CSA week of July 23, 2009

Well, the csa continues to roll on. We are still really surprised and delighted every week that we see our bounty. It is so cool. The Ruby Swiss Chard is really beautiful. We also started to buy dairy and eggs through the csa.

1 head green cabbage – certified organic – Green Valley Organics
1 bunch Detroit red beets – certified organic – Farmdale Organics
1 bag Yukon gold potatoes – certified organic – Millwood Springs – 2.5 lbs
1 bag candy onions – transitional – Taste of Nature Farm – 2lbs
3 green slicing cucumbers – certified organic – Goshen View Organics
3 green zucchini – certified organic – Maple Valley Organics
1 bag yellow or green beans – certified organic – White Swan Acres – 1 lb
10 red slicing tomatoes– certified organic – Green Valley Organics
1 bunch red bor kale – certified organic - Life Enhancing Acres
1 bunch Swiss chard – certified organic – Little Brook Organics

Have fun

Table Mate

Remember this pile of wood I found laying out on trash day last May? I got it home on the Coastline Large-two trips.

I've used a little of it here and there, but today I got out front and made an end table out of some of the wood, check it out.

I was going to make a table to go out back to get some of the plants off the ground, make some more room, but I thought how can I make more room back here? I have to get rid of some of these plants, where will they go? I made this end table to put plants on. I guess I will call it a planter.

My neighbor Tom thought it was neat, says "People pay a hundred bucks at the flea market for something like that." I laughed and said "Ya, it's real barn wood!" He replied, "You laugh, people's crazy." I laughed, people are crazy, I'm people. I put some garden next to my stoop.

Wow! They Have Nick Cave Dolls Now...

I reconnected with a friend of mine named Greta via email today. It made me really happy to hear from her. She is a farmer in Fargo, North Dakota. We shared a work-shack for a bit back in Montana, pressing cookies for the kiddies to dunk in their milk while missing they mommas.

Thunderations!

Anyway, she was hootin' about my garden, so I got busy, harvested some food and took some pictures. Somehow it is all connected.

It is a little tight back here, I will admit.

The "polycultural" gardening hasn't really impressed me much.

It was kind of fun to watch, but it's such a mess and I feel like I am missing out on something. I must be.

I scooped Swiss Chard today. It's so savory I love it. I'm always out there chewing on my cud.

Here is some Lemon Thyme that Dan gave me from the garden on Frankford Avenue. I hope it takes root, the rosemary didn't. That's real ice tea ya'll, how it glows.

Seven stars basil equals seven stars pesto. This is the first real pull from the basil this year. What have I become, we usually roll in the stuff. Look at my tea!

This is our third yellow squash. It looks like a rocket!


I need to take better notes all in all. The polycultural thing is bust, I hacked off some beet greens thinking they were Swiss Chard. Fail to plan, plan to fail. I'm pushing the limits. I gotta have a code.

He Who Forgets

Somewhere, in the hinterlands of South Georgia, a lonely man, father of five (four if you like), cries in his backyard, alone with his hedge. His phone does not dial out.

Somewhere in Kesington, on a dreary Fathers' Day, a childless husband, leans on his cart, laments his feeling abandoned, betrayed. His phone does not dial out.

See the cat? See the cradle?

The Pedal Brake That You Depended On

So, back to the Fruits. I don't know really. I feel so bad lately. I came home from work and lid down for a nap at 3:45. Sarah woke me up at 10:15, asking me to let her in bed. So odd, why couldn't she get in bed? Why was I sprawled like that? Why was it dark? I went back to sleep and woke up around 8 am. I guess the past couple of weeks finally caught up with me. My body aches and I just can't rustle up the gumption to do anything.

And I'm supposed to think about this? I am supposed to think about how I can be more loving? I asked Sarah last week about that, what being loving meat to her. In reply she stated that a way to love her more would be to take care of myself. Gee Whiz! Tall order there girl.

Well, I'll end like this:

That is my beautiful wife, Sarah, to the right, and our beautiful friend Mariko, to the left at some outside food function. One, I forgot to ask Mariko about that beautiful dress-shirt she is wearing (its origin and whatnot). Two, Sarah smiling at an outdoor food function.

The Fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:19-23, New International Version)

Not a real whack at LOVE, we'll try again later. I have some Ideas they are just mired in upheaval and tumult at the moment.

Sayonara Dora

Keep It Continue, The Same Thing

Succession planting has been on my mind lately; luckily earlier than last year. The idea is to keep the garden going; to not have any or many bald spots through the season. As crops stop producing, you replace them with other crops. It is good to have seeds already started so you can just pop plants in when it is time.

