honey CSA

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I think this may finally happen! Last year, I read somewhere about a honey CSA. Since honey’s one of my favorite things and since we had poor pollination last year, this seemed like a super idea. I’ve been looking around for a bee keeper and finally came across a woman who maintains beehives and is interested in running a CSA. I am SO excited! The idea is to set up probably 2-5 hives in a location near the community gardens in Belmont. The beekeeper will decide how many shares to…
 
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harvest – russet potatoes and broccoli

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Big Russets and a serious head of broccoli. I feel like a real farmer. I really enjoy running down to the garden instead of the supermarket! We ate these immediately. Pan fried potatoes, sliced thin and steamed broccoli. Yum!
 
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late blight again – the topic that just won’t go away

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As I clean up for next year, the Late Blight topic is coming up again. To bag and dispose or to compost? There are two different camps out there: Composters: HortBlogGardener’s Corner (Interesting last comment here where they recommend leaving the tomato plants to overwinter in the field as is so they will self-sow.) Disposers:Maryland Cooperative ExtensionDave’s GardenCornell University Extension I hate the idea of bagging and disposing, but I am in this camp. It is impossible to predict what our winter weather will be and harder yet to predict…
 
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my popcorn is delicious!!!

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I tested a few kernels of popcorn and they popped well we made a batch (1 ear). Small bright white kernels. Add salt and melted butter. First thing, we brought it to my 17 year old. Here’s the conversation: (I put the bowl down near him…. Munching sounds start…. more munching sounds..) “Do you like it Sam?”“Hmm”(munching…) “Is it as good as your usual popcorn?”“Better.” (munching, I tried to wait for elaboration…) “Ohh. What’s better about it?”“The flavor.” And that’s very true. I completely agree. (And very nice to have…
 
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marigolds

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This has been a fantastic marigold in my garden this year. I don’t know the name, but I think I bought plants at Bonny’s Garden center. I was thinking of collecting seeds, but these may be hybrids, so I won’t bother.
 
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a beautiful gardening day

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Today I cleaned up my side yard garden. What a fantastic day. Chores: – Photograph in the morning light everything that was blooming. – Photograph all the spider webs. – Harvest basil, soybeans and cucumbers. – Pull, bag and dispose of all the tomato debris. – Pull and compost the peas and stack the pea poles. – Support the garden fence better. – Trim and adjust the rose shoots. – Trim the grass/weeds between the garden beds. – Empty compost tumbler and spread onto 2 cleared beds. – Dismantle an…
 
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bluebirds in the gardens

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Bluebirds! Just passing through maybe. Flashes of blue and russet. I definitely saw 4 of them today, and there may have been a whole flock of a dozen or so. They are quite shy and I didn’t have binoculars. We have a great bluebird restoration program at Rock Meadow. But this year was not its best year. There was only one nest attempt and this one was disrupted by sparrows. The previous year was very successful with (if I remember correctly) 6 broods raised. Bluebirds need mowed areas to forage…
 
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tomatoes

 
 
A sad day – I removed half of the blighted tomatoes in my home garden (hopefully I’ll get to the rest tomorrow) and actually bought tomatoes (!!) from the Farmers Market. I was pleased to see they are only $2/lb now. Tomorrow I plan to make another batch of red sauce. My last batch is being consumed very fast. This new batch will go into an eggplant Parmesan and some lasagna.
 
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fall thoughts

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Fall often surprises me with how fast it comes. Of course, I’d never be ready to finish with summer. But it does seem that in one day, all of a sudden, the summer garden turns into a fall garden. Whether I’m ready or not. Its mostly something to do with the lighting I think. I’m trying to figure it out. When I take a photo in the summer, the colors are warm and yellow highlighted, but now shadows are too dark, highlights too bright, blues and yellows tend to be…
 
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Kathy Martin
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

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

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Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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