Tuesday, June 29, 2010

A dinner worth writing (ok, bragging) about...

First off, I just had to share this picture with you!  Playing in the rain!


Tonight's dinner just had to be shared!  

We start with the halibut, caught on my Dad's boat last week out of Seward.  This picture is of my Father-in-Law, who should be very proud of himself!

Here it is again, just thawed.

Turnip greens, Spinach and Kale, from the garden.

The halibut is seasoned with olive oil, lemon and curry powder, dried onion, and fresh green onion from the garden.

A nice cup of tea while I cooked, flavored with milk from the local dairy, and local honey I bought at the farmers market.

Sauteed the greens with some olive oil and minced garlic.

Halibut is baked until just flaky.

The finished product, and it was SO yummy!  The boy kept stealing the greens off my plate!


How's that for a sustainable, local, completely chemical-free dinner?!

In other news, I changed the front path from the driveway to the deck.  I had a flower box up against the wall before:


I moved the flower box and the bench that was on the deck:




I like the feeling of sitting in a little garden that you get now when you sit on the bench.  It also freed up a little room on the deck.  What do you think?

OK, that's quite enough!

I'm ready for the sun to come back!!! 

Friday, June 25, 2010

A garden update, and a mystery plant!

Here's a few photo's to update you all on the state of the garden.  I have to say, this is the most beautiful, most productive garden I have ever had!!!


My newest flower box... Rose, Peony, and Bleeding Heart



Porch Tomatoes

Edible salad flowers

Apple Mint and Chocolate Mint

Rhubarb

Cucumbers and Summer Squash

Eggplant is looking good!

Tomato blossoms

More Tomatoes

Broccoli, Turnip, Green Onion, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce, and Radishes

Kale, Spinach and Lettuce

Cabbage, Onion and Brussels Sprouts

Green Beans

More Cabbages

Broccoli

Swiss Chard is not doing much right now

Dianthus (volunteer)

New Rhubarb plant

My new wheelbarrow garden


Now for the mystery plant:



Anyone have any idea what this is?

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Report: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans - Yahoo! News

Report: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans - Yahoo! News

Our actions have so many more consequences than we realize. One more reason to do without these harmful chemicals that seem to be everywhere!

"Tomato - A Fresh-from-the-Vine Cookbook"

I just want to say that I LOVE this cookbook!  I have quite a collection of cookbooks, mostly vegetarian ones, and this one takes the cake!  There are over 150 tomato recipes and they all look delicious!  I just wanted to share with you all because the tomatoes are going to be in full swing soon.  Check this book out!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

The tomatoes

 Just an interesting note... while the tomatoes that are in the hoop house are definitely looking healthier, the first bloom officially goes to one of the two which are just out on the deck in a pot, not sheltered at all.

Alaska Dirt: New Alaska Cheese Regulations

If you live near southcentral, please take the time to go to one of these meetings and let them know that we need our small farm operations!

Alaska Dirt: New Alaska Cheese Regulations

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Its a little wet out there...

We're finally getting some much needed rain!  Unfortunately its a typical Alaskan rain, where it drizzles all day but without any major accumulation.  Regardless, it will help with the many wildfires burning right now, and my garden is VERY happy.  I did have to leave the hoop house closed up today, to maintain a more reasonable temperature.  It has been in the mid 80's for over a week, and today it never got higher than 55.  My Brussels Sprouts are happy for the shower, growing twice their size in the last 24 hours, and the cabbages are chugging right along themselves.  The beans are sprouting like crazy, and the lettuce is absolutely singing out there!

Mom and I went to Northern Fruits Nursery in Palmer today.  She got 2 Evans Cherry Trees for a very decent price, and I got a 3 color Peony.  The owner is a lovely woman who was even kind enough to invite me into her home to show Lily the cutest little gosling!  I have been going to this greenhouse for trees and perennials for about 12 years now, and she never disappoints!  I just created a new flower bed where the remains of the first compost pile was and I will add the Peony to that, planting it amongst the Iris and Columbine.  I'll take a picture when the sun comes back out!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Some Garden Porn...

So, I have been promising some pictures... and today I finally had a chance to get out in the garden with a camera!  The following is a photo journey through my gardens, although there are a few things I have missed, I am sure.  Everything is really starting to take off, and I think I might actually have some success this year!  I'm so excited!!!

Anyway, here are the pictures!

Blue Shrimp Flower






My outdoor tomato experiment...


Raspberries!!!

Alaskan Wildflower Beds

The Rhubarb is happy to finally be transplanted

Strawberries

New Gooseberry seedlings

Got the new compost pile started

Snap Pea seedlings

Swiss Chard

Broccoli, Turnip, Leek, Green Onion, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce and Radishes

Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Yellow Onion, and White Onion

The first of 78 green bean seeds to sprout...

I'm not even using my greenhouse this year, just this improvised hot house made with recycled tent poles.

Eggplant, 4 types of summer squash, tomatoes and cucumbers

The squash looks very content!


It has been wonderful to spend so much time in the garden lately, but its really nice to have everything planted and just need to water and occasionally pull a weed.  I will be planting some more radishes and lettuce within the next day or so, depending on how Lily feels about being in the stroller outside!  She really enjoys watering the garden with me, watching my every move very carefully from her perch on my hip.  I may have a second little gardener in training!

Question for my readers... is anyone harvesting anything yet?  I have been using the herbs and lettuce, but I can't wait until the other veggies start making their appearances on the dinner table!