Time to plan the Garden!

Around this time of the year, with Easter only a few weeks away, I start to think about all the good foods that we can grow in our garden.  I love to utilize our garden for fresh vegetables throughout the summer and, of course, for canning for the winter months to come.  As my garden grows I will be placing recipes on here for some of my favorite summertime fresh foods as well as some of the canning recieps I use for preserving these lovely gifts from God for the winter.

I always start out by making a list of all the vegetables I would like to see in my garden, which always tends to more than my garden will actually hold, but to dream ..........anyway!  To have the land available to fulfill my wish list of a garden would be wonderful!! That being said I will make do with the land I have.

Some must have veggies for my garden include:

• Tomatoes-who doesn't love a bacon and tomato sandwich?
• Cucumbers-for my Mari Lyn who can eat you out of house and home if it were made of these delectable veggies
• Peppers and Onions
• Garlic-I love garlic in almost everything
• Peas and Beans
• WATERMELON-for July 4th of course
• Corn
• Lettuce and Spinach
• Collards-only to be eaten after the first frost if you listen to my grandmother
• Potatoes-the best potato salad in the world is on my mind!!

The list could go on and on and on and on....you get the idea!  My current list has several more items on it but these are my core!  No garden is complete without them!!

Then comes the planning stages of how to plant it all in my garden and how much to plant.  This is where I tend to run into problems.  I want so much and how to fit it into that little place I have to work with.  This year I am attacking it a little bit differently.  I am taking the items that can be grown in containers (like cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes) out of the garden plan and utilizing the extra space for those things that I have always had to cut out before.

All potting soil, however, are not created equal.  Container plantings need soil that holds some mositure but drains wiell and offers plants a rich supply of nutrients.  Make you own special blend using this receipe for use in your containers.  Remember, container plantings require watering more often than garden plants -- daily in hot, dry weather.

Mix Your Own Soil

1 part soil
1 part peat moss
1 part perlite or vermiculite
1 part composte (optional)
I can tell this year is going to be great for the garden!!

I am also going to plant fresh herbs in containers and keep them right out on the deck so when I am ready to cook I can step right out and get the amount I need to cook with.  Some of the herbs I like to plant or keep on the deck are:

• Rosemary
• Mint
• Cilantro
• Thyme
• Basil
• Chives



I tend to plant my rosemary in a container by itself.  It has a tendency to overtake the other herbs.  You can plant some of the others together in a big pot if you are limited on space.

One thing I love to do is dry the herbs and then use them to make things like this recipe for herbal soap balls--they make great gifts.  These soap balls are so simple to make; even the kids can help! They have a definite “rustic” look, which makes it easy to hide mistakes.

Supplies needed:
1 Tablespoon dried lavender
1/3 cup water
2 large bars natural soap, grated
Lavender essential oil, 5 drops
Large bowl
Small saucepan

Method:

Place lavender flowers in saucepan. Boil 1/3 cup of water and pour over lavender flowers. Let steep for 15 minutes.

Grate soap into large bowl.

After 15 minutes, re-heat lavender/water mix and add 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Pour over the grated soap.

Knead the soap mixture until the lavender is evenly dispersed.

Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on waxed papers and air dry for 2 to 5 days.

Makes approximately 16 balls.

Happy Gardening!!