Around the garden

Another week of rain and cool temperatures here...I recently heard it may be another green tomato year. But plenty of things to celebrate around the garden nonetheless.

The first sunflowers burst into bloom...

The beans found their way to the top of the teepee, and our little garden sprite found her way inside...

And we're starting to feel the real bounty and abundance of the produce ripe for harvest. This all went into dinner tonight: 

We finally tried kale chips after hearing about them for the last year or so. They truly are miraculous-- crispy-salty-melt-in-your mouth goodness. Even the vegetable snubbing two year old tried a few. I used the Smitten Kitchen Recipe via Soule Mama. 

I'll be gone from this space for the next week--happy growing till we meet again!

An epiphany

This afternoon I had an epiphany, if you could call it that. A little showering of grace over my heart. My two year old is having a hard time with sleep these days (and has had most days of her life). She didn't nap today, and usually no nap makes for a cranky toddler and a cranky mama. But somehow we both managed to keep good spirits.

 Maybe the discovery of this little garden friend helped.

 Or the fun of pulling off the little poppy "hats."

But certainly just being outside together in the garden, plunging our hands, and our pitchforks, into the soft soil, watching the bees buzz along from flower to flower, smelling the snapdragons and cilantro and thyme, planting young seedlings and wishing them well, certainly this garden bestowed us with peace and cheer.

Which brings me to my little epiphany. A simple one really. Just the plain unadulterated joy of motherhood--of witnessing my child grow more and more capable and independent. This being that was once within me, entirely dependent on me for survival, now able to run and climb and communicate her very own thoughts, and dig holes and plant seedlings, and take delight in her accomplishments!

And I am astonished at this gift I've been given, to witness the growth of this lovely little person, to see her gradually blossom into the fullness of her being.

Summer scenes

Wishing you a lovely week ahead!

Around the garden--a bit of rain

The rain is back this week, and the garden is soaking it up with as much gusto as it did the sun last week.

With the rain, come the slugs...

 (the chickens are happy about this)

 First carrots...so sweet and tender...

 Plenty of bright flowers

Little helpers who insist there must be watering to do in spite of the falling rain...

And do you remember those front yard garden beds we put in last winter? (If you need a refresher, check out this post). We never could have imagined they would look like this now:

Overflowing with butternut and delicata squash plants. We've never been successful growing winter squash...we shall see if our luck changes this year (I'm hoping all that compost and organic matter will count for something!)

Wishing warm sun and refreshing rains for all your growing things this week!

Garlic Harvest

This weekend we harvested our very first crop of garlic. Last October, we planted two varieties that happened to be available at our local garden store--Early Italian Purple (soft neck), and Purple Glazer (hard neck).  We side-dressed it with a complete organic fertilizer at the end of March, and haven't done much for it since then--such an undemanding crop.

About two weeks ago, we stopped watering, and the weather cooperated by giving us a week of warm, dry days. We waited till most of the leaves had dried and each plant had about 4-5 green leaves left.

Then we dug them up...

...and tied them in bunches with twine.

Now they will hang from the garage rafters to cure for a few weeks.

Such a simple and satisfying crop to grow--and so much fun to harvest--especially for the two year old!

The making of an herbal salve

This year I've been so inspired by the herbs growing in our garden. They require little of us, yet they bestow us with such beauty, aroma,  flavor, healing, and cheer. Not to mention the pollinators and beneficial insects they attract to the garden.

Recently I experimented with making a solar-infused herbal oil and then turning it into a healing salve. The process went something like this:

Gather calendula petals,

chamomile blossoms,

and lavender flowers.

Toss them together,

and shake off the bugs.

Place in a jar and cover with olive oil, then set in the sun for a week or two while the herbs release their healing properties into the oil.

Strain the oil through cheesecloth, squeezing out every last drop of herbal goodness.

Grate some beeswax and warm with the oil till melted (you will want a grater designated specifically for this purpose, as the beeswax is very difficult to clean off).

Pour the magical golden potion into jars,

let cool in a place safe from little toddler fingers,

And there you have it!  Salve fit for a queen, or a humble gardener as the case may be. I have to say, the solar infused herbal oil is amazing--the scent is nearly tangible. And when combined with the beeswax, it works wonders to soften and protect hard working hands and sun-dried lips. Not just for women, either--my husband loves it too.

