Warning. We're entering the time of year where everything is all about pumpkin. I understand the marketing angle, even though its been quite overused in my opinion. Pumpkins create an ambiance around fall for most of us. And fall brings with it the longing for warm drinks and yummy comfort food. But I don't want... Continue Reading →
As summer winds down, my thoughts are constantly speeding ahead to fall. It's no secret that September and October are my favorite months. Cooler mornings, warm afternoons and a changing of the guard when it comes to evening meals. Soups. Stews. And roasts oh my! However, as the pumpkins begin to ripen in the field,... Continue Reading →
So I tried something that I've never even considered until this year. I mean, who pickles peas? Not me. Until now that is. Because they're really good. The sweetness of the sugar snap peas combines with the tangy bite of the vinegar brine to create a unique culinary experience. And similar to a pickled cucumber,... Continue Reading →
Sugar snap peas are a big part of our late spring harvest. I love the little white flowers that dot the cluster of reaching green vines. The bees do too. Much of the garden hasn't yet awakened to its full glory, and while the peas aren't the first to the dance, they certainly know how... Continue Reading →
Gardening is hard stuff. It's not just the weeding. Or the ground prep. Or the manual labor. It's also getting your seed placement and timing right. It's understanding how soil temps will affect germination, and knowing just how long to harden off those beautiful transplants you've been worrying over for the past week. It's all... Continue Reading →
Radishes are a spring staple on our homestead. They're easy to plant and yield in just under 30 days, plus they do well in cool weather. So as soon as the ground is workable, these are usually one of the first veggies I plant. In our house, the first planting of radish is usually consumed... Continue Reading →
I think the best part of gardening is knowing that at the end the season we will (usually) end up with an abundance of food that can be preserved and put on the shelves or in the freezer for later use. The work is rewarding in and of itself. The mystery of placing seed in... Continue Reading →
Our culture is too quick to dismiss the old things. We want shiny, we want new and for some reason I'll never understand we want it to be painted white (thanks Joanna Gaines!). But I like the old things. I'm fond of the weathered. I'm partial to the worn. I'm in love with the old... Continue Reading →
There is a rhythm to life. Birth. Growth. Production. Decay. It's the pattern that every living thing must go through. We were formed from the earth and to the earth we will return. Decay is essential for new life to begin. When it comes to healthy soil, it is the spent life of decaying things... Continue Reading →
I was reading the other day that the FDA has lifted its consumer advisory to avoid romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas region of California. I'm sure the growing community is happy to have this ban over with. However, this was the fifth recall on leaf crop grown in the area that I can remember,... Continue Reading →