Our CSA pick-up today was almost identical to last week, with a few exceptions: a bag of mixed lettuces, and a full quart of strawberries rather than a pint. Beautiful, beautiful fruit of the earth!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
CSA: Week 2
Our CSA pick-up today was almost identical to last week, with a few exceptions: a bag of mixed lettuces, and a full quart of strawberries rather than a pint. Beautiful, beautiful fruit of the earth!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
CSA: Week 1
I know I must have had the biggest, goofiest, gleeful smile stretched across my face today when I picked up our first CSA share from the Eaton Farm at the Hyde Park Farmer's Market.
Since the spring has been so kind to us so far, the share pick-ups have started a little earlier than anticipated - fine by me! Each week we receive 8 dry quarts of freshly harvested produce along with half a dozen pastured eggs. This week's share includes:
Today was a beautiful day - very appropriate for Mother's Day. For some reason, I've always "approved" of Mother's Day as a holiday. There are a lot of other holidays that I'm "meh" about, but mothers are always something to celebrate in my book.
I spent the day with family at my grandma's farm in Hamilton. The highlight of the day was getting to plant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in her communal garden with my dad, mom, and brother. Dad tilled the soil so it was nice and fine, brother dug the holes, and mom and I planted and watered the plants. We were able to put in the rest of my tomato plants, as well as the rest of my Jimmy Nardello peppers and the lone eggplant. We also put in 18 Better Boy tomatoes. Given a good growing season, this garden should supply our family with plenty of tomatoes for fresh eating and canning.
Having all four of us be in that garden again brought back memories from my childhood. When we were all younger and less busy, our family and the rest of the aunts, uncles, and cousins would come together each summer to plant, tend, harvest, and preserve the bounty of this garden. I have great memories of "assembly line" corn husking, pea shelling, and bean snapping. It was great to be able to share this experience again with my little family, despite all of the changes that the past decade has brought for us.
Happy Mother's Day - I love you Mom!
Since the spring has been so kind to us so far, the share pick-ups have started a little earlier than anticipated - fine by me! Each week we receive 8 dry quarts of freshly harvested produce along with half a dozen pastured eggs. This week's share includes:
- bundle of French Breakfast Radish
- bundle of green onions
- head of lettuce (Bibb? Boston?)
- bag of beet greens
- head of Chinese cabbage (Green Tower variety?)
- pint of strawberries!
- half dozen eggs (HUGE!)
Today was a beautiful day - very appropriate for Mother's Day. For some reason, I've always "approved" of Mother's Day as a holiday. There are a lot of other holidays that I'm "meh" about, but mothers are always something to celebrate in my book.
I spent the day with family at my grandma's farm in Hamilton. The highlight of the day was getting to plant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in her communal garden with my dad, mom, and brother. Dad tilled the soil so it was nice and fine, brother dug the holes, and mom and I planted and watered the plants. We were able to put in the rest of my tomato plants, as well as the rest of my Jimmy Nardello peppers and the lone eggplant. We also put in 18 Better Boy tomatoes. Given a good growing season, this garden should supply our family with plenty of tomatoes for fresh eating and canning.
Having all four of us be in that garden again brought back memories from my childhood. When we were all younger and less busy, our family and the rest of the aunts, uncles, and cousins would come together each summer to plant, tend, harvest, and preserve the bounty of this garden. I have great memories of "assembly line" corn husking, pea shelling, and bean snapping. It was great to be able to share this experience again with my little family, despite all of the changes that the past decade has brought for us.
Happy Mother's Day - I love you Mom!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Tickled Green
I couldn't be happier with how the garden is looking right now - and it's only May 2nd!
This spring has been one of the nicest, warmest, plant-friendly springs that I can remember in a while. We have had just enough rain, lots of beautiful sunny days, and very few frosty-cold nights.
I managed to hold out until yesterday to put my tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil into the ground. Trust me, they were screaming to be planted. The soil in those little yogurt cups I had them in had been sapped of nutrients, and the plants were on their way to getting a little root-bound.
