It’s been too long since I posted! It’s been terribly busy for me, both personally and professionally, and it was so upsetting to me to leave the blog with no new material for so long. My apologies. Dear readers, you have not been far from my thoughts for any length of time.
I do have a new recipe which I will post soon! It comes courtesy my second Vintage Garden-yes, I’ve got crops already! I was late on planting, because of all my business but lo and behold, the garden is producing even though I can never seen to dedicate the proper amount of time to it.
This year, I have planted a smaller crop, focused more on vegetables and plants that I actually use in my kitchen-what a concept! I also have been carefully composting coffee grounds, egg shells, and other kitchen scraps all winter long to boost the nutrient content of the soil. Returning from last year’s crop is parsley (which I let go to seed last fall and again this spring, in hopes that I’ll have a fall crop!), strawberries, and a mystery squash-type plant that cropped up between two of my raised beds. It’s producing flowers but no fruit yet so I must wait to discover it’s identity-but I suspect it comes from something I threw into the bed last fall as compost.
I actively planted red cabbage, basil, turnips, several kinds of tomatoes, radishes, carrots, sweet peppers, heirloom crookneck squash, and eggplant. I also planted okra, which did not sprout. Boo.
I was fortunate to have a small crop of strawberries, which we picked a little on the green side, on the day before we left for vacation. Good thing we did that too, because when we got back, a mole had dug a hole under the bird netting and PICKED THEM CLEAN!
I also enjoyed a bunch of wild garlic I dug out of the garden while I was planting the initial crop. The bulbs were so small, but it was good for roasting, soups, and mincing into juice to give dishes an extra punch of flavor.
My cabbages are being eaten by bugs. I am using a homemade spray made of crushed garlic and red pepper and water… I’ll let you know if it works!
Watch for more blog entries soon!