I fear that the garden has reached its peak and it's all downhill from here. Why? Well, for the past couple of nights, it's been cold enough for me to sleep with long pants and a long sleeved shirt on. Yep, that's my science ;-)
Really, though, the days have been a bit cooler (high 70s to mid-80s) and pieces of the garden have started to look a little ragged around the edges like it does when the season is beginning to change. Now, I don't doubt that we will get some more warm (maybe even hot) days, but it's looking more and more like the Farmer's Almanac was right about us having a short summer here.
Don't get me wrong, the garden is going strong, I just wonder if we will have enough time before the cooler weather really sets in for the tomatoes to give us their full bounty in colors other than green, the tomatillos to mature and break from their dry husks and the winter squash to become more than just a promise.
I feel like I say this often but, time will tell.
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| Giant sunflower |
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| Butternut Squash blossom |
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| Sweet Corn & Soy Beans |
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| Echinacea |
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| Sweet Corn Silk - isn't that purple gorgeous? |
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| Mint |
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| Tomatillo blossom |
The tomatoes are beginning to roll in (there was even enough for me to do a bit of canning on Saturday) and we got our first Cayenne Peppers and Eggplants ever last week! So, yes, the garden is producing happily and for that I am incredibly grateful.
However, I am about 99.9% sure that this years totals will be nowhere near last years totals due to the lack of fruit, cucumbers and root vegetables. I guess there has to be an ebb and flow to everything, right? This must be our ebbing year (at least where the garden is concerned).
In addition, our egg production has gone down a bit since we downsized our flock (of course, right?), but the good news is, we're going through less feed (again, of course), so it all evens out. I do think the Ladies are happier with a bit more space to have to themselves and the Newbies/Pullets are figuring out the importance of laying in their nesting boxes instead of in the middle of the coop :-)
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| Buffs listening to the squawking of a pullet trying to lay an egg. Funny how they all perked up like that...they must know how it feels or something ;-) |
- Basil - 8 oz
- Beans
- Tri-color Bush - 9 oz
- Trail of Tears Pole - 13 oz
- Eggplant
- Florida High Bush - 6 oz
- Early Long Purple - 3 oz
- Mint - 1 lb 4 oz
- Peppers
- Ring-o-Fire Cayenne - 4 oz
- Shishito - 13 oz
- Squash
- Patty Pan - 1 lb 14 oz
- Tomatoes
- Cherokee Purple - 5 oz
- Indigo Rose - 1 lb
- Roma - 2 lb 3 oz
- Yellow Taxi - 10 lb 3 oz
- Eggs - 128
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| Harvest basket #1 |
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| Early Long & Florida High Bush Eggplants |
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| Harvest Basket #2 |
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| Patty Pan Squash |
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| Harvest Basket #3 |
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| Roma, Yellow Taxi and Indigo Rose Tomatoes |
Alright, with Summer Camp and our biggest fundraiser over, and after school programs beginning this week, history would tell us that things should calm down a bit...and I am hopeful...I am very hopeful. However, there is some new transition happening in our tiny organization (again) and so I am guessing things won't be as calm as I would like them to be.
Regardless, we are determined to get back on track, eat at home more, save some money and enjoy some delicious (and healthier) meals! We haven't mapped it all out yet, but here are some of the ideas we have for meals over the next two weeks. Keep in mind that many of our dinners will include leftovers for lunch the next day. Wish us luck!
Breakfast
Yogurt with frozen berries and nuts
Banana, Peanut Butter & Honey Protein Shakes
Eggs, squash & tomato scramble with whole wheat toast
Cereal with frozen berries and nuts
Lunch
Egg Salad Sandwiches, chips, a veggie
Bean Burritos
Turkey Sandwiches, chips, a veggie
Ham Sandwiches, chips, a veggie
Frito Pies
Dinner
Bean Burritos
Tilapia, brown rice, green beans
Shrimp Quesdillas
Tuna Patties
Squash & Tomato Bake
Pasta with meat sauce
Vegetable Fried Rice
What are you growing, harvesting, planning and eating in your neck of the woods? Please share your stories and links in the comments below!
xoxo,
M
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Linking up to Macro Monday, Harvest Monday,
lovely photos of the harvest! I don't grow anything being in a highrise apartment. All my vegetables and fruits are from the market.
