In honor also of the passing of the Winter Solstice (December 21) and now to the eve of Christmas Day, I decided to "break open" one of the delightful heirloom winter squashes that were grown this year. I can hardly believe how sweet the orange flesh tasted when I fried cut-up squash in bacon. It has the Vitamin A color and sweetness as does a cantaloupe. Delightful.
As a small acreage farmer and from a farming perspective, I believe squash can feed the world. I have seen and experienced the magnificent value squash and squash plants can have in your garden or fields. We need to think solutions, not problems. Who doesn't know about the problems? I have noticed an intensification in the amount of UV radiation from the sun in the last few years, quickly drying the soil and burning the leaves of plants. I literally mean "Ode" or sonnet to the winter squash for its evident value it can and should play to mitigate the effects of climate change and in its role to provide food.
First, the large leaves of the squash shield the soil from the sun's intensity and creates a microclimate underneath the leaves. While many already knew that, what is less taken as common knowledge is the value this feature has in preserving soil MOISTURE in a world reeling from climatic changes. Squash plants produce a positive feedback loop that reduces the amount of watering or at least, the amount of water it takes to keep the crops growing. This is a big deal when your region is or will assuredly suffer from drought.
Second, the benefit of the large squash leaves in preserving soil moisture assists the growing of other taller plants you may want, such as pole beans or corn. When the squash leaves grow too big or too plentiful and may shield those other crop plants too much, then I just remove the transgressing leaves. Alternatively, shielding from the sun when it is needed is a valuable function. to protect those more tender plant's leaves. The squash is resilient to the sun's UV radiation, unlike other crops. The ecology of the plant growth cycle and what you pair together in the field will yield more variety and amount of the harvest at the end of the season.
Finally, as I cubed the squash, after microwaving it for about three minutes to assist in separating the hard rind from the squash meat, I began to realize how much one squash produces in terms of human food. One squash can create a meal easily for up to twenty (20) people! Under ideal growing conditions, one squash plant can produce at least ten squash, then think "logarithmic" math in terms of what one field can grow and how many people that means can eat!
I can envision using the Winter Squash (common pumpkin is more like a cucumber, not a winter variety) as a base for a concoction to provide nutrition to starving people or those facing a natural disaster when food preparation abilities are uncertain. Winter Squash is full of vitamins and minerals and contains ample fiber. I recommend mixing it with meat (bacon or ham), if available as a source of protein. If the meat isn't available or culturally acceptable then cook the squash lightly and add non-GMO soybeans or lentils with maybe some cored apples to enhance the flavor. It can be made to eat more like a soup or as skillet meal. I can guarantee that children and adults alike will be pleased with the flavor. Mince your words no more! Mince the Winter squash instead!
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