The dreaded Polar Vortex has arrived here in our part of the world, bringing frigid temperatures usually not seen until the depths of winter. I know we don’t have it as bad here as do folks to our north, but still it is way colder than normal for early November. Today’s high is forecast for 33°F, with lows tonight dipping down around 20°F. The wind is also blowing at a nice clip, making the windchill even colder. My response to that is to stay indoors!
shelling Rattlesnake pole beans
I am hoping to finish shelling the dried pole beans today. I grew three varieties this year, Trail of Tears, Good Mother Stallard and Rattlesnake. All three produce beans throughout the growing season, which means the harvests and shelling go on for a while too. Most of the beans I am shelling today came from cleaning the last pods from the vines before we had our first killing frost.
Good Mother Stallard beans
These pole beans seem to not have done quite as well as they did last year, but they still made a lot of beans for us to eat. I’ll weigh them up when I am through shelling. Last year I got 44 ounces of dried pole beans from the same three varieties. Of course that isn’t necessarily the most productive use of garden space, but the beans are nice to have and I know I will enjoy eating them. If you do have plenty of garden space though, the legumes are a great source for homegrown vegetable protein.
This weekend is the time for our annual pilgrimage to the Ferdinand, Indiana Cristkindlmarkt where, among other things, they sell Springerle cookies. I am thinking we will be bundled up more so than usual this year! So how about you all, is the Polar Vortex changing your plans?