Will my pumpkin rot?

You found the perfect time pumpkin.  The only problem is, it's Oct. 1st.  Will the pumpkin last til Halloween?  Yes, if you store it right.

Tip 1:  Don't put it on cement or good wood.  Find a piece of cardboard or an old piece of wood.
Tip 2:  When it goes below 0 and the pumpkin is outside, cover with a towel or blanket.

For more tips check out these websites:
Storing pumpkins
More tips

Make sure to check out Penner Pumpkins for all things pumpkins.

Lorissa

What kind of Pumpkin to use for baking?

I did an experiment to see what is the best pumpkin for cooking and baking.  I used:

1. Cinderella Pumpkin
2. White Pumpkin [Lumina]
3. Pie or Sugar Pumpkin
4. Standard Carving Pumpkin.

Best color goes to Cinderella.
Best taste goes to Pie or Sugar Pumpkin.
Best texture [not runny and grainy] goes to Pie or Sugar Pumpkin.
Best to peel Pie or Sugar Pumpkin.

As you can see I clearly liked the Pie or Sugar Pumpkin best.  These pumpkins are bred to have a higher sugar content and less water.  The next one I would recommend is Cinderella.  It has a beautiful color, was ok to peel [not easy, but not overly difficult], and was slightly on the more runny side.

I didn't even attempt to puree the white pumpkin.  Seed catalogues state that white pumpkins are orange on the inside, while this one was white.  I'm not about to use white pumpkin flesh in baking.

At the Forest we make Pumpkin pie, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cookies, and Pumpkin Ginger Snaps so we do go through a lot of pumpkin.

Lorissa

Gourd vs Squash vs Pumpkin

I was at a 2 day Farmers' market in Winnipeg.  The most common question I got was "How do you cook a gourd?"  Well you can't cook a gourd they are just for decoration.  Now what is the difference between a squash and pumpkin, that's a bit tricky and I had to do some research online to really understand the difference.

What is the difference:

Here is a good link to check out Pumpkin vs Gourd vs Squash.

Well to confuse things even more a pumpkin is considered a squash.

Pumpkins are generally orange and round and can be carved.

Squash come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Basically you can't eat gourds, but you can eat pumpkins and squash.

Lorissa

"Scare"Crow Night.

October 18 and 25 from 7 pm to 10 pm come to the Forest and have some fun in the dark.  Walk the path in the dark and see what you might bump into.  After the walk in the dark, take a zip down the zip line in the dark.  After you've been scared come and sit by the fire while sipping a hot chocolate.  Admission is $11.50 per person.

This is a children friendly event.  There is no bats, blood, skeletons, etc. anywhere in the Forest.  At the Forest we believe in wholesome family friendly fun.  Make sure to bring a flashlight when coming down.

For more information please check our website at Penner Pumpkins.


Lorissa

What does $8.00 get you?

So what does $8.00 get you???  It gets you 3 to 7 hours of fun at the Scarecrow Forest.  There is so much to do at the Forest and a lot of fun to be had.

What kind of fun can you have:

• slide into a giant corn box or bury someone in the corn.
• for the little ones there is a 5 and under kiddie corral and a mini bale pile that has a slide.
• Take a 15 to 20 minute walk in the Forest and see all the Scarecrows.
• Race each other on our side by side slides. 
• Run up and down our hill.
• We have two HUGE bale piles that children love to play on.  One bale pile has 3 slides on it.
• Throughout the Forest there are sandboxes for the children to dig in.
• Take a look at our 10 goats, 4 guinea fowl, 4 sheep, 3 horses, 2 sheep, and a ton of chickens and a few chicks.  Also wandering our yard is Mr. Chick and some cats.  In the gift shop you will find some adorable kittens.
• Milk Besty the cow [simulated milking cow]
• Play on some tire structures.

There is so much to do at the Forest so make sure you come earlier in the day so you can fit all the fun in.

Hope to see at the Scarecrow Forest.

Lorissa Penner

Ticketed attractions 2013

At the Forest admission is $8.00 per person to get in and on top of that you can buy tickets.  Tickets can be use on:

                                                 Pumpkins painting [One and Two Tickets]

 Let your inner artist come out.  Create a master piece on a pumpkin.  It's best to paint a pumpkin first, so that it has time to dry before you go home.  Some children love dumping on the paint.





                                                              Pony Ride  [Two Tickets]

Come take a ride on Jenny or Spud down a beautiful trail in our Forest.

Paintball Target [Two Tickets]

Take you best shot at a car and some hanging pots.  Who is the better shot??

Zipline [One Ticket]

It's 20 feet tall and 200 feet long.  Everyone wears a helmet and gets harnessed up.  We've had an 18 month all the way up to an 80 go on it.  Come take a thrilling ride in the Forest.




