Dryland harvest!

Living in a climate that has six months (six consecutive months!) without any rainfall is a challenge.  Made worse that the drought occurs during the 'growing season'.

But a challenge is an opportunity in work clothes.  

The goal: breed a winter squash that can withstand 6 months of zero rain and zero irrigation.  This is year five of a successful harvest for our landrace winter squash.  This batch was planted in pathetic soil-like substance with no human attention (no weeding, no watering, no help).  

Tiny harvest, but a big step in the right direction!

Of course, Henny Penny takes all the credit.  She says if we would only let the chickens weed and fertilize this patch over winter, next year's harvest would be bumper!