More Than You Could Ask or Imagine

Sometimes...words are just so inadequate.

I have struggled to wrap my brain around what God has done in the last two months. I have expressed it to friends, discussed it with family and tried to compile feeble praise to an Abba who loves to give sweet surprises to His children. I have witnessed the exuberance of friends who have been on this Journey with us and delighted as their uncontained excitement for us has spilled over onto the walls and floors of our new home. And yet, words have often failed me.

How do you describe a God who patiently walked me through the steps of what I thought we needed to work toward sustainability (at least  a 1 acre farm) toward the reality of where He wanted us (a 0.1 acre urban farm)?

How do you find words for a God who prompted an annoying homeowner to walk down an alleyway at precisely the right moment we exited viewing his home, which "coincidentally" steered us to the next home that I didn't even think we needed to view (and where we now live)?

How do you honor a God that I know (after meeting them) inspired the previous owners to pray for the exact family to come along that would appreciate the home they had lovingly tended for 35 years?

How do you explain a God who gave you every minute detail in a home that you've ever wanted, but were afraid to believe you could have?

How do you thank a God who knew you needed a lawn mower, yard tools, a trimmer, a new queen-sized bed, a shower curtain, space for indoor hydroponics, even stakes to hold up your tomato plants...and had the previous owners leave it all in excellent, clean condition???

How do you give voice to the amazement of a God who kept whispering, "Don't worry that the size of the yard is too small. You never know what may happen. There may be an abandoned lot or other space free up someday?"...only to discover on Monday that there is a community garden less than 1/2 a block from our home, and by Thursday, find someone working in it, which prompts my sweet friend to laugh and say, "Let's go talk to her", and the woman graciously contacts the person in charge who seriously offers you one to one and a half of the plots, hesitantly asks if you're okay with using only organic gardening practices AND ALMOST APOLOGETICALLY ASKS IF YOU'D BE WILLING TO SET OUT ANY ABUNDANCE FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO TAKE FREELY????????

There is, as yet, one single heart's desire that I have to find unfulfilled! My husband and children are pleased with the location, we are excited to become familiar with the bus system, and there is low-income housing down the street that others may fear, but expectantly calls me to serve and Love in the Name of my precious Savior and Abba.

I have attempted and failed to express to those around me all that has happened these last eight weeks. I have apologized for appearing docile while their excitement cannot be contained. It has truly been more emotion than I can absorb. It almost feels like I'm beginning to simply "take it in stride".

I never want to take for granted the precious care my Father provides, but yesterday as we walked back from the community garden, I think my sweet friend summed it up best, 'How could the One who shaped and molded your small heart in His hands not know exactly what you needed and wanted?' 

I guess it was just a matter of time, refining in us, and prompting beautiful people to give up their well-loved home before it could all be played out to His glory and honor.

God, please create the words in my heart and soul that express my joy and delight in You. And when words are not enough, may my life be a reflection of Your grace, a witness of Your love and a steady stream of mercy flowing out into everyone around me. You. Are. Amazing. I am blessed to be Your's! Amen!

We're Moving!

Literally and virtually (at least partially-virtual!)...

Confused? Don't be.

Through a series of conversations with friends, strangers and the Holy Spirit, I've realized the next leg of my Journey involves teaching others how to grow their own food and become less dependent on our somewhat shaky (and cancer causing!) food system. Given that God has provided the perfect place for us to become more sustainable ourselves (post to follow soon), I'm packing up my gardening skills and passion for teaching others to my new blog The Beard Cutter's Farm.

I'll still post what God is doing in me personally here, but if you're interested in becoming more sustainable, finding great recipes, or if you're local, finding out what produce and treats we have for sale, then visit the "farm" through the link above, or in person.

We're excited to see what God has in store for us...but we absolutely know it involves loving, serving and teaching others along the Way!

Hope to see you soon!

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden by Karen Newcomb: A Book Review

What a find!

As we're getting ready to move into our new place, where I highly anticipate creating an urban farming oasis, my delight could not be contained when I found this book as one of the options with the Blogging for Books program. I know this is a book I'll return to repeatedly in the years to come. I can foresee that it will be my faithful companion as I plant, grow, harvest and analyze pest and disease issues on my urban farm.

Postage stamp gardening is really taking off as people want to eat more local, organically grown produce. This book was originally published in 1975 and the new edition comes along perfectly timed for people like me who have small spaces and big dreams. 