Duck Races [One Ticket]

On your mark.....Get set......Ready.....  GO!!!!  After you are done racing your ducks you can take them home.

Tractor Train Ride [One Ticket]

Come take a ride on our train, which is perfect for 1 years of age up to 101 years of age.  New this year is our Farm Safari Train Path.  You never know what you may see on the path....

Corn Cannon [One Ticket]

You get three tennis balls to shoot at a barn.  There is a bull in one window, a cat in another, and many other animals.  What can you hit??

Stuff Your Own Scarecrow [7 tickets]

Full some overalls with straw.  Paint a face on a pumpkin and put a hat on top and you have yourselves a scarecrow.

Lorissa Penner

Happy 1st Birthday Butternut

One year ago my parents took a trip to the States and I was in charge of the animals.  I knew Jenny was pregnant and due around November/December.  I went to the back and gave the horses some hay.  I saw a brown thing in the pen and didn't quite process what it was and kept feeding the animals.  I finally went back and looked really closely and saw a foal.  I was quite surprised, but could tell the foal was really healthy.  I phoned my parents, even though there were in the States, and gave them the news.  We had a contest to  name the foal and she was given the name Butternut.

Butternut.  Born July 15, 2012

 

 

Jenny and Spud.  Mom and Dad.

The 5 W's of Jelly and Jam.

I like making jelly, jams, and relishes and I'm constantly experimenting with new flavors.  I sell my jellies, jams, and relishes on the home yard and at the Pineridge Farmers' Market. Jelly is a clear, like jello consistency, sweet spread.  Jam has fruit in it and is thick.

 A common question I get is what can you do with jelly.  There are a lot of different ways to use jelly:

• Spread it on toast, buns, bagels, etc.
• Warm it up and pour it on cream cheese and than spread on crackers or bagels.
• Warm it up til it becomes runny and use it as  a syrup on pancakes.
• Use it as a glaze on meats. (Pineapple Mint Jelly on ham or Mint Jelly on lamb).
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Make a fresh fruit pizza (spread jelly on crust and than spread some cream cheese and layer on fruit).

The jellies, jams, and relishes I make are:

Orange Mint Jelly: Tastes like Orange Soda.
Pineapple Mint Jelly: A taste of the Tropics.
Apple Cinnamon Jelly: Delicious.  Tastes like the red heart candies you get at Valentine's Day.
Apple Mint Jelly: Taste of apples in a spread.
Jalapeno Jelly: Hot, but not to hot.  Perfect for that next party.  Warm it up and pour it on some cream cheese.  Serve it with a variety of crackers.
Hot Cherry Bomb Jelly.  Is a really hot pepper jelly
A Mint of Everything Jelly: Apple, Pineapple, and Orange melded together.
Mint Jelly: A classic jelly.

Orange Rhubarb Jam: A milder version of Orange Marmalade.
Rhubarb Jam: A nice jam for your toast.

Sweet Zucchini Relish: My most popular relish.  When people try it, they usually buy it.
Sweet Cucumber Relish: All I can say is 100% better than the store version.

I hope to make the follow this summer:
-Chocolate Mint Jelly
-Strawberry Jam
-Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
-Grape Jelly

Stop by the Penner Pumpkin Veggie and Gift Shop or at the Pineridge Farmers' Market to pick some up.

Lorissa Penner

Penner Pumpkins Veggie and Gift Shop now open

Veggie and Gift Shop now open
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 6 pm
Fridays 10 am to 9 pm
Saturdays at Pineridge Hollow's Farmers' Market from 9 am to 1 pm.

For sale:
-Lettuce
-Tomatoes
-Cucumbers
-Beets
-Make your own flower bouquet
-Herbs
-Zucchini
-Sweet Spanish onions
-and other vegetables as they the season progresses
-Jams, jellies, and relishes
-Playdough
-Handmade cards
-knick knacks

I would highly recommend you try the Orange Mint Jelly (tastes a bit like Orange Cream Soda), the Pineapple Mint Jelly, and the Apple Cinnamon Jelly (tastes like the red heart candies at Valentines).  The Orange Rhubarb Jam tastes amazing and has a slightly less orangy taste than Orange Marmalade.  People who try the Sweet Zucchini usually end up buying a jar or two.

In the Gift Shop we have a table filled with cow and corn knick knacks.  Also we have a surprise box.  You'll have to visit us to find out what the surprise is.

For large vegetable orders please phone Shirley at 204-371-5556

Directions: We are located near Steinbach. On Highway 311 EAST, towards Giroux, 2 3/4 mile and we are on the North side.



Lorissa Penner

June Review

I try to post every Wednesday and Saturday on this blog and that has not happened.  It has been quite the June.  First I blew the tire on my mom's van, than the engine on my car went, and than we thought the engine on the 1967 truck went, but thankfully it was just the water pump.

