Garden Savings

I often find myself asking...myself...if the garden is worth it. There are some sacrifices in terms of time invested, one will have to spend 2-4 hours per week harvesting and weeding. More in the spring to bring it to life and more in the winter to put it to bed. But there are some clear savings too. I don't have to run to the grocery store as often, and when I'm there I'm not wandering the aisles pondering what to get: it's milk and eggs, the rest is at home. I don't track my spending all that closely, but I did sign up for Mint.com's service a couple years ago and they keep track of all my transactions. And that got me thinking... How much am I saving?

You can see on average I spend $290 on food per month. July, August, Sept are the harvest months where my spending crashes. I'm spending $100 less then average. That works about to about $10/hr invested in the garden. Of course the savings goes further into the year, as my freezer is loaded with food I'll be using all winter. Nicole and I canned 7 pints of tomato sauce last week, and we will be canning some more this week by my estimates. I just took some zucchini bread out of the oven and that freezes well. It makes a nice treat in mid January.

As much as I'm saving it raw currency, I'm also investing in myself. I doubt I've ever been as healthy as I am now - Nicole laughs because I don't fit into my pants anymore, and I've run out of belt loops (hard to believe I ever had to buy 34s). And that's mostly because of diet, I don't exercise anymore then one 3mi run a week and lawn care. Having a garden, with all this produce sitting on your counter, in your fridge, in your freezer, forces you to eat it. There's very little way to avoid it.

There was a recent experiment by some business students at New Mexico University which modified shopping carts by placing a line of duct tape across the middle of a shopping cart and an accompanying sign which stated "this section for fruits and vegetables." The people who used the modified cart bought 102% more fruits and veggies then those with normal carts.

Having a garden in your back yard, assuming you have the self discipline to use it, is like having a modified shopping cart. It nudges you to eat fresh, eat right, and eat locally. Next time you find yourself at the grocery store, bring the duct tape. And next spring, plant a garden.

metaphor

Breakfast: Fresh Tomato and Basil egg scramble
Lunch: bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich
Dinner: Steamed Swiss Chard, Green Beans, and Herb coated chicken wings on the grill

The garden is a burden of deliciousness.

Nate's Chops

• 5 leaves Parsley
• 10 twigs of Thyme
• 5 twigs of Oregano
• 5 twigs of Tarragon
  
• 2 tsp salt
• zest of a lemon
• 2 tbls olive oil
• 2 pork chops or 4 lamb chops

Grind the parsley, thyme, oregano, and tarragon in the food processor. Add the salt, lemon zest, and olive oil to the herbs, mix well. Apply thick coating to either side of chops. Cook on grill, high heat, six minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes before devouring. Goes well on a bed of rice.

Remainder of the lemon goes well in a salad. Just coat the lemon slices in a heavy dose of sugar. Let sugar absorb for 10-20 minutes. Toss into salad.

Serves 2.

Seed Saving

One of the beauties of buying heirloom seeds is the ability to reseed the next year from the very same seeds that grew, flowered, and turned to seed once more the previous year. The hybrid seeds delivered by Burpee typically have the 'sex' gene bred out of them. They say this done is to preserve the plants characteristics, but of course what this really means for them is sustainable profit year after year as consumers have no choice but to buy seed the next year.

The unmodified seed varieties we've purchased this year from Seed Savers and Baker Creek are producing wonderful flowers, and in some time we will be collecting the seeds to regrow next year. The broccoli, lettuce, and bok choy are in bloom, and the onions and chives (bi-annuals) are already done flowering. Here's a photo of my work earlier today in collecting some onion seeds:

Raspberries Abound!

Were I to believe the weatherman, something I seldom do nor advise, we have seen over two more inches of rain fall relative to the average June. The amount of rain we've seen has lead to some of the most wonderful raspberries I've ever tasted. The are so plentiful and exploding with water - I picked about 2 quarts this evening, and that was after Nicole and I pillaged them for our breakfast yesterday; homemade waffles with raspberries and cool-whip. They are ripening so fast you'll pick the plant clean, move on to the next plant, and when your down the first plant has some more ripe (Nicole would say I'm missing them all but she's full of lies!).

