What a great way to start my day—with a big smile on my face and feeling your joy. Congrats! I loved reading this story and watching your video. Thank you. 😁❤️
lol, congratulations! Watching you with that knife made me google how to cut up a watermelon because I was scared for you! I love this story and I love knowing there is a moon and stars kind of watermelon too!
Haha! It was embarrassing because I knew that was not the proper kind of knife with which to split open a watermelon -- but it's the best knife I have. And it got the job done, thank goodness. ha!
What an AMAZING story! That watermelon is huge! I, too, struggle with growing watermelons but you have inspired me to “try, try, again”. I’m putting this on my list for next year’s garden.
Becki, would you like some seeds? I'm saving them! And ... stay tuned ... there's another behemoth out in the garden. I was totally taken by surprise. Almost ready to harvest!
Yes, please & I’ll share some of my pawpaw seeds I found this past weekend with you. I haven’t researched how to get them to germinate yet but I have WAY more than I can plant.
What a great story! Thank you for sharing your history with the moon & stars watermelon, Seed Savers Exchange, and the video of your successful melon grow after many tries. (Love the impromptu fencing cage, too!) I can almost taste that sweet yellow flesh. :)
Ahh, the video at the end is so great! I've never heard of this watermelon before, moon and stars, I hope I can get the chance to try to grow one some day. How beautiful!
I love this story! Heart warming! Seed saving and sharing is SO important. We might not all be able to manage a mail order seed swapping catalog, but we can do it on a smaller scale. I'll be handing out free milkweed seeds this fall at a local event, and my town library has a seed library in spring where you can take or leave saved garden seeds ❤️🌱🍉 Let's all keep it going!
So enjoyed your telling of this story of The Moon and Stars watermelon! Loved every bit of it, just like I would have enjoyed a perfect watermelon. For a northern girl, it is perhaps surprising how much I like melons. But I do! So I could truly feel your glee in growing and then taste testing such s perfect Moon and Stars melon! Love that first picture of it at the top of your story. I certainly see stars in that dark green sky!!! Thanks for the link to the seed company! They look very interesting. Might be another story there!
You made me laugh out loud this morning. What a wonderful story!! With a Happy Happy Ending! Now I’m out the door to find those seeds for my garden next year. (I rarely have luck with watermelons.) On a side note we’ve had a great harvest of cantaloupe this year but I didn’t plant it. A volunteer ! Maybe from the compost I put out.
I bet that canteloupe was good, Betsy. Compost volunteer veggies are the best. I had a tomato plant pop up in a planting bed in my backyard and I have NO idea how it got there. As for the Moon&Stars watermelon, I'm saving seed. Let me know if you want some.
Wonderful and congratulations! I tried growing watermelons one time but really don’t have enough room for them. One little vine grew about 10 inches and then it was done. I loved watching your video, the melon looks scrumptious!
This brought back so many memories of MEN, (I think I bought the first edition in 1971), collecting heirloom seeds, and enjoying the fruits of labor, literally. I’ve never been successful growing a good quality, sweet watermelon, though. Congratulations! I hope you save some of those seeds!
Yes; it was fun in 2019 to have my book at the MEN Fair in Asheville and later to have articles published in all the Ogden Nash publications, including MEN, Grit, Countryside, and Acres, USA. It felt like a full circle moment from 19 year old dreamer to 65 year old wise senior, LOL!
That's an amazing history, Cathy! Please send me a link to your book. I was at the TMEN fair in 2019, I think (can't remember exactly what year). I wonder if we crossed paths.
The title is Saving the Guinea Hogs. Jeannette Beranger and I recorded a podcast that day on heritage hogs. Heritage is to livestock as heirloom is to seeds. Thanks for letting me relive some history. The first time I met Janisse Ray was at her first book signing of The Seed Underground. I took two farm interns with me to learn about the importance of seed saving as a matter of justice. Great article about such a rare melon!
I used to do freelance illustrations for that magazine, for years, mostly of food, Shuck & Chive for corn recipes, lots of cabbage paintings and a series on chocolate. Enjoy your melon.
Very cool Jeanne and that's such a fortunate find of those seeds. I had never heard of this variety of warermelon before. Loved the video clip of the reveal and thanks for sharing!
I highly recommend it, Neil, if you're a fan of watermelon and if you can find the seeds. Here's the company that made that seed packet I bought. They look pretty cool. https://www.southernexposure.com/
What a great way to start my day—with a big smile on my face and feeling your joy. Congrats! I loved reading this story and watching your video. Thank you. 😁❤️
So glad I could help start your day with a smile, Linda!
lol, congratulations! Watching you with that knife made me google how to cut up a watermelon because I was scared for you! I love this story and I love knowing there is a moon and stars kind of watermelon too!
Haha! It was embarrassing because I knew that was not the proper kind of knife with which to split open a watermelon -- but it's the best knife I have. And it got the job done, thank goodness. ha!
What an AMAZING story! That watermelon is huge! I, too, struggle with growing watermelons but you have inspired me to “try, try, again”. I’m putting this on my list for next year’s garden.