ReplyDeleteMarket fruits and vegetables are a perfect choice! Fresh, local, delicious! Have you considered planting a few lettuce, spinach or chard seeds in a pot to put in a window? Just a tiny bit of sun can turn seed to food in no time flat :-)
DeleteGreat crops! For all that people love summer - its the end of summer that is almost autumn that is my favourite time in the garden.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I do love autumn! Despite the gardens turn, it is by far my favorite season :-)
DeleteEverything looks great! I have the same concerns you do--that the tomatoes are going to be green and that's it. It's cold in NY too. I even went and chopped off all the tomato plants' heads (pruned), something I never do, to speed things up a bit. I don't know if it will help. My garden also looks tired, and it's early for that. I hope there's a flush for all of us before it gets really cold!
ReplyDeleteOohhh...I may just have to do some head chopping!
DeleteBeautiful photos. Our tomatoes are still green, hoping their will be enough sun in the next weeks to help them along.
ReplyDeleteI too am wondering about the tomatoes, will I get any vine ripen slicing tomatoes? Night time temps have been below normal, I am hoping for a late frost.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am hoping for a late frost, but it seems this season is not on my gardens side. We'll see, maybe I'll be surprised ;-)
DeleteVery lovely harvest! And you're right about weather - it feels more like September than anything else, but your tomatoes will keep growing and ripening till frost so you should still have some coming in.
ReplyDeleteStrange weather indeed, no matter where you live! Your harvests look great and your meal plans are making me hungry!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! We are slowing down here too, but are still getting a fair amount of tomatoes and eggplant especially. We planted our fall garden yesterday.
ReplyDeleteSarah @ http://thefreerangelife.com
70's oh that would be heaven!! We have cooled down a little in our area but that means it has been 95 most days instead of over 100!! :) You had a great looking harvest this week, i hope the weather holds out long enough for you to get all those tomatoes ripen!!
ReplyDeleteOh man...95-100+ degree days?! Ugh...I would wilt, nevermind the plants!
DeleteLovely harvest. THe way you were talking that things were in such a slump I was expecting this tiny harvest (like mine) NOPE! You have a great harvest! :-D
ReplyDeleteThose sunflowers are enchanting and you never know, your garden may surprise you and last for a while.
ReplyDeleteIt's been in the 50's every morning this summer where I live and I'm not sure if we hit anything over 79 all summer long. Bad year for veggies here but oh the fall colors are going to be glorious!
ReplyDeleteI imagine the colors of fall will be simply phenomenal! I look forward to seeing pictures :-)
DeleteYour harvests look great! I do hope you get all your tomatoes to turn before it gets cold. Your garden is looking beautiful. And your chickens look lovely and happy!
ReplyDeletewhen did you get your newest orpingtons? we got ours march 4th. they are officially 23 weeks old today and still not an egg. :( there is no way they are laying elsewhere because we are keeping them in the tunnel, tractor, and coop - not letting them into the run b/c they have started to fly out & we have not gotten a chance to clip their wings. when is 'normal' for this breed? i thought 20 weeks was normal so i am definitely impatiently waiting!!!
ReplyDeleteWe got our buffs on March 4th and have been getting tiny pullet eggs for about a month now. If I remember correctly, it was the same with our 2012 batch of Buffs as well. Weird that you haven't gotten any eggs. One of our Buffs likes to lay her tiny egg right in the middle of the coop, but the other four have figured out the whole nesting box thing :-)
DeleteI love your photos!! What a great harvest!!
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks like you had a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat Giant sunflower picture made me gawk O_O
Yes indeed, there is a whiff of autumn to our cold mornings, even though the fog says it's still June! Weird weather, just weird. But your garden and harvests still look great.
ReplyDeleteMy tomatoes are slow too, but are coloring up so should be ripening soon. I'm getting beans, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and turnip greens. I plant cool season vegetables by July 15 except I just planted some peas for a fall crop. Your vegetables look great! I wish I had enough heat to make eggplant worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your article! You have a beautiful garden and chickens. There is so much value in raising your own food.
ReplyDeleteWe’d love you to come and link up your article and other future homesteading articles to From The Farm Blog Hop! This week we have had over 300 link up already and more to come. Check it out! http://myhealthygreenfamily.com/blog/wordpress/from-the-farm-blog-hop-is-live-3/ Hope to see you there.
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