The wonderful thing about gardening is that there is always something new to learn. Newcomb provides a thorough and easy-to-understand handbook for everyone from beginner to expert. She even honestly admits that when it comes to companion planting and organic pest control, there is always room for experimentation to see what works best in your climate and with the crops you grow. This book also contains a wonderful crop-by-crop analysis of planting, growing and harvesting tips. It's definitely a excellent place to begin when thinking through what you'll "experiment" with each growing season.

If you're curious about how to get started or have been growing vegetables for years and just want to increase your yield or lengthen your growing season, pick up a copy of  The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden: Grow Tons of Organic Vegetables in Tiny Spaces and Containers Like me, your copy will be dog-eared and dirt smudged in no time.

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In an attempt at full-disclosure, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review as part of the Blogging For Books Program. My reviews will always remain unbiased.

The Radishes Are Coming! The Radishes Are Coming!

If you planted your early veggies (radishes, carrots and onions) according to The Farmer's Almanac, your growing zone or the phases of the moon, you're probably beginning to see growth like is shown in these photos. Warmer climates, are probably already harvesting these crops! I planted four different kinds of radishes this year...some are earlier than others. I tried the Cincinnati Market again, but added Watermelon, Easter Egg and Champion too. I had a little help from my youngest and her neighbor buddy, so I don't honestly know which one is pictured above. My guess is the Champion variety. 

It doesn't matter to me though...they will all taste delicious. And I expect to harvest some small ones starting next week so I can let some of the late growers spread out. [Did you know the radish tops are edible/juice-able too!]

The bok choy is coming along very well too! It has been a hardy, fast growing, cold weather-friendly cabbage that I'm glad I decided to experiment with this year. If you throw it in some of your greens, it does have a stronger taste than the rest of your salad, but it is wonderful in juice because of it's mild taste. Go figure. A lot of people prefer juicing bok choy over kale.

The celery is looking pretty good. This is my first attempt at trying this slow-grower from seed. It takes a long time to harvest (as much as 130-140 days!). When I've started celery from scraps in the past, I've always begun clipping it when it's small and allowed it to continue to grow throughout the summer. [I currently have a bok choy that was started with a similar method] I usually prefer baby greens, so baby celery or baby bok choy is a great addition to a home grown salad.

It's not too late to get started with your carrots, radishes or beets, but you do want to start as soon as possible or the heat will kick in and your plants will bolt.

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End note: The photos above were taken about 30 minutes before they took a good shellacking from a torrential downpour combined with quarter-sized hail. They all survived and I had just moved my radishes to give them a break from all of the heavy rain we've had. The bok choy has some shredded leaves and I spent an hour repairing tomato plants, but only lost one.

SeedsNow.com

I've shared before how much I love and use SeedsNow.com for my non-GMO, heirloom seeds. They've just invited me to be part of their affiliate program where I can receive credit for your seed purchases when you access their website through my personal link.

One of the best things I like about SeedsNow is their sample packets. For $0.99 I can get a small pack of seeds and "test run" a vegetable without committing to 1000 seeds of a variety my family may not eat.

All of the plants I start and sell are from SeedsNow seeds. I've been using them for three growing seasons and have had very strong results, healthy plants and great customer service. I've probably placed 15 or more orders with them in that timeframe and have never had a problem. Time and again their plants have produced impeccable fruits and vegetables.

Follow my link to find the seeds, free growing guides, supplies and helpful service you need to get started this season.

https://seedsnow.refersion.com/c/48a82

Reserve Your Tomato, Pepper, Zucchini, Eggplant & Artichoke Plants Today!

Some of the plants as of 4/15/15. These will start going
in the ground or pots within the next 2 weeks!

[Updated 5/14/15]

For now, I'd like to offer my local friends an opportunity to reserve your tomato plants for spring planting. This is restricted to the Northern Kentucky area, but I'm sharing all the information here, because there are a lot to choose from and I can update quantities more easily as the numbers change.

All plants are grown from non-GMO seed and started in peat cups or with my worm castings. I only use organic fertilizer made from fish or worm byproducts.

Cool Weather Plants!!

[04/01/15 All of my good cool weather plants are gone for the season, but if you stop by to purchase for late spring plants by mid-April, I may have some stragglers I can give you as a bonus. Right now, I still have a few cauliflower and cabbage plants.] 

And now for the tomatoes,  peppers, and more!!

