Since I’m working with several different varieties, I decided to use coffee filters cut in half to keep them separate. I’m also being very careful to wash and dry my hands and tools (fine sieve and spoon) between each cleaning so that a Peach Blossom doesn’t get mistaken for a Brandywine. I have to admit there are a couple unlabeled jars that in my haste I didn’t get to — those will be reserved for next year’s mystery garden.

For my fellow revelers: which convention is used for the date on seed packet labels: date they were extracted, or date cleaned to dry, or date actually stored?

But no sign of Mr. Jack O. Lantern.

Heading to the compost to repeat all over again …

Brandywine, ready to ferment!

Baby jar now filled to the top with seeds, pulp, and water … almost there …

They’re all little so it’s easy for them to get away from you .. don’t let ’em!!

Best done late at night looking gruesome. I’m using the little spoon to scoop up the few little seeds not yet caught and captured…