Naomi and I were collecting raspberries this evening. We have three or four varieties on our land, perhaps more. This year has been very good. We normally get only a handful, but we have collected a couple of pints so far. Click on the image for a larger view of this jar of fruit.
Tag Archives: Self-sufficient Life
Tomatoes in July
The summer in Maine has very little margin for error for growing tomatoes. A cool summer can leave us with a lot of unripened green fruit by the end of the season. We did pick a few of our first tomatoes this week, but many of our plants are still in bloom. Click on the image for a larger view. (While tomato flowers attract the usual pollinators you except to see, we were surprised to see our hummingbirds feeding from them.)
The Garden Returns
While the weather has been cool, our garden is starting to come to life. The plum and apple trees have blossomed and they are starting to bear fruit. Our grapes are just putting out their buds. Click on the image for a larger view.
Sage
While outside has been in the firm grip of winter, inside is showing signs of spring. Our sage has come into blossom. In Maine, sage is supposed to survive in the garden through winter, but we lost most of our crop during the ice storm at the end of 2013. Naomi saved one of the surviving plants in a pot. Click on the image for a larger view.
Sage has a refreshing sweet scent, which makes it a wonderful indoor plant. We used it in cooking and for tea. Among Native Americans, sage is considered sacred and one of the most important ceremonial herbs: it has power to balance the body, mind, and spirit.
Dreaming of Summer
The snows this winter have been taking their toll. We have had over twice the average snowfall so far this year. It is hard to remember our garden being anything but white.
This is not a small pumpkin, but one of our heirloom tomatoes. We still have tomatoes in our freezer from last summer, but bringing in one of these fruit straight from the vine is very different—the rich smell and the sun-warmed flesh can only be experienced in the summer. A thick slice on a piece of freshly baked bread with a little ground pepper makes the perfect meal. Click on the image for a larger view.
Winter Forest Panorama
Our forest after a storm. Our oldest apple tree is on the left of the image in the foreground. We are unsure of the variety, but it seems to bare fruit biennially. We are hoping to get apples from it this year. Click on the image for a larger view.
Natural Birdfeeder
This apple was left on the tree we call Midori. While the current philosophy in gardening seems to be centered around getting everything for the human residents, taking a rather dim view of the others sharing the space, Naomi and I believe our garden has a communal function. Click on the image for a larger view,
Self-Heal Tea
Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as Self Heal or Heal All, is known in many cultures to have healing properties. The entire plant is edible and can be uses in soups, salads, and stews. Like with our Goldenrod, we make tea from the plant. Unlike the bitterness of Goldenrod, this tea has a mild flavor. Click on the image for a larger view
Cranberry Yellow-Dock Muffin
This muffin uses dried cranberries and the seeds from our yellow dock. The yellow-orange color comes from the seeds. The recipe is simple and does not use eggs nor baking powder, but vinegar and baking soda. Continue reading
Goldenrod Seed Bread
Naomi loves baking bread. This bread uses okara and seeds from our goldenrod plants—we also use goldenrod to make tea. The recipe is simple. Continue reading
