Basket full of eggs
Lima beans
Basil
Yellow cherry tomatoes
Green beans
Peaches
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Figs
Fall tomatoes
Lemon yellow cucumbers as tall as fruit trees!
Sorrel
Lemon cucumbers
Tromboncino squash
These last two weeks, I had to check the calendar to see if we were in the right month – feels more like June than August. Nice thick, cool marine layer in the morning keeps the weather quite pleasant. Since the mornings are cool, I needed to put on a light sweater for early morning chores. Not really the normal attire for this time of year. But, not complaining, not complaining one bit.
Figuring we aren’t going to escape the heat long, I fear that it could end up being a hot fall or winter. Never know what Ms. Weather has in store. Likes to keep us guessing, I suppose.
You know that old saying “you are what you eat” ? Well, “these days we ain’t what we eat.”
Grist just came out with this insightful article which says:
In 1950, your parents, grandparents, or a perhaps a younger version of you could eat a handful of string beans — about three-and-a-half ounces — and get about 9 percent of the calcium you needed for the day. Almost 50 years later, in 1999, the amount of calcium in string beans dropped by 43 percent, leaving you with only 5 percent of your daily calcium – Not Your Grandma’s Strawberries
This article doesn’t come as a surprise to me as I am a firm believer that the reason why folks rave over our produce, saying “they never tasted anything this good, even at farmer’s market” is because, over the last 25 years, we’ve not only grown food but also the soil. Healthy soil is what gives the plants a higher nutrient value and amazing flavor, too!
Already looking forward, starting to transition over to fall plantings. Summer went by so fast! Hope everyone had a wonderful and productive one.
How’d your summer garden and canning efforts shape up this year?
Comments(8)
Dan Langhoff says:
August 23, 2011 at 3:12 pmMy summer garden and canning has exceeded my expectations this year. Record harvests and overflowing pantry. Very nice feeling.
I think you may be right about a hot southern California fall and winter, its time to get the winter tomatoes in the ground, even though the summer ones are still plugging along.
We are getting a big dose of summer here in Ramona this week. It never fails, when school starts, nature’s heater cranks it up a notch.
Mia says:
August 23, 2011 at 4:04 pmDear friends,
So glad to see that the homestead is continuing to flourish–everything looks so lush and healthy! I agree that it seems like this Summer has flown by! Our garden is pretty worn out by the heat, ready to be freshened up with seedlings of tender greens 😉
Continue to stay encouraged, grow in knowledge, and homestead on!! Y’all do an excellent job and inspire us.
All the way from the georgia countryside,
~Mia
Anais Dervaes says:
August 24, 2011 at 5:46 amHello dear Mia
Good to hear from you, so nice of you to comment. Actually, I was just visiting your blog the other day. 🙂 Love the post and pictures about Cottage Industry. My, what a busy and productive summer you’ve had! 🙂
Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments. They are indeed mutual – you do much to inspire me! Thank you!
Wishing you and your family a blessed and bountiful fall harvest.
Love
Anais
Eloise Martindale says:
August 23, 2011 at 8:21 pmWe are getting lots of Scarlet Runner Beans, Provider Beans, Romanesco Zucchini, Trombonchio Squash, Daikon Radishes, Basil & Letuce. Bell Peppers are not doing well this year. Tomatoes are just starting, very late. Having trouble with gophers, voles & rats. Caught a rat eating my tomatoes. All six hens are laying like crazy. The corn is growing. The Satsuma Plums are about ripe. Yum yum!!!!!!! Life on an urban micro-farm.
You all are a major inspiration. Thanks bunches.
Lisa says:
August 24, 2011 at 4:46 pmI’m living vicariously through you. We had tomatoes early summer, okra now. We are on stage 2 of water rationing. I had to give up dreams of a fall vegetable garden. It’s been over 100 degrees for weeks! Pray for rain in our area.
Maria says:
August 24, 2011 at 10:58 pmHi!
I am new to canning, but friends came to me with, apples, a kind of plums, herbs and lot more. This year my kitchen is full of marmelades, applebutter, herbsalts, dried herbs and jams. I have a question; for canning vegetables, do I need a pressurecooker?
Laurie says:
August 26, 2011 at 3:02 pmHot and dry here in Georgia. The ground has turned to bricks I think. I have recently discovered your website and blog and am enjoying it. I hope to learn from you all as I have a small raised bed garden and chickens (who love the raised bed gardens). Have canned tomatoes, pickles, relish and jam this summer and I love it. I hope to do more in the future.
Juanita Gilmore says:
September 9, 2011 at 5:48 pmI love the pictures of your beautiful produce! It is truly food art, good for the soul:)