I see a pie in my future.

Marvin the Monarch

It's been a while since our last blog entry!  I blame the nice weather, fun things we've been doing, and amount of time spent working.  This blog entry is the story of Marvin, our pet monarch butterfly.  Nate and I adopted Marvin when we were up at the cabin frolicking in the meadows.  Nate found the then tiny Marvin munching on a milkweed leaf (he's the minute squiggle):

We took Marv and his leaf and put him in an old coffee jar.  He made the trek back to Minnetonka in the car.  Nate collected milkweed at work or we picked it at the park every few days to keep Marvin's diet healthy and fresh.  He had a ravenous appetite.  Soon we had quite the caterpillar!

One day we found Marvin in his "J-position", hanging upside down in his jar.  This is the first step the caterpillar takes in becoming a butterfly.  Marv had anchored himself by his rear end to the top of the jar and was hanging in a curved shape.  Soon, he formed his chrysalis.

You can see the "gold necklace" at the top of his chrysalis.  This is characteristic of monarchs.  Very cool!  Marvin stayed inside for over a week and we could slowly see him taking shape through the outside of the chrysalis.  Then one day...

He emerged!  He hung on the remains of his chrysalis and filled out his wings.  When he looked ready to go, we carefully transferred him to a stick and placed him outside, ready to fly away.

In about an hour Marvin was gone.  He had taken his first flight and probably found a tasty flower to snack on.  Goodbye Marvin!  I hope you lead a wonderful life as a Monarch Butterfly and do all the good, beautiful, pollinating things that Monarchs do!

Mystery Heirlooms

At last week's farmers market, Nicole and I purchased some fingerling seed potatoes from one of the vendors, choosing three varieties: French fingerling, Blossom, and Austrian Crescent. We loved the unique colors and patterns, characteristics you don't get from your standard Russet or Yukon Gold varieties. They would make for a great addition to our All Blue's, which just decided to poke their heads through the ground!

Thyme and I prepared the starters last weekend, then I planted them Wednesday. I'm not sure the treatment of these were the best; but worst case they don't sprout and we plant something else.

Interesting fact: the USDA estimates that on a per capita basis, Americans eat one hundred twenty-four pounds of potatoes each year.

French Fingerling
Interesting marbled interiors.

Blossom
Interestingly, I can find nothing on the internet about Blossom. For all we know, the farmer could be making up the name; or we could be holding onto a unique heirloom that has not received enough publicity. Nevertheless, these are the most unique.

Austrian Crescent

Discovery

Today Nicole and I started with the 2010 garden expansion - the addition being a long row meant for this years potatoes and onions. Nicole had to leave around 5:00 and so I was left to finish things up. As the day wound down there was a large pile of weeds and lawn that was destined for my make-shift compost pile in the backwoods. I opened the back fence to begin the many trips to and fro, giving Apollo access to the neighbors yard. Ten minutes later he refused to come back, so I went after him and started to trek into the woods. Not 20 paces in I got distracted by some old, crumbling chicken wire and decided the dog can wait - he's not really going anywhere anyways. I wrapped up the wire into a roll, turned around to make my way towards the house, and spotted this:

Our very own Morel mushroom. These things are rare. Very rare. At the Mill City Farmers Market today they were going for $50.00 / lb. Besides being Minnesota's very own State Mushroom (statue 1.149), the morel is prized among gourmet chefs and mushroom hunters alike. Personally, I never had the pleasure of enjoying them. But all that is about to change.

Nate's Beautiful Drawing

This drawing is a hand-hewn representation of our garden that was a gift from Nate for our 12-week anniversary.  Not to gross any of you out, but could he BE any cuter?  (The answer is no).  I think it's beautiful and have even gone so far as to make it the wallpaper on my laptop.  Just wanted to share it with you all because not only do I love it, but it also gives you a feel for what we'll be planting and harvesting this year in our garden.

- Nicole

(click to enlarge the image for a better look)

Taters!

Potatoes are beautiful and amazing little things.  Chop them up and give them the right home, and they'll multiply like rabbits!  Nate and I chose the beautiful All Blue potatoes from Seed Savers.  I like these because they are an heirloom variety and I am a huge proponent of heirloom vegetables.  For those not familiar with the term, and heirloom variety is a variety of fruit, herb, or vegetable that has been passed through a family.  These seeds have been saved each year and kept as a treasured part of a family's livelihood.  The benefit of growing heirloom seeds is threefold:

1) Genetic diversity is maintained in our food supply.  These seeds haven't been produced in an agribusiness nor have they been genetically modified.  Since each variety is genetically unique, there is greater resistance to pests and disease.

2) It is easier to find unusual, often more nutritious varieties.

3) It is far more interesting!  Using heirloom seeds ties people to historically significant food crops.  I once had an apple at the Madison farmer's market that originated from an orchard in Russia in the 1800's.  The apple was small, but so juicy and tasted like raspberries!  It was incredible.

I also like this variety of potato because they were produced organically, and since Nate and I don't use chemicals on our garden, they will maintain their integrity.  This is especially important for potatoes, since they are one of the most pesticide intensive crops raised today and can contain as many as 37 different pesticides.  For this reason, they harbor many of these compounds even after a good wash AND after peeling.  The problem has gotten so bad that it is now recommended by some organizations that conventionally produced potatoes not be fed to young children.  Even more upsetting is that many potato farmers won't eat the very potatoes they are growing, and instead have a separate plot for their family that is not treated with pesticides or herbicides.  Boy am I glad to be growing my own!  Our crop will provide Nate and I with good potatoes for the whole winter (I hope).

Here is the process of potato awesomeness that took place about a week ago.

Spikey eyes!  These potato eyes are erupting into sprouts and are PURPLE!  How cool is that?  We cut them so each nub had at least a few eyes.

Here is what they look like when you cut into them.  They "bleed" purple juice everywhere!  These are going to be so fun to cook with. 

Now they are sitting snug in trenches in the garden.  We will be adding another variety of potato to the garden soon, so not all our potatoes will be blue.  I can't wait until it is fall and we can dig them up!  Harvesting potatoes is such a treasure hunt.  Then we will have a plethora of potatoes!  I'm not sure if the All Blues will be good for mashed potatoes, but I'm going to find out.  The idea of blue mashed potatoes is just TOO appealing!  Might be time to scour Goodwill and Sal. Army for an old hand mixer.

Potatoes and love, until next time,
     - Nicole and Nate

Spring at Big Woods State Park

Last weekend Nate and I took a trip down to the Northfield, MN area and explored Big Woods State Park. For those of you unfamiliar with the area, the Big Woods was once a huge temperate hardwood forest spanning most of southern Minnesota. Most of the trees have since been logged or cleared for farmland, but the state park preserves a part of what was once a rich forest biome. We set out in search of early spring wildflowers, hiking six miles and finding all sorts of wonderful blooms poking out of the leafy forest floor. Using Clayton Oslund's book "What's Doin' the Bloomin'?" we identified most of what we found and learned lots of interesting bits along the way!

Wildflower and Horsetail Rush

 Wild Ginger

Dutchman's Breeches

Bloodroot

May Apples and Trout Lilies

Trout Lilies

Pileated Woodpecker damage

Hidden Falls

Marsh Marigolds fill a dry creekbed

 Nate and Apollo enjoy the stream

Garden Season is Here!

Hello friends, and welcome to our garden blog! We hope this will be a way to allow our friends and families to follow our gardening escapades. When winter comes, we'll be talking about what we're doing with all this food we grew, how we preserved it, what we're cooking, and fun tidbits about growing your own food. We have some seeds in the ground and a couple veggies already erupting from the garden beds, but I don't have photos for you just yet. They'll be up in the next couple days. More entries and adventures to come soon, and if you have a garden of your own, share your experiences in our comments!

<3 Nate and Nicole