Garden Fresh Broccoli!

We had always loved “fresh” broccoli from the supermarket’s produce aisle over broccoli from the frozen section until we had garden fresh broccoli! And now, there’s no going back! It has an amazing taste. Every bite is worth ranting about! And after two years, it still has that effect on us!

I knew from experience, the earlier I could get my broccoli plants into the ground this spring, the better. I would’ve loved putting them in sometime in February (under the hoop tunnels), but with my business’ Easter season, I never really had a moment of free time for the garden until later in March. (Next year, I WILL do better!)

The goal had been to have my broccoli mature by the time the “pests” began to arrive. And, I think (even though I was later in planting than I had wanted) I have beat them, but just barely! We have been harvesting broccoli heads for several weeks now, and although I still soak the florets in briny water after harvesting, I have yet to find any worms. ****However, I do find them when I harvest in my broccoli heads in the fall after a late summer planting.

After harvesting and doing a quick inspection for any tiny green worms/caterpillars, cut the florets into manageable pieces. Bring out a large bowl and fill with water. Add some table salt—enough to make a briny bath. Add the florets and let them soak for about 20 minutes. If there are little pests, they will float to the top of the water. At this point, I still inspect again, but usually this does the trick to remove them.

Drain and rinse.

Now you are ready to eat it raw, steamed, cooked, stir-fried….whatever!!

 

 

“I never promised you an Herb Garden”

Most of the herbs in my garden are perennials that can easily be recognized by sight and definitely by smell. So, I thought they really didn’t need labels; but, I put them in the garden late winter anyhow. I thought that they would help visitors easily identify some of the unique herbs and help me remember where things were, if they happened to die back during the winter (hoop tunnels kept them going this year).

But, each day as I passed by the herb bed, the stark white signs with just one word on them bugged me. I knew I needed to make them more appealing, but didn’t know how. Then, last week while weeding, I got an idea. I quickly grabbed the labels and headed inside, determined to make a few changes.

Later, I placed them back into the garden and then waited to see who would be the first to notice! (smiles)

Later that evening as we were heading outback to the patio to eat supper, I started to hear giggling coming from the grown kids. It made me grin! We put down what we were carrying and began circling the herb bed, reading all the labels.

By this time, they were laughing, so I was laughing. But, they were laughing because they thought I’d gone crazy.  ❤  (I guess old age suits me—lol)

The herb bed is FULL of everything, so there are labels galore, many referring to songs; some to places; and others, to special memories. I won’t put them all here, but I did want to share a few. What began as an ordinary herb garden is now anything but!

Thai Basil, Chocolate Basil, Mints, Oregano, Fennel, Cilantro, Sage, Sweet Basil, Lavender, and MORE fill the herb bed.

And then, there’s Cilantro. (ugh) I guess I’m one of those people who cannot think it tastes like anything but soap and smells like stink bugs!! I CANNOT eat it.

However, my older daughter loves it and thinks it tastes refreshing…so, I grow it for her and her alone! (smiles)

My family ❤ music, songs, poetry, and stories; I love to hear their laughter.

This little $1.25 project helped that all

“come together”

❤

 

Tanti Auguri!

I had seen something written a few days ago saying that May was just as crazy as December, but without all the presents. I chuckled and thought, “not in my house.” Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, end of classes, commencing of thru-hikes, and more all seem to occur in May. By request, earlier this week, I made a large cookie rather than cake for one of our special birthday celebrations! (smiles)

The cookie needed to be chocolate chip, but with walnuts and peanut butter M&Ms, too! I knew this called for Ghirardelli chocolate chips!  ❤

2 1/4 cups flour; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup butter; 3/4 cup gran sugar; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 eggs; 1 cup choc chips; 1 cup peanut butter M&Ms; 1 cup chopped walnuts. Bake 375 for about 10 minutes.

I made this in a large jelly roll pan only because I couldn’t find the pan I was looking for. I had wanted to use a 2 heart shaped pans and stack them (like a cake) and trim/decorate/write-on with frosting.

So, instead I trimmed out (with butter cream frosting—butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk) serving sized squares and on the dollop in the center, I stuck a Lindt Intense Orange tiny square that I had cut down to a more appropriate size. (or not!–smiles)

Not matter what age, it’s fun to watch a face light up when the singing begins…..
“Happy Birthday to…!”