Crops can be divided into four broad growing categories: 1. perennial crops like asparagus, rhubarb and chives, which come back in subsequent years; 2. crops that thrive in the early part of the season like lettuce, mustard, radishes and peas; 3. crops that stay in the ground during most of the season like tomatoes, beans, eggplant, cucumber, okra and peppers; 4. crops that thrive in the later part of the season into the fall like kale, beets, Chinese cabbage, lettuce spinach, collards and broccoli.

They thrive at different times of the season for varying reasons, but a popular one is sensitivity to hot summer temperatures; lettuce goes bitter, radishes get spongy and crops bolt and go to flower too quickly. While kale and broccoli are said to taste best after a light frost or two.

The "polycultural" bed pictured above is an attempt at succession gardening. It is going alright so far. I had to really thin out the lettuce in order to give some sun and space to the Swiss Chard. I also put in some pepper plants and Brussels sprout plants that we were given. I am going to start some seeds outside of the garden to pop in as we start to have plants fall out.

Last year we did not buy greens from about May until October-late October even. Sarah is quick to remind me of our CSA, but we had buckets of greens from the garden all season long. We did well with greens last year, but I am looking to get a little more serious about it. I am still in the planning stages, I will let you know what happens.

I am also going to learn when to capitalize plant names, it is bugging me. I have learned to spell lettuce, so proud.

CSA # 3 5/28/2009

Wow, the CSA haul was very substantial this week. I think we have a green for every day of the week, if you count radish and beet greens, and of course you do. I tested the strawberries and all the greens, including the two leaves coming off the broccoli. They were all ding dang delicious. The greens taste so robust and savory. I can't get over it.

Here are Mariko and Owen. We walk together to pick up our csa's each week. Owen is a really interesting guy.

Here is the haul.

You will find the following items in your share: 1 head broccoli – certified organic – Farmdale Organics 1 bunch baby beets – certified organic – Pleasant Valley Farm 1 bunch purple radishes – certified organic – Country Boy Farm 1 bunch Lacinato (or dinosaur) Kale– certified organic – Goshen View Organics 1 bunch tatsoi – certified organic – Hillside Organics 1 bag wildfire lettuce mix – certified organic – Farmdale Organics – 1 lb 1 bag young rainbow chard – certified organic – Elm Tree Organics – ¼ lb 1 head red leaf lettuce – certified organic – Farmdale Organics 1 box Chandler strawberries – certified organic – Goshen View Organics

Those are purple radishes in the middle of this picture; dinosaur kale to the left, rainbow chard to the right.

Pretty.

Here are the baby beets. Notice those spots of red on the table; that is some beet juice that emerged when I pinched of a leaf of the greens, mmmmmm, succulent.

Swimming Pools, Movie Stars

What is the bid deal? I think these are really pretty. They just haven't seen in the proper context yet. Have a look.

The plants appear so comfortable and healthy.

We could go rustic. Look at the lovely patina the weather has given the bowl.

So versatile, the one above looks like a djembe!

Or we could go with a durable design that we could grow old with!

Because You're Mine, I Draw the Line

How big is your garden? I am often asked that question and I find it odd. It is a perfectly normal question, I guess I just don't know how to answer it. Who knows?

I live in Philadelphia, and have a tiny yard. I call it my garden, or my farm if I'm feeling wacky. It is a concrete pad, so I garden (or farm) in a variety of containers, like pots, plastic and clay, tires, a claw-footed tub, a couple of twelve-quart buckets, a couple of metal tubs, Scoops Away buckets, homemade flower boxes, a couple of store-bought flower boxes, a couple of store-bought flower boxes I found on the curb on trash day and a couple of sizable wooden beds I made and a big plastic planter-that looks like fake terra cotta- that David from the George B. gave to us. I guess you'd call me a container gardener, a container farmer, sometimes a woe farmer. I lament.

I'd love to have a toilet in the garden to go with the tub. It would be so fun to grow in-two compartments-business in the front, party in the back. Sarah told me "No, I draw the line at toilets baby." I still throw my worn out boxers in the compost though.

Here is a schematic of the garden. Ignore the shapes, those are from last year when I was suffering from a need to appear to have a plan. The dimensions are still the same though, I checked-27 times.

Forget Me Nots

It was a big weekend in the Garden. I am pooped out. I usually overdo it on the tree day weekends, too much. Lucius oversaw the progress.



I harvested a whole lot of greens this weekend; thanks be! It was time to replenish our stash, but I was trying to make some room for some pepper plants and brussels sprout plants that were given to us this weekend.

Remember those tiny bean sprouts from a couple of weekends ago? Here they are pictured above. I also finally finished the big (30x96 inches) bed. It is pictured in the background. Sarah and I bought basil, strawberries, cauliflower, and another eggplant to put in. I filled the bed out with onion sets and beets.

