The Spring Garden

So much for whining about nothing to do. We have endless sunshine in the forcast and warm days ahead. The lettuces that wintered over have put on new leaves, Swiss Chard is coming on strong, parsley has perked up, collards are harvested with some frozen for the future. Carrots, beets and radishes have put on true leaves, potatoes are planted and peas are coming up. The rhubarb wintered over in pots and now has a permanent place in the garden. The garlic and onions are forming bulbs. And I am watering again. This is an ominous sign. O-o-oh no-o-o!

Liquid Sunshine

Gardening is suspended. There's nothing to do but wait for the weather to cooperate. Trapped in the house two weekends ago, I took out Eugenia Bone's Well Preserved and made lemon pickles. Preserved lemons are lemons juiced and salted. No heat, no mixing, just the raw materials combined. They are beautiful sitting on my counter. Bottled sunshine.

Johnny Appleseed

A legend. Legend is that he planted apple trees all across America. Johnnie was,in fact, uncle to Robbie Chapman who married Samuel Bigelow. And there you have it, he's related to every Bigelow in America because they all came from one man who immigrated from England. They, the Bigelow's, were prolific.
Putzing around on the internet one night I found this article about a man in NC who is saving (for posterity) heirloom apples. My curiosity piqued, I called and spoke with young David Vernon on the telephone. He, like me, is a public school employee with a hobbie. His hobbie trumps mine. I mean, David is really a cool guy-saving apple trees and all.
I bought three: Royal Limbertwig (don't you just love the sound of it?), Aunt Rachel (everybody has an Aunt So-And-So) and Bevan's Favorite. We planted them this weekend and I hope they thrive producing apples to give pleasure in the years to come.That's an American thing, isn't it? Hope. America is all about hope and promise. At least that's my hope.
David's website is www.centuryfarmorchards.com. There you will see and read descriptions of American history. Rock on America!

Sesame Street's "It's a Rainy Day"

OMG. This song is an absolutely brilliant and oh-so-sweet reminder to appreciate rainy days. Lately, it's been hard, in fact, I've been in a pissy mood about the weather. I fell in love with it the first time I heard it.

"RAINY DAY"

It's a rainy day, it's a rainy day.
It's raining outside and I can't go out and play,
Why do we need the rain, anyway?

Rain falls every where fills the rivers and streams,
Flows into the reservoire, is purified and cleaned,
Water to do the wash, Water to drink,
Water is flowing from our pipes into our sinks.

It's a rainy day, it's a rainy day.
It's raining outside and I can't go out and play.
I guess I'll stay at home today.

Every living thing needs water
Every living thing needs the rain,
Every living thing needs water,
I guess I really can't complain.

It's a rainy day, it's a rainy day.
It's raining outside and I can't go out and play,
Why do we need the rain, anyway?

Water to do the dishes,
Water to brush our teeth,
Water to take a shower,
Water to wash the street.
Water to wash the forest,
Millions of thirsty roots,
Water for the garden, flowers, vegetables and fruits.

It's a rainy day, it's a rainy day.
It's raining outside and I can't go out and play.
Don't you know I love the rain, anyway.

Check it out on youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlljkLsdc2A&feature=related

Berry Cold

The ice man cometh coating everything outdoors in ice. It is but a transient, beautiful, state melting as I type. The sounds of ice being blown on trees and bushes has a rare a musical quality when accompanied by silence. We were spared power outages and days trapped in the house. Lady luck was with us on this one allowing us to enjoy the beauty of this round of winter weather. I vote for snow next round, then we can play in it. More wintery weather is predicted for the coming weekend. Staying tuned. Hoping to build the snowcat I've been planning for years.

Planning the summer garden

The time has come, at last, to plan for the spring and summer gardens. I get really excited about being outside again, especially this year. I get so bored with being cooped up in the house. It makes me so grumpy. Felder Rushing's book has been cracked open, seed catalogs are bedtime reading,the seeds have been taken down and a small set of lettuces sitting on the kitchen window sill have germinated. We planted snow peas last weekend and will be planting English peas soon. Our turnips and mustard were vaporized by the two weeks of temps in the teens and twenties so we'll probably give them another go. Should I try broccoli from seed one more time? My seedlings haven't produced this year. I could speculate endlessly about the hot fall and the freezing winter or maybe too much nitrogen keeping them from flowering. I excel in the alchemy of gardening not the chemistry; I always plant with hope in my heart feeling wonder and awe when I get lucky enough to harvest anything. Maybe it's time to get serious and send off those soil samples...

Collards 2010

...cooked and ready to eat. To cook,heat some oil in a large, deep pan. Put in the damp, cleaned, chopped collards and steam with a small amount of water (what's all this chicken broth stuff promoted by foodies about?)for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze on some lemon juice and eat. Traditionally, Southerns use pork fat and vinegar but it really isn't necessary. Manga, manga.

...chopped and ready to cook. Cooks note: This pile of collards will cook down and there will only be enough for four servings.

... cleaned with stems removed. Eat the stems and you will die from indigestion-as in you are not a cow and the human stomach doesn't do collard stems.

... piled up on the kitchen counter; a mess of 'em.