Puzzle on 6/29/02

I planted seeds in my garden, and have started a web page showing the growth of these seeds.

I have grown squash for about 30 years, and have never seen anything like this!

Click on the squash to see more about my 2002 garden.

When I cut into that squash last October, I started thinking about how people lived 2000 years ago when they grew this variety.

For one thing, they did not use a steel knife as I did to cut through the very thick skin of this squash.
This skin, I am sure allowed them to store the squash until the next growing season without using tin cans, refrigerators, or freezers.
I wonder how they cooked them?
I steamed some of mine in an aluminum pot with a steaming basket and tight fitting lid.
I baked some in a gas oven. I boiled some in an enamel pot.
The Indians who depended on the harvest for survival possibly used clay pots, or roasted the squash in an outdoor fire.

As I watch my own plants grow, I can assume that these people had gardens much larger than ours are today. Space was not an issue for them.
This variety of squash was grown in North America. It was grown during the time when Jesus lived in Israel.
People in that region are still fighting with each other. But weapons today are much more powerful.