Never Water A Garden Bed Again Hugelkultur Huga what ?

Well when you think you know everything there is to to know about gardening. You always learn more. My wife thinks I am insane with all my crazy garden ideas but this one takes the cake.  I read up on a theory of growing a garden without ever needed to water a bed again. And this has been  proven  in desert like conditions. And yes I don't live in a desert but it was great excuse to bring home some iron and dig some holes. 

HUGELKULTUR

 Hugelkultur is German for "mound culture" the theory is mound some rotten wood and cover with soil and let mother nature do its work. Obviously I went to extremes on my project I dug a 7' deep whole and filled it with an big Willow tree that fell down in my woods. So as it rains the water will fill the hole and absorb into the wood and water will naturally release into the soil and plants will take as much water as it needs. As Mother nature does it work with in three years I should never have to water this garden bed ever again and should be able start plants earlier in spring  and grow longer in the fall. Oh yeah  Leo LOVED the machine as well.

As always enjoy life and have fun 

 

Final Harvest of The Year

Well its that time of the year, just before the first frost I harvest what is remaining on this years crop.  I wait to harvest the best of this years crop so I can save the seeds for the next years planting season. This will allow a much better crop for next year as the seeds year after year get accustomed to my soil.  Monsanto Seed Company can't stop me from saving my seeds. Until next year my friends. 

Enjoy life and Have Fun!!!

Basil & Butter ?

If you grow basil in your garden  and are looking for new ideas and ways to to use all the basil grown look no further my wife has found a useful way to utilize all the basil I grow . We can only make so much pesto and freeze it. I planted three different kinds of basil this year and my wife found a great recipe to use, a basil butter recipe that we all love.

Please Enjoy 

1-1/2 cups of basil leaves

2 sticks of salted butter

1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice

1/2  teaspoon of garlic salt

1/8 teaspoon of ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon of Penzy's season salt


Wash all basil leaves  grind leaves in food processor until finely chopped. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Spoon mixture into half pint Ball jar and refrigerate.

HOT PEPPERS!!! + Great Family & Freinds = FUN

This weekend we had a family gathering at the homestead. As I looked at my garden I had an abundance of Hungarian Hot Wax peppers. So I decided to pick what I had and search for a recipe. And I think I found a winner. I think my guests thought so as well,  for I didn't even get to sample one myself. It was a great day spending time with family and friends I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family. Thank you all for coming .

Enjoy Life & Have Fun 

Recipe:

Get two 8 oz. packages of  soften cream cheese mix with some Italian sausage already browned and drained, with your choice of herbs I used fresh oregano, thyme and basil from the garden. Slice the peppers in half and spoon the mixture into the peppers. Use toothpicks to hold peppers together for  baking phase. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 20 minutes once 20 minutes is complete take the tray out of oven and turn broil on high.  As the broiler heats up sprinkle on some grated Romano cheese and place back into the oven for five minutes . End result is heaven at least that is what I was told.

 

 

Asparagus - Patience Is a Virture

Growing asparagus is remarkably easy. But you must have some patience, as it takes three years before you can actually harvest the crop. But when its time time to harvest get ready because they grow quickly some can grow 10" overnight. Once you have an established bed you will have a good 10-15 years of  Asparagus growing year after year.  I can never get enough there are so many great recipes for Asparagus

Enjoy Life and Have Fun

Step one :

Buy some one year crowns this cuts a year of the harvest time , I purchased mine from walker plants online they have a few different varieties. http://www.walkerplants.com/products/Asparagus-Early-Season/

Step Two

Once you get the plants a couple hours before you plant the crowns soak the roots in water. After a few hours of soaking you can now plant.

Step Three

Dig a trench about 6 - 8 inches deep then spread the crowns into the trench. Plant the crowns about 15" apart and rows about 36" apart. Back fill the hole about 3 inches , once the you start to see growth back fill the rest of the trench.

Step Four

Let it grow and die out each winter and cut back in spring , until the third year at this time you can begin to harvest. But only for the first three weeks , 4 year you can extend to 4 weeks, 5 year you should be able to harvest for 8 weeks.

Jack In The Bean Stock

I have never grown Beans before so I didn't know what to expect. This year  I choose another Heirloom variety  a Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean also known as "Old Homestead" . They are stringless and rich in flavor. Probably the most popular pole bean grown. But I was amazed at what these beans produced. I planted 10 seeds this year and boy was I surprised they just keep coming . I strongly recommend trying a vertical method if you are tight on space. More on Vertical Gardening to come.

07/15/13

08/11/13

Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

The best thing about starting a garden is waiting  for the harvest  and a using that harvest to make outstanding meals. It hasn't been much of a harvest this year so far with all the wet weather. One thing I do have an abundance of is Basil. With that my wife made a delicious Italian Pesto Pasta Dish a recipe she got from Better Homes & Gardens in August 2013. and with the three different kinds of Basil it was outstanding.  Thanks Honey your the BEST

Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

8 oz of Bow Tie Pasta 

7 oz of Fresh Pesto ( Garden Fresh Basil) Yummmmm

1/4  Cup red wine vinegar 

1/2 tsp . Kosher Salt 

2 - 15 oz cans cannellini beans rinsed and drained 

1/2 - 5 oz. package of baby arugula 

2 oz. Parmigiano - Reggiano cheese, shaved

1/4 cup pine nuts , roasted 

Cook pasta according to directions and rinse and drain under cold water set aside, In a large bowl stir together pesto , vinegar , and salt. Add beans, cooked pasta , arugula, half of the cheese , and half the pine nuts. Toss well. Serve at once or cover and chill for up to 6 hours. Top with remaining cheese and pine nuts before serving

Conversation on Success

Two men having a conversation:

Man # 1 Says - You have made such a success of yourself, you have many houses all over the world and started many business's  and enough money to buy what ever you want, when ever you want. Congratulations on such a successful career and everything you have accomplished.

Man #2  Says - You have made such a success  of yourself you have raised four wonderful kids and and put all of them through college . Congratulations on your success and all you have accomplished.

How do you measure success ? Either way it doesn't matter as long as you are Having fun and Enjoying the way you do it.

My Blog was to be mostly  about gardening  and how I want to spread my passion for it.  I also want  to write about how life can be enjoyed one day at time.  No matter what we do in life it will have its highs and lows. So enjoy each day the best way you know how.

Enjoy Life and Have Fun

Garlic Thyme

Well its my favorite time of the year after months of waiting I can finally start to use my Garlic. This is the second year I  have grown garlic. And its probably the easiest thing to grow. First buy some garlic preferably organic. I purchased mine from Filaree Garlic Farm at www.filareefarm.com they have a wealth of information on the subject and many varieties of Garlic for sale. You only need to buy it once. You can use it over and over each year just save the largest bulbs and replant again in October.  If your in the northern climate the Hardneck Variety do very well in harsh winters. That's  all there is to having fresh garlic year after year. Buy, Plant, Eat and save some for next years crop.

As Always Enjoy Life and Have Fun.

Lee Lee and his Carrot

Ahhhh !!!! The joy of Gardening it doesn't get any better then this. Leo decided he wanted to pick some carrots today. A little early but it was FUN!!!! 

To Having Fun and Enjoying Life

I have decided to start a blog about my garden. I am looking to accomplish three things. One share my joy of gardening with others, second improve my writing skills (thanks Sissy!! ), and third have fun. I apologize in advance for any misspelled words or grammatical errors.  Here is small glimpse of this years garden filled with all Heirloom Vegetables for me and the family.