Winter is prime time for garden planning, and savoring the bounty in seed catalogs with a warm cuppa is a cozy way to cheer up cold grey days!
A favorite organic gardener and chef in Wales, Gaz Oakley, reminds us to consider flavor, and include heritage varieties! A vegan himself, he has a little flock of retired rescue hens, in charge of pest management, providing companionship and fertility - and his neighbors are grateful for the eggs!
From my garden journal, 2006, "For too long vegetable gardening has been obsessed with shape and SIZE. Better that care be lavished from tilth to table on growing tasty food, whose beauty is a bi-product to be relished." Montague Don, the Sensuous gardener.
In a later chapter, Don comments that there was a shift to growing for size and quantity when men took on a larger role, as there's 'an inbuilt relationship between Horticulture and gastronomy when the person(s) cooking/ preparing the food is involved!'
In this morning's stroll around the poteger - my little dooryard garden - I gathered mountain mint, pineapple sage and rosemary for my tea; parsley, chard, dandelion and mallow leaves, kale, savory, thyme, oregano, onion and chives for a stir fry.
Herbs are an incredible resource, offering phytonutrients, and boosting the immune system! Many are perennial, and stay green year round. In my Pacific NW climate, I can gather fresh herbs and greens most days - and our garden is organic.
I added the fresh herbs to a handful of dried raspberry and nettle, plus a bag of 'Boston tea' for the last 5 minutes. With the greens, that's over a dozen different plants on my plate/ in my cup already!
It's been unusually mild this winter, so many which would usually die back are still green! In the back garden, there's more chard, Perennial kale, and a nice crop of arugula! I topped each of my beds with leaves for a cozy winter blanket.
In colder years, row covers protect the beds from frost, and cover crops provide more greens!
I feel SO fortunate to live in an area with a good gardening climate, and many local organic farmers who grow for health, sustainability and flavor! Severally local shops carry this local organic fare, and we have a year round farmers market!
- Grow what you want to see ending up on your plate
- grow herbs
- grow close
- harvest young
- eat fresh.
My parents have a greenhouse and I really enjoyed eating tomatoes all the way till Christmas. I can't wait for the more in the summer.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a treat!
DeleteWe used to have a fairly large garden, I loved filling my freezer with squash, peppers, eggplant and carrots. I turned our vegetable garden into Rich's memory garden 2 years ago but now I miss my vegetables so I'm making a smaller garden along the side of my house. I love all your herbs!
ReplyDeleteHow precious to have the memory garden for Rich 🦋
DeleteI love having several beds close to the house - it's so easy to gather something most days, and it's warmer than our more exposed back garden!
Nadya
I don't have space for a full garden anymore but I can definitely grow a few things in some pots, you've inspired me to grow something this spring!
ReplyDeleteOh, yay! That's so handy and manageable!
DeleteNadya
I am just a little jealous of your growing zone. It is still too cold to do anything here even with this mild winter and greenhouse. But almost time to seed onions and peppers. In another month or so I can think of doing some lettuce and snowpeas in the greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteYour greenhouse songs great, Lily - and a winter comfort.
DeleteI grew up 3 hours east of here - over our Cascade mountains! We could have a killing frost ANY day of ANY month!!
While I loved a lot about that area - I much prefer this climate!!
It is getting close to snow pea planting here - but I can do it outside!
🌿 Nadya