Life has gotten a bit hectic lately, as it seems to do from time to time, and I realized it has been a while since I've written a blog post. I thought it was time to give a homestead update. Summer is moving along, the days are hot and dry, and things are ripening on the vine. There has been plenty of adventuring, camping, swimming, cooking, banjo picking, backpacking and life happening along the way, so sitting down to write about it all has taken a back burner on the proverbial kitchen stove. I'm sure you all understand how that goes.
I'll begin with the field, which is certainly growing, with a few more weeds than I had planned. I decided as long as food is still coming out of it, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. There are pumpkins, there are onions and potatoes, there are all manners of squash, and there are some beans. Maybe there will be corn. Sometimes there are weeds. Such is life.
I harvested about 200 heads of Nootka Rose garlic last week, ending up with more than enough for the coming year, which was my garlic goal. Many nice thick garlic braids are now hanging in the pantry and from the kitchen ceiling rack. Some are even decorated with lavender and bright blue bachelor's buttons. It's my absolute favorite variety, hands down, so I am looking forward to eating a lot of it this year.
And there are potatoes. So many potatoes of so many varieties that I go out and dig great bowls full and still don't make a dent. Many are still small and coming along, so I'm holding off the big harvest for next month, but right now there are all the fresh potatoes I could ever want. It's a good feeling to have abundant potatoes.
My three large blueberry bushes out front ended up producing this month, so I have been going out and munching on them while I water in the morning. I still made a trip out to a nearby blueberry farm for berries to freeze, but it's a real treat to have a handful fresh off the bush here and there.
I decided to start a few more flowers this year from seed, and they are all creating a very colorful display in my herb beds and front garden. I have lavender, echinacea, calendula, cosmos, bachelor's buttons, nasturtiums, and all sorts of vibrant blooms. The volunteer sunflowers that came up this year are HUGE, some of them at least 15 feet tall! I have to point out that white vehicle in the background too, which is the wonderful housebus that some friends are temporarily parking on the homestead. Having lived in one some years ago, and missing it from time to time, it's nice to be able to go and just sit in the quite little house on wheels for a few moments and enjoy it.
I wish I could describe the fragrance of these heirloom sweet peas and do them any sort of justice. I planted them all along the front fence and they have climbed up and covered it quite nicely. Their delicious aroma wafts around as you walk through the front gate or sit on the front porch on hot evenings.
My mammoth dill is certainly living up to its name, but with the poor cucumber germination I experienced this summer, I'm not sure yet what I'm going to pickle with it. The green beans could still really pull through, making dilly beans a good possibility. We shall see.
This pretty much sums up the goings on around the farm right now. There are some big changes on the horizon for this family and this homestead, and I'm not sure how much of it I'll write about or not, but knowing that there is always food to be grown and gathered, adventures to be had, and outdoor places to explore, there will be plenty of tales and ideas to share, and this blog will keep on going with whatever path it all takes. As the poet, William Wordsworth once said, "The earth is all before me." I'll conclude with that for now and wish you all an abundant summer harvest.
