Carrots

They are so pretty!

Colorful carrots can brighten up any plate.  I love them with lemon and cumin, or ginger and orange juice. 

yep.

It's nice when all of my hoarding of what seems to be useless facts, comes into use.

Broken lightbulb + potato = easy removal.  

Oh snap, that just happened!

Spring Pea

Home Grown and Bountiful!

 Try them quickly blanched with mint, lemon and olive oil.  Divine!

'tis the season

Shiso Leaf.

First off, I love a menu typo.  Not because I'm snarky, but because it sometimes shows the joint is chef owned, focusing on the food and not the flair.   Anyhow,  a warm and friendly Japanse + Korean sushi chef named Geno gave me a lesson on the shiso leaf.  It's a member of the mint family, and pretty as all get out. The flavor is strong- floral, citrus, and very bright. He used it on sashimi plates, and in certain rolls as well.

I did a little research and found that Coke and Pepsi both make Shiso soda for the Japanese market.  Interesting!  I suppose it's related to the lemon basil fizzies you might find in a local speakeasy.  Like shiso, basil is also a member of the mint family.
Class dismissed.

Worth the fuss?

To weed or not to weed?

Not like that, silly. That's a given. I'm talking about dealing with the unwanted and uninvited in the garden.  With a full time job, and life going on outside of my garden, the question always comes up- to weed or not to weed?  Weed killers are NOT AN OPTION, so let's take it from there. 

Is it necessary?  Well, weeds can compete with your vegetables for soil nutrients and water. They can also transmit disease. So, it may be worth it......

I did a little research, and here is what I learned:

• When planting weed sensitive plants, choose sites with low weed pressure. If possible, avoid sites with aggressive weeds, especially invasive perennials. The less weed pressure you begin with, the easier it will be to protect your investment.
• Design crop rotations to facilitate reduction in weed pressure during the year(s) preceding a weed sensitive vegetable. Select cover crops that fight weeds effectively, yet are easy to manage prior to vegetable planting.
• Mulch!  A 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will reduce the germination and growth of weeds. It also helps maintain soil moisture. Evaporation is reduced, and the need for watering can be minimized. Some mulches can improve soil fertility too- bonus! 

So, I say a little thoughtful planning before you plant goes a long way.  I do still find myself pulling weeds, but it shouldn't be a full time gig.  I have accepted that I have a nice bohemian garden, and my production is solid, so a few weeds won't kill either of us.

My Oregan Trail Sweet Peas, with a little clover and Bermuda grass sneaking in.

"...the best poet is the man who delivers our daily bread: the local baker." 

Pablo Neruda

Get out.

Ready for a holiday, vacation, break from the hustle and bustle?

Instead of laying on a beach, or taking the metro to a museum, how about a farm stay?  

Sign me up, sister.

 So, no uncle in the midwest on your dad's side you can borrow a barn from?  Don't fret, check out Farm Stay U.S!

It's a fantastic website that helps you connect with farms, ranches and vineyards across our beautiful country.  

What better way to get to know a community, and help support it's hard working people? Some are true working farms, where you can get your hands dirty.  Others are more of a bread and breakfast addition to a farm, but nonetheless lovely and rustic.  

Relax, learn, explore, enjoy!