Next to go (bite the dust) was my cellphone and than my laptop. The last two things to go in June were the tent we use at the Farmers' Market and the battery pack.

Hopefully July will be a better month and nothing else breaks.  Also hopefully I will soon have a new laptop and than I can keep on writing posts every Wednesday and Saturday.

As they say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  Or in my world when life gives a ton of mint, make mint jelly.

Animals are a good stress relief.

Lorissa

Communal Cats

My dad once exclaimed "What kind of farm do you have? Is this the funny farm"? The name has stuck. Our cats fit really well in the Funny Farm. We use to have a cat that would steal other cats kittens. We would look down our driveway and there she would be a kitten swinging from her mouth. This cat also once nursed a bunny and she thought it was one of her kittens.

We also had two cats share kittens. These cats were best friends so they would lie together with each of their four kittens. It was a really strange sight.

Recently two of our cats each had a litter of kittens. One of the cats kittens died so she decided she was going to kittennap from the other mom. She would sneak in to where the kittens were playing, lie down, and start purring. The kittens would run up to her and she would lick them all and start walking away. She would call the kittens to follow her. I kept taking the kittens away from her so she finally decided she would just join the other mom. So the kittens have two moms raising them.

The two moms: Princess (white one), FleckHead, and the three kittens.

Lorissa

The Second Market of the Season June 22

The weather for Saturday doesn't look to promising: Periods of rain and a high of 21.  As a gardener and having groups coming down to the The Scarecrow Forest I tend to watch the forecast like a hawk and one thing I've noticed is that the forecast always changes.  It might be sunny on Saturday, you never know.  Penner Pumpkins tent bite the dust last market so if I can find another tent or have the old one fixed than Penner Pumpkins will be at the market.

I will be selling:

• Rhubarb
• Lettuce
• A couple of pounds of green tomatoes.  The tomatoes are starting to ripen, but the first few always get put to use as Toasted Tomato sandwiches at the Penner house.
• A few zucchini
• Jelly (orange mint, pineapple mint, apple mint, apple cinnamon, jalapeno, hot cherry bomb, a mint of everything, and mint).
• Sweet Zucchini Relish
• Sweet Cucumber Relish
• Handmade cards
• Play dough
• Potted herbs (Sweet Basil, Lemon Basil, Lime Basil, 8 varieties of mint, Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Thyme, etc.).  Check out this blog post for more varieties.
• Potted Tomato Plants (Cherry, Big Beef, Applause, and Early Girl).
• Potted Pepper Plants (Ace, Yellow, Red, and Purple).

Hope to see you Saturday!

Lorissa working in the garden.  This is our small 0.3 acre garden.  We have another two gardens for a total of about 5.3 acres.

This was used in the Steinbach Parade a few years ago.

Lorissa Penner

Minty mint

My favorite herb is mint and I grow 9 varieties of mint and am always looking for new varieties.  There are over 600 hundred varieties of mint.  I love making tea with mint using a tea infuser and my favorite combo is chocolate mint and orange mint, delicious.  If you like a sweeter tea trying adding a fresh Stevia leaf.
I also love making jelly with mint and experimenting with different flavors.  Mint can be used in so many different ways and that is why I love this herb.  Mint is invasive and hence should be grown in pots so you won't have a garden of mint.  Instead of secretly leaving zucchini on your neighbor's doorstep, you will be leaving mint leaves.  My mint plants are $3.25 a pot and my jellies are $3.50/125 ml and $6.50/250 ml.

The varieties of mint I grow are:

Apple Mint – Tall sturdy stems with large, fuzzy, grey-green leaves that smell slightly of apple and has white flowers in summer.

Chocolate Mint – This herb has a dark, green foliage. It tolerates hot, dry conditions and is not as invasive as most mints. A nice desert mint! 

Ginger Mint – Is an ornamental and aromatic mint, with lightly variegated leaves and a delicate hint of ginger. Performs best with protection from hot, afternoon sun.

Peppermint – The most famous of all mints, it requires little care and makes excellent teas and candy. This spreading plant has a sharp, penetrating yet pleasant, mint aroma. It grows 1 to 2 feet high,

Pineapple Mint – Is a very pretty mint and has variegated foliage and a light pineapple scent. Pineapple mint can be used with lamb, fruit salads, and teas. Works well in mixed pots with other herbs.

Spearmint – One of the most intensely fresh mints, milder than peppermint, it is used in sauces, jellies, salads, dips, and teas. This is considered one of the most popular and versatile garden Mint. Spearmint has a fruity aroma and flavor and blends well in many foods.

Orange Mint-  Has a citrusy aroma and flavor, and is slightly spicier than other mints. It makes a wonderful addition to iced tea, fruit desserts, and potpourris. 

English Mint- Has a mild mint taste.  Is really good with meat dishes. 