My husband and I got home late last night and I knew that we were forecasted to get rain all day today, so my only option for planting was 8:30pm last night. It doesn't take long to plant when you've only got nine or ten plants to get in the ground. The soil was so rich and black - funny how only farmers and gardeners can get excited about rich soil. Every other shovelfull of dirt revealed a fat wriggly worm. They must be having a field day with that nice dirt. I dressed the soil with Gardener's Supply tomato/pepper/eggplant fertilizer and mounded up the soil around each little plant.
So to recap, I planted one-each of the following:
I also sowed my second round of arugula and mesclun mix, as well as transplanted my Sweet Genovese Basil as well as the two Catnip seedlings that sprouted. The Catnip went in a separate pot just in case the neighborhood felines try to maul it like last year. I wouldn't want them mauling the rest of my herbs in the process.
Here is my herb bed with the newly-planted basil, along with the thyme, oregano, and dill. I have two spots left, one for rosemary, which I'll have to buy, and one for lavender, which needs a little more time indoors to get nice and hearty before I transplant him.
I need to figure out what I'm going to do with supports; I know that these plants are going to be happy enough to grow big and tall and will need some type of support. I don't think I'll have room to put all eight plants into tomato cages. Food for thought the next week or so.
In other news, my latest round of indoor seedlings have been coming along nicely as well. All six types of plants are up, and the nasturtiums are pretty much ready to be transplanted outside already - that was quick, guys! From left to right: Empress of India Nasturtium, Rainbow Mix Coleus, Parker's Variety Yarrow, Apricot Beauty Foxglove, Victoria Rhubarb, and Mary Washington Asparagus.
The next round of indoor planting will involve squash, zucchini, cucumber, and melon. I'm going to wait a few weeks to give my greens, radish, beets, and carrots some time to finish up. Since I'm using the same bed for my "early" veggies and my "summer" veggies, I'll have to be careful about my timing.
Lastly, we received an email this week from Eaton Farm that our first CSA pick-up will be next weekend - May 9th! I'll make a quick stop at Hyde Park Farmer's Market to pick up up before heading to grandma's house for a nice Mother's Day celebration. Good things are on the horizon!
This spring has been one of the nicest, warmest, plant-friendly springs that I can remember in a while. We have had just enough rain, lots of beautiful sunny days, and very few frosty-cold nights. I managed to hold out until yesterday to put my tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil into the ground. Trust me, they were screaming to be planted. The soil in those little yogurt cups I had them in had been sapped of nutrients, and the plants were on their way to getting a little root-bound.
My husband and I got home late last night and I knew that we were forecasted to get rain all day today, so my only option for planting was 8:30pm last night. It doesn't take long to plant when you've only got nine or ten plants to get in the ground. The soil was so rich and black - funny how only farmers and gardeners can get excited about rich soil. Every other shovelfull of dirt revealed a fat wriggly worm. They must be having a field day with that nice dirt. I dressed the soil with Gardener's Supply tomato/pepper/eggplant fertilizer and mounded up the soil around each little plant.
So to recap, I planted one-each of the following:
- Tomato - Sungold Select II, Mule Team, Carbon, Aunt Ruby's German Green, Riesentraube
- Pepper - Purple Jalapeno, Jimmy Nardello
- Eggplant - Black Beauty
I also sowed my second round of arugula and mesclun mix, as well as transplanted my Sweet Genovese Basil as well as the two Catnip seedlings that sprouted. The Catnip went in a separate pot just in case the neighborhood felines try to maul it like last year. I wouldn't want them mauling the rest of my herbs in the process.
Here is my herb bed with the newly-planted basil, along with the thyme, oregano, and dill. I have two spots left, one for rosemary, which I'll have to buy, and one for lavender, which needs a little more time indoors to get nice and hearty before I transplant him.
