A Do Nothing Kind of Day

The kids playing on a swing set gifted to us by neighbors. It's showing its age, but it's still sturdy enough for hours of play in the backyard.

You Say Potato...I Say No-ta-toe

Today was the day - to finally dig out the potatoes. The plants had died off and I didn't want to risk any potatoes rotting underground from the rain showers we've been having lately. The kids gathered around as Dave dumped the container out. We shifted through the dirt and found more dirt, more dirt and more dirt. Oh, and five very small red potatoes - very, very small and slightly rotten. {sigh}

If this is my greatest disappointment of the day, then I should consider myself fortunate, right? The kids got to play in dirt, always an enjoyable activity for them. And I discovered something new about myself. That potato growing is just not my thing. Basil yes, potatoes NO!

The Container Garden

Pepper plants started from seed

The container garden is finally starting to show signs of growth! The pepper and tomato plants I started from seed are now taking off. Since I started the garden late, the plants still aren't where the should be at this time of year. But maybe we'll see some peppers and tomatoes from these plants by late summer/early fall. I just have to figure out what to do with the 20 some pepper plants I now have. I've come to see that planting EVERY seed in the packet is not the best thing!

Plan B

I was beginning to think that nothing would ever come of my small tomato and pepper transplants. So about a month ago, I invested in Plan B - two, Big Boy tomato plants from the garden center clearance section! With the rain we've had lately, the Plan B's have really shot up and even have a few yellow blossoms coming in!

An Abundance of Basil

We continue to be blessed with an abundance of fresh basil! The basil plants are huge now. In addition to adding the leaves into pasta, pizza and salads, I'm reading up on preserving/drying herbs and making infused oils to make the most of our basil bumper crop.

Potato plants

The potato plants are quietly doing their own thing. I have to admit, I've kind of neglected them lately. With all the rain we've had, I'm assuming they've been getting enough water. A few weeks ago, the plants had purple blossoms. But now, they're a bit wilted and hanging over the trash can. I can't wait to find out if anything is happening beneath the soil!

I think gardening is becoming a new interest of mine. Something I really want to devote more time to learning about instead of my usual trial and error method. I'm currently reading Mel Bartholomew's All New Square Foot Gardening and making plans for next year's garden!

Keepin' Cool

First Harvest

Sweet Basil

We were blessed with the first harvest from our little container garden this weekend - fresh basil! Nothing smells more lovely than fresh cut basil. Since we were having homemade pizza for dinner last night, I added a few basil leaves on top.

Pizza Night

For Pizza Sauce:

15 oz can organic tomato sauce

3 oz organic tomato paste

1 tbsp local honey

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

Combine all ingredients and heat through over low-medium heat. For us, this makes enough sauce for three medium sized pizzas.

For pizza dough - I love, love this very easy pizza dough recipe from Tammy's Recipes. It only requires a 5 minute rise and it freezes very well if you want to make dough ahead of time for busy nights. I do make the following changes to the recipe: I use all whole wheat flour, a whole packet of yeast, honey for sweetener and I omit the salt.

Before placing the dough on the pizza crisper, I roll it out onto a floured surface and sprinkle with organic corn meal.

Top with sauce and organic mozzarella cheese, then add desired toppings. We did an organic sweet onion and green pepper mix with fresh basil leaves from the garden.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - Tasty Tuesday

How Does Our Garden Grow?

Peppers & Grenoblouse Lettuce

Very slowly at this point! Our seeds have sprouted but we don't seem to be any closer to getting them planted in containers or a bed. Since I was late in starting my seeds, I'm a bit concerned that by the time the plants get of enough size to transplant, the hot summer sun might be too much for them. Next year I will make it a point to get started earlier and will start my reading now on winter gardening!

Tomato seedlings starting to get their mature leaves

I went ahead and put the basil plants into large pots and moved them outside, although I probably should have waited. They are just now starting to develop their more mature looking leaves. But I think they will be okay. I also put the rest of the seedlings outside in a sheltered area to harden as well. And to protect them from a little, curly-haired 2yo that did a little pruning to some of Mommy's seedlings.

Potato Sprouts

Since I've taken the photos above, the Grenoblouse lettuce has taken on a light burgundy color and the potato sprouts have shot up another couple of inches. I need to get out and mound some more dirt around the potato sprouts per Laura's tutorial. Despite our late start, I'm hopeful our little garden will have a very productive summer!

Backyard Experiment

Seed potatoes in an old garbage can

I hadn't even entertained the thought of adding potatoes to our backyard container garden. But after seeing this excellent tutorial by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers for planting potatoes in a container, I knew I had to give it a try! From what I've read, potatoes are usually planted in March around here. Of course it is now May. So we'll have to see how our little experiment in potato growing goes!

Back from the Market

This week's haul of pastured eggs, Red Russian kale (a first for me!), asparagus, sweet potatoes, grass fed Angus beef, salad mix and strawberries

The kids are so excited to get outside this morning, they've forgotten all about breakfast and have their anxious little faces pressed tightly against the sun room glass doors. Off to enjoy the warm weather and adventures in the backyard :)

Our Azaleas are in bloom!

A Summer-like Sunday

A summer-like Sunday afternoon

Deserves a summer-like dinner!

Sloppy Joes on organic, whole wheat sprouted buns with sweet potato fries

Adapted from Recipezaar - My Family's Favorite Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1lb local, grassfed Angus beef

1/2 c diced organic green pepper

1/2 - 1 c diced organic sweet onion

15oz can organic tomato sauce

1/4 c organic ketchup

1/4 c organic barbecue sauce

1 tbsp organic sucanat

1 tsp dry mustard

pepper to taste

Brown meat along with diced onions and green pepper. Drain fat. Stir in remaining ingredients, simmer covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If sloppy joes are too soupy, uncover until desired consistency.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - Tasty Tuesday