Winter Preserve
Just because it’s winter does not mean you can’t make jam from local fresh fruit. Guess what kind of jam I am making? Apricot you say? They are a chancy crop around here and I never get enough to freeze for later to make jam …
In Season & Fresh from the Garden, the Fields, the Orchards & the Woods
locavore log
Roasting Cauliflower
In the colder months, we roast, braise, bake and generally use the oven without hesitation. Roasting vegetables is a great way to make their flavor really shine. For cauliflower (as well as for other members of the cabbage family), roasting also mitigates the “boiled-cabbage” odor …
We Give Thanks
We give thanks for being able to grow this food, for being able to cook, for being here, now, and for friends. This year, I am cooking most of Thanksgiving dinner – it has not happen in years, as we generally are celebrating elsewhere. And …
Ode to the Autumn Olive
I have know for a while that autumn olives (Elaeagnus umbellata) were edible. I just never took the time to go after them. But this year seems to be the year when I started to forage more consistently (bird cherries, wineberries, elderberries, chestnuts, Japanese quince, …
Quince Time Again!
I love love quince and was able to get one bushel this year from one of the local orchards (not counting Japanese quince which several friends let me have from their bushes)! So… once more in the middle of putting food by: roasting & can …
On Tomatoes – Finally
I’ve been waiting for them not- so-patiently. It’s probably been the hardest year in the garden since we moved here – at least when comparing input to output. It’s been a rough year weather- wise, following several years of rough-weather. This year we had no …
More On Tomatoes
Early Girl is blushing! The rest of them Amish Paste, Green Zebra, Cherokee Purple, San Marzano,White Wonder et all are actually looking pretty good. Just not ripening yet!
On Eating Humble Pie
Back in January, I seeded tomatoes because I confidently was going to harvest tomatoes in June (for the record, it has happened in the past). Today is July 12; have I harvested a tomato yet? No. Emphatically and sadly no. I mean a “real” tomato, …
Blueberry Season
Yesterday I knew summer was here. How did I know it? No, not because the temperature was – again! – over 90 (over 32 C) in the shade; 116 (47 C!!!) in the sun insisted the thermometer (wish I misread that). Not because the creek …