Garden Seating

When I'm not tending the garden, here's where I like to sit.

Sugar Snap Pea Garden Arch

Our peas always grow taller than the original frames that we created when we moved here years ago.  I considered creating new frames this year, but also wanted to keep the peas in reach of the small hands that like to pick them.  Our solution was adding an arch to connect the frames and I love how it looks.

The purple green beans are blooming, and for the spaces in between plants, I will be sowing parsnip seeds for our fall harvest.  Chioggia beets, Chinese Red Meat radishes, kale, swiss chard, and a few varieties of carrots are being sown in various places in our garden.

Have you started planting for your fall harvest?  What seeds are you sowing?

{this moment}

bright blue, a photo by Calico Hen on Flickr.

Growth Spurt

Growth is everywhere--the children, the plants (including weeds), the chickens, and our ever expanding view of how to nurture our family.  Here are some scenes from the garden:

Three Sisters

Marina di Chioggia

Sugar Snap Pea Bloom

Red and White Cabbage

We are lucky to have such an abundance!

Here's hoping that your garden is doing well.  I would love for you to share some photos here!

{this moment}

Inspired by Soulemama:

"{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Have a lovely weekend!"

Tickling Tomato Plants

We love tomatoes.  We have planted them in the main garden, the children's garden, the fairy flower garden, in pots and soon they will also become some of the edible landscaping in front of the house.  We have several varieties, mostly heirloom, and this year will be our first attempt at seed saving.  I recently read "Gardening by the Inch", published by Rodale Inc, in which the authors suggested "tickling" tomato plants "to help them grow strong and stocky!"  Leggy is not an attribute I strive for when it comes to tomato gardening.

Tickling the tomato plants is also (another) great way to involve my kids in tending to the garden, as they are just the right height to help me.

I am hoping for strong, stocky tomato plants with great roots.

Roasted Rhubarb with Local Honey and Sea Salt

A visit from two close friends today was the inspiration for roasting the rhubarb, though we didn't talk about how to prepare it.  We were actually discussing rhubarb's neighbor in my garden, horseradish, and how simple changes to the preparation have a big impact on flavor.  I love using our local honey, purchased from a fellow food co-op member, and the addition of the sea salt was not only to brighten the sweetness of the dish but also to add another element.  The result:  sour, sweet, and savory, with rhubarb truly the star.  I tested the rhubarb over vanilla bean ice cream, but it would make an interesting sauce to top grilled chicken.

Roasted Rhubarb with Local Honey and Sea Salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cut rhubarb stalks on the diagonal, approximately 1/2 inches in length and place in a bowl.
Use only enough local honey to coat the rhubarb.
Pour rhubarb and honey onto a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Bake 10 minutes or until a knife easily pierces the rhubarb, but it is still firm (not mushy).

What new rhubarb recipes are you creating or using?