Whoooosh – and it’s Tuesday already! Summer is almost upon us, though the weather is already here: sunny, hot, lush, with immediate needs to tend the garden. Most of the squashes are in – I’ve got to get those Wee-Be-Mini-Pumpkins and Delicata in, and the Summer smaller squashes are ready – pattypans, lemon squashes, and ronde de nice, most of the beans are in – still to get the rest of the True Cranberry dry vine beans and haricot vert in. The herbs are almost ready – lemon and purple ruffle basil, cilantro, oregano, marjoram, thyme, sage but I like the weather to be strongly Summer when I get to them. Otherwise – the corn and potatoes and peas are growing nicely. I got a variety of melons and hard squashes and some tomatoes in. The strawberries are ripening, the blackberries are blooming like crazy, and there are even a couple of tiny apples and plums plumping up. I’ve been harvesting chamomile flowers (along with foraging a ton of red clover – which I use both for dried Winter tea, though I am considering some red clover wine – hmmmm). The baby chicks are feathering out (but still so cute).
In the kitchen, we’re working on another batch of Foraged Kimchi, Rhubarb Jam, Sourdough hamburger/hot dog brioche buns, and recipes to use more delicious ricotta (Lemon Ricotta Pie or little gnocchi-style gnudi, anyone?). It’s a relatively quiet moment to get a few projekts done – still need to build the chicken coop, but burning a lot of brush and getting some homework done. We still have some great seedlings for sale (giant zucchini/spaghetti squash/kabocha/green tomatoes and mini-but-ready-to-go lemon cukes, johnny jump-ups, a few cherry/green/goldie/cherokee heirloom tomatoes, calendula, orange bell peppers).
The end of this week is Summer Solstice and Father’s Day so it will be a full weekend of lovely fun and celebration!
Rock Bottom Homestead 