WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD 5/25/2018

freerepublic | 5/25/2018 | greeenyes

[greeneyes]

I have found a recipe for bread that I like to use. I use the grain I have grown and grind it fresh and mix with about 50/50 King Arthur’s all purpose or bread flour.

It’s an overnight-no knead bread. So I can just dump it onto floured board. Give it a fold and put it into a pan. I love the crusts! So I slice big slices off the ends, and then thick slice along the sides- middle can be used for croutons.

Nice and crunchy. I’m thinking I may buy some of the tiny individual loaf pans, and that way get more ends, but the carbs will be less per slice. Hot bread straight from the oven and real butter - nothing better.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks! He IS my Dream Come True. He’s the ‘boy’ version of me! It took me 50 YEARS to find him, so I appreciate EVERY day I have with him. :)

I’m trying to find ways to use my amassed ‘knowledge’ to help others. It’s got to involve growing food, being self-sufficient, learning how to do things, ‘by hand,’ etc.

There are SO many books out there that I don’t really want to write a book. Maybe a TV show? Cable access? LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

So Pretty! I love it when someone makes the effort to put some ‘Beauty’ where it’s not expected! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I always recommend Baker’s Creek as well as Seed Savers and, of course, Jung’s.

http://www.seedsavers.org

http://www.jungseed.com

I also have discovered Pinetree Garden Seeds. They sell smaller packets of seeds - less waste from year to year.

https://www.superseeds.com/

And Botanical Interests have the most LOVELY packaging and REALLY know how to Do It Right with your first order - beautiful seed packets, gorgeous shipping box, TONS of pamphlets and info sheets and free seed samples, too!

https://www.botanicalinterests.com/

And Renee’s Garden is ALWAYS worth a look-see:

https://www.reneesgarden.com/

[Ladysforest]

Ooooo, thank you!

[Wneighbor]

I married my dream hubby here at over 50 too. We are both quite thankful as we had some of those really bad marriage experiences before. So when I talk about all our kids and grandkids it’s a blend but the kids all fit like they were born together and the younger grandchildren aren’t cognizant that there isn’t a blood relation. Actually, of 21 grandchildren 7 have been born since we married, and 3 were born during the dating period, 2 weren’t even walking when we met and started dating so those kids just think we’re the grandparents because our exes aren’t in the picture.

The weird point on my end is that we realized even before we married that I have married the male version of my lifelong closest gal friend. When they first met sparks flew as often happens with people who are a great deal alike. It took about a year before they finally also became good friends. It was pretty dang weird seeing the same personality, one very male and the other very female. But, the personality suited me in a female running buddy for 40 some years till I met hubby. Now it makes a good husband friend. No gender bending just that much alike.

Five years ago my girlfriend was diagnosed with brain cancer. The same thing they say John McCain has but she only lasted 5 months. Two of her children were active duty Marines and the third was in rehab following a near fatal collision. Hubby took the bull by the horns and moved my friend into our house, by then they were good friends too. We took care of her until about 10 days before she passed when we all knew it was time for her kids to call in hospice, take military leave and be there. In my private thoughts I sometimes wonder if God didn’t give me *this* precious husband to help fill the space.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh, well, ask me again in 90 days. :^)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That is a wonderful story! I lost my best girlfriend to cancer, too. 14 years already - but I talk to her every day, so she’s still here, LOL!

And I agree 100% about God’s hand in all of this for both of us. We ARE put where we’re most needed in life, even if it’s not our own ‘ideal’ at the time. (My proof are my Step Sons.)

This past winter we lost my Step Dad who was married to my Mom for over 33 years. Pancreatic cancer, so it was relatively quick, but still plenty of time to make plans and say your Good-Byes. He, too, told my Mom to have her best friend of 40+ years move into the house with her so she’d have some company. We were there yesterday to inter his ashes and it’s working out beautifully for them both as her friend was in pretty dire straights financially, for a woman of 76 with no husband and no pension and a small SS check each month.

Again, God’s hand, no doubt! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It’s 6:15 am on Memorial Day Monday - I am heading out to water the garden and the remaining stragglers in the Greenhouse while it’s bearable out there.

We are having record-breaking heat this weekend, supposed to hit 98 today - with humidity, so it’ll be brutal!

But, I’ll not complain - we were still getting snowed on in April! ;)

[Augie]

Hot and humid here in Central Missouri the last few days. We got a bit of rain, just enough to forego irritigating the kitchen garden for a few days.

#2 Navy Son Clint is home and shacked up at my house after giving 12yrs to Uncle Sam. He's a big dummy for skipping out on the 8 more that would have earned him a full retirement, but it's nice to have him home.

Kitchen garden is rocking. I have tomatoes that are almost the size of a baseball. We'll be having BLTs on the 4th of July this year.

The weeds are growing fast, but Nanner is all fixed and we got the pumpkin field tilled up yesterday. I made a 2nd pass over it today. If we don't get any rain before my seed arrives it is ready to plant.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

(Moved here from the Q thread)

“I tried Malabar spinach one year, wasn’t pleased with the taste, it didn’t satisfy my love of spinach. Tried salad and cooking it.

I’d eat it if I was hungry. But I wouldn’t hunger for it. It might just me my tastebuds, no reason ever not to try new things. It did grow like a weed in the heat.”

You can also eat sweet potato shoots. I have tried it. There is a lot of white latex in the vine, so you want to avoid that. There are videos from Thailand or the Phillipeans where people eat sweet potato leaves. They may have figured out the variety to use or they may just have figured out how to cook it to make it palatable.