First Attempt : Saving Pumpkin Seeds

Fall is my favorite time of year.  The trees turning, the smell in the air, the warm days and cool nights. I hold onto my fall decorations until December, and even then I have a hard time letting go of the pumpkins. 

Our first winter at the farm I threw all my pumpkins on the compost pile, to be forgotten forever...... Come spring and summer we had what I called Pumpkin Mountain. All the pumpkins rotted leaving the seeds to grow in the fertile compost.

The second year we tried to mimic pumpkin mountain in a forgotten spot out at the back of the pasture by the woods. The deer ate most the pulp and seeds that year and we did not grow as many.

This year we okanted in a traditional  garden and I wanted to try my hand at saving pumpkin and squash seeds. It was a pretty simple process.
1. Cut open squash and retrieve seeds.
2. Wash seeds gently and remove any flesh. Dry gently with cloth on paper towels.
3. Select 15 - 20 of the biggest, best looking seeds. Save more seeds if you want to plant a lot next year.
4. Mark what seeds go to what squash and place on paper plates, wax paper, cutting boards,etc., whatever you have to sit around for a while.
5. Put in a cool dry place for about a month.
6. Put in envelopes, label and wait until early summer to plant!