WHAT TO DO WITH OVER-RIPE CUCUMBERS

Around here, it's just more cost-effective to not waste anything.

If you miss a cucumber or two, I highly recommend that you allow them to fully develop and produce real seeds. Here is a photo of the strange beast that will eventually end up on the end of your cucumber vine if you let it.

That is honestly the best advice I have if you are only dealing with one or two over-ripe cucumbers. To check out an old post I made about that, click here. The purpose of this post will be to show you what I do when I find myself with several over-ripe cucumbers. Moreover, this can apply to many other garden vegetables or table scraps as well.

OVER-RIPE CUCUMBER VIDEO

FREE FOOD FOR EVERYONE!

When we got rid of our pigs, we wondered what we'd end up doing with table scraps and garden waste. For the garden waste, the compost bin is always an option, but these days, the poultry have been taking charge. The Guinea Fowl, Chickens, Muscovy Ducks, and Quail all enjoy at least of what we offer them, and over-ripe cucumbers are no exception.

From the time that chicks first hatch out of the egg, they are eager to peck around and eat whatever they can. It is amazing to watch a mother hen teach her little chicks, and no matter how many times I get to see it I am always impressed.

The Quail were a new one today. I'd never tried giving them anything like this before, only trimmings from the yard with my reel mower. They always enjoyed those, but they sure did enjoy the cucumber halves too! (Normally, the other poultry devour them before we consider treating the Quail.)

With a lot of our food waste, the Chickens do an amazing job cleaning it up and turning it into eggs. Plus, whatever they don't finish, like the harder outer skins of the cucumbers, can still go to the compost bin and eventually supply the next season of garden crops with nutrients when it is their turn to grow. And so, the cycle repeats itself.