As a disclaimer, I'm still very much a beginner in the process of making herbal salves and potions. I was so excited about how this experiment turned out that I wanted to share it here, but this is not meant to be a tutorial. If you're looking for more specific instructions, find a local herbalist or check your library--there are lots of books with herbal recipes. I used Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. You Grow Girl, by Gayla Trail also has a great recipe for an herbal balm for gardeners.

Summer Loving

Joining Jacqui at the Barefoot Crofter today to reflect on all that we love about summer...

Little toes splashing in sprinklers

 Warm summer breezes

Homemade strawberry shortcake shared with friends in the backyard 

 Buzzing bees and blooming cosmos (I know I know...I've been posting way too many insect-plant photos lately...but can you blame me? They're so amazing! And this one was taken by my husband, so maybe it doesn't count.)

 Morning sun through kitchen windows (and time enough to finish one more placemat!)

 And my favorite of all, a surprise bouquet left on the front stoop by a new neighbor friend--a friend made over a front yard pea patch (read more of that story here.)

And a few other random delights discovered this week:

~The Putumayo Kids Picnic Playground CD, especially the song Eat Like a Rainbow by Jay Mankita.  

~Heidi Swanson's cookbook  Super Natural Every Day. So far we've tried the spinach strata, baked oatmeal, white bean spread, and ginger cookies (ginger with a capital G--whew!). All delicious. It's a little more fussy and gourmet than I find I have time for, but I just simplify things a bit and the recipes still turn out great. Gorgeous photography, too!

Wishing you a lovely week ahead!

Around the garden--celebrating sunshine

Finally, we've had a week of sun and temperatures above 70 degrees! The plants (and people) are soaking it up... 

 Cosmos and poppies are blooming.

The beans are climbing up their teepee. To the left there is cilantro that I let go to seed. I hope to gather some coriander eventually. The bees love it.

I think we just might have tomatoes before fall!

The chard and beets are so happy under their agribon--no leaf miner damage at all.  (I wrote about how I resisted using it here). I have to say I'm a complete convert!

Squash plants are getting big big big!

 We  have a few baby patty pans--soon they'll be coming out our ears!

And another bug sighting:

I have never seen these creatures before. My best guess is that they are green lacewings (mating?). It may simply be wishful thinking, for I would love to have a few "aphid lions" (as the larvae are known) in my garden. Any suggestions?  In any case, fascinating events happening in the garden this week!

Gardens and hospitality

This is the view from our front stoop: 

We don't usually spend much time in our front yard because there's a fair amount of traffic on our street and it's a bit loud and unsafe for toddler play. But the abundance of peas ready for harvest these days has nudged us out front more often--for picking and snacking and filling up baskets. 

 There are so many reasons to plant a vegetable garden in the front yard, but the one I'm most appreciating now is the opportunity for spontaneous hospitality. Being out front picking peas makes us available for quick chats with our neighbors, friendly nods to passersby, and even the sharing of fresh produce with new friends. I've heard it said that dogs and babies are great icebreakers. I would add to that list gardens.

This weekend, a neighbor woman I often see walking by stopped to say hi while my daughter and I were watering. We had smiled at one another on previous occasions, but I had never learned her name or shared a conversation. She commented on the peas and I encouraged her to come pick a few. While we picked peas together, we learned each others' names and shared a bit about ourselves. As she walked down the sidewalk, she promised to bring me some roses from her garden the next time she comes by. I felt so happy after that interaction.

A few days later, we were out front again and a good friend stopped to say hello as she was driving by. She loves peas and I told her to wait while I picked her some. She happened to have a container of freshly picked raspberries with her, and put them in my hands in exchange for the peas. I think we both felt like we got the better end of that trade. (My daughter was certainly thrilled about the exchange--and ate half the container right then and there)!

Gardens nourish our bodies with the produce they provide. But they also nourish us in more intangible ways. They nourish our relationships by opening up space and time to interact. They nourish our spirits by offering beauty, color, and texture, and by showing us the miracle of growth and transformation. They nourish our communities by creating opportunities to get to know and care for our neighbors. Aren't gardens wonderful? I am so grateful for the chance to tend one.