The Hat

I could not pass up the opportunity to keep the sun off my ears in the Memphis heat. An Amish Hat from Intercourse, PA...now I just need a team of horses to work the ground...or maybe Stephanie will get me a couple of goats.

Girls in the Garden

On Wednesday, my girls went to the Summer Garden with me and picked beans. There was nothing better than picking beans with Luba and Magun while Stephanie baked zucchini bread from a squash from the Home Garden. We had a lot of Rattlesnake and Jacobs Cattle Beans. We also had a lot of Arkansas Traveler and Yellow Brandywine tomatoes. We picked some Marketmore and Silver Slicer Cucumbers. We checked out the melon patch and have 7 mini lopes coming along. Burgundy and Clemson Spineless Okra is getting ready to bloom and there is a lot of stalks. They should be ripe in a few weeks. As I watched my girls pick beans, it was nice to see them take an interest. A few pounds of produce every few days is great!!! Here are some pics from the pickin'....

Luba picking Rattlesnake Beans

Magun picking Rattlesnake Beans

Tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans from the Wednesday haul---

Cucumbers--

Tomatoes

The fruits of our labor

Bean Salad or Chili?

Home Harvest

Last night before the storm, I went and out picked a zucchini for dinner tonight...grilled. This afternoon, Stephanie went and gathered some cucumbers (silver slicers and Marketmore) for a cucumber and tomato salad. Fresh vegetables...I never thought I would say this but.....YUM!!!

Cucumbers!!!!

Zucchini !!!!

Pickin' Pickles

Saturday, Stephanie and I went to the Summer Garden and picked ripe tomatoes (8 or 10), pickling cucumbers, and Jacob's Cattle beans. We had a bag full when we left. Yesterday, Magun and I shelled the beans and Stephanie and I pickled cucumbers...dill pickles anyone? They should be ready in a few weeks. We have 4 quarts so far. Next will be Half and Half's and then Bread and Butters. Here are some of the quarts from yesterday....National Pickling Cucumbers, fresh dill, garlic cloves, peppercorns, and a magic bean!!!

Vacation Part 2

 The Summer Garden did remarkably well thanks to my watering friends. The Home Garden did not fair so well. In one week of vacation, the squirrels ate all the ears of corn and we pulled the stalks. Sunflowers are awesome. Cucumbers are growing great. We finally have some tomatoes and peppers in the raised garden., I fertilized the entire garden with Garden-Tone organic fertilizer hoping the boost in nutrients other than nitrogen might help. We harvested our first Silver Slicers and pickling cukes from the Home Garden and some Arkansas Traveler and Brandywine tomatoes from the Summer Garden.

                                                         

Silver Slicers before harvest...

                                                                                                     


 Damn Squirrels---never again though-we will have the Fort Knox of corn.

                                                         



Sunflowers make every day brighter!!!

                                                         




And make everyone smile-How can you not with this beauty

                                                         

                                                             



Some Silver Slicers, Arkansas Travelers, a National Pickle, and a Yellow Brandywine from the first picking day.

Vacation

A weeks vacation brought some surprises. My father-in-law and Kathy were incredible in taking care of the Summer Garden. We have a lot to show for their hard work. Arkansas Traveler tomatoes are beginning to ripen. We had a Yellow Brandywine began its golden ascent to the basket and then the table. Luscious Corn is starting to show ears. Silver Slicer cucumbers are nearing the picking size and there are a lot of them. We will plant those again next year. National Pickles are doing great as well. Poinsett Cucumbers from the Organic Seed People are showing up well. Jacob's Cattle Beans are ripening but really slow now. Rattlesnake Beans are looking awesome. Streaks are coming on the pods. Still no Kentucky Pole Bean pods yet but I hope them show up soon. Okra is getting big and should flower soon. I believe there is going to be a lot of okra. Mini cantaloupes are still on the right path. I have finally seen a Black Beauty Eggplant starting to flower. No watermelons yet but we still have hope. This is a true test of what will work and what will not. Mother Earth is Great Teacher. Now, with a little reflection time while adding another row on the Florida Weave or weeding before netting the corn I can ponder all things green. Also, we visited Amish Country on vacation and I took a bit of time to look at the canning choices there and I am looking forward to a canning class at Whole Foods with my dear sweet daughter, Luba, who has a gourmet touch. And Stephanie bought me an Amish straw hat for the summer. Here are some pics from the Summer Garden yesterday-

                                                                                                     
                                                                                             
                                                                                                       
Magun with a streaked Rattlesnake Bean




















   
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Rattlesnake Beans getting their stripes

Kentucky Pole Beans come on and give us some pods

Okra getting bigger and flowering soon I hope

Finally some Luscious ears-

Poinsett Cukes--

Arkansas Traveler Tomatoes on the vine--That's what's for dinner tonight

Yellow Brandywine-the first one-good eatin' this weekend

Three tomatoes $1, Three ripe tomatoes $2, Three ripe tomatoes with Magun's help-PRICELESS!!!

Organic

The idea of growing organically is and was a great idea. The earth is ours to give to the generations of the future so we need to do everything we can to protect it and our kids. To see the array of seeds and products available for organic growers is remarkable. Frankly, there are so many vegetables, herbs, and flowers, I didn't know where to start, so we shot for some "normal" varieties and some unique ones. High Mowing Organic Seeds is a great supplier and a great catalog to use as a resource. Uncle Jim's Worm Farm is a great place to help with those Red Wigglers. Annie's Heirloom Seeds is a great source as is Seattle Seed Company. We ordered from all of them to start and the seeds have been just what we wanted. We have been using Garden Tone and it has worked wonders. The seeds were started on Happy Frog Soils and it truly is a happy soil. Think about getting a catalog and just looking around. If you want the address or website, juts let us know. Enjoy the hot weather and ripening the harvest!