I need to figure out what I'm going to do with supports; I know that these plants are going to be happy enough to grow big and tall and will need some type of support. I don't think I'll have room to put all eight plants into tomato cages. Food for thought the next week or so.In other news, my latest round of indoor seedlings have been coming along nicely as well. All six types of plants are up, and the nasturtiums are pretty much ready to be transplanted outside already - that was quick, guys! From left to right: Empress of India Nasturtium, Rainbow Mix Coleus, Parker's Variety Yarrow, Apricot Beauty Foxglove, Victoria Rhubarb, and Mary Washington Asparagus.
The next round of indoor planting will involve squash, zucchini, cucumber, and melon. I'm going to wait a few weeks to give my greens, radish, beets, and carrots some time to finish up. Since I'm using the same bed for my "early" veggies and my "summer" veggies, I'll have to be careful about my timing.
Lastly, we received an email this week from Eaton Farm that our first CSA pick-up will be next weekend - May 9th! I'll make a quick stop at Hyde Park Farmer's Market to pick up up before heading to grandma's house for a nice Mother's Day celebration. Good things are on the horizon!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dinner Salad
Arugula, Mixed Lettuce, French Breakfast Radish, Saxa 2 Radish...also added some onion, tomato, blue cheese, and balsamic vinegar...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
First Spring Harvest
Today I harvested the first veggies from the garden! I pulled a tender young Saxa 2 radish as well as a handful of arugula for a sandwich.
I have to say, I almost like the Saxa 2 radish better than the French Breakfast, which I've grown the past couple of years. It was not quite as spicy and was very tender. There are quite a few more red globes peeping through the soil still, so we should be enjoying radish the next couple of weeks.
The arugula is still young enough to be considered "baby" and was crunchy and spicy. So often, arugula you buy in the store can be paper-thin and tastes kind of like cardboard. Greens are one of the easiest things to grow at home, why wouldn't everyone do it?
Now that some room will be freeing up in my seed-starting trays, I've started to sow some new seeds. Earlier this week I planted five Empress of India Nasturtiums. I plan on making some very pretty salads with Nasturtium flowers this year. Earlier this week I had placed an impromptu order with Baker Creek for some flowering plants, as well as two "wild card" veggies - asparagus and rhubarb. Today I sowed all five types: Rainbow Mix Coleus, Apricot Beauty Foxglove, Parker's Variety Yarrow, Mary Washington Asparagus, and Victoria Rhubarb. I realize I'm making at least a two year commitment on the asparagus and rhubarb, but it's something I can sprout, plant, and forget about until SURPRISE! (hopefully, anyways)
In addition to planting some new seeds, I spent a lot of time outside today, both with the garden as well as with the other flower beds in our yard. I decided to plant my oregano and thyme in the raised bed, as they are both fairly hardy and should be able to withstand any lingering cold nights over the next few weeks. Once they get over the initial shock they should be quite happy to have more room to wiggle their toes - pretty boys!
My Mom had donated quite a few more plants for my beds this year and I wanted to get them all into the ground before the grind of the workweek hit. Some highlights include several Helleborus (lenten rose), standard and dwarf iris, Pulmonaria, and one of my all-time favorites, a Bleeding Heart. She also dug me a couple of Southwestern Ohio's native wildflowers, including some Spring Beauties and Dutchman's Breeches. Practically all of the plants she gave me last year have come back this spring - our soil must not be as poor as I thought. The number of worms in the moist dirt was astounding! The layer of leaves and rich soil that I spread on top must really be amending the soil. Hopefully this bed will continue to grow, spread, and naturalize.
Another nostalgic favorite for me, Lily of the Valley, are about to burst into full bloom. In my opinion, you can't find many flowers that smell better than Lily of the Valley.
Between the front beds and the newer bed that I created last year, things are starting to fill out nicely. Thank you Mom!
I have to say, I almost like the Saxa 2 radish better than the French Breakfast, which I've grown the past couple of years. It was not quite as spicy and was very tender. There are quite a few more red globes peeping through the soil still, so we should be enjoying radish the next couple of weeks.
The arugula is still young enough to be considered "baby" and was crunchy and spicy. So often, arugula you buy in the store can be paper-thin and tastes kind of like cardboard. Greens are one of the easiest things to grow at home, why wouldn't everyone do it?
