Hi there, Rural Sprout readers, The week has come and gone, and no one has put that load of laundry away that’s sitting at the bottom of the stairs. I asked the cats to do it, but instead, Yuki took a nap in it. Now my crisp, button down oxford is less crisp and also hairy. I still
haven’t dropped off that Amazon return I started two weeks ago. And there is an actual layer of dust on the book I’ve been reading. That’s because we have reached the point in the summer where the garden is exploding. Every square inch of counterspace in my kitchen is covered in vegetables. Last week, the lovely wooden bowl on my table was filled with apples. This week it’s filled with eggplant, zucchini and poblano peppers. I’ve got carrots and shallots coming out of my ears. My daughter and son-in-law were kind enough to let me put all of the onions in their shed because I didn’t have the room in my little garden shed. And I’m scared, dear reader, because the tomatoes haven’t even come online yet!I planted Sungold cherry tomatoes. Three of them! Do you have any idea how prolific Sungolds are once they start producing? There are already about a hundred tiny green Sungold tomatoes out there. And that doesn’t take into account the eight other tomato plants covered in green tomatoes growing right alongside them. I’m scared that this is it. This will be the year that I’m buried alive by vegetables in my tiny, little kitchen. So, there’s really only one realistic option here. Grow a much smaller garden next year. Pfffffft! Just kidding. I’m buying a house! Grow a smaller garden; I can’t even type it without laughing. Renting this lovely little house in the country has been wonderful. (Minus the tornado and the week without power.) But as I explained to my absolutely lovely landlady, I have two teenage boys stuffed into that small second bedroom, and they just keep
growing. We need more space as a family. Her response? Have you considered not feeding them?She cracks me up. I’m going to miss her. But it’s time for my own space. I want a home where I can put all of my crazy gardening ideas into action. (Having living room walls a color other than DMV Beige will be nice, too.) And the kitchen has counters
larger than a postage stamp! Will I cover these with entirely too many tomatoes, too? Oh please, do you even need to ask? I’m closing in the middle of August, so between now and then, I have to pack up the house and pack up the produce. I’m already planning my garden, or rather gardens plural, in our new space. Sleep? Meh, it’s
overrated. P.S. The new house, unfortunately, comes with a pool table in the basement. The boys are excited about all the pool they are going to play. I said I would give it a month before the novelty wears off, and it becomes the official laundry folding table. Or, you know, Yuki’s new favorite place to take a nap. On the clean clothes, of course.
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Stop throwing your carrot tops away; start making easy and flavorful dishes with them instead. This edible part of the carrot is a versatile leafy green.
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When the weatherman predicts periods of extreme heat, gardeners need to be concerned about sterile pollen. Here's how to protect your garden.
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When you can't eat another bite of pesto, but you've still got tons of fresh basil, we've got some great ideas to help you use it all up.
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To prune or not to prune? When it comes to zucchini, a little pruning goes a long way, but it's a good idea not to skip it.
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Just one of many lovely views from Talleyrand Park We have a beautiful park where I live. No, really, it's quite something. My friends and I have a running joke where we will wager a
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Dahlias are some of the most stunning flowers you can grow each year, but they can also be divas. If your dahlias aren't blooming, here's why.
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Make a few batches of tomato powder; this easy pantry staple is big on flavor but doesn't take up much room.
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These vegetables don't need to be fertilized. In fact, fertilizing them could be causing more harm than good.
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In my quest for perfectly crunchy homemade pickles, I discovered refrigerator pickles. Here's my recipe for spicy carrot fridge pickles. They're addictive!
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If you've got a ton of basil on your hands, I'll show you four ways to freeze it - including my super simple basil freezing hack.
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Every summer zucchinis take control of the garden, some growing large enough to give more then 15 cups of grated green pulp per fruit! Even though zucchini is commonly treated as a vegetable, it is
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Garden arches are beguiling structures. Curving over the pathway, from one bed to another, they create these wonderful lush green tunnels to transport you through the rows. Passing under the vine-covered frames provides a blessed
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Garden trends are nothing new. But which ones stand the test of time? Here are five popular trends that I've decided to compost.
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Bindweed is undoubtedly one of the toughest weeds to ever make its way into your garden. Even the name strikes fear into most gardeners' hearts. Bindweed. Is your pulse racing now, too? This invasive creeper
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Did you miss a newsletter or want to read a few for inspiration? Find past newsletters here. Don't forget to check out our Facebook page for daily updates. That's all for this week, Rural Sprout Readers. |
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