21 Bloom Salute!

Ever year around this date, the pond is in its glory. White, pink, yellow, and orange water lilies take turns gracing us with their beauty each day. Today, just like almost a year ago, an astounding 21 blossoms made their appearance! Both the water lilies and the lily pads act as shade for pond, keeping the water temperature lower, which in turn keeps the water more oxygenated (especially with the waterfall running).

As magnificent as they are, each flower lasts only a few days before it sinks below the surface and decomposes into pond bottom nutrients. Because the pond is lined with man-made material, it is important that the pond bottom had a chance to develop muck and accumulate silt–conditions which make the pond mimic nature. Ornamental grasses, anchored in the silt but rising to just below the waterline, create hiding places for the fish. Fish can now lay their eggs below the surface, while frogs leave the egg sack cluster (to develop into tadpoles) on the surface hidden between lily pads.

Birds and rabbits are also frequent visitors to the pond. However, for the past two years now, I have seen a snake or two for just a day or so. I always wonder if they come to lay eggs beneath the rocks, or if they are just passing through. I never go looking for them, but after a day, I never see them again.

If you haven’t already added a water feature to your backyard, I hope you’ll do so this summer. It is something that my family and I enjoy throughout the year.

Oiseaux have left the Nest!

Everywhere around the farm birds are hatching and taking flight, while parents are ever vigil teaching the young-‘uns how to survive! I’ve spotted nests in the trees, nests in the boxes, nests in the tall grass hidden from foxes! (smiles–couldn’t resist) I’ve seen the Red-winged blackbirds build their nests in the tall grasses in our fields. (Yes, it’s why I leave sections un-mowed!!) Orioles, indigo buntings, cardinals, blue jays, goldfinch, and so many more bring their spectacular plumage to brighten the backyard all summer long.   ❤

A few weeks ago, I had spotted this nest behind one of the dwarf spruces near the front porch. So, we limited our foot traffic to and from the porch, and began using the back entrance.  From time to time I checked on the eggs’ progress and was excited when I discovered that they had finally all hatched. I would’ve liked a clearer picture, but it wasn’t worth stressing the mama.

Then, the noise began! (smiles) Those little ones chattered and chirped when they weren’t being fed quickly enough! Occasionally, we see stray cats or cats from distant farms meander onto our fields and think they’d like to stroll through our yard in search of birds’ nests. Our dog is usually the best deterrent; regardless, I knew this nest would be safe because of its proximity to the house. ❤

A face only a mother could love!

With each passing day, the babies grew bigger and added feathers. Soon, they were ready to leave the nest. No matter how often I witness this cycle of life, it thrills me.  ❤

in flight (sigh)

 

Fait Accompli!

Well, my garden (at least the first go ’round) is in! All 11 beds are filled–a feat I didn’t think possible so early in the season! Although, I must confess that three of the beds are tomatoes!  ❤  Some beds I used all winter long (with new compost added of course) as hoop tunnels; some beds I’ve been using for the past two months; and, my new one is finally being used for the first time!

I have carrots planted with the tomatoes–so lots happening above and below the soil.

Garlic and onions are in another bed.

Brussel sprouts and broccoli are sharing one bed (at staggered plantings); however, in another bed, behind the zucchini that I planted to grow up another of my screen supports, I have planted additional broccoli! (smiles)

Lettuces and greens are in one full bed, at various stages of growth. But, then I have also planted more in the shade of cucumbers that are beginning to climb up the front of another one of my screens. I have staggered the plantings so that we will have a constant supply of mixed greens!

Our other beds hold rhubarb, peppers, asparagus, beans, and peas.  In the landscaping, our herbs, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, figs, peaches, apples, hardy kiwis, and pears have also begun to embrace the season!

The garden is never really “done” or “in”—there will always be something to do each day. But, for now, I’m going to take a moment and appreciate the goodness.  ❤

Romaine for Mother’s Day

Last year I started our garden in April and was able to harvest the first head of Romaine lettuce for a salad to complement Mother’s Day dinner. This year, because of the hoop tunnels, we were growing various greens almost all year long. Although heads of our Romaine lettuce had been ready weeks ago, we still harvested a head yesterday (Mother’s Day) in keeping with our traditional “fresh from the garden goodness!”

