LIVING OFF THE LAND

Seed catalogues arriving in the late winter months are like ‘porn’ for gardeners as we in the cold lands are already dreaming about getting outside into our gardens.

In fact, the kitchen sill was filled with poppy and eggplants seedlings in April. Every April Natureman and I start talking about what we’d like to add/redo in the garden. Much to my chagrin a list is discussed and made, but not always followed. Last year we successfully tried bok choi and this year we are also adding purple onions.

Asparagus is our first spring veggie and that 3 year old bed is still producing into June. If you look beyond all the weeds, there's still asparagus coming up. We also enjoy wild nettle just like the settlers used to eat which is high in vitamins and cooked like spinach only boiled a couple times to rid the prickly spines. Natureman adds olive oil and lemon juice atop his. Rhubarb is ready to be harvested about the same time and 35+ year old plants are way more than we could ever consume.

Due to unseasonably warm weather Natureman got into the garden earlier than usual to start his roto-tilling procedure, a process that involves at least 3 phases. You see the hardened soil needs more than one rototilling. Then, all of the used hay from the barn has to be carted up to the garden area with countless treks. Fortunately, the chicken coop poop is not as far away but is also used as natural fertilizer to be rototilled into the soil.

 A well earned cold beer usually completes each day’s work. Honestly I don’t know how Natureman holds on to that glass after being shaken around for hours but he manages to slowly sip his day’s pay. Then the cool weather crops are planted… radishes,peas,lettuces- a spring mix, arrugula, spinach, carrots, beets, onion sets, potatoes, swiss chard, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. After those cukes, summer and fall squashes, beans, corn, pepper plants followed by tomatoes and eggplant.

A second planting of radishes has already happened and next will be turnips. By late May this year this is what the garden looks like. The spinach needs harvesting but we have had some terrific garden salads already these last two weeks. One thing is for sho' about the End of the Rainbow Garden Valley, we eat 'real' well...