Becki, would you like some seeds? I'm saving them! And ... stay tuned ... there's another behemoth out in the garden. I was totally taken by surprise. Almost ready to harvest!
Yes, please & I’ll share some of my pawpaw seeds I found this past weekend with you. I haven’t researched how to get them to germinate yet but I have WAY more than I can plant.
Actually, I've got woods full of paw-paws! 😄
What a great story! Thank you for sharing your history with the moon & stars watermelon, Seed Savers Exchange, and the video of your successful melon grow after many tries. (Love the impromptu fencing cage, too!) I can almost taste that sweet yellow flesh. :)
Thank you, Susan! Wish you were nearer so we could have a watermelon party on a hot afternoon!
What a sweet idea! Ah well, at least we can share the enjoyment via the miracle of Substack from afar.
Ahh, the video at the end is so great! I've never heard of this watermelon before, moon and stars, I hope I can get the chance to try to grow one some day. How beautiful!
I hope you do, too! The seeds are available at https://www.southernexposure.com/search/?q=moon%20and%20stars . They have two different varieties!
Love this, and that you worked for TMEN! That must have been an amazing experience.
Yes, MK! That was my official hippie period. It was fun! Thank you for reading this little tale.
I love this story! Heart warming! Seed saving and sharing is SO important. We might not all be able to manage a mail order seed swapping catalog, but we can do it on a smaller scale. I'll be handing out free milkweed seeds this fall at a local event, and my town library has a seed library in spring where you can take or leave saved garden seeds ❤️🌱🍉 Let's all keep it going!
I love all those seed swapping initiatives, Christin! Yay!!!
So enjoyed your telling of this story of The Moon and Stars watermelon! Loved every bit of it, just like I would have enjoyed a perfect watermelon. For a northern girl, it is perhaps surprising how much I like melons. But I do! So I could truly feel your glee in growing and then taste testing such s perfect Moon and Stars melon! Love that first picture of it at the top of your story. I certainly see stars in that dark green sky!!! Thanks for the link to the seed company! They look very interesting. Might be another story there!
Glad you enjoyed it, Sandy! I love that you love melons. Wish I could share this one with you!
A wonderful story about the Moon and Stars Watermelon! Absolutely love it!
So glad you liked it, Jenny! I just had to share the fun.
You made me laugh out loud this morning. What a wonderful story!! With a Happy Happy Ending! Now I’m out the door to find those seeds for my garden next year. (I rarely have luck with watermelons.) On a side note we’ve had a great harvest of cantaloupe this year but I didn’t plant it. A volunteer ! Maybe from the compost I put out.
I bet that canteloupe was good, Betsy. Compost volunteer veggies are the best. I had a tomato plant pop up in a planting bed in my backyard and I have NO idea how it got there. As for the Moon&Stars watermelon, I'm saving seed. Let me know if you want some.
Really enjoyed the story — and witnessing your watermelon triumph.
Thank you, Ann! It was truly fun to share the excitement.
Wonderful and congratulations! I tried growing watermelons one time but really don’t have enough room for them. One little vine grew about 10 inches and then it was done. I loved watching your video, the melon looks scrumptious!
Thank you, Allison! Sorry you've had no luck with watermelons (yet). Hope you have better luck with other/smaller crops!
This brought back so many memories of MEN, (I think I bought the first edition in 1971), collecting heirloom seeds, and enjoying the fruits of labor, literally. I’ve never been successful growing a good quality, sweet watermelon, though. Congratulations! I hope you save some of those seeds!
Definitely saving seeds of this watermelon, Cathy! And I'm glad you are a TMEN fan going way back to the beginning.... wow!
Yes; it was fun in 2019 to have my book at the MEN Fair in Asheville and later to have articles published in all the Ogden Nash publications, including MEN, Grit, Countryside, and Acres, USA. It felt like a full circle moment from 19 year old dreamer to 65 year old wise senior, LOL!
That's an amazing history, Cathy! Please send me a link to your book. I was at the TMEN fair in 2019, I think (can't remember exactly what year). I wonder if we crossed paths.
www.guineahogbooks.com/store
The title is Saving the Guinea Hogs. Jeannette Beranger and I recorded a podcast that day on heritage hogs. Heritage is to livestock as heirloom is to seeds. Thanks for letting me relive some history. The first time I met Janisse Ray was at her first book signing of The Seed Underground. I took two farm interns with me to learn about the importance of seed saving as a matter of justice. Great article about such a rare melon!
BRAVO! Looks tasty too!
It WAS, Mark!
I used to do freelance illustrations for that magazine, for years, mostly of food, Shuck & Chive for corn recipes, lots of cabbage paintings and a series on chocolate. Enjoy your melon.
What years, Neverne? I think it must've been after I left the magazine and moved to St. Pete.
Very cool Jeanne and that's such a fortunate find of those seeds. I had never heard of this variety of warermelon before. Loved the video clip of the reveal and thanks for sharing!
I highly recommend it, Neil, if you're a fan of watermelon and if you can find the seeds. Here's the company that made that seed packet I bought. They look pretty cool. https://www.southernexposure.com/
Thanks Jeanne!