Mint Mojito

Lorissa

Pineridge Hollow Farmers' Market June 15

Penner Pumpkins will be at the market on Sat.  Our vegetables aren't quite ready yet, but the Penner's are a crafty bunch so we will have for sale:

• Jellies (Orange Mint, Apple Mint, Pineapple Mint, Jalapeno Jelly, Cherry Bomb Jelly (HOT), Apple Cinnamon Jelly, and A Mint of Everything (apple, orange, and pineapple mint).
• Sweet Cucumber Relish
• Sweet Zucchini Relish
• Play dough
• Handmade cards
• Rhubarb
• Tomato plants  (have tomatoes on them)
• Pepper plants (have peppers on them)
• Herbs
• Sweet Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Thyme, a variety of mints, Orange Thyme, Thai Basil, Spicy Globe Basil, Rosemary, and many more kinds

For the most part our garden is doing really well.  It was a really cold spring so that set us back quite a bit.  Our zucchini have one inch zucchini's on them. Our greenhouse tomatoes are loaded with green tomatoes.  The potatoes and peppers are about to bloom and some are blooming all ready. The cabbage and head lettuce is forming heads.

The greenhouse tomatoes. We grow them in soil and when it gets warm we lift the plastic on the sides of greenhouse up.  These tomatoes taste like they were grown in the garden.  They are delicious.

Greenhouse cucumbers.  They are starting to vine and I think by the end of the month there will be cucumbers.  Our garden cucumbers are not in the garden yet.  Hopefully June 12 we will get them in.

We grow tomatoes in the greenhouse because we can get them in earlier and get tomatoes sooner.  Our greenhouse tomatoes always do better than the garden tomatoes.

 Lorissa

Silkie Chicken Confusion

Silkies are an interesting bird. They are really good mothers and they go broody (wanting to sit on eggs and hatch them) really easily.  In April we had two broody hens and now we are up to three.

We had two nests in the box and we noticed two hens were sitting on the same nest (each sat on half of the eggs) so we started collecting eggs and made the other one a nest.  When we feed them they come off of their nest and than go right back on.  That is if they can find the right nest.  We had a hen who would sit on the three different pile of eggs til she found one she liked.  Another favorite thing the hens like doing is stealing eggs.  Some days there are two piles of eggs and others days there are three piles of eggs.  Also sometimes there are three hens in the box and other times there are six hens in the box.

One day we had a group come down and they were so excited because they were finding eggs all over the place in the petting farm.  Our Silkies plop out the eggs were ever they feel like. That day one of our cats gave birth to kittens or as one little girl said "the cat laid some kittens" in the chicken area of the petting farm.  When I went to go look at the kittens I saw an egg under the cat.  The next day the cat was taking a walk so I went to go make sure her kittens were okay and a hen was sitting on the kittens.

The clutch of eggs from April didn't hatch so we have put fresh eggs underneath all three broody hens.  Our hens have never had issues before hatching eggs so we are wondering if maybe our very cold spring had something to do with it.  Two hens have been sitting on eggs since April, but the birds look healthy so we are allowing them to try to hatch batch number two.  It takes eggs 21 days to hatch so I'm hoping we will have chicks June 21st. 

Lorissa

10 Goats = Entertainment.

I have done a couple of posts on my goats. One was on whether they were pregnant or not.  Another was Chloe giving birth.  A third post was when Chloe's kids went missing.  This post is to introduce all 10 goats.  A crazy amount of goats and I'm hoping to sell all four kids in fall.  The male goats are $100 each and I will be fixing them and the female goats are $150 each.  At least goats are very entertaining and are a stress relief.  The kids love the tire and will sleep inside it and run around on the inside.  The picture is of me with Mozart and Jack at just a couple of months old (2011).

Two wether (fixed male) goats we have.

Chloe, the mother of Rocky and Oreo.

I'm guessing goat momma's have a lot of patience's. Mayble was jumping up and down for a few minutes.

Jack, the Daddy.

The female pen is like a soap opera.  Chloe doesn't like Betsy.  Betsy doesn't like Chloe's kids. The kids all love each other, but have to avoid each others mothers.  Watching the female pen is entertainment.

Lorissa

Meet the Scarecrows.

We had our first group out May 13th and we set up our Scarecrows May 10th.  We have 18 scarecrow scenes set up around the yard and in the Forest.  Shirley and Lorissa make and dress up the Scarecrows.  TJ makes them stand and Amanda draws the faces.

Two men enjoying a campfire

Cinderella going off to an afternoon tea.

The footman (a male servant that ran behind or beside wealthy people's carriages).

We put a "real" scarecrow in our Forest this year.  He's not doing a really good job though.

Goldilocks tasting three bowls of porridge.

A behind shot of Little Bo Peep.

Lorissa