Looked at the plan from last year and decided what would stay and what would go.  Some things I’m not doing again.  Nothing new I want to try.  Others I have too much of in the freezer and am taking a year’s break.  No cushaw this year, though I hate not to grow it.  Blessing is that if I decide I want some, the kid at the Farmer’s Market has it for a reasonable price every fall.

Cutting back a bit.  Not a whole lot, but some.  Different recipes to do this time around.  The tomato catchup recipe that we did as a trial is now a must have at my house.  Hot pepper jelly is on that list now, too.  We use it instead of things that are more processed.  For instance, I’ve stopped using mayo.  Hot pepper jelly has more flavor and I know what’s in it.

Buying more cattle panel to put the tomatoes and green beans on.  Makes life a lot easier when you don’t have to deal with those tomato stakes or bending down to pick green beans.  Looking at using panel for the sugar snap peas, too.  That is if I can keep the voles out of them.

Dread dealing with the voles this year.  Tunnels everywhere, which isn’t a good sign.  We’ll see how all of that plays out.

Our ducks will look like these.

We have ducks coming in April.  Scott’s wanted some for a long time, so we’ve ordered some.  Welsh Harlequins.  There’s a picture of them to the left .  Excited to see they’re coming.  Should be an interesting experience for all of us.

And then, a friend contacted us and said he knew someone with 28 chicks they didn’t want.  Not getting all of them, but I think we’re taking part.  So 10 ducklings plus 8 chicks.  This could be an interesting spring.

I’ve been so busy with the garden that I haven’t had time to update.  With the dry spell that set in, everything is about done.  Though I’m sorry we’ll miss out on some things and really wish it would rain, the winding down came at a good time.  School starts in a week.

If we get some rain, we’ll have more green beans, limas, maybe a few more squash.  And the potatoes might actually mature.  Otherwise, there won’t be much to deal with except peppers that we’ll keep watered and tomatoes.  Cushaw and butternut squash need to be harvested this weekend.  They’ll need to sit for a couple of weeks.

Pears are processed and we made some pear honey, which was a neat experience.  Got more from a friend of mine.  They’re sitting in the basement to ripen.  Apples are starting to fall, but won’t see alot until later in the month.  Figs aren’t anywhere near ready.  Grapes are being harvested and frozen because we don’t need any more jelly right now.  Persimmons, when they’re ready late in August, will go to the chickens.

Time is winding down.  And gearing up at the same time.  Totals will be posted soon and pictures of the canning room.  It’s been a good summer.  No complaints except the cucumbers and the peas.  Cucumbers did little.  Peas were destroyed by critters.  Still, it’s been a good year.

Ended up having to water the garden yesterday.  Corn was stressing which is never good.  Looks better today and I think we might have even sparked the pumpkins’ interest in coming out of their seeds.  Last round of potatoes are popping except for the ones the voles ate.  When  I see some life out of my last big run of onions, all of the others are coming out.  Ready to continue with my garden clean out.   Cucumbers are history this weekend because they’ve been so useless.

Donovan went out with us to move the sprinkler the last time and he really had fun getting stuff from the garden.  He picked corn, green beans, peppers and onions.  Even some blackberries.  He’s really learning alot about what’s what, which is great.  I’m glad he’s excited about the process.  It’s just too cute to watch him walk around with his basket, filling it up.  I know, I should have gotten pictures, but I didn’t think about it until we were almost finished.

And on the canning note…Made cherry tomato pickles the other day and was so confident, I didn’t read all of the recipe, so I forgot about doing the brine solution instead of just straight vinegar.  Nasty things.  Still makes me shudder.  So I lost  3 pints of pickles, but luckily there are so many cherry tomatoes, I’ll never notice.  Mixed up my brine, used part of it on the batch I did yesterday, then stored the rest in quart jars.  Good for those times when we need a couple of jars as fillers in the canner in order to use a little less water on partial batches.

Today, it’s a repair job on a batch of salsa Scott wanted me to try and no one would eat.  Back to my old recipe, part out of a book, part my own creation.  I’ll have to put it on here later.  It’s what the kids expect when they eat salsa I make.  And apparently, from what Zak tells me, other people who have eaten it like it, too.  Maybe I should just start making and selling applesauce and salsa…..naaaaa….teaching’s easier.

Put out the last run of onions and pumpkins today.  I’m not sure about my timing for the pumpkins, but this is the earliest I could get it out.  I know where to get them if mine don’t produce.  Now if God will just provide the rain, I’ll be much happier. I won’t even ask for a decrease in temperature.

Noticed that something’s decided to sample the corn.  Too tall for a vole, so I’m guessing coon or ‘possum.  Not much to do about that.  As long as they don’t sample all of them, I’m fine with it.

Trying to make arrangements to take my boys to the movies tomorrow night.  I’ve got two going, but don’t know about the third.  Wanted to go today, but couldn’t get in touch with Zak.  Donovan’s all geared up to see Toy Story 3.  And get popcorn.  And a drink.

Well, the spot’s all ready to put out the pumpkins and the last run of onions.  Hoping we haven’t waited too long on the pumpkins.  Probably not.  If so, it won’t be a big loss.

Green beans coming in and I’m starting to think about that pressure canner.  Scott’s not worried about it but it makes me so nervous.  I mean, I know it’s safe, but still.  Not enough to can yet.  Hopefully I can get  up my nerve before it’s time.  But I have to say his system for tying them up has been great.  Alot easier to pick.  I almost don’t mind them any more.

Tomatoes are starting.  I missed a few of the cherries because they’ve been so tightly packed in there.  Pulled enough green ones to make pickles.  What started off as a joke has become something we enjoy.  Isn’t that just the way it goes…  We’ll have so many more than we need.  I checked the table to write down that we got our first tomatoes today, but since we had to replant them, I’m not sure what’s where.  It’s going to be a crazy summer from now on.

And then there’s the blackberries.  Bless their little hearts, they’ve gone everywhere.  I have no idea how I’ll deal with all of that.  But it’s okay.  I’m going to see about getting some different ones so I won’t be so dependent on the ones in the rocks.  Scott’s sprayed the grass, but that doesn’t help my snake phobia.

A little bit of everything.  Garden, Donovan on the straw bales, the work in the new pantry.  Need to get new pictures since we’ve started adding to the shelves.

Sitting Tall

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 32

gardenplan2010

I’m posting this copy of our garden plan so that if I lose, it, I’ll be able to find a copy.  The tomatoes aren’t in the same spots any more because we had to replace some.  I haven’t taken anything off, though some of the items are now gone.  This is more for safe keeping and my records.  And to practice uploading pdfs.

Now, look, guys, I think you’re really cute, but this battle is becoming ridiculous.  I take out the potatoes, so you eat the sugar snap peas.  I was going to take them out, anyway, but I had hoped to at least get a few more before I destroyed them.  So I guess I’ll get the traps reset and watch you die…one at a time.  Because we obviously can’t share the same territory.

Geez, where’s Bill Murray when you need him?  I mean, granted it’s not a gopher, but this ain’t no golf course, either.  This is my garden  we’re talkin’ about.

Scott sprayed the grass and weeds last night.  Making note so we don’t forget when it was done.  I’m hoping he didn’t kill things that weren’t supposed to die.  We discussed that last night, but he doesn’t listen very well.

Tiny little eggplant out in the garden.  Very cute!  There are a couple of white ones and a purple one.  Picked banana peppers last night, which reminds me to add that to the table.  Almost forgot.

And, last but not least, made Chocolate Mint jelly and some Black Cherry Syrup.  Scott says the syrup’s too thin, but the kids like it in their water.  Takes about 3 tablespoons.  Actually pretty good.  Would be better in 7up, but I gave those up a long time ago.  I’m thinking club soda, though.  That might be worth a try.

Oooh, and I took the mint left over after making jelly and did a little herbal mint tea.  Excellent way to cool off.

Well, my little darlings, I’m afraid you finally pushed my hand and caused me to do something drastic.  All of your potatoes are gone.  I had to, you see.  I didn’t plant the garden for you.  I planted it for me.  And I like potatoes, too.  I wouldn’t mind sharing with you, but you take a few bites out of them and leave the rest.  Silly little guys.

The rest of the news is that I’m having traps set around the second and third run of potatoes.  Not that I don’t like you.  Hey, I’ve been trying to convince Scott we need to catch one of you and keep you as a pet.  But I can’t let you have my potatoes.  There’s a whole bunch of other things out there for you to eat.  So stay away from the traps, okay?

Sorry, little guys.