Garden Update

We are now into the summer of our very first garden here.  Having just about failed every previous garden attempt in my life I am absolutely in awe of the growth and progress I am witnessing. 

Here I am two weeks ago experiencing my very first harvest of something I actually planted unlike the yummy weeds that decided just to show up. I filled my gathering basket with a large pile of mibuna, a tender Japanese mustard green.  It was only 21 days to harvest and it seemed to grow back within days of cutting it.  As for reviews from the kitchen, they were mixed.  A few literally choked them down, as this green matures it gets kind of stringy so I should have thought to cut it up.  Sauteed in garlic I could and did eat this for breakfast lunch and dinner.  I suppose Henry could as well because I kept catching him grab bites from my bowl when I walked away.  This is one I'll be sure to plant again, just not the whole seed packet at once.

    

Here is a shot from last week.  Peter is feeling overwhelmed from all the invading beetles.  We got a small plastic container and collected as many as we could to feed to the chickens but they are so use to use feeding them leftover oatmeal that they simply walked away from our offering.  We then sprayed with very watered down dish soap and I think that helped.  But it sure would be great to get some guineas in here next year.

Below is a shot from just yesterday.  I've got more lettuce than all my friends and I can eat.  I'm getting creative with salads and have found the kids will eat as much lettuce as cilantro ranch dressing.  I'm feeling disappointed that all my cilantro bolted but will plant some more in a partly shaded pot by the house.  The kale is doing well.  I'm just not sure we know how to consume it in the quantity that was planted.  I may process it like baby food in ice cubes trays and toss them in where I can.  Peter has claimed kale as his crop since he was the one that took responsibility in planting, watering and weeding.  He feeds it to the goats and is considering selling it for $1 for 5 leaves of kale, any takers?  He's got both red Russian and lacinato, and since Peter is also lunch time helper we've got kale chips on the menu.

I also left a large patch of lambs quarter. I don't feel at all guilty about not weeding it.

Here is the status of our bean pole.  I cannot even remember what variety of beans we planted, one white and one brown from the bulk bins at the garden shop.  Honestly he kids are more excited about hiding in the plant than eating what it produces.

Here is one of 24 of my napa cabbages - what was I thinking?!  I must have been craving kimchi the day I planted.  I'm in need of some serious fermenting equipment, in the past I cultured my cabbage on a smaller scale in mason jars but I may need a crock for this harvest.  Any advice?

Here is James' contribution to the family garden, bird house gourds.  With barely a weed, his single crop is as neat as his bed, school work and household zone.  He does not think grass clippings or straw would look good in his "space" and has contemplated using wood chips instead.  We've talked about nitrogen depletion with wood chips and even considered using this small square in the garden as an experiment with layering the soil as explained in the film "Back to Eden".  His gourds are sure to produce this year and he has hopes of making and selling bird houses out of them.

Sorry to say the corn has experienced a bit more neglect.  Honestly I don't like corn that much so I suppose my efforts have not been focused there.  It is doing well enough though, I remember my Dad always saying "knee high by 4th of July", this stuff is up to my hip already but then again I am short.  I did two plantings 3 weeks apart but at the same time most the neighbors have advised not wasting time on corn because of the raccoons.  At least the kids will have some rows to run and hide between and we'll have some corn stalk for fall decorations.

Here is Peter again with his giant sunflowers.  It is going to be a lopsided house because even after 3 tries the birds returned to their favorite corner to snack on the seeds.
 

And because I wasn't sure I planted everything I wanted to try I had Paul till up a small plot behind the pole barn.  William helped me with this one and we planted pumpkins, more squash, broom corn and another variety of sweet corn that an employee at the garden shop guaranteed I would like.  This plot is 3 weeks behind our big garden.  

Paul actually liked the idea of not having to cut so much grass so in addition to this plot he tilled up a portion behind the grapes and sowed a couple bags of oats - and it is coming up!  I know I shouldn't be so surprised by it all, but for one who is new to the art of working with the earth and seeds it is incredible!  

I could never have imagined that the day would come that I would have no desire to sit at my sewing machine, all because that would mean time away from being on my hands and knees sweating in the garden.  This is very satisfying work, it seems I have found a new medium for my creative endeavors.