So, as it turns out I'm an excellent zucchini and squash grower. As I've learned (because I'm a farmer now). . .ANYONE can grow zucchini and squash. Our garden is full of these vegetables and therefore our kitchen is full too. We've made steamed Z & S, grilled Z & S, Z bread, and have added them both to a super-yummy chicken tortilla soup. We've shared the abundance with neighbors, family and friends. . .and right about now, I'm wishing that a lot of you lived closer so that I could share them with you too. :)
Anyway, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of something else. . .o.k. . .anything else would be great. Besides z & s we have already enjoyed a couple strawberries (note to self: plant more next year), 1 -yes I just said '1' boysenberry, loads of mini charm tomatos, and lots of sugar snap peas. . .so I really can't complain. . .I'm a new farmer and all. . .so anything grown -not killed- is a blessing. :) But, we have soooo many other crops that we can't wait to eat. Waiting for them to ripen gives you that much needed reality check of where our food comes from and everything it goes through to eventually get here. -ugh...I just hope we don't starve while waiting! -LOL! :)
Oh, and BTW. . .we spent a day last week (yes I meant to say 'a day'...long story) trying to save that giant beast of a 'mini charm' tomato plant mentioned above. The little booger had apparently outgrown its cage and did the 'nestea plunge' right out of his spot and onto the ground!! It was so badly injured after its attempt to escape that we lost about half of it. . .broken limbs etc. It's in a new and improved cage now. . .and we are trying to nurse it back to health (even the main stalk/branch was damaged). Ugh...tomato drama! :)
New garden news. . .
Since the first time I posted about the garden I have added a few new items. We planted a raspberry bush, boyesenberry bush, 3 watermelon plants, and were given the most incredible pumpkins than really needed a new home. Everything is doing well. The new stuff is acclimating and starting to accept its new surroundings and the old stuff is continuing to grow. Our first round of organic corn is now taller than me and has some of that cute tassley stuff on it. . .which reminds me that I need to google 'corn' to find out what that stuff is. I know it's supposed to be there. . .I'm just currious.
We spent the 10th and 11th volunteering at the garden helping to clean up the common areas and unoccupied plots. The boys did a great job helping and were even recognized for the wonderful job they did sanding down the handles of all the community tools. I knew that I should have brought gloves, and because I didn't I spent the next week nursing blisters all over my hands. The gardens truely look beautiful by the time we were done. :)
To top off our garden news. . .we are now renting a second plot! :) We were able to rent the spot directly behind our current one. We plan to make a small shaded shelter (a.k.a. a small rectangular tarp held up with electrical conduit where cranky kids that are too hot can sit under and play) that will also serve as a trellis for our pole beans. For the rest of this growing season we will add more corn (gotta get it in before August) and let some more pumpkins grow wild. Slowly but surely we will add more raised beds with organic soil. . .but for now the dirt in that plot will do just fine. :)
Thanks for listening to me ramble about my new love :) I'll leave you with a few pictures:
love, lisa
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