August Straw Bale Garden Update

 

August has already arrived, and is over halfway gone! Can you believe it? As you can see from this panoramic photo, the garden keeps on growing. :)

Here is one morning's haul. :) My kiddos harvested everything here! Included are nine varieties of tomatoes. Those are Yellow Pear, Little Rosey Finch, Red Cherry, Roma, Rio Grande, Wapsipinicon Peach, Pineapple Heirloom, Hillbilly Potato Leaf, and Pink Brandywine. We also have some very small Spaghetti Squash (pictured), Green Bell Peppers, and cucumbers. We have more on the vine, of course, but only two were ready to be harvested this morning.

Our personal favorite tomatoes are the Pink Brandywine. Not only are they absolutely delicious, but they are also massive! These big boys have been on the menu daily here in our home. We have made more BLT sandwiches than you can probably count! This tomato has a rich flavor, is in no way bland, but also isn't terribly acidic. Each slab (lol) of tomato lays like steak, covering the entire slice of bread. Yum! In short, it is the *perfect* sandwich tomato!

Our arches did experience die-off after vine borer moths had their way with our squash and zucchini. There are new vines planted, which are still small yet. To my delight, we still had enough Butternut Squash, cucumbers, and canteloupe still growing that - while visibly thinned out - the arches do not look entirely decimated. :) Even better, they are still laden with goodies!

The littles and I did something new this year. We decided to make support nets for our hanging fruits and vegetables! 

YouTube and Google both brought up options, of course. One can make slings out of old hosiery. (Honestly, do people still wear those things?) That isn't an option for me. For one, ew. Also, I wouldn't even know where to buy them now. 

There is also the option of using old tee shirts cut into strips. Meh. Neither choice seemed inspired. I wanted something made of cotton yarn. I looked for a crochet pattern with no luck. So, we came up with our own! Our garden is now supported by many colorful yarn slings!

Our watermelons had a bit of a flop. First, Shell was adjusting our full-sized melon and accidentally knocked it off of the vine. While light pink, it was in no way ripe. Then, our only other melon stopped growing. While tiny, it had all of the markers of being ripe. It made for a refreshing addition to lunch one afternoon. We currently have one tiny melon growing, and two new vines sprouting. We may see a ripe full-sized melon yet!

I mentioned last month that we would be seeding the second set of squashes and other goodies. We did! Here is a zucchini finally growing vine borer-free! Perhaps next year, I should simply wait until the end of July to sew any of these at all?

We also sewed the next batch of radishes, beets, cabbages, carrots, and additional spaghetti squash. These are in varying stages of sprouting right now. To be honest, I had forgotten about the cabbage. We were delighted when two little heads popped up! :) 

The green peppers continue to put out batch after batch. Unfortunately, bugs are getting to quite a few of them, