This last week has been the coldest weather we've experienced for over 2 years. It snowed all day Christmas Day, and again all day Monday. I looked out the window today and noticed that the snow has blanketed our garden area and the beds are now peacefully sleeping under the fluffy covering that helps protect them from these single digit freezing nights. And the earth is gently resting and gaining new strength for next year's bounty.
Even though we cut our planting in half this year, we've been very blessed with our weekly harvests. We were able to fill our freezer and stock our pantry with many jars of bottled vegetables. In addition to eating all summer and fall from our little garden, we were able to share with many friends, family, and neighbors.
It felt wonderful on Christmas eve when a neighbor knocked on our door and asked if we had one can of green beans he could borrow so his wife could finish her green bean casserole for the family's Christmas eve dinner. I asked, "do you want frozen green beans or bottled green beans?" He was surprised that we could provide either. Dave said "if your making green bean casserole, you want the bottled kind, it's much better." I walked to the pantry, brought back a quart jar and told him this was equal to 2 cans of green beans. He was so appreciative, and we were so grateful to be able to help. Dave asked me, "when was the last time you actually bought canned green beans?" I had to laugh and say, "not for the last 7 or 8 years now."
This year I tried some new things. Turnips, were one of them. And boy were they big ones ! We tried many different turnip recipes, and Dave and I have decided that we like my mashed potato, carrot, and turnip casserole the best. We have quite a few turnips to tide us over for the winter. I shared bags of these with friends, they couldn't believe the size of my turnips.
I also planted more herbs this year - oregano, lots of dill, lots of basil, parsley, garlic, sage. I dried most of the herbs and froze some. It's wonderful to use what I've grown in my cooking.
As usual, I planted my carrots. I harvested 25 pounds the end of November. I left them in the ground until the very end. They were the last to be dug up. And, it really paid off. They were exceptionally sweet, and very large. I was almost tempted to sell some of these beauties at the farmer's market.
And of course I did my tomatoes !! Lots of different varieties this year. I had some heirloom tomatoes that were bigger than my hands. And at Christmas time we are still eating tomatoes from our garden. We have lots of bottled tomatoes and lots of tomato sauce in our freezer.
I did get quite a bit a corn. I picked it in stages. At the end of September, I went out to pull up the stalks and found these 17 ears still hiding and ready to be plucked off and cooked. We ate lots of corn this fall, and have much in our freezer for the winter.
And of course I always have to plant my pie pumpkins. But it seems the birds have now discovered that the pumpkins are delicious, and they are starting to eat the ones closest to the fence. So, I have to watch and pick the pumpkins before the birds start eating away at them. I've been making lots of pies, cookies, and breads with these.
Of course the one thing that Dave is so anxious for each spring is the strawberries. They have now spread and have taken over 1/2 of the first bed. And even though I put a netting over them, the birds have discovered that if they stand on the netting, they can push the netting down and still grab the strawberries through the holes in the netting. I go out early in the morning to harvest the berries and sometimes the birds will sit on the fence and squawk at me very loudly for invading their food source. I have to laugh at them yelling, "go away, go away". Sometimes I go out on the deck and chase them out of the garden. Guess I need a scarecrow.
Well the gardening catalogs are now starting to make their way to our house, and I am picking out what new items I will plant in 2015. In 2 1/2 months I will be starting my little seeds, and Dave will again have to stop eating at the dining room table for a couple of months until I plant the seedlings out in the garden. But then he'll plopped the rewards in his mouth and smile and say "that taste wonderful sweetie".
Goodnight Garden - rest up. See you next spring.
