Checking on my Potatoes

A number of potatoes are rotting

When I went to get some potatoes for a meal I noticed some are rotting, so I took some time to check on all of the potatoes I had harvested and stored last year.

It took some time to really take every potato in my hand and sort all of the bad ones out. I ended up with half a bucked full of rotting potatoes.

I know it is normal that some potatoes in storage turn bad over time and I know my storage is not ideal. Therefore I am very happy that I still have potatoes to eat from and did not have to trough everything out jet. This is what we still have in storage.

We had a very cold period with up to -20°C and it became almost to freezing point in our barn, which is not very good for the potatoes. What I am noticing when I prepare the potatoes for a meal that many are somewhat gray on the inside. They should be a nice yellow colour. The first time I noticed this I did not think anything of it, but then my children and husband hardly ate from the potatoes. The potatoes had a dirty taste, as if you are eating the soil it self. Ever since I trough away such potatoes, but I do not know what causes the potatoes to turn like this. Maybe the cold, but then I would expect all of the potatoes to have turned bad. If anyone has an idea what could have caused this, I would be happy for a comment.

Signs of the coming spring

Nature wants to wake up

The days are getting longer again and the birds are getting active. Nature wants to wake up out of the winter sleep, so I went around on our property and made pictures of the different signs of nature just waiting to burst into spring.

My preserved garlic seems to be fermenting

Does anybody know if this is normal?

About a month ago I preserved garlic in olive oil and put it in the refrigerator for quick and easy use as needed. No I have noticed that there is pressure underneath the lid when I take the glass out of the refrigerator. I have not noticed a bad smell or taste, but I do wonder if this is normal and for how long will the garlic be usable?

We will see.