The garden is starting to round out nicely. Above is a large portion of it.

Above is a picture of the side of the house, well, the plants that live there. There is ivy, anis, Kentucky Blue pole beans (about three plants) a big pot of carrots that have not started to rise yet, a potted eggplant, a cantaloupe plant, and some rosemary starts I am trying. That is just collected rain water, full of pollen, not a honey bucket.

Here is a better shot of the cantaloupe plant and the rosemary. I got some clippings from Dan at the circle garden and I am trying to make them sprout roots. One glass is full of compost juice, the other full of honey water (a poor man's "root hormone").

We Got Department Stores and Toilet Paper

Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. - Deuteronomy 16:20
Help me to always be aware of the privilege that I enjoy, as well as humble and compassionate.

CSA in the House! 5/21/09

I picked up the CSA yesterday! The weather was great, as were the Snooks. Mariko, Owen and I went down to pick up our loot together-always fun. I will get a picture of them next week. Below is a picture of our bounty this week. The strawberries are delicious! The scallions and the yellow radishes pass as well. The highlighted de-light of the week though is the Flashy Trout romaine pictured below. Check it out.

This is the pre-packing list of produce ordered for your share: 1 head flashy trout back Romaine Lettuce – certified organic – Riverview Organics 2 bunches scallions – certified organic/transitional – Country Boy and Taste of Nature Farm 1 bunch radishes – certified organic – Goshen View or Hillside Organics 1/2 lb baby greens – certified organic – Elm Tree Organics 2 mixed baby head lettuces – transitional – Taste of Nature Farm 1 8oz package cremini mushrooms – certified organic – Mother Earth Organics 1 pint strawberries – certified organic – Green Valley Organics

Here is the Flashy Trout romaine. That's not rot you see; the lettuce is mottled with a beautiful red color. I ate about four big leaves of this stuff last night. I would describe the taste as savory, and the texture as buttery. It felt kind of silky in my mouth. Can't wait! Well, I didn't, I guess.

And lastly, before it goes into the ice box, we lay it before Lucius for his inspection. He agrees, delicious again Peter.

Grow well, pick well, eat well.

CSA #2 5-14/09

Here is a picture of the Walking Fish Theatre in Kensington. It is right across the street from our most used 5 bus stop, at the corner of Frankford Avenue and Cumberland. It is where we pick up or CSA. Incidentally...



Here it is. Admittedly, it looks a lot like last week's, but that's how it works. One gets what is in season; just the way nature intended. This is what we found in our share:

1 head green Romaine lettuce – certified organic – Riverview Organics
1 bunch white scallions – certified organic – Windy Hollow Organics
½ lb spinach – certified organic – Goshen View Organics
½ lb asparagus – certified organic – Farmdale Organics
1 bunch red radishes – certified organic – Farmdale Organics
3 baby head lettuces – transitional – Taste of Nature
1 lb bunch rhubarb – transitional – Country View Produce

Here are the radishes. I have never seen a purple one before. Zoiks!


Eat well!

Same-sex Cats

Don't bring the kiddies unless you want them to grow up real quick, Rashini!

These are our beautiful cats, Lucius and Dieter. Lucius (the grey one) was a volunteer. He showed up on the stoop one Saturday night in November of 2007 and kept trying to get inside. Our friend Leah could not leave. He was still around the following Monday, so I rolled him to the vet, had his manhood compromised and gave him a home. It was a bit unsettling I am sure, but a small price to pay for the lavish lifestyle he now enjoys.

Dieter was rescued by a cat-lady who had his manhood compromised. The vet called to see if we had room in our house and hearts for another cat. This happened about a month after we lost a very special cat named Blanche-more on her later. Dieter was tortured before being rescued. He could not meow when he first moved in. He just opened his mouth really wide trying.

Dieter can now meow. Lucius still has a good bit of Kenzo in him.

Here is a typical day on Firth. Love is all around.

Killer of Giants

I had to go with more bean pictures. They are only this small once. Sweet!

And a Cat Named Sprout

Beautiful! Our beans finally came up yesterday. I was getting a little worried-getting, I weep. They look so pretty. I tried a few in the ground at first, to no avail; then I did the old wet paper towel on the plate thing to sprout them inside. I bet everyone did that in elementary school. What were we supposed to learn? I think we pinned our beans to cardboard in four different directions and kept them wet. The idea was that no matter which way the bean was positioned, the sprout would grow up, toward the sun. Sure enough, that's what happened in my backyard. Nice. Below is a picture of the bean tee pee around which the beans will live. Sprout for life!