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The Victory Garden Thread - October, 2026
October 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 10/01/2026 6:56:54 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

The MONTHLY Victory Garden Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Victory Garden Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; gardening; hobbies; victory
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To: Pollard

Of course rebates/coupons are a game. But, if you’re on top of it, it does pay off. At least in my experience. :)

And it’s a store we would shop at, anyway. May as well save a few bucks where you can.


221 posted on 10/07/2026 6:14:58 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Liz
Liz, I know you already know this, but for everyone else.....

And of course, when cooking vegetables do not forget to remove the STEM!

I know...a groaner Dad joke!

222 posted on 10/07/2026 6:33:14 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We used to get some pretty good rebates and always used them for the good Kaytee ultimate songbird bird seed. No millet red or white and no mess left behind. Birds eat it all.


223 posted on 10/07/2026 7:47:25 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope; ryderann
Millet in bird seed mixes is the bane of my existence. WHY? Even squirrels and chipmunks won't eat the stuff!

Picked a bunch of my Lina Sisco Bird Egg Beans to shell, today. They sure are pretty.

The story of the ‘Lina Sisco Bird Egg’ bean

Diane Ott Whealy recounts the history of the ‘Lina Sisco Bird Egg’ bean in the following excerpt of her book Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver:

“The first True Seed Exchange newsletter printed a note from Lina Sisco of Winona, Missouri, one of the original listed members:

‘I have been gardening for more years than I like to think about, and I do love to raise all kinds of stuff and do lots of canning. I share with lots of people from my garden. So I am sending you two kinds of beans that I raise. The Bird Egg beans have been in my family for many, many years, as my grandmother brought them to Missouri sometime in the 1880s … They are all free to you. Hope you have good luck with them. I am sending my quarter and envelope.’

Lina’s Bird Egg bean was offered in the 1979 Seed Savers Exchange by our son, Aaron, and others. Here was evidence that the vision of collecting, saving, and distributing heirloom seed had actually achieved what Kent and I had hoped for. SSE had saved a seed from extinction."

224 posted on 10/07/2026 8:29:07 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Cute.


225 posted on 10/07/2026 9:12:06 AM PDT by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands. " (Psalm 19:1))
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Wow...beautiful. Hope they’re as yummy as they look.


226 posted on 10/07/2026 10:07:28 AM PDT by ryderann
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I have zero mess under the feeder. Neat about the beans. They are pretty.
I canned 7 pints of pears. Has some at a friends she puts a lemon slice in the bottom of each jar The taste was fabulous and fragrant. Sounds weird but it was like eating an aroma. You almost could not tell it was lemon. So I just had to can some.


227 posted on 10/07/2026 10:27:25 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Two $300 receipts. Went in and got the splitter. Checked out and stuck it in the truck. Then went back in to do some shopping. Almost $100 for top rail pipe and $200 in odds and ends ranging from $2 to $20.

Website said they had two splitters, one the display model of course, which is what I ended up with. Guy said he’s been looking for the other one for a week now.

They’ve got a pallet rack just inside the entrance to the backyard bldg materials area that has appliances on it. I never noticed the prices before. Bottom left is $29 - bottom right is $49 and top level is free. All but 1 of 7 were Whirlpool. None looked old and were probably warranty returns. (note to self - go with Frigidaire from Lowes) I was window shopping for fridges a couple of weeks ago at Lowes.

I like the garage ready models. I could have most of it in the non climate controlled room and just have the front 3-4” sticking into the climate controlled area. Fancy built-in looking thing. Gain of 4 sq ft of living area which is a chunk for this little place. Dirt rich I say, dirt rich.

Gotta run to local town tomorrow. Laundry and food shopping. Taking the little car as it needs a washing badly which will kill some time while the wash is going. Food shopping while the dryers are going.


228 posted on 10/07/2026 11:39:35 AM PDT by Pollard
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Oh, now that’s a keeper Dad joke. Will share with hubby. Math is one of his specialties.


