It’s “dirt under my fingernails” season!

Hello everyone! I hope all is well with you and yours!  School is officially out and summer is here! I’m not ready for the heat but, I’m ready for everything else!

I happily wrapped up my Spring Cleaning this week.  I took my time and conquered a few rooms a day.  I had a goal to be done by June.  I am traveling to Georgia in a few weeks and I wanted it behind me! This year I had the added tasks of repotting all my indoor plants.  I love my indoor plants.  They are my babies.  I have two fairly big trees and they desperately needed bigger pots!  He seems content with the extra growing space.  I’ve had him for 22 years!  I shared this last year and will attach it again for anyone wanting a Spring Cleaning Checklist.  You can add to it as you see fit.  It just covers the main stuff. Spring Cleaning Checklist

Speaking of growing, our garden is up and running.  We still have a few seedlings to transplant.  They are all in the pepper family. I’m happy to say our corn, lima beans and peas are doing well.  We have not been so lucky with those in the past years.  We are still learning!  So, with every year, we make small changes here and there.  This year we made a huge change, and though it was a lot of work to get it done, I think we will reap the benefits of all the hard work in a few months. We are using a garden tarp and a drip irrigation system this year, and hopefully, all future years.  It should help with the weeds and will also help deter and spot bugs easier. The irrigation is super nice.  It’s a slow and steady watering system. Oh, and we added an electric fence. The deer decimated our sweet potatoes last year. I’m excited to see how this goes!  We also added a raised bed for our carrots, celery and lettuce. They have struggled out in the big garden in the past. This year we’ve added Zucchini, pickling cucumbers, tomatillos, San Marzano tomatoes, summer squash, and soy beans. The brassicas (cauliflower. broccoli and brussel sprouts), as well as our garlic, will be planted early Fall from now on.  They did not do well last year as they don’t tolerate heat.  Oh, and we have our very own pumpkin patch now. It sits off to the far side of the garden.  They tend to take over a garden if you aren’t careful.  This way they can grow as they please.  Well, to a certain point anyway. We are growing regular pumpkins again, as well as, sugar pumpkins.  I’m looking forward to making some pumpkin puree. Oh, another small change, Al built a cart for seedlings in Spring and curing vegetables (Squash and pumpkins) in the Summer/Fall. Last year we just laid them all out on the porch.  Now, if it rains, we can just roll them inside the outbuilding! I am also going to attempt to grow some herbs (Parsley, Basil, Cilantro to name a few) in a hanging bed off the porch.  I’ve never grown herbs so we shall see.  Hopefully the greenhouse gets completed this Fall and we can grow year round!  Although this time of year is crazy busy with harvesting and canning I thrive on doing it!  I just love growing our own food.  Nothing like getting dirt under them fingernails!

We’ve been experimenting with our freeze dryer with the anticipation of using it quite a bit during harvest time.  So much to learn!  We did some skittles just for fun.  They taste the same but, look like marbles!

I harvested some chamomile for the first time this week.  I think I’m going to make tea and some candles with this batch. There is plenty more where these came from so the possibilities are endless.  The blackberries are doing much better than this time last year. We’ve had a good bit of rain so, we are hoping for a better harvest.

Mowing and more mowing is around the corner.  We really should have started already but, getting this garden set up has been our priority.  Hopefully by this weekend Al will be mowing, mowing  and mowing.  Man, I miss those cows!  Not sure when we will get any back as of yet.  He told us he is working on thickening up his herd first. And, let me just say, there has been a lot of hanky panky going on across the way.  You can’t help but hear it!

I have already switched over my decor from Spring to Summer.  Summer is usually patriotic.  It starts around Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day. I’m glad it is done as well.  Once I return from Georgia I want to only focus on harvesting and canning!  Busy, busy!  Here’s a few pictures. 

The dogs and cats are doing wonderful.  The biggest news would be Bun getting her Spring brushing. This dog sheds some hair y’all.  Teenie is just loving life.   Honey just wants all the belly rubs!    The cats (and Bun) love to follow me out to the garden every morning.    They’re not too sure about the tarp though.

Well always many thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any good canning recipes to share!

I will have a new grandson by my next post Lord willing!   Pictures forth coming!!

XO,

Elisa