There are different fragrances tempting the busy bees as I walk from one end of my garden to the other. The sunflowers have a heavenly perfume, the lemon balm that brushes my leg releases something reminicent of floor cleaner, and the freshly pulled garlic smell mixes with the delicious scent of tomato leaves just to accent the eutopia of the veggie garden. Jason has stippled patches of flowers throughout the garden and the kohlrabi patch is bordered by borage and zinnia, which are just now starting to open up into their full State Fair glory. The drip irrigation is getting a full workout now that it hasn't rained more than a quarter of an inch in 12 days and the new replants of fruit trees and small fruits are choking and lifting their weak arms up to beg for water. It's july. Even the grass looks dead.
So what more of a perfect way to celebrate the heat of another Ohio summer than with a picnic. Potluck style.
Local Foods Cookout. Sunday July 25th at 2pm
Bring your swimsuit if you so desire to jump in for a round or two of water volleyball (swimming at your own risk, of course) or just come to enjoy some fresh local foods from the bounty of zucchini season. Summer squash is in high production so we welcome dishes that are in season right now, the more local the better. I'm getting some delicious burgers from the beef side of my work and we're firing up the grill with some summer sweet corn as well. There will probably be a lot of cucumber salads as they seem to be rather prolific this year. My sister might be able to scrape together enough cherry tomatoes for another tomato mozerella salad with fresh basil, which is amaaaaazing. All are welcome and bring a friend and a covered dish. I wish I could think of a better name than "potluck" as it reminds me of piles of corn or meat mush in oven bakeware served in a damp church basement, but alas, any other word isn't coming to mind right now.
I can't believe it but I'm already thinking about next year. I'm already dragging out the dog eared, -crinkled from being watered- pages of the 2009 seed catalogs planning excitedly for next year. We're on week 7 of the csa and only a little tiny sliver of the gardens have produced and gone into baskets. We have so much deliciousness left, just basking in the sun and waiting for their time to shine.
I am going to put a deadline on my meat share signups - August 16th is the last day to signup. Reservations are made by check to High Mill Park, first come first serve so I know how much I'll need. If you've shared interest, now is the time to hold your spot for the delicious supply of the best raised meat around. We are going to start our first installment soon as the geese are almost ready already and some early chickens for those who want to get started will be ready in a month or so.
Any questions can be forwarded to janeehouston@gmail.com or check out highmillpark.com/meatshare
Both me and Pepper my cattle dog are tired from wrangling piglets and fixing their fence yesterday, which is only amplified by the gorgeously sunny-humid day. We're both looking forward to a relaxing night of planting fruit trees I just found on sale and weedwhacking the garden. I'll probably do most of the work and Pepper will just stare at me like she wishes she could help if she only could figure out how.
Projects of the next few weeks - corn crib, more chicken tractors, figure out where the turkeys are going to live, work on new sheep fence, plant fruit trees, water everything if it doesn't rain, clean bathrooms for the cookout, plant late season broccoli and turnips, and get more ducklings.
Exciting things happening this week - my hops flowered, peaches are starting to ripen, apples are coming on strong, grapes at work started turning colors, more potatoes are coming in, tomatoes are starting to turn, sunflowers are in full effect, piglets are still cute, and 3 more weeks until grandma gets her neck brace off and she'll be back to picking beans. I'm sure her doctor would love to hear that. hehe.
This has been deemed the year of the piglet and will be our 5th annual harvest fest. Tshirts will be made if you want one, they'll be around $12. Email if you'd like one ordered. Any color you want. Also - CSA members will get a special surprise at the end of this season at our Harvest Fest the last Tuesday in November.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
PIGLETS FINALLY ARE HERE!
Holy crap! After months of staring at a giant 700+ pound sow, wondering if she looks more pregnant than the day before as she stuffs her face with mashed potatoes and corn, she finally had 6 little piglets.
Yes, I am witholding pictures because they are completely adorable. Jason cooked up some amazing pork chops yesterday on the grill while I made a fresh cucumber salad. I should have taken a picture of that becasue it was beautiful and delicious. But because of the delay, meat share members take note - we're behind at least a month. We're still on schedule for the Houston family christmas ham though arriving on time.
In other news, one of our CSA members is expanding their yoga studio. Check it out at www.pilatesyogaandmore.com for an integrated relaxation yoga session. We're hoping to break away from the gardens soon and check it out and I love the fact that you don't have to wear shoes. The world needs more barefoot activities.
Oh, and speaking of barefeet, the pool is filling as we speak. Water volleyball will start up every sunday evening.
