Prosperous Days and Lots of Patience

 The days here have been so long, that I cannot even remember what I did in the mornings by the time evening rolls in.  It's easy to forget how much work planting a large garden is.  I know it will be worth it, and it is starting out much better than last year (in more ways than one).

Exhausted with a capital E for sure.  Hard work in a good way. I'll be honest, I think we are more happy planting the garden this year.  

I finally got all of the garden in, and rain is in the forecast as I type (praying it does).  We are not planting pumpkins of any kind this year.  We still have a lot in the freezer.  We are sort of on the path of having some garden good last 2 years, so we can start to rotate what we do plant.  

Last year, I did not can any hot pepper relish, sweet pickle relish, can pickles, can jalapenos etc.  I planted 3 types of cucumbers this year.  Praying the harvest is bountiful.

We are talking about expanding it a bit to run the fence a bit more useful, so we plan to till an area  (it's between the asparagus and actual garden, and not really large) and cover it for the winter.  It would also make mowing/trimming less work. 

Speaking of covering the ground, we have seen this thick rubber mat that the Amish use on their gardens.  Does anyone know what it is?  Where do you buy it?  It looks heavy enough the winter winds would not whip it up like a tarp or plastic.

(picked on June 3rd - longest harvest we have ever had)

Now that the asparagus harvest is done for the season, we are looking forward to what's next to harvest.  The fall garlic is looking so much better this year.  After growing it in grow bags, and then raised beds, we have finally decided it's 100% better grown directly in the garden.  Now that it's just us two, we don't need to grow as much either.

Speaking of just us two, I froze way too many strawberries last season (long time habit of a big family), and have more in the freezer than I expected.  I typically use them for baked crumbles or crisps, or even add them to oatmeal breakfast bakes.  We have enough jam on hand too.  Any suggestions?  Muffins maybe?

I will make sure I cut back on what I freeze in the way of fresh fruit this year.

 No new recipes tried.  Heck, dinner has been a challenge in itself.  

Unless you count this dip recipe.  It's a new recipe I tried with a new canned bean, but it's basically like hummus.  It included red onion, so it's like a bean/tahini hummus with a "kick" to it.

No Christmas planning, but hope to get some progress on that.  Maybe.

Prosperous Days and Lots of Patience  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 I've been using a sample size of horsetail salve, to see if it will help with the very dry cracked skin on my hands (joys of gardening).  I did a bit of reading (like a tiny bit), and it apparently is good to help brittle fingernails too.  I do not make the salve.  I, honestly, never heard of it, until we bought some earlier this year.  So far, it's helping restore my hands and heal the very dry cracks.  

Garden planting is still on-going.  The rain has now moved later into the week, so watering newly planted seeds and plants is happening.  I obtained a few packets of organic collard seeds, and have a new plan for them this year.  I read that if they are planted next to thyme, they thrive better (we'll soon find out).

Our garlic is starting to grow scapes, and the radish plants have not even sprouted due to late planting.  The two together, make the most delicious dip.  I don't need to cut the scapes just yet, but I read they will store in the refrigerator for a good long time, so there is hope for making the dip this season. 

I recently listened to a video, where the garden grower stated that once you cut those scapes off, your garlic is done for the season.  I read that you cut them off, so your bulb grows larger, but now I'm hearing that is not the case.  Any thoughts on that?

It's that time of year I call "dip" season.  Easy dinners that require no cooking, and are also light lunches or even simply a quick, nutritious snack.  The photo above is a dip that uses 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar in the dressing and it is delicious.  I split this batch in half, and added a fresh chopped jalapeno to one half of the dip this time.

Black bean and corn dip.

Our comfrey is now blooming.  I grow it in a plant pot, and it comes back every year.  If I had a "weed" garden somewhere, it would be grown there, as it spreads quickly (medicinal plant).

I am glad I make my own comfrey salve, as we have used that this year too.  Along with plantain salve and yarrow salve.

Something I learned, but have to check resources to make sure it's correct - borage blooms (another green I would like to start growing) look almost identical to comfrey blooms, and the plant looks very similar.  You can eat the blossoms of borage and they taste like blueberries.  Hm.  I have yet to plant any borage, but it's sounds interesting.  It is one plant I am not familiar with.

Something else I learned - the roots of cleavers can be used to make a red dye.  Very interesting (Learning Herbs).  I decided to go ahead and start a tincture with cleavers, but in a smaller jar.  We love ginger root for swollen lymph nodes, but I think the tincture would be nice to have on hand this coming winter. 

I started an apple cider vinegar tincture with chickweed.  My first tincture made with vinegar.  My research recommended filling the jar 1/4 to 1/3 of dried herb.  As you can see a little herb goes a long way (using dried herb) in this type of tincture.  It will sit for 4 weeks before I strain it.

I do need to make an inventory on tinctures. I like to get those all re-stocked when the plants are growing.  I'm considering making more tinctures.  Possibly more with vinegar this year, but tinctures with apple cider vinegar will only last 1 year.  However, you can use them to cook with too.  I'm considering maybe Thai basil.  Garlic would be a good one too.  

I have a packet of Sorrel seeds, and have yet to decide where to plant them.  I really need a "weed" garden somewhere.  I have never eaten sorrel, nor planted it, nor harvested it for any reason.  I did read a bit about it, and it is invasive and a perennial plant.  Has anyone eaten sorrel?  Worth the time to plant possibly in pots for a trial run?  Benefits?  Does it freeze well when blanched?  Best way to eat it?  I'll have to do more research on this plant.  Adding it to my "rainy day" activities.

Deer are on the move lately.  They are the reason gardens are fenced around here, but deer can jump high too.   

This and That  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart