Fall and Winter Vegetables

Today we transplanted the kale, arugula, rougue di'hiver lettuce, carrots and spinach into the raised beds. We then also sowed some mâché and mizuna into the raised beds. I never truly have had a successful fall/winter garden, I'm hoping that changes this year. 

We also harvested some tomatos, okra and jalapeños.

Growing a Bit of the "South"

We've been able to bring a bit of the "South" to our garden. We have four okra plants that have been giving us okra all summer long. It became a favorite southern vegetable while we were living in Georgia, and are happy that we've been able to keep it with us by growing some here in Philadelphia. Next year I'll try for at least five plants, maybe six, and we may not even need to buy any okra at all, which we've come close to with the four plants we have now. Our daughter says that okra is her favorite vegetable, and is so excited that we are growing it in our garden. Julia was able to make a great Okra Tempura dish all from the okra from the garden, as well as rice flour that she milled herself.

August Harvest

Last night's harvest consisted of our first Great White tomato. The Great White's are large, this one weighed 1lb 6oz. 

Fall Lettuce & Cilantro

We've started sowing seeds for our fall garden. So far its oakleaf lettuce,  leaf mix lettuce and cilantro. Hopefully I'll start some snap peas soon. The entire time I was in the garden I had a little inquisitive friend following me along.

Tomatoes and Compost

Last night our garden finally started yielding some tomatoes (other than the cherry size ones on the little tomato plant we have growing on the deck, which has been giving us tiny tomatoes for 2 weeks now). I was able to harvest one 'Cuore di Bue', one 'Stripped Stuffer' and one 'Old German' so far.

Our Marigolds have been growing like crazy in the garden as well. 

One side of my compost bin was ready, so I emptied it out yesterday and spread it out to cure some more under our peach tree. I love that we are slowly moving to being more sustainable, this is the first time I was able to harvest a large amount of compost that originated from our food scraps and yard and garden waste, and will now in turn feed our plants that will feed us.

Antonio's Nightstand

This year for Antonio's birthday I decided to give him a nightstand. But instead of just buying one, we decided to design and then build him one that he can hang on the wall up on the top bunk of his bed.

So I started out with a simple sketch, and then bought a piece of 1"x 6" x 6' pine.

The plain, uncut board was waiting for him with a bow on top in the living room among his other presents. He didn't know what to make of it when he saw it. Then he realized that it was somehow his present. His first guess was a diving board. When he found out that the wood was for him and I to make a nightstand together he got really excited.

 We made all the cuts, and put it together, using my Kreg Jig to make some of the joins as pocket holes.

Then we stained and sealed the wood, and finally hung it on the wall next to the top bunk of his bed.

Peaches

Our peach tree is growing nicely. The few peaches I left on the tree for is to taste are starting to ripen.