Friday, April 14, 2006

Spring has sprung here!!

Happy Good Friday! I am now in spring mode and looking forward to the upcoming farmer's market season, the one I sell at doesn't start until about June 1. My mom and I were in the garden today getting in some potatoes, onions, spinach, and turnips in... Good Friday is the potato planting day here and May 10 is the average frost date. I am planning on getting my romaine lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflour already started from my father-in-law (check him out at www.harveyfloral.com) this weekend, I'll get some peas seeds (green arrow and sugar snap) while I am there. I won't get the tomatoes, green peppers, and watermelon/ squash plants until the end of May... if I were a competitive market gardener, I would have these out early and have frost protection defenses already prepared... It's the early ones who get the most $$ for the goods. I'm not and I don't and all's well. We don't do this for a living, but we sure do like it.

I would take pictures, but great well nourished good organic black dirt still looks like dirt. It has taken us four years now of working our ground with truck loads of poop (yep, I said poop) and other organic materials, to make it into the wonderful condition it is in. We also have a yearly journal so we can rotate crops to keep bugs who like our produce as much as us confused. Last year we discovered that a product called corn gluten is a good natural weed away protection, I put this around my rhubard and in between my potato rows ... i did see a noticable difference between those areas and others where I didn't use it. I also discovered our local farm supply store is an amazing bargain from the big corporate places that also sell garden goods, plus the personal experience about products they can share is PRICELESS.

Perhaps sometime I could introduce you to my mom, my partner in dirty endeavors. At the first part of May I plan on opening up the bakehouse for the season at that time I'll give you all a tour (inspired by Leslie at eatpeaceplease) and perhaps sometime I'll show y'all my favorite personal kitchen gadgets too. Gotta run now, I hope you all enjoy the weekend! I'll be back on Monday, we'll be with family for the rest of the weekend and I won't have computer access.

4 comments:

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

Thoroughly enjoyed reading your garden plan. And I visited your father-in-law's site - looks like you're a lucky lady in the garden department to be related! I can't wait to watch your garden grow & hopefully get a garden tip here & there.

Have a wonderful Easter!

ps: my birthday = your average frost day. :o)

Michelle said...

i blogged the curry in early january, i think, but here is the recipe!

East Indian Curried Red Lentil Stew

4 cups water
1 cup dry red lentils
1 onion, finely chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
2 Tbsp margarine/butter or 1 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp sweetener (we use maple syrup or organic raw sugar,but anything will work)
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp EACH sea salt and tumeric
1/8 to 1/4 tsp EACH cayenne pepper, ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves (or allspice)
1-2 cups cauliflower, chopped into bite sized pieces

1. Steam cauliflower (this takes 10-15 mins, so start it in advance, everything else comes together really quickly)
2.. While it's steaming, begin cooking lentils, onions and peas in the water, about 5-10 mins. Do not overcook the lentils, they will fall apart and get mushy :(
3. Add spices (if you like it spicier, add more cayenne and cinnamon, less if you don't.. we like it with lots o' cumin!), margarine/oil, sweetener, salt.
4. Add cauliflower, and let the whole thing simmer for another 5 to 10 mins

Farmgirl Susan said...

Hi there,
I linked here from the nice comment you left on my blog, Farmgirl Fare. Yes, we do have some things in common! Sounds like you have a great garden--and a joyful time tending it. Happy Easter!

Anonymous said...

I hope you do get a chance to post pictures of your kitchen gadgets - what fun to see what you use. If possible, how about what your kitchen looks like. I love seeing other vegan's kitchens - how they have their spices organized, their work areas, utensils, etc. It always give me ideas on how to improve my own kitchen space. Thanks.