January 2009

Winter VeggiesThis morning the temperature read 13.5 below which is the lowest we've seen in many years. We are all wearing layers and a blanket feels good while sitting down but we are very thankful the predicted winds didn't come en force. Knowing the temps were predicted to plummet, I did some quick harvesting while I could. The assortment of carrots, turnips and greens were not bad for January pickings but I'm unsure what my greenhouse crops will look like after this extreme cold snap. I was quite surprised to even find a few Johnny jump-ups blooming on New Years but I'm sure these low temps will set them back till spring. Immediately after snapping the photo, my family was grabbing goodies from the plate for fresh eating. Raw turnips sticks and carrots are a favorite and even mache served whole at meals is quickly devoured. The kale will be chopped and added to soups just before serving. Many of our winter meals also include potatoes from the root cellar which we harvested in abundance this year. Broths from our chicken, beef and lamb are also another winter staple for making soups and such.

Seed CatalogsWhile it is bitter cold, a season appropriate garden activity is to curl up with a cup of hot tea and a stack of seed catalogues. I started making wish lists from the three catalogues I plan to order from - FEDCO, Johnnys and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I stocked up in larger quantities of many seeds last year but some experimenting will be needed, extra flowers for more bouquet making and a few things that I used up last season. Winter is also reading season with frequent trips to the library. Some books I have in progress are Fertility from the Ocean deep by Charles Walters on the wonders of using ocean minerals for growing healthy plants with high nutritional value, The Flower Farmer (revised and updated) by Lynn Byczynski which is making me want a larger hoop house along with more cut flowers, Gardening when it Counts by Steve Solomon that offers some interesting challenges to the intensive gardening method and Renewing America's Food Traditions by Gary Paul Nabhan on the SLOW FOOD movement. Our winter education is what gives us new ideas on improving summer projects. There is a bit of fiction mixed in like Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder which I am reading at bedtime to our children. One chapter described the garden produce they put away for the winter - braided onions, winter squash, dried peppers, potatoes, turnips, etc. - and our seven year old commented that we do all that too. It's neat that we can have a connection to the Ingalls' life over a century ago.

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