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[Photos used unless otherwise noted are to show the varieties only and are obtained from Seeds Now. Details about each variety also obtained from Seedsnow.com] 

Brandywine Pink- No more available for 2015: A massive heirloom of a beefsteak type. Produces large (up to 1 pound) pink fruits; easy to grow

Yellow Beefsteak-   No More available for 2015: Large, solid, and meaty tomato; can produce fruit over 2 pounds; great slicer

Black Krim-  No More Available for 2015:  high yields; rare heirloom; rich flavor; skin turns reddish black; interior dark reddish green; very sweet

Heritage Rainbow-  1 AVAILABLE:  This was a mixed bag of seed of various heirloom varieties. Last year I grew yellow beefsteak, green pear, red pear and red/orange beefsteaks with this seed mix. In other words, it's a surprise! All varieties grew well and tasted wonderful, that's why I started so many this year.

Rutgers-  No More Available for 2015:  This is a traditional salad tomato. Popular for cooking, canning and paste; excellent yields; medium-small in size

Beefsteak (Ponderosa Red)- No More Available for 2015:  large, solid, meaty tomato; great slicer; easy to grow

Cherry, Red (small)- No more available for 2015:  small, sweet, firm fruits; extended grow period; very easy to grow

Gardener's Delight- 2 AVAILABLE:  compact plant that grows well in containers; produces fruit in clusters

Mortgage Lifter-  No More Available for 2015:  Rich flavor; turn dark deep pink; large fruit

Roma-  11 AVAILABLE :  medium-small fruit with vigorous vines; very popular for cooking, canning and paste; determinate height

Marglobe Supreme- No More Available for 2015:  perfect for home gardeners; grows will in containers and tight places; high yields

Atkinson- No More Available for 2015:  great for use in salads, sandwiches; excellent flavor; quick to mature

Tigerella- No More Available for 2015: This is one of my favorites. Grows well; has rich tangy flavor; produces high yields of striped tomatoes up to 3 weeks earlier than most varieties.

Homestead- No More Available for 2015:  Strong, sturdy vines with medium sized fruit; great for canning; grows well in heat & is wilt resistant

Cherokee Purple-  No More Available for 2015:  Beautiful dark pink/purple color with green tops; very sweet and rich in flavor; easy to grow and produces high yields!



Tomatillo-   1 AVAILABLE:  Delicious green tomato; popular in Mexican dishes and salsas


Orange King Peppers-   3 AVAILABLE about 5/21/15:  Peppers have thick walls that turn from green to orange; good for home garden & market growers; good yields of orange colored sweet peppers



Orange Horizon Pepper-  0 AVAILABLE (starting more 5/2/15):  Large yields of orange sweet peppers; easy to grow; grows well in 5 gallon container; perfect for culinary dishes



Jalepeno Pepper (HOT) 3 AVAILABLE about 5/21/15:  Slightly larger fruit & taller plant with heavy yields.



California Wonder Bell Pepper-0 AVAILABLE (starting more 5/02/15):  Large yields of blocky, mostly 4 lobed, thick-walled, sweet peppers that can be eaten green or wait until they turn red.



Yellow Bell Pepper-  1 AVAILABLE about 5/21/15:  Colorful and tasty; sweet bell pepper




Florida Market Eggplant-   3 AVAILABLE about 5/28/15:  Will produce excellent yields of dark purple fruit; plants are strong; fruit is excellent for baking and slicing

Yellow Pear- No More Available for 2015: Very popular; easy to grow; excellent for canning and sauce

Cherry, Chocolate-  0 AVAILABLE:  Produces high yields; grows in cluster of 8; crack resistant and hold very well; excellent for gourmet dishes; great flavor and easy to grow



Green Globe Artichoke-  1 AVAILABLE:  Most popular artichoke variety suitable for all gardeners - beginner to advanced.

Black Beauty Zucchini Squash- 1 AVAILABLE:  Grows in a compact bush plant (not a vine); produces dark, green, glossy fruit, which is long; easy to grow; firm, very tender, with excellent flavor.

Cherry, White [My favorite!!]-  2 Available: very sweet; high yield from one plant; skin turns from white to pale yellow as it matures

Summer Crookneck Squash-  4 AVAILABLE: early summer variety that is a popular heirloom.



Luffa Gourd-  4 AVAILABLE: it really is just what it sounds like, a gourd that produces luffas that are wonderful for exfoliating skin or scrubbing your dishes.

Spaghetti Squash- 4 AVAILABLE: once baked, this the "meat" of this squash can be shredded and eaten in place of flour pasta; great for low carb or gluten free diners!

