End of January... Mold Is In The Air

It's the end of January and the love-filled month of February is right around the corner.  Yet, it's not love that is saturating our life around this mini-farm; it's mold. Though properly cured and stored, the winter squash have already been through several freeze-thaw cycles (thanks to Oregon's classic mild- with- spikes- of- freeze winters).  So, I am on the lookout for squash that have succumbed to the fungus. 

We have black spots, white spots, pinkish spots, and brownish spots.  If the rind is still firm, I try to bring them inside and cook them up.  If the rind is mushy (especially around the stem), then it's off the compost bin to provide nutrients for future crops.