garden goings – on

Posted on July 20, 2012 by ripe ~ red ~ berries

late July is beautiful in Maine – everything is growing and growing. Lots of veggies are ready to be picked, blueberry season is here and so many more flowers are ready to burst – summertime…love it!

Today I picked my first crop of green beans and baby carrots…(and wasn’t eaten alive by mosquitos -a pleasant change to say the least) yeah for summer in Maine!

I’ve been enjoying lettuces, swiss chard, kale and beets on a daily basis for awhile now…

so to add carrots and green beans is exciting and a welcome addition – eating those crisp green beans straight from the bush is so summer to me! I’ve also been enjoying lots of basil and patiently waiting for the tomatoes to grow and ripen…

The satisfaction of being able to cultivate, plant, tend, pick, prepare and then enjoy my own home grown food is incredibly illuminating – the joy (and relief) of knowing where my food is from and what was put ‘into it’ – priceless…everyone should be so lucky.

Eat local food, eat well, be happy…enjoy.

eat your greens…

Posted on June 26, 2012 by ripe ~ red ~ berries

My garden feels like it’s taking a bit longer to ‘get going’ this year as opposed to past years. I attribute it to the fluctuating weather we’ve been having these past few weeks…it’s been pretty extreme around here – cold, then SUPER hot and sticky, now it’s cool, balmy and wet … at least I don’t have to worry about watering for the next few days – I just have to contend with the mosquitos and weeds…two things which just love this kind of weather. Before all this wet and sticky weather arrived, we did enjoy a few absolutely beautiful days – thankfully – so before heading to the beach (have to take advantage of every warm sunny day in Maine – there not always abundant…) to play in the sand and sun, Finn and I did a little garden work…

We pulled a few weeds, planted three more tomato plants, tended to the existing plants and of course picked greens – super delicate lettuces, firm and curly kale and vibrant swiss chard…

swiss chard – love the contrast of colors…

kale is just bursting

carrot greens are thickening

pumpkins are thriving near the compost pile and the borage (below) is great not only for the protection it gives the tomatoes, but also for the vibrant color it exudes among all the green…

The corn unfortunately has had a few set-backs – heavy rains for the first planting, intruders for the second planting and now, thankfully, this third planting is beginning to show signs of life – no pics yet, didn’t want to jinx anything…oh the risks of gardening…

Though the benefits far out way the risks – most definitely. Knowing where your food comes from, understanding and appreciating the dedication needed to grow your own, and most importantly the taste it delivers – there’s nothing like it! Not to mention the convenience.

Mushrooms, vermont cheddar cheese and freshly picked kale all melted together between fresh crispy corn tortillas and then topped with sour cream and salsa make for a quick and simple meal – mushroom and kale quesadillas, yum. Add a margarita and it’s a perfect meal!

Too bad I wasn’t able to snap a photo of them before we devoured them, they were delicious! You’ll just have to try and see for yourself! Garden to table – everyone should be so lucky!

until next time – enjoy.

and the rains came…

Posted on May 8, 2012 by ripe ~ red ~ berries

but yesterday was brilliant. Perfect for planting a more seeds…fennel, more baby lettuce, another row of beets and two rows of marigolds. The swiss chard is peeking up and out, the spinach is coming on strong, as is the baby lettuce, the beets have also sprung up and the carrots are taking their time…it was such a pleasure to be out in the garden yesterday; warm sun on my face, a content two year digging up dirt beside, no heavy layers of clothing, just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and most refreshingly, not a single mosquito buzzing me.

The mosquitos here are atrocious. Truly insane causing…so much so I need to wear a net over my head (I don’t like being bit in the face, I find it so rude), music playing loudly in my ears (to block out the insane causing, unremitting buzzing) and all body parts completely covered with fairly thick apparel, regardless of the heat and humidity levels…

As I write all this, I think, WHAT? – all that to garden? And then I see in my minds eye, the overflowing basket full of freshly picked corn and tomatoes, peas straight from their pod still warmed from the sun, spinach, kale and swiss chard so fresh you taste richness, carrots super sweet and crisp… all that the blood, sweat and tears – worth it.

The garden is popping outside…