Sunday, August 11, 2013

I went from sitting on the porch drinking coffee to...

I went from sitting on the porch drinking coffee, to running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Everything was ripe for the picking and you can't just let that slide.  I harvested my herbs: chives, basil, mint, chamomile, and garlic.  I pulled up my onions and carrots.  then I picked my beans and a perfect pepper.  This is the first year where I actually had garlic to harvest. 

I have to say I'm in love with my little garden.  Next weekend I'm thinking some of the sweet corn will be ready.  I can't take credit for the sunflowers, the chipmunks planted them.  They defiantly add to the scheme of things and I'll be sure to plant some next year.

My other project was harvesting my sweet grass plot next to the pond.  Words cannot describe how aromatic it is.  I had enough for four braids.  That is the most I've ever harvested.   Long ago Mom got me a few sweet grass braids for Christmas.  I put them on the windowsill and I'm pretty sure that is what Heaven smells like.  I became obsessed with creating my own sweet grass plot.  Thanks to some plugs my sister gave me and a few from the local greenhouse, I now have a successful patch.
I spent the weekend creating. With the help of my husband, we crushed some grapes to sweeten my Tantalizing Tatanka Wine.  He also helped me braid four sweet grass braids (he is a good braid holder).  I jammed out and made 16 jars of raspberry jam, 8 jars of chocolate raspberry jam, 8 jars of strawberry rhubarb jam.  Hopefully this year will be a repeat of last years successful canned stew vegetables.  I was able to can 8 jars of stewed vegetables and 4 jars of beans.   I made my weekly batch of Anne of Green Gables Lemonade Concentrate.  Then used some lemon juice and the freshly harvested chamomile to make the spray on hair conditioner from my spa day.   Although I'm exhausted I am very pleased with the productivity and proud of my little garden patch.  
What do you do with your harvest?  Do you eat it immediately or preserve it?   What has been your most successful vegetable and herb this year?   Do you have any recommendations about what I should do with my mint and basil?  I hope you are all enjoying your gardens as much as I am.

10 comments:

  1. What a productive week you've had! I love that picture of your jars of canned goods...it's such a satisfying feeling, isn't it? I'd have to say, unfortunately, that WEEDS are my most successful garden plant this year! Our weather has been bizarre, and they've loved it. :( But next to the weeds, the cucumbers have done great...I have more pickles to do today.

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  2. Nice braids! That is great that you are growing your own. I've never seed plugs to get my own. You're lucky.

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  3. What a gorgeous garden and beautiful yield. Love the photos.

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  4. Hi Bonnie, Your garden is doing great! I can identify with sitting in the garden and then seeing something that needs to be done and getting up and working on it right away. I've never heard of sweet grass, but it sounds really "sweet!" I grow lettuce, peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The only thing I preserve is some tomatoes for chili. The rest I eat and share. Have a blessed day.
    Beth

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  5. Bonnie,
    You have been busy. How fun to have a successful garden and preserve your produce to enjoy all winter long.

    Glad to hear your Hubby was willing to help you. That is a lot of canning and dishes to do by yourself.

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  6. You have been busy. Don't you feel so successful when you look at all that you canned. I am so glad you showed what you do with Sweet Grass. I have some and I was looking at it and I had no clue what to do with it. I will pick it and bundle it like I do with my Camomile.
    Your garden is so pretty and green.

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  7. Wonderful canned goods. They will taste so good this winter when the garden has gone to bed. My harvesting has been slow, but usually we begin by eating whatever is fresh right away. If there is overflow, then I can things like tomatoes, pickles and such.

    I like to dry a little mint each summer and I use it for mint tea. I also air dry my other herbs like parsley, rosemary, and thyme and use them all winter. I've heard of others who make pesto with their basil and freeze it in ice cube trays for later use. I've not tried it, but I'd like to.

    ~Jody

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  8. What a bounty your garden provided. The photos are beautiful, and love the way the canned goods and the braids are all showcased. I know the feeling of taking a break and suddenly seeing everything that needs doing, but it's still a good idea to take a break now and then, right? Wonderful post!

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  9. I've never come across sweet grass.

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  10. WoW Bonnie, your garden is not only bountiful but beautiful as well!!

    I did not plant one thing this year, not a flower, not a tomato, nothing, zip, nada ;(

    I love pesto, I think that uses basil. I have read it's great to make in large batches and then freeze it in ice cube trays. Handy little portions!!

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Sit on my porch and let's chat. Due to the amount of spam I am closing my comments to Anonymous users. Sorry.