Edible Secrets {Fresh Eats}

I just love grabbing a great big wooden bowl, and heading out to the garden to collect edibles.  It is super fun + fulfilling.  I am constantly amazed at the colors and flavors that nature produces.  There is so much in life, that is so easy to take for granted, until you are somehow involved in the making of it…

The pumpkins, tomatoes, fresno chilies, jalapenos, and cucumbers in this photo above (oh and some of the basil), are growing in a vegetable garden in the front yard, under a big huge mesquite tree, where my swing hangs.

However…

The beautiful lettuce comes from a special place, way out back, in my garden…

Protected and safe… 

A place you will often find me, working away, covered in dirt…

My enclosed vegetable garden…

It is getting so lush and full.  The second my eyes open, I look out my window, where I see this garden, and Baby's grave.  It's the first thing I must look at every morning.  I swing out of bed, and whip open my curtains… 

Wait, actually, these days while I am in deep slumber, Miles comes to my door, howls and scratches (bad, but he is so cute, what can I do?) at my door (then I look out my window).  I sleepily scramble to my door, letting him in, and we crawl under my covers for a couple more minutes.  He rolls on his back, and makes growly happy noises.  I hug him tight.  Matty comes in through the studio, jumps on us both for a second, and takes off.  Miles Stays.

As for the enclosed garden…

Everyone is planted too close, but they seem to be okay with it, as they are all so happy…

You see, it all began in April.  I decided to make an enclosed garden, way out back by the giant apricot tree.  Where decades ago, the previous owners had an asparagus patch.

I had already planted some corn and such, in block rows.  Then the rabbits came and ate it all.  And the birds pulled up all of my other sprouts.

So, I was more determined to have an enclosed space.

We had this perfect area (still out back by the apricot tree), where we kept compost soil for 10+ years (we compost everyday).  I asked Mister Lovee if he thought it would be a good idea for me to put in a vegetable garden there.  He said yes, and so I bought waffle wire (it's called carpenters cloth), dug up the soil a couple of feet down, put down the wire, and started to put the soil back.

Then, Mister Lovee saw all the hard work I was doing, and he got involved.  Pretty soon, it became this huge project, he put in a door, and a chicken wire roof & walls (6 ft tall in the center).  I was thrilled!

I planted a vine in front, and painted a sign post white, for a vegetable garden sign I was painting.  Then Mister put the sign post in the ground for me.

(photo of the enclosed garden in progress below)

Needless to say…

I was extra happy with the outcome.  I was now able to grow vegetables, without losing them all to critters.  (Well, I did lose all my onions to gophers, as they found a way in underground, through a tiny space that had no waffle wire, but everything else was safe.)

The summer romaine lettuce has grown big and huge, and we have enough lettuce to have salad three times a day all summer. (although we have to eat it sooner than that)

 We LOVE salads, and are really enjoying the lettuce.

I bring some in everyday, and make a great big bowl of goodness…

The sweet corn is getting mighty tall.

I didn't intend to grow corn inside, it just turned out that way after the rabbits kept eating the sprouts.

It just started to tassel, and now I am biting my nails, hoping the silks turn up soon. (the tassels pollinate the silks, creating the corn)

I grew cucumbers for the first time this year.  I planted the seeds a hair too early before spring, as we had one more freeze right before spring, and the cucumber sprouts froze a bit.  But they came back stronger than ever, and are gifting some rustically precious cucumbers…

Miles will eat almost anything.  Well, maybe anything actually.  Matty is very picky, and doesn't eat very much.  Unless it is meaty.  He loves meat.

Miles begs for grapefruit, and odd things like that.

He thinks this bowl of goodness is his dinner 😉

Mmmm, freshness…. 

My grandpa will eat those fresno chilies without a flinch.  But then again, he loves the worms at the bottom of the tequila bottles and things like that too.  He is tough.

The basil is sweet and tender, and…

I have made 8 jars of pesto this summer already.  I have eaten so much of it, I am going to start growing leaves out of my ears.  I gifted some to our friend Dick.  He loves my cooking (or at least he acts like it).  This makes him a very enjoyable guest, as I love getting him to eat things I make.  (he said the carrot cake from Mister's birthday was beyond sinful and outrageously delicious.  Don't you love feeding people like that? I do.) 

Miam miam…

Since you know I am garden addicted, I was almost afraid to share my secret vegetable garden.  But, now you know.  The secret's out.

I can't wait to see what other treats show their faces, as there is much more growing in there…

I am…

Oh so very content.

And, a tinge tired 🙂

Don't tell anyone though, and I'll give you a tiny punkin'…

(If I could only learn how to nap, darn -snaps fingers-)

There is a massive storm hitting.  I have been trying to post all day, but my Internet has been off and on.

(eeeeks, rain water being pushed under my office door by the wind, must run)

 

Love, V