It Always Looks So Desolate! (End of October Update)

Although it's a gorgeous 60+ degree day for November 3rd, many of my plants met their demise thanks to the hard frost we had Sunday morning. It was time to pull up all but the last tomato plant and the rest of the marigolds, nasturtiums and impatiens. They fought valiantly, but mid-20s was just too much for them to handle.

As I pack up the patio garden each year, I'm always struck just how desolate it all feels. I'm thankful to have the mini-greenhouse now so that my spinach, collards, chard and green onions have a chance to linger a little longer. But other than green...the color is gone for the year.

I looked back in my journal and the first planting I documented outside this year was on March 31st. Seven months of continuous (and counting!) outdoor planting is pretty awesome for our Ohio River Valley climate.

With the start of my indoor experimentation last winter, I have been continuously growing food since April 2013. It's not enough to notice a huge dent in our grocery budget, but it's enough to have fresh options every day if we want them. It may be aloe vera juice, wheat grass, rosemary, basil, cilantro or alfalfa sprouts...but it's still fresh.

With my continued attempt at hydroponics, after less than two weeks, I actually have some semblance of kale, collards, Belgian endive, salad greens, and chard. I'll try to keep you posted on this part of the adventure. I'll concede intimidation, but I'm getting braver every day. 

The wormery continues to produce amazing organic compost. I can totally hook you up with some worms (pun intended!) if you're ready to start an indoor bin. 

The lemon and lime trees all look great. I have five of them at various stages in growth. I will probably start more this winter and hope to have a few of these older ones ready to sell by spring or summer 2015.

For the first time I had the courage to bring a tomato plant inside to see how long I could let it grow. Today, Leah and I enjoyed our first indoor vine-ripened tomato and the picture shows the second that will probably be ready in a day or two. I still haven't been able to successfully pollinate the blooms, but there are blooms. I just need to do a little more research on how to prompt the fruit to grow.

That's it for now. My passionate desire is to see blooms, buds, fruit and harvest year round. With the help of grow lights and the new deep culture hydroponics system, it may actually now be possible.

Bringing the Garden Inside

The patio garden starts to look pretty bleak this time of year. As the weather dips cooler and the sun's rays are shorter, I begin to transition the garden inside for the winter.

I will continue to leave the herbs and greens outside until the frost is too heavy and the greenhouse can't protect them through the night, but some of the late tomatoes will survive up against our building at least until the days are cold too.

This year, I did bring one tomato plant inside and I've already moved our dining room around to accommodate the winter "jungle" that my kids just love (sarcasm intended!)

The citrus trees and a few greens have been placed under the grow light and I'm really praying that the trees make it through to next summer so they can go outside again in the warm weather.

This year, for the first time, I'm attempting to grow greens and kale hydroponically in a deep water culture tank. I've researched this for over a year now and was still highly intimidated. I don't know why it's so scary, but I think adding the right mix of chemicals is what seems overwhelming. The always friendly and helpful staff at Worm's Way make it sound relatively easy though and I know they're only a phone call away if I have any questions.

So while most gardeners, myself included, are cleaning up their plots or patios and gearing down for a season of rest, I've actually been spending quite a bit of time transitioning into my secondary growing season. I hope to keep you updated on the indoor garden process. My goal is to produce enough sprouts and greens that we need not purchase them at the store. It's an admirable goal and one that for the first time I think is actually attainable with the hydroponic system. 

Embrace the Surprises!

This is a pepper plant. 

I would ordinarily not reflect too deeply upon such a seemingly insignificant thing as a pepper plant, let alone write a blog post about it. But this plant has surprised me and it's given me pause to consider how God continually surprises us.

To look at it, you wouldn't know that this plant was a "runt". Several plants didn't sprout when I first attempted to grow them and then, by the time the seed was restarted and they began their climb out of the depths of the soil, I was in full blown planting season on my patio garden and with my two friends whom I have helped. There was not an extra pot or plot to be found. So a few of my tiny pepper plants that didn't make it my friend's house just sat in seedling pots, waiting for a home.

No one claimed them. So they waited. They stayed small and frail, unable to take extended doses of hot, brilliant sunlight and they needed just a little extra babying. 

My early pepper plants held great promise as they grew and grew. Before long, buds and then blooms formed. Within a matter of weeks it seemed the fruit was growing well. 

My "runts" finally made their way into vacant pots or emptied potato bags (cloth grocery sacks) by late June. The bags were a last ditch effort. They'd seen better days and the potatoes had been pretty rough on them. The seams and stitches were starting to give. I didn't hold out much hope for the pepper to survive, let alone thrive. With an attitude of "what can it hurt?" they began their journey in the footsteps of a plant that had used up all the nutrients and messed up their surroundings. I attempted to nurture them with nutrients, water, and even occasional conversation or song.

