I am now harvesting almost every morning. The greens are starting to bolt, so I am pulling out a bunch every day. I've decided that Red Russian Kale is my favorite green - it's so leafy and pretty and quite tender when eaten young. It resists water so it doesn't get soggy, and also seems to resist dirt. I'll be planting quite a lot of this come late fall.
Washing greens is a pain. I don't mind a little dirt in my produce - in fact, small amounts of dirt have extremely beneficial bacteria, and it's probably important that we eat a little. I've been reading so much about gut health and how folks used to always have a garden in their backyards, and hence always ate a little dirt; but now, so few folks do, our gut health is really declining. So - I don't mind dirt. Especially when I know it's good organic compost. But I really don't want to eat a spider or a cucumber beetle inadvertently, and I found both on my greens this morning.
I usually fill the sink with water, put the greens in to soak, and then wash each leaf, afterwards putting it in the salad spinner.
I spin the greens, but that doesn't really get them dry, so I lay them out on a double thickness of paper towels and let them air dry for an hour or so. Then I roll them up in the damp paper towels and put them in the crisper.
I eat them every morning in my scramble. This was an Asian Braising Mix from Renee's Garden, which was good, but I think I will go for just plain kale, spinach, and chard from now on.
The collards are quite good when picked young and added to anything, and they can take the heat, so that's a good summer alternative.
The pole beans are starting to fruit, and I find suspicious piles of deer poop all over the yard near that bed, each morning. The deer left me a few. They are a purple and green variety from Renee, they are quite tasty.
Cherry tomatoes are prolific every day, I've only picked one slicer and one paste tomato, but those'll be ready soon. The peach tree is nearing the end of its season. The apples are starting to look really good. They are bigger this year than they've ever been - I think it's because I gave them a special fruit amendment in February, and cut back the flannel bush to give them more sunlight. They're beautiful - pictures soon.
All potatoes are looking good, cucumbers growing like mad, tomatillos getting big, watermelons slowly growing, winter squashes sprouting, and pumpkins forming fruit. All is well in the garden.
Washing greens is a pain. I don't mind a little dirt in my produce - in fact, small amounts of dirt have extremely beneficial bacteria, and it's probably important that we eat a little. I've been reading so much about gut health and how folks used to always have a garden in their backyards, and hence always ate a little dirt; but now, so few folks do, our gut health is really declining. So - I don't mind dirt. Especially when I know it's good organic compost. But I really don't want to eat a spider or a cucumber beetle inadvertently, and I found both on my greens this morning.
I usually fill the sink with water, put the greens in to soak, and then wash each leaf, afterwards putting it in the salad spinner.
I spin the greens, but that doesn't really get them dry, so I lay them out on a double thickness of paper towels and let them air dry for an hour or so. Then I roll them up in the damp paper towels and put them in the crisper.
I eat them every morning in my scramble. This was an Asian Braising Mix from Renee's Garden, which was good, but I think I will go for just plain kale, spinach, and chard from now on.
The collards are quite good when picked young and added to anything, and they can take the heat, so that's a good summer alternative.
The pole beans are starting to fruit, and I find suspicious piles of deer poop all over the yard near that bed, each morning. The deer left me a few. They are a purple and green variety from Renee, they are quite tasty.
Cherry tomatoes are prolific every day, I've only picked one slicer and one paste tomato, but those'll be ready soon. The peach tree is nearing the end of its season. The apples are starting to look really good. They are bigger this year than they've ever been - I think it's because I gave them a special fruit amendment in February, and cut back the flannel bush to give them more sunlight. They're beautiful - pictures soon.
All potatoes are looking good, cucumbers growing like mad, tomatillos getting big, watermelons slowly growing, winter squashes sprouting, and pumpkins forming fruit. All is well in the garden.