It is now dark and foggy in the morning when we wake up. The Kale last week was nearly “fine”, our stock of dates is running low and in Kibbutz Samar they are preparing for the upcoming date harvest. We now have citrus fruit, the coconut oil is hardening, the squills are appearing – all are a sign that the heat and summer are leaving….
it also means that the New Year is right around the corner.
As I mentioned, in Samar they are preparing for the upcoming Gadid and we need to make room for new dates, so we’re having a crazy sale on dates!!!
Just think about gifts for the holidays…. can be ordered from the fruit category in our online ordering system, link
Barhi- NIS 26 for 1 kg, NIS 115 for a 5 kg carton.
Palm Noor – NIS 15 for 1 kg, NIS 65 for a 5 kg carton.
Zhidi –NIS 12 for 1 kg, NIS 52 for a 5 kg carton.
And to the garden,
The wonderful pumpkin !
Davka at this time, when we can feel the end of the summer, when its cool in the evening and early morning when we begin the work (we already have a bet here who will be the first to come with a sweatshirt), when there is usually a shortage of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers that are basic summer crops and always taken for granted; Davka now when the leafy vegetables have not yet returned to their refreshing greenness, when we are in between crops – the beginning of the end of summer crops and winter crops have not yet begun; Davka now that our organic vegetable boxes are quite repetitive in their contents, perhaps even boring – it is time to remind ourselves to praise the wonderful common pumpkin, so humble, sweet, and nourishing.
It is not for no reason that Helsing Lennart wrote a book about the “miraculous pumpkin” that was lived in and soared into the sky, and not for no reason that it was chosen to be Cinderella's magic carriage, and not for no reason that Harry Potter and his friends drink pumpkin potions… The humble piece of pumpkin that you receive lately contains surprising nutritional wealth and is an ancient and basic crop in America.
The origin of the pumpkin is probably in Mexico where it was grown initially for its seeds. The fruit itself was not eaten because it was once bitter and fibrous but was used as a bowl or receptacle (it is still so used today in cultures that do not rely on plastic as we do, “primitive” cultures as in Africa and the Amazon). Even today many pumpkins are grown in the United States of America to be lanterns for Halloween that is to be celebrated very soon.
This was both grown and carved here. Enter the link to see how!
In general, autumn is the season associated with pumpkins in the United States.
Also Thanksgiving is celebrated in the fall with pumpkin pie, which is one of the crops that local Native Americans introduced to the new immigrants when they arrived to America. Pumpkin is one of the Three American Sisters, together with beans and corn, that are considered to maintain and protect humans not only in terms of nutrition. (I wrote about them a lot, of course, during this season ☺
Nowadays, during this season, pumpkin potions are even served in Starbucks.
Pumpkin is rich in iron, niacin, beta-carotene, vitamin A, fiber and potassium. Vitamin A keeps our skin youthful by increasing cell renewal and collagen. Pumpkin seeds are considered to increase potency and fertility in males and to prevent intestinal worms.
Another interesting link about Pumpkins from Amir (thanks).
And the magic that can be done with pumpkins in the kitchen ranges from raw (salads and pickles) to cooked (stews, soups) to fried (fritters) to baked (pie and cake) to ice cream…Pumpkin really goes quite excellently with everything: spicy, sour, salty, sweet. Here are some pumpkin recipes.
To Health!
Have an orange week – happy, fresh, and healthy.
Yours, Maggie and the garden staff
We expect in our organic vegetable baskets (draft only): Magical Pumpkin Thai Green Beans Corn (all the three sisters!) Yams Cherry tomatoes Cucumbers lettuce Potatoes Eggplants In the larger organic vegetable baskets, also: Lemons Onions And pomegranates Organic fruit baskets; Mangos Melon And pomegranates
In the larger organic fruit baskets, also: Pomegranates And grapes
