My Green Thumb Confesses

Just-dug-up garlic. Beautiful big bulbs, although most of them have only 4 (large) cloves.

My green thumb really is not so green this year. Even though digging in the dirt and feeling the earth between my fingers would have a welcome therapeutic effect on my soul, I have barely spent any time gardening this spring and summer. I’m finding it difficult to take a break from baby care, at a time when it isn’t too hot outside, to exercise my green thumb.

The real gardener this year is David. He weeded, prepared the beds and planted seeds and seedlings. He waters the veggie patch, wages war with the weeds,  and reports back regularly on new sprouts, what’s ready to harvest and the latest destruction by the squirrels and groundhog.

What’s left of the radishes — tops and tails — after the passage of the squirrels. A wasteland.

David’s parents also lent a hand for a day back in spring to help get the garden in shape and sow the first rows — we just harvested the beets from that planting!

Freshly harvested beets, getting ready for pickling.

I admit to being a lazy gardener, but this is extreme, and sad. think I did more last year, when I was pregnant! At least I’m not letting the early harvest go to waste. Every day, I take pleasure in picking whatever is ripe and ready and transforming the fresh veggies into a meal.

Meanwhile, I’m thankful that the garden is as important to David as it is to me, that he is making sure it is thriving when I can’t.

A Magical Garden

Just back from visiting my parents in Richmond, B.C.. One of the things I like most about visiting them, especially in the summer, is their garden. It really is a magical place: big, lush, and colourful. There are fruit trees that provide abundantly, garden art hidden among the greenery and surprising you at every turn, a little man-made stream that babbles all day long – soothing sounds – and, of course, a vegetable garden. It’s a place to play, to relax, to meet, to eat, and to enjoy!

Herb Butter

Herb butter is a handy condiment to have on hand. It adds a taste of summer to steak, baked or roasted potatoes, pasta, sautéed vegetables, fresh crusty bread…

I make a batch once the herbs in my garden are established and starting to get big. All it takes is a handful of fresh herbs – whatever combination you have or prefer – and half a pound of softened butter.

My food processor doesn’t do well with herbs. I chop them finely first, then put them in the food processor with the butter and several pinches of salt. Blend until well combined. Herb butter keeps well, so I put half the batch in the fridge and the other half in the freezer.

Freshly made herb butter.

Dad’s Dried Apple Slices: All-Natural Teething Rings

Dad’s dried apple slices. (The red apple in the picture is not one of my parents’ apples.)

Sometimes things get lost in my cupboard. The dried apple slices made by my dad are one of those things. The other day I saw the bag peeking out from behind other bags and boxes, and, all of a sudden, I thought, “Perfect!”

I’ve seen the teething bagels and cookies at the store, but these apple slices are the perfect shape, size and texture to act as all-natural teething rings!

My parents’ apple tree blossoms, early May.

The apple tree was there when they bought the house more than 25 years ago. Although they brought apple and tree specimens to numerous botanists, no-one has been able to identify the type of apple. And the tree produces lots of them, year after year.

They are relatively big and round apples, rather tart, better for cooking and baking than for eating out of hand. My dad makes them into cider, apple sauce, dried apple slices, and gives them away. My mom stocks the freezer with sliced apples, and makes apple pie and apple crisp.

I get a regular supply of dried apple slices. My dad makes them crisp rather than soft like most store-bought ones. And they have flavour, unlike most store-bought ones!

Baby chewing on a dried apple slice.

Baby loves them! They keep her busy for a while. She tears at the rings with her two little teeth and then sucks on them until they are soft. It makes me happy to think that Baby is getting all that love and goodness from my parents’ backyard.

Veggie Patch Propaganda

She already knows where the good stuff is going to come from!