And mark your calendar for a special event - our yearly Zucchini cookout will be here at the park on Sunday July 25th starting at 1pm. Bring your favorite covered dish, as local and as in season as possible, and come out for a potluck style cookout with water and land volleyball and plenty of swimming, eating, and just plain enjoying how nice Ohio can be in the heat of July. We also welcome unique ways of cooking zucchini as by the end of July, we all start really getting creative with ways to use the bounty of summer squash season. Hopefully we'll have some tomatoes too and maybe some delcious beef from my work. Local brews permitted as long as you're of age and we'll have some local herbal tea, hard cider and wine to taste as well.
Holy crap! After months of staring at a giant 700+ pound sow, wondering if she looks more pregnant than the day before as she stuffs her face with mashed potatoes and corn, she finally had 6 little piglets.
Yes, I am witholding pictures because they are completely adorable. Jason cooked up some amazing pork chops yesterday on the grill while I made a fresh cucumber salad. I should have taken a picture of that becasue it was beautiful and delicious. But because of the delay, meat share members take note - we're behind at least a month. We're still on schedule for the Houston family christmas ham though arriving on time.
In other news, one of our CSA members is expanding their yoga studio. Check it out at www.pilatesyogaandmore.com for an integrated relaxation yoga session. We're hoping to break away from the gardens soon and check it out and I love the fact that you don't have to wear shoes. The world needs more barefoot activities.
Oh, and speaking of barefeet, the pool is filling as we speak. Water volleyball will start up every sunday evening.
And mark your calendar for a special event - our yearly Zucchini cookout will be here at the park on Sunday July 25th starting at 1pm. Bring your favorite covered dish, as local and as in season as possible, and come out for a potluck style cookout with water and land volleyball and plenty of swimming, eating, and just plain enjoying how nice Ohio can be in the heat of July. We also welcome unique ways of cooking zucchini as by the end of July, we all start really getting creative with ways to use the bounty of summer squash season. Hopefully we'll have some tomatoes too and maybe some delcious beef from my work. Local brews permitted as long as you're of age and we'll have some local herbal tea, hard cider and wine to taste as well.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Garden Tour- Rootstown
Let's take a little tour of what's growing in my plot at work...
Brussel Sprouts forming.
A row of painstakingly hand weeded carrots and Carnival winter squash
Sweet Alyssum fragrantly blooming next to Garbanzo beans.
Carrots and red dianthus nestled up together.
Jacob's Cattle Heirloom beans just starting to poke through the ground.Monday, June 28, 2010
Bread, anyone?
Hey - just throwing this out to see if there's any interest.
Anyone out there bake their own bread? Want to start up a bread baking group? Not like I don't have enough stuff to do, but I'd love to get together with other bread bakers once a month and swap recipes, work on a wood fired oven and bake. Email me if you're interested - janeehouston@gmail.com
Anyone out there bake their own bread? Want to start up a bread baking group? Not like I don't have enough stuff to do, but I'd love to get together with other bread bakers once a month and swap recipes, work on a wood fired oven and bake. Email me if you're interested - janeehouston@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
broccoli flower soup
I knew I'd find it! Thanks cooks.com
I have not tried this yet. If you do, let me know what you think!
BROCCOLI FLOWER SOUP (BEST EVER)
3 c. chopped broccoli tops
3 qts. water
1 med. onion, chopped
4 tbsp. chicken base (dry)
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. season salt
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tbsp. cooking sherry
1 c. milk
1 c. Ranch dressing
1/4 c. sour cream
6 strips of uncooked bacon
1 to 1 1/2 c. flour
What do you do with broccoli gone to flower? Make soup! Wash and trim long stalks on fresh broccoli. Chop broccoli to make approximately 3 cups. Bring 3 quarts of water to boil and add broccoli, chicken base, garlic, pepper, season salt, Worcestershire, nutmeg. Boil 20 minutes uncovered. While water is boiling chop onion and mince up bacon strips and fry on medium high until bacon is crisp (without burning the onions). Then add flour to bacon, onion and bacon grease until lit is a thick paste. Remove from heat and set aside.Lower heat on boiling broccoli to medium (nice low rolling boil). Add Ranch dressing, milk, and sour cream while constantly stirring with wire whip. Then slowly add bacon, onion, flour mixture until soup thickens, simmer on low for 10 minutes and add cooking sherry. Serve hot with bread sticks or crackers.
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I have not tried this yet. If you do, let me know what you think!
BROCCOLI FLOWER SOUP (BEST EVER)
3 c. chopped broccoli tops
3 qts. water
1 med. onion, chopped
4 tbsp. chicken base (dry)
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. season salt
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tbsp. cooking sherry
1 c. milk
1 c. Ranch dressing
1/4 c. sour cream
6 strips of uncooked bacon
1 to 1 1/2 c. flour
What do you do with broccoli gone to flower? Make soup! Wash and trim long stalks on fresh broccoli. Chop broccoli to make approximately 3 cups. Bring 3 quarts of water to boil and add broccoli, chicken base, garlic, pepper, season salt, Worcestershire, nutmeg. Boil 20 minutes uncovered. While water is boiling chop onion and mince up bacon strips and fry on medium high until bacon is crisp (without burning the onions). Then add flour to bacon, onion and bacon grease until lit is a thick paste. Remove from heat and set aside.Lower heat on boiling broccoli to medium (nice low rolling boil). Add Ranch dressing, milk, and sour cream while constantly stirring with wire whip. Then slowly add bacon, onion, flour mixture until soup thickens, simmer on low for 10 minutes and add cooking sherry. Serve hot with bread sticks or crackers.
