oh bummer!

OH BUMMER! Along came a storm and knocked out the pear tree. Changes the look of things and it was such beautiful shade. Many a picnic lunch was eaten under the shade of that tree in the short time we had it. Oh Bummer!

Check out my blog two blogs back to see what these beautiful flowers looked like a few weeks ago. Good thing I had the sense to set up with a vendor for the wedding because these sunflowers aren't gonna cut it! too hot, not enough rain and not nearly enough attention from me! maybe next summer?

Community Supported Agriculture...CSA

a few samples of the weeks' bounty

I am so glad I have had the opportunity to be part of a CSA this summer - especially since it is nearby and it has been too hot to head to our own farm to do much of anything. I joined Stoney Lonesome Farm in Gainesville as a "Harvest Helper" and in spite of related back problems have really enjoyed the weeks spent harvesting and packing up food for the CSA. My main goals were to learn and to try new foods and both have been accomplished. Swiss chard, baby bok choy and different greens have been part of the "new" harvest over the weeks since May. The whole idea behind sustainable agriculture and organic growing methods has really been an eye opener. The farmer's market in Manassas on Thursday nicely supplements my Wednesday package.

This week I received tomatoes, cucumbers, blue potatoes, red onions, garlic, beets, leeks, herbs and fresh flowers and a huge zuchinni which will become a chocolate cake soon.

A few new cookbooks grace my counter and I am eager to try some new things with fresh veggies. My most adventuresome to date was swiss chard gnocchi. Not only was it delicious but also surprisingly easy.

Someday soon, perhaps my own farm will support my "new habit." Afterall the watermelons we picked last weekend were the best we've ever had (of course)!

too hot to handle

Can't believe it's been six weeks since I blogged. My how time flies when you are planning a wedding. We've been to the farm several times but it has been just miserably hot this summer. The garden is officially (at least in my book) dead. I brought two watermelons home and they are super sweet and juicy but most everything else has dried up. Sadly the flowers do not look like they will make it for the wedding. They were gorgeous last week but pretty much gone this week.

This weekend we had a birthday party for Hayley who had turned 13 the previous week. I thought the girls would be miserable but they seemed to have a great time. ATVing, tractor scoop rides (who knew they were like a roller coaster) and tubing on the James River were all a hit that almost made us forget the heat. The shower on Sat afternoon that brought the temp down by 25 degrees helped too. Camping in the heat is not my cup of tea and it seemed that every few minutes we blew a fuse with the a/c but a good time was had by all.

long distance gardening

due to some complications, I had to stay home this weekend and John Deare and #1son went down to check on my garden and do some other chores. This is what they found - YIKES

Lots of growth - but not necessarily what we want growing - the grass is taking over the flower patch. But my menfolk did me proud and things were looking good by the time we left and a lot more was planted to so next weekend I plan to check out their handiwork in person.

it is difficult to garden from a distance

the weeds seem to know when you are not going to be around for a while - kind of like kids when mom is not around - hmm what can we get away with?! It took me 6 hours to get my home garden in order after being gone for 10 days - and that was just the back yard.

how does your garden grow?

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary - how does your garden grow?

It was pretty exciting to see the green leaves and stems bursting forth from my little patch of dirt. If they keep growing at this rate we'll have lots of sunflowers for the wedding (I counted about 50 plants), and maybe a pumpkin later and a watermelon at some point this summer. I weeded and mulched and made them comfy for a few more weeks until I can get back again to tend them.

Lots of fuzzy little peaches on the trees and teeny green apples - Each season has so much to look at and so much to photograph.

Enjoy the few I have posted.

farmgirl

farm girl at home : The Farmer's Market

Here at home in Manassas, our Thursday Farmer's Market has begun. They are also out en force on Saturday's but it is a much calmer and engaging atmosphere on Thursdays plus I am usually at the farm on Saturday. People are friendly, stopping to chat, ask questions, and offer samples (my favorite). Above you can see my purchases for this week. I am super excited about dinner tonight, Beets, Baby squash and stuffed blossoms, fresh peas, purple romaine, local strawberries, and fresh homemade bread. I also bought another dahlia plant and a purple basil plant. All this for under $20. I chatted with the farmer from whom I bought the herbs - he allowed me to taste leaves off of a few other basil plants - just call me a rabbit, haha. I love regular basil, which I already have, and decided to try the purple one this year too. I can just see a slice of red ripe tomato, a soft white slice of mozzarella and POW - purple basil leave drizzled in a little balsmic - yummo! Now if the tomatoes would just ripen. The other basil plant I might try yet is the Italian Basil. It has large leaves, almost lettuce sized and he said they were great for sandwiches - um, a caprese sandwich on a rustic artisanal loave - oh my!
I also chatted with the pie lady and sampled her Strawberry Rhubarb pie. I will purchase one next week I think. We discussed rhubarb and she said it is up and almost ready - just needs to turn a bit redder. Can hardly wait! Farm boy and I love rhubarb anything. This year will be rhubarb jam making - I haven't done that in so long.
My CSA starts pretty soon too. I think in two weeks I need to report to work, although I haven't officially heard yet. But according to the chatter at the market things are really picking up - garlic is almost ready, everything at the market is getting more substantial in size and variety is increasing. so are the prices a little bit. Last week all onions were $1 a bunch, this week they all seemed to be $1.50.
I'm off to the kitchen to rustle up a veggie dinner.

farmgirl