Radishes

Earlier this May the kids were excited that there were radishes ready. They are always willing to try them after the excitement of harvesting them, but haven't truly acquired a taste for them yet.

Strawberry Jam

Last week Julia preserved some of the strawberries that we had picked from a local farm, as Strawberry Jam. The kids got into the action by helping mash the strawberries down, each waiting eagerly to take their turn.

She then got out our canning pot, and boiled the jars and filled them, so that they stand ready for our later enjoyment.

 

 

Strawberry Fields

The other week after work we all went out to a local farm to pick strawberries. We had a blast, the kids loved finding the plump read strawberries that asking to be picked. It is surprising haw fast we were able to collect 3 gallons worth with their help. We plan on eating some fresh, making strawberry jam, and then freezing the rest. Last year the strawberry jam Julia preserved allowed us to go the whole year without having to purchase any jam or jelly, it was great knowing that our whole year supply was homemade!

Easter Grass

I had been wanting to try to grow our own "Easter Grass" for the past two years, and finally I am doing it this year. The reasons for doing so, are that we can  not stand the fake plastic grass that gets everywhere, and want a more sustainable natural method of decorating the kid's Easter baskets. They were very excited to grow grass for their baskets, and helped fill the little tray with soil and put down a layer of wheat berries and then sprinkle them with water. We currently have a 5 gallon bin of wheat that we intend to grind into flour, so I was able to steal a few handfuls to use for the Easter baskets. Below is picture of the wheat six days later.

Irrigation System

This spring I decided to expand my irrigation system with a micro sprinkler system. It is by the same brand as the drip irrigation system that I installed last year for my potted plants in my patio, and connects to the timer. For the last few years I had been using a soaker hose for the non-potted plants, but been having to replace the hoses pretty much every year. So when I was going to buy a new one for this year, I started looked at other options, as the base system for the micro sprinklers is slightly more than twice as much than the soaker hose, I decided to try it, with the thought that this will last me much longer than the soaker hoses had been, and will be cost effective in the long run. I have been happy with the level of control that this gives me. I can adjust the amount of water getting to different plants in ways that the soaker hose never allowed. We'll see how it does in the heat of the summer.

Blueberries

 Last summer our then two year old blueberry bushes gave us over 2 pounds of measured berries (there were many that never made it to the scales, as they went straight into the mouths of Antonio and Julia Belén). It was a joy to have the bushes in our yard.

The kids really got excited about going out and checking the bushes, and watching the progress of the berries, watching as the grew in size, and turned from green to a nice dark rich blue. Once the berries were ready, we had a few weeks where the kids would constantly take little breaks from playing and you would find them elbow deep into the bushes picking juicy snacks.

Natural Sugar Snap Pea Supports

First, I apologize for the lack of posts. We have been very busy lately with the birth of our third child, but I intend to get into the habit of posting more. This past weekend we started our working on our spring garden. Antonio and Julia Belén helped me put together the supports for the sugar snap peas we had soaking from overnight. We used the trimmings from our hydrangea bush that I had purposely kept for this very reason. I like the natural look the exhibit, as well, can't beat the fact that they are free. After we put the branches into the raised bed, and I tied off the tops, the kids sowed the peas for me, the plants may end up coming up in clumps, as Julia Belén didn't quite understand the concept of the spacing, but she at least kept the peas in their correct squares in the raised bed.