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
CSA week 1
CSA Pickup Starts Today!!!!
Times - Tuesday 6-8pm or Wed from 8-10am.
Email me with any questions at janeehouston@gmail.com and I'll see you all soon!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
broken neck
CSA First Pickup is June 15th!!!!!!
With the plant sale and putting everything in the ground and all this warm weather, I'm left wondering - where did spring go?
I think I blinked and missed it. I rejoiced at the first tshirt day... and I don't think that I have worn a sweater more than a couple days since.
I had so much fun at the plant sale this year! Thanks to everyone who came out and helped. It was great meeting new csa and meat share members and watching kids play with baby ducks. Everything that is leftover fit on a couple tables and slowly we've been planting them flat by flat. We have hundreds of tomato plants in the ground and hundreds of pepper plants happily growing in the gardens. We're running out of room! Travis moved his melon patch up by my parents house and they're starting to grow. We have all different, unique kinds this year. It must be bad if I'm already planning my order for next year and anticipating seed catalogs. Gardening must be an addiction, which is odd that even though I'm saturated in it, I'm still looking for more.
On a really sad note, one of our super garden helpers, my Grandma, broke her neck. She was playing in the back garden, getting a pump in the creek to water everything that was coming up on Memorial day and she tripped and fell backwards, hitting her head on a fencepost and cracking her C2 vertebrate right in half diagonally. The emergency room on a holiday was terrible and they sent her home with a neck brace and told her to take anacin. Yeah... that didn't fly for more than a few days before she was back in the emergency room begging for Dr. Kevorkian. But now she's back at home on a bit stronger medication with a better neck brace, talking about picking beans in a few weeks. She's amazing and the gardens are a lot less lively without her bossing us around and making fun of the way I plant potatoes. I am so glad she's not paralized.
Anyway, everything is growing at an odd pace: our asparagus is slowing production, our strawberries started producing really early this year, rhubarb flowered before I could make a pie, bok choy already choked in the heat, the peppers are loving it, my onions are the size of golf balls, and I'm having a heck of a time keeping the garlic from flowering already. And my sister declared this the year of the tomato because we already have little green tomatoes forming on a few of our plants. I'm just worried that all this hot weather will burn out our broccoli and lettuce before it's even begun.
Oh Ohio! You are sooooo weird.
With the plant sale and putting everything in the ground and all this warm weather, I'm left wondering - where did spring go?
I think I blinked and missed it. I rejoiced at the first tshirt day... and I don't think that I have worn a sweater more than a couple days since.
I had so much fun at the plant sale this year! Thanks to everyone who came out and helped. It was great meeting new csa and meat share members and watching kids play with baby ducks. Everything that is leftover fit on a couple tables and slowly we've been planting them flat by flat. We have hundreds of tomato plants in the ground and hundreds of pepper plants happily growing in the gardens. We're running out of room! Travis moved his melon patch up by my parents house and they're starting to grow. We have all different, unique kinds this year. It must be bad if I'm already planning my order for next year and anticipating seed catalogs. Gardening must be an addiction, which is odd that even though I'm saturated in it, I'm still looking for more.
On a really sad note, one of our super garden helpers, my Grandma, broke her neck. She was playing in the back garden, getting a pump in the creek to water everything that was coming up on Memorial day and she tripped and fell backwards, hitting her head on a fencepost and cracking her C2 vertebrate right in half diagonally. The emergency room on a holiday was terrible and they sent her home with a neck brace and told her to take anacin. Yeah... that didn't fly for more than a few days before she was back in the emergency room begging for Dr. Kevorkian. But now she's back at home on a bit stronger medication with a better neck brace, talking about picking beans in a few weeks. She's amazing and the gardens are a lot less lively without her bossing us around and making fun of the way I plant potatoes. I am so glad she's not paralized.
Anyway, everything is growing at an odd pace: our asparagus is slowing production, our strawberries started producing really early this year, rhubarb flowered before I could make a pie, bok choy already choked in the heat, the peppers are loving it, my onions are the size of golf balls, and I'm having a heck of a time keeping the garlic from flowering already. And my sister declared this the year of the tomato because we already have little green tomatoes forming on a few of our plants. I'm just worried that all this hot weather will burn out our broccoli and lettuce before it's even begun.
Oh Ohio! You are sooooo weird.
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