Wow! Isn’t this also the season for salad dressings!? We had a funny conversation yesterday while setting the table—-For half of the year we don’t really care which bottle of dressing we reach for—we have our favorites, but usually almost anything will do. However, as summer approaches and the garden goodness is abundant to the point of overflowing, we all begin to become very opinionated which dressings are kept in stock or made from scratch.  ❤

April Showers Bring May Flowers…

…But, what did the Mayflower bring? Pilgrims! I had loved that riddle as a seven year old, and consequently every year since, the riddle jingles in my head when the first blossoms in May appear.

My pond’s water lilies were late in arriving this year, but this morning when I saw this FIRST beautiful, white lily floating in the pond, I felt it was going to be a great day.

After a quick inspection of the garden, I found that my tomato plants had several flowers waiting to be pollinated! The iris that I have in clusters around the side yards are already open, too!

Even the peaches have begun to grow! They are only the size of a penny, but they are there.  How in the world did we have two snow storms less than four weeks ago? How did we go from blankets on horses to fly masks on horses in such a short time? For us, it was April SNOW Showers brought May Flowers!!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

I guess I could even add “Refuse” to the above title. Like,— I Refuse to eat a salad with lettuce that I didn’t grow (smiles). My garden is still a LONG way from being 100% efficient or 100% aesthetically pleasing (I need to weed-whack…I ALWAYS need to weed-whack), but there are several innovative things that I’m doing that have made my garden more eco-friendly and that in turn helps me accept the imperfections.

This year, I wanted to add arbors to span the aisles between the raised beds. These arbors would hold beans, cukes, and other vining veggies. I also envisioned them supporting flowering vines such as Nasturtiums. All winter long, I dreamed of building beautiful wooden arbors. By the time spring arrived, I was so busy trying to get the farm cleaned up, that….well, reality just set in….the arbors haven’t been built and my vining plants are beginning to grow! So, I did the next best thing. It’s not really the NEXT best thing, but it’ll have to suffice for this year!   (smiles)

Clamps in bag, PVC pipes, stakes to hold the PVC pipes in place.

As I was removing my hoop tunnels last week and cleaning everything to store away until next fall, I thought, “What if I just repurpose the hoops and create an arbor? Not what I had in mind, but I think it’ll work.”

And, the chicken wire frame panels that I had used in my shop to hang wreaths and separate the retail section from the processing wool section, I am now using to grow zucchini vines.

With ALL the hoop tunnels finally off, the garden has changed so much in the last five days. I even have my first flowers on my tomato plants…but that story’s for another day!

Hooray for Shearing Day!

“Shearing Day” on the farm isn’t really just ONE day, it’s more like a decathlon event–lasting a few days and forcing the shearer to endure many grueling, physical feats. Weather, temperament of the sheep, time available, tiredness of the shearer, and annoying bumble bees all factor in! But, shearing HAS begun for 2018 fleeces! The wool is exceptionally beautiful this year, but I guess I say that every year (smiles)!

We usually start shearing the most patient of the sheep and work our way through the flock. We don’t put them into a chute or flip them upside down; however, we do put a halter and lead rope on them. They don’t really seem to mind at all. Fact is, I think it makes them feel very mighty, sort of like the horses!    ❤

Next, we lead them to a corner of the paddock, or to a smaller corral that we temporarily section off with additional gates just to keep them a bit contained. Then, the magic begins. My younger daughter is our shearer. She is kind, gentle, and extremely patient. The animals love her. Not long into the shearing, they relax, settle down, and usually close their eyes.  ❤

We use the traditional hand-shears, not electric, and we have three different sizes. You can imagine how tired the shearer’s hand becomes after operating these for an hour at a time. And it does take about one hour to shear each sheep the way we do it. Another shepherd friend that we know does it the same way and we laugh that it takes her just as long, too. But, the sheep aren’t stressed this way and we think they like the individual attention!    ❤

Sometimes, a little extra ear rubbing time is necessary to prompt them into enduring the shearing session to completion.

When they are done being shorn, we gather up the fleece and write the sheep’s name on the bag. (We love knowing whose fleece we are working with, when we create with it later in the year.) Then, we undo their halter and let them show off their new look! We always think the rest of the flock taunts and teases a bit, but they all come running the next time I shout, “Shearing Day!”