I call it squash hands. The mysterious transformation of the skin on my hands after I cut up a butternut squash. It gets orange and tight and feels like I dipped my hands in gorilla glue.
Like all things that ail me, I took to google. Turns out it’s a real thing that happens to other people too. (whew!) Butternut squash has some seriously thick skin. This helps preserve the squash over the long winter. When butternut squash is cut, it releases a sap that is intended to harden and protect the insides.
When this sap touches (some people’s) skin, it hardens and forms a similar protective layer.
Now that I know exactly what is happening, I don’t mind at all. It’s part of the joy of eating seasonally. In the summer, I get stomach aches from eating too many blueberries and in the fall I get squash hands. Par for the course in the local food system.
In honor of the many varieties of squash available this time of year, we are celebrating with a squash tasting at Countryside Old Trail School Winter Farmers’ Market on Saturday November 16th.
We’re collecting a smattering of squash from vendors at the market, and with the help of delicious recipes from Halle Snavely at One Ingredient Company, we’re cooking it up in various ways to bring you the bounty of fall.
Load up on savory samples and find out if you are susceptible to squash hands at Countryside Old Trail School Winter Farmers’ Market this November.