  I watched a Youtube video about how to peel them, get the outer coating off etc... One video even said to put it in your mouth and suck on it to get the coating off. NO WAY, I cant even handle the lemon in my water at the restaurant! NOT HAPPENING.  I soaked them, rubbed with cloth and they were fine. I then placed them on a moist (yes, I said moist, sorry if you dont like that word) paper towel and placed in a zip lock bag. It said to place in a warm dark place for a month. Well, it worked! I have one cute little lemon tree growing in the house as we speak.

So I had the opportunity to scavenge for slightly damaged, moldy, rotten, cracked, and ruined pumpkins and squashes from a local pumpkin farm.  It is all the ones they throw away every day that are not suited to sell.  Boy did I hit the jackpot!! I have discovered so many rare varieties and have had so much fun doing it!! Even one of my P2 wanted to get in on the action. 

We discussed each shape and appearance and together searched for all the different names of each one. It was not as easy as you think. I searched all the pumpkin and squash posters, watched a video about a festival with 300 types, still, I didn't find all the ones I was looking for.  There was one 30 lb one in particular I really wanted to know what it was and searched for days. Finally I joined a local homesteading FB page and decided to ask them. One person knew and after that it was so exciting!! I had people asking me for seeds and everything! Her it is. 

It is long, heavy, easy to cut and gather seeds. It is named the "Long of Naples Squash".  It is an Italian Heirloom Squash that is rare in the United States. It takes 95 days from germination to ripe squash.   I read they are very tasty, almost sweet and if you plan on growing them, you need to make sure you have people you can give some away to! Each squash feeds about 15 people, so be prepared!!  Since this one had been smashed on the end at the pumpkin patch, I decided not to try to cook and eat any. I will take everyone's word for it and try it next year.  

We harvested all the seeds shown and so much more over the month of October. I found myself looking through their trash almost everyday for all varieties. Yes, My name is Chrissy, I am a dumpster diver. Above is a flattened, orange/pink/white pumpkin named Musquee de Provence. It has a very hard outer shell, very hard to cut with a serrated knife. You almost have to cut it with a shovel or an axe!! The inside is a very dark orange red color, its smell is very strong. I really would love to try this one.   Below that are types of Warty Goblin Pumpkins.

These are a Casper White (top) and a Jack-O-Little (bottom).

Another Musquee de Provence (top) and a Turk's Turban Squash (bottom).

This is a Goosebumps Super Freak Pumpkin.

 The end result was 9 different varieties of pumpkins and squash, rinsed and set out to dry, all over the dining room floor! Sounded like a great place for them until we let the dog in! Oops, had to move them real quick!  Hopefully next year, I will use the 30 x 15 fenced area next to the garden to have all squash and pumpkin. I would like to time the growth so we have them from summer until early winter. Pumpkin is such a great vegatable as it has a long shelf life if kept cool until consumption.