And then something happened.

It seems that as soon as the calendar dictated that it was now officially Summer, the waterworks began. It has been one of the wettest summers that I can recall in the last five or six years. There's not a lot of space on my patio so airflow is at a premium and soggy pots from too much of a good thing help no one. My early peppers that had held so much promise were staying thin-branched and turning a sickly pale green. Their fruit was small and not turning the vivid yellow I had hoped to harvest.  

But the "runt" began to grow.

Something was happening inside that roomy, cloth bag with it's splitting side seams. Whether the roots found their calling or the ample drainage provided the "oomph", that baby began to grow.

She's as high as my waist now, with the thickest stalk on a California Wonder bell pepper plant I have ever seen. She also has about 8 beautiful fruits of varying sizes soaking up the sunshine and fulfilling their destinies. And when they're gone, her work won't be over as the blooms-for-the-moment turn into their own unique fruit.

Am I any different from the "runt" who got into the game a little later than everyone else? To the casual observer, her exterior is pretty shabby, well-worn and doesn't look very promising...but her roots evidently run deep. Even her fruit is not her own as she is utterly dependent on a God who sends the sun and the rain. Sure, she's needs others to give her some nutrients from time to time, but even that does not come from them.

As I marvel at God's Creation, it always gives me pause at how He never wastes anything. The lessons I learn while pruning a plant, spreading the composted nutrients, watching a seed burst through the soil or smiling as a "runt" spreads her wings, always awes and amazes me. I am saddened by the thought of people missing these blessed moments as they become further and further removed from their food source, nature and the God who created it all for His good pleasure. He is such a giving God that what delights Him, He shares with us...and I pray I am always surprised by it.

**Not to be outdone by my feeble words...three sentences ago, He asked my first hummingbird to stop by my nasturtium and Wow me!**

Salsa Verde

"Waste not, want not."

I am certain that phrase can originally be credited to a farmer. [Don't spoil my illusion by googling it.] I simply know that there are times when a gardener has enough tomatoes, hot peppers, onions and such to overwhelm the most savvy of all fresh-food connoisseurs. To be honest, there are also some days when the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few that the thought of blanching just one more vegetable and packing it into the freezer may actually cause mental duress.

I am grateful though. Absolutely grateful. 

The harvest has been abundant enough to share. Although it seems there is either not enough rain or far too much (as evidenced by the beautiful, non-edible mushrooms growing in my pots!)...

and because of the extreme wetness and the cramped quarters on my patio, some of my plants haven't fared well. Spending two plus hours in the hot, sticky sun today pulling up old plants, amending soil for planting new ones and pruning the non-productive tomato, cucumber and lima bean vines was I felt, enough of an accomplishment for the day.

A quick walk through the kitchen verified that my work was not done.

What to you do with tomatoes that won't ripen or were knocked off the vine during your pruning endeavors? You make salsa verde of course!

I don't have an actual recipe. I am certain there are plenty available with a quick internet search. I just tossed in the same things I would to make my yummy fresh salsa:

• tomatoes
• hot pepper
•  a little lime juice
• one minced garlic clove
• some chopped onion
• a little sea salt

No measurements, just yummy goodness. 

But, this salsa must be cooked. So it all went into a pot, I put the lid on, turned it onto medium heat, and stirred it every few minutes. Once it cooked down and everything was softened, I turned off the heat, took off the lid and threw in some chopped cilantro. [Don't miss the cilantro!]

Taste it. Does it need more salt, garlic, lime juice or cilantro? No problem. Just add a little more.

The unpredictability of a garden explosion with one vegetable and an absolute dearth of another, warrants some creativity each year. Almost two decades ago, Dale bought a book for me that has been priceless for this very reason.

Marian K. Townes' A Midwest Gardener's Cookbook  provides multiple recipes listed first by season of harvest and then by specific midwestern grown vegetables. Have more eggplants than you could ever use or give away? Just look under summer and alphabetically you'll find several uses for your bountiful harvest. [I know you can now do the same thing on Pinterest. I still like my book though.]

Whatever the answer...eating as much as you can, sharing the wealth, giving it to a food bank, utilizing the ingredients of creative recipes, freezing, canning or dehydrating...it all makes for a very busy gardening season.

**Question to self: Did I really mean it when I said I wanted to garden year round?**