Now that some room will be freeing up in my seed-starting trays, I've started to sow some new seeds. Earlier this week I planted five Empress of India Nasturtiums. I plan on making some very pretty salads with Nasturtium flowers this year. Earlier this week I had placed an impromptu order with Baker Creek for some flowering plants, as well as two "wild card" veggies - asparagus and rhubarb. Today I sowed all five types: Rainbow Mix Coleus, Apricot Beauty Foxglove, Parker's Variety Yarrow, Mary Washington Asparagus, and Victoria Rhubarb. I realize I'm making at least a two year commitment on the asparagus and rhubarb, but it's something I can sprout, plant, and forget about until SURPRISE! (hopefully, anyways)
In addition to planting some new seeds, I spent a lot of time outside today, both with the garden as well as with the other flower beds in our yard. I decided to plant my oregano and thyme in the raised bed, as they are both fairly hardy and should be able to withstand any lingering cold nights over the next few weeks. Once they get over the initial shock they should be quite happy to have more room to wiggle their toes - pretty boys!
My Mom had donated quite a few more plants for my beds this year and I wanted to get them all into the ground before the grind of the workweek hit. Some highlights include several Helleborus (lenten rose), standard and dwarf iris, Pulmonaria, and one of my all-time favorites, a Bleeding Heart. She also dug me a couple of Southwestern Ohio's native wildflowers, including some Spring Beauties and Dutchman's Breeches. Practically all of the plants she gave me last year have come back this spring - our soil must not be as poor as I thought. The number of worms in the moist dirt was astounding! The layer of leaves and rich soil that I spread on top must really be amending the soil. Hopefully this bed will continue to grow, spread, and naturalize.
Another nostalgic favorite for me, Lily of the Valley, are about to burst into full bloom. In my opinion, you can't find many flowers that smell better than Lily of the Valley.
Between the front beds and the newer bed that I created last year, things are starting to fill out nicely. Thank you Mom!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Indoors and Outdoors
It seems like it's been a while since I've done an update on what my indoor seedlings look like. To be frank, they are threatening to take over the basement, with the tomatoes leading the fight.
"Let us out already!"
"Gimme some sun!"
While we've had a really nice warm spring so far, I'm not going to take any risks by planting them too early. I want to wait at least until around May 1st. Still, it gets a little ridiculous when I'm having to pinch off flower buds from the tomato plants. Next year I'll just have to plant them a little later (if I can force myself to wait long enough).
The outdoor garden is really taking off, too. All seeds are up now: radish, beets, carrots, onions, arugula, mixed lettuce, and dill. I had a slight set-back last weekend when I woke up and saw quite a few crude holes dug into the beds. The neighbor's groundhog is alive and kicking - guess he survived another winter. I re-seeded the spots where he caused damage and decided to put my netting to good use. He hasn't touched it since. My only dilemma is whether or not I need to purchase another net - I had originally planned to use this one for the tomato and pepper bed.
Some highlights...
Dill:
European Mesclun Mix:
Arugula:
Radish (Saxa II):
Golden Beet:
"Let us out already!"
"Gimme some sun!"
While we've had a really nice warm spring so far, I'm not going to take any risks by planting them too early. I want to wait at least until around May 1st. Still, it gets a little ridiculous when I'm having to pinch off flower buds from the tomato plants. Next year I'll just have to plant them a little later (if I can force myself to wait long enough).
The outdoor garden is really taking off, too. All seeds are up now: radish, beets, carrots, onions, arugula, mixed lettuce, and dill. I had a slight set-back last weekend when I woke up and saw quite a few crude holes dug into the beds. The neighbor's groundhog is alive and kicking - guess he survived another winter. I re-seeded the spots where he caused damage and decided to put my netting to good use. He hasn't touched it since. My only dilemma is whether or not I need to purchase another net - I had originally planned to use this one for the tomato and pepper bed.
Some highlights...
Dill:
European Mesclun Mix:
Arugula:
Radish (Saxa II):
Golden Beet:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)