We are digging in the dirt!: July 2010

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

P O L L I N A T I O N

These photos are not from plot #10, but still at Davis Park Community Garden. I enjoyed seeing the bees and managed to capture a few good pictures of them. With any luck I'll be able to use some of them as I teach my students science next year.

Click on the photo to enlarge them. They look best (I think) when larger!

July 13th Update

Apologies to those who are anxious to know how plot#10 is these days. Had a few days of a slow internet connection where it became frustrating when attempting to blog. Since this is not supposed to be a stress inducing activity, it was put on hold!

But now, here we are.... First a few pictures from the balcony. Remember, we have a few containers growing and a Topsy Turvy, really all due to the fact that we had too many plants in plot #10 and needed to spread them out. I've enjoyed watching the containers make their progress since I can do it while enjoying a morning cup of coffee or as I read a book.

Topsy Turvy on balcony. It's amazing how it grows upside down! A few flowers are present (along with my beach/bath towels) and I'm confident that the tomatoes will be seen soon.

The taller or "jen" container on the balcony. Waiting to see the first tomatoes show up on this plant. Although I don't have a picture of the other container, the shorter or "tera" container, it's the one that has a few tomatoes! I was complaining this weekend how I didn't have any tomatoes on the balcony. I went out there to water today (they need constant water since it's been so hot) and I was shocked to see 2 small tomatoes hanging out!!

Tuulikki - enjoys the balcony in the summer. She's hiding in the beach sheet. Suppose she's feeling a little camera shy?!

Small Cucumber and another Squash. The Cucumber went into a small salad on Sunday morning to accompany our vegetable frittata, but I'm not sure what I'll do with the squash. Better decide soon! Especially since there will be more to harvest before the end of the week.

"Peek a Boo" Tomatillo. Making slow, steady progress.

Super Sweet Tomatoes

The next photo is from a week ago to show the growth in these two tomatoes from July 3 to July 10.

July 3 (then)

July 10th (now)

A look at Plot #10. Our tomatillos are growing! They'll soon be taller than the Rainbow Spiral Supports we have for them.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

July 3rd Update

The tomatillo wrappers are forming and there are small tomatillos growing inside of them. There will be plenty of tomatillos in plot #10 soon....and with that that means that we'll be making salsa verde! Can't wait! It's been decided that more cilantro should be planted so that we have cilantro ready when the tomatillos are ready!

Other tomatoes are growing. Can't remember which is which at this point, but as they turn red identifying them should be a bit easier. We'll also be able to tell if those that had the "red" ladders to climb are more red compared to the others.

I'm hiding behind the tomatillos... showing off the rainbow spirals that are taming the tomatillos. Gardener's Supply Company could use me for a product model! ;-) Just kidding of course!

Other things that are still growing in plot#10 - squash, cucumber, peppers, mint, oregano, sage, basil, thai basil, and a variety of onions. Oh and how could I forget... We should have sunflowers opening soon too!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Fresh Summer Pasta

So, I'm not sure if it's against the name of this blog to dedicate a post to "post plot#10" but I'm doing it anyway!

I didn't make it to plot#10 today, in fact I didn't make it anywhere farther than the trash/recycling bins on the street today! But before I digress to what I did do for the day, let's just skip to the moment where I decided that I needed dinner.

As you know we've had several yellow squash come out of plot #10. I've decided that a new recipe or something different should be done with these vegetables as they come out of plot#10 to have a good variety of meals this summer.

Meal 1 with yellow squash was a few weeks ago... sauteed squash, eggplant, onions, and peppers served over rice. (Delicious)

Meal 2 with yellow squash really wasn't a meal, but a snack. Yellow squash chips, which I referenced in my last post. (Still delicious)

Meal 3 (that's tonight's meal!) is what I'm calling FRESH Summer Pasta! I should give credit to the recipe that started my meal...though I didn't actually follow it. So I'll just tell you what I did and then give you the picture run down!

What you'll need: 1 yellow squash (thickly sliced), 2-3 gloves of garlic chopped, 1 medium onion chopped, 2-3 Tbsp EVOO, salt/pepper to taste, 5 fresh mushrooms, fresh basil, fresh oregano, 2 fresh tomatoes chopped, angel hair pasta, a few pinches of shredded mozzarella.

It was pretty simple; in a large skillet add EVOO, garlic, and onions - cook on Med-High heat for 3 minutes. Start the water that you'll be boiling the pasta in in a medium pot (that way everything gets done at the same time!) Add the yellow squash slices to the skillet. Put them in in a single layer. Cover and let them steam/cook for about 10-12 minutes. I flipped mine a few times in that span of time. Add oregano/basil, mushrooms at about the 7 minute mark. (Hopefully your water is boiling and pasta has been added - al dente 6 minutes.) Add the tomatoes at the very end- the last 2 minutes. They don't really cook, but rather just get warm. Turn off heat on pot and skillet. Drain pasta. Plate it! Add cheese if desired.

If I do say so myself, this was tasty, and easy to make! And ... I know that I've shocked my mother in making a dinner by choice with tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms!!