Summers End

Well, Labor Day has come and gone and the same with most of our gardens. The Summer Garden is still producing a lot of tomatoes, peppers, and okra but the corn, cucumbers, melons, and beans have stopped as with the Home Garden. I guess it is time to pull up the plants, till up the soil and look towards lettuce and spinach. We are still getting some mighty good tomatoes. The Yellow Brandywine are the best tomatoes ever. Buddy, the amazing cone-headed farm dog, and I went to the Summer Garden on Sunday and picked a lot of tomatoes, okra, and the last of the beans. It sure is nice to have some company when I go to the Summer Garden. Hopefully, all the paperwork will be completed tomorrow on the 3 Treehugger plots and then we will be off to the races. Fingers crossed--and thanks to everyone who donated to this cause. You are the BEST!!!

Magun with a huge Yellow Brandywine tomato from the Summer Garden

 

Buddy, The Amazing Cone-headed Farm Dog

Summer Garden tomatoes and mini bangle peppers

Baskets for Friends

Luba, Magun, and I went to the Summer Garden last night and did some picking. We filled an entire half bushel basket with Clemson Spineless and Burgundy Okra. We picked several (12-15) Arkansas Traveler and Yellow Brandywine tomatoes and  few California Bells. It was quite a haul and boy does that okra make a person itch like crazy. Anyway, we had so much last night that I delivered a couple of baskets to some dear sweet women at work......Enjoy Ladies.

Salsa

We tried our hands at "canning" salsa last night. We used ripe Arkansas Traveler, Yellow Brandywine, and Hillbilly tomatoes and some green Brandywines all from the Summer Garden. We used California Wonder Bell Peppers from the Summer Garden. We added some fresh cilantro, Anaheim and jalepeno peppers. Only time will tell if it is any good. On a side note, I never understood using the word "canning." Isn't it more like jarring or bottling? I know the phrase has been around forever but just a thought.

 Zesty Salsa!

We've Only Just Begun.....

Treehugger Organics is preparing to get larger. We will go and sign the papers next week to get 3 pieces of property donated by the Shelby County Land Bank to create 3 new community gardens in an area between Sam Cooper and Broad east of Tillman. There is one on Lipford and two a block away on Carpenter. We are going to make these self-sustaining, organic gardens with water reclamation systems that are solar powered. It is going to be a lot of work and timely, but I am sure we will get there. If all goes well, there is an old store between the two garden streets that would make a great organic, locally-grown store and CSA distribution center. It may be a couple of years, but we have to keep our eyes toward the future. Here are some pics of the properties. Anyone who would like to make a donation to the gardens feel free, it is tax deductible.

 

The Thankful Garden (588 Lipford) 47'x125'

 

The Little Buddy Garden (526 Carpenter) 40'x113'

 

The Peace Garden (533 Carpenter) 40'x113' 

The "Future" Garden Store hopefully. It is a great space and there is a large open plot next door for chickens and bees.

Eggtraordinary

We have great news. The 3 "baby" chickens (5 months old)-Nugget, Lila, and Oreo (finally a new name for the Barred Rock that fits, thanks Gabi Stein)-have started laying eggs. We have not figured out who, but we got 3 little eggs over the weekend. Look out world, the O'Dells are going to have a lot of eggs!

 

Stepahnie and Magun with the first 2 baby eggs.

The Little Buddy Pepper

My Little Buddy has a green thumb. With some expert watering skills, he has some exceptional bell peppers.

One Tomato, Two Tomato, Three Tomato, Four

The tomatoes are here in a BIG way. The Summer Garden is putting out the tomatoes. We are getting 15 or 20 a week. We planted Arkansas Traveler (Red), Yellow Brandywine, and Hillbilly (tri-color). The Arkansas Travelers are putting out 15 tomatoes a week (on 10 plants) about the size of a tennis ball and they are good. Yellow Brandywine (10 plants) are putting out about 5 to 10 tomatoes a week and they are big (the size of a softball) and meaty. The Hillbilly is a disappointment. I fell in love with the name at the start but the plants are not very good producers. Next year we will plant Arkansas Travelers and Brandywines for sure. I love the look and taste of heirlooms so if you have any variety suggestions, let me know. At home, the tomato plants are over 6 feet tall but taking their time giving us ripe fruit. However, the Sugar Cherry Tomatoes are great. they are about the size of a marble and always have a few ripe tomatoes on the plants. They are great to pick and eat. They will be back for sure next year.

 

Arkansas Travelers on the vine. This plant had four ripe tomatoes last week. (see below)

 

We have 10 plants and get 15 fruits a week

 Sugar Cherry Tomato-they are great!