Over this summer my garden has been sadly ignored for the most part. Once I finally got it planted, the weather got super hot and the mosquitoes in my yard swarmed in masses numbering in the millions and were the size of antelope, so I didn't really get out there very much for very long. Still, the garden grew and I am now able to get out there and weed it and care for it like I should. My first big harvest has been completed and I am getting ready to do my fall planting of purple runner beans, beets, spinach, chard, radishes, and lettuce.
The tomatoes and peppers are still giving me more fruit than a family can eat so I have had to become creative with it. I had never canned before last week and I didn't have access to the people I know who have, so online I went and found crazy recipes calling for 40 pounds of tomatoes or 30 pint jars or recipes with 20 ingredients. All I wanted to make was a simple stewed tomato recipe and a few cans of plain canned tomatoes. So, I got creative. I cut a bunch of different kinds of tomatoes from my garden and added a green pepper (also from my garen) and an onion. I mixed in a few spices and that was it. Much easier. I forgot to write down what I was doing however so I will have to figure it out again for next time.
 |
| Tinka thinks it looks yummy too! |
The actual canning wasn't all that hard. It did take me two tries to get the lids to seal, but after I figured out what I did wrong, not wiping the lid dry before putting it on, I didn't have any problems. I am super excited to make the rest of the canned goodies I have planned for my garden. I am going to make some salsa with my hot peppers and tomatoes, onion and green peppers. I am making plain canned hot peppers with my jalapenos. I am going to make some hot pepper olive oil and some hot peper and basil olive oil and some plain basil olive oil. I am also going to make some simple syrups out of my herbs that I don't dry. This winter I will have all sorts of wonderful thing to eat and all of them will have come from my wonderful garden.
I have been making notes and adjustments to how I plant my garden and what I use as fertilizer and what I plant where. After I get back from Korea, my garden will be completely amazing. I am getting better and better at planting the right things at the right times in the right spaces, and I am even adding flowers to my garden for a little color and to invite the bees. As for this fall, one my second harvest is complete, I will put in horse manure, ashes, and compost, turn the soil, cover it with newspapers and plastic and let it sleep till spring. I also have a bunch of other yard work to get done, like pulling buckthorn, cutting down dead branches, and getting the dog fence installed. I am looking forward to a wonderful fall full of the outdoors and bonfires.
 |
| It all looks so good! |
I have been making notes and adjustments to how I plant my garden and what I use as fertilizer and what I plant where. After I get back from Korea, my garden will be completely amazing. I am getting better and better at planting the right things at the right times in the right spaces, and I am even adding flowers to my garden for a little color and to invite the bees. As for this fall, one my second harvest is complete, I will put in horse manure, ashes, and compost, turn the soil, cover it with newspapers and plastic and let it sleep till spring. I also have a bunch of other yard work to get done, like pulling buckthorn, cutting down dead branches, and getting the dog fence installed. I am looking forward to a wonderful fall full of the outdoors and bonfires.