229 posted on 10/07/2026 3:32:52 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Pollard

We bought a used rental 22 ton splitter years ago from the local hardware store. They sell off rentals at a certain age. We had about 15 very big oaks taken down and cut up. Took a couple of months for hubby to split it all but we cleaned it up and sold it on craigs list (no FB marketplace back then) right away for the same price we paid for it. Guy drove an hour and a half to get it. That was a great deal and we had years of firewood from that pile.


230 posted on 10/07/2026 3:38:58 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Qiviut

I’m having ladies from church over tomorrow for a small group Bible Study. Usually a snack is offered at these, so I decided to make an apple cake with apples from the local orchard. I hadn’t made this recipe before, so I did a taste test. It’s pretty good!

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/easy-apple-cake/

I also decided it could use a little jazzing up, so I made a homemade caramel sauce to top it. I think that’s a winner. We’ll see what the ladies think tomorrow. I’ll know they really liked it if anyone asks for the recipe.

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/caramel_sauce/

Side note: I think Monday was the last day for my hummies here. I haven’t seen one since that last girl came right up to me looking through the window at me as I looked at her. I guess she was saying thanks for the summer home!


231 posted on 10/07/2026 3:41:32 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

No hummers the last 2 days - I miss them already!

I still haven’t tried Nagi’s apple cake - maybe this weekend. So many recipes, so little time ... :-)


232 posted on 10/07/2026 3:47:33 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

LOL! I just signed up for Bitt’s Ping List. He (she?) finds the best memes. :)


233 posted on 10/07/2026 4:30:16 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MomwithHope; FRiends

Make sure you remind me to do the ‘lemon trick’ when I have a heavy Pear Season. This year fruits were a bust. No Cherries, no Peaches, ONE apple and ONE pear. No grapes, but I wasn’t expecting any as Beau chopped them back to the nub last fall to rejuvenate them for me.

It started out beautifully - all the trees were in bloom - then it went to 90 degrees for 2 weeks in May and they couldn’t set fruit in that heat.

I don’t know how anyone manages to make a living growing fruit trees commercially.

Which reminds me of a favorite book:

“’The Orchard’ is a memoir by Adele Crockett Robertson, detailing her struggle to save her family’s apple orchard during the Great Depression. The book captures her determination and the challenges she faced while working to keep the orchard alive.”

For such a boring subject matter, it was an un-put-downable read. It’s a good one to read in the Fall. And I know right where it is on my book shelves... ;)


234 posted on 10/07/2026 4:38:41 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Pollard

A free $66.00 coming your way!


235 posted on 10/07/2026 4:39:24 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Liz

Thanks, Liz. I’m going to take your suggestion....


236 posted on 10/07/2026 5:21:54 PM PDT by poconopundit (O Canada, glorious and FREE. Bring it back my Canadian brothers. Hors d'âge Bobby Orr! )
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To: poconopundit

One of my faves-——from Martha Stewart

Italian-Style Salsa Verde
An uncooked herb sauce that incorporates lemon zest and vinegar.

Key Ingredients:
Finely chopped fresh herbs
(parsley, tarragon, chervil)
Olive oil
Dijon mustard
Anchovy fillets and capers
Shallots soaked in white wine vinegar
Lemon zest

Note: This sauce is typically made by combining all
ingredients and allowing them to sit at room temp
an hour or two before serving with grilled meats or seafood.


237 posted on 10/07/2026 5:32:57 PM PDT by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands. " (Psalm 19:1))
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To: Liz

OK, a good challenge!


238 posted on 10/08/2026 3:51:24 AM PDT by poconopundit (O Canada, glorious and FREE. Bring it back my Canadian brothers. Hors d'âge Bobby Orr! )
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To: FamiliarFace

Our hummers gone too. They always buzz the patio door for awhile on the last day, as if to say bye and thanks.


239 posted on 10/08/2026 3:53:01 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I am up to 117 on the pawpaws. Also pruning the group of trees, have some tall suckers to cut and I think this will cut back on next years harvest. Pruned many branches hanging too low. Already gave away a bunch. I am only counting to compare with last year. 202. I baked a zucchini bread yesterday. Had a slice with some pawpaw on top and a small spoonful of vanilla ice cream. Very yummy.


240 posted on 10/08/2026 4:04:46 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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