2009 garden review
What a year! Almost no tomatoes, but great crops of many other vegetables. We had more rain and cloudy cool weather than I’ve ever seen. The year gave me, and most other gardeners, a crash course in fugal diseases – especially Late Blight. MY BEST OF 2009– 60 lbs of Waltham Butternut squash! From a single bed. Amazing.– A visit from the Boston Globe to photograph my pumpkins. And an article published with my Pumpkin Bread recipe!– 8 new raised beds my husband made in my community plot! And big…
Deerfield MA from the top of Mount Pocumtuck
We’ve been visiting family over Christmas. We were in southern Mississippi last week and spent time today in western Massachusetts. The snowy terrain is beautiful. A garden related note is the gift I was given today from my brother: several bags of seeds for sprouts! And an instruction book on growing them. I can’t wait to start.
the seeds of a new garden
I walked by a display of fresh new seeds yesterday and couldn’t resist. I got packets of Heavenly Blue morning glory, cilantro, Mammoth and Bouquet dill, and Boston Pickling cucumber seeds. So my garden is starting! I’m planning to set up my plant lights and shelves soon. Maybe next week. The earliest crops don’t get planted til mid February, but I’d like to try growing sprouts, which I’ve never done. Maybe even some winter lettuce in containers. I haven’t yet put together my seed lists for mail order, but I’ve…
Christmas potatoes
This is a delicious recipe my mother-in-law made for Christmas dinner. about 4 or 5 large potatoes potatoes, sliced or diced 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese1 can cream of chicken soup3/4 cup sour cream1/4 cup finely chopped onions2 Tbs melted buttertoasted onions rings Mix everything except toasted onion rings. Put in a baking dish. Top with toasted onions rings (or use corn flakes and butter instead). Cook 350*F for 45 minutes.
garden gifts
I made out very well with Santa this year. I got chickens for Christmas! A pretty hen and a big rooster. A variety that’s very easy to care for. But not so good at laying. They are antique iron ornaments. I’ll let them out in the backyard in the summer and inside in the winter. Skippy posed with them. I also got a new weed whacker of my own. (I have been using the Community Gardens’). It has a rototiller attachment and a heavy duty brush cutter. I’m definitely looking…
winter solstice
Definitely a season to celebrate!! Finally the days are getting longer. Every day a little more sun. A time for growing, planning and hoping. A true start to a new season. To celebrate, I’ve collected photos of light. One of the most beautiful things. 2009 Holiday Season CalendarDEC 11-18, 2009: Happy HanukkahDEC 21, 2009: Winter Solstice in North America, time depends on your time zoneDEC 25, 2009: Merry ChristmasDEC 26, 2009: Boxing Day and the first day of KwanzaaJAN 6, 2009: Epiphany (observed Sunday, Jan 3 in Christian churches) HAPPY…
Chinese broccoli (gai lan)
I made up a recipe for this vegetable I discovered at the supermarket this week. Laura recommended blanching. Recipe: Trim and washBlanch about 5 minutes in boiling water, drainHeat walnut oil, add gai lan, stir fry about 5 minutesAdd crushed chili pepper, salt and sesame seeds to taste I’ve found a couple of on-line sources for seeds and look forward to trying to grow gai lan next year. I hear it does well in the cooler spring and fall weather.
mrs cardinal
We have 6 to 12 inches of snow on the way. Amazing there’s that much snow left in this storm. I hear everyone in its path has been buried in white. The birds probably know whats up. They’re sitting tight.
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy
weeks and counting until my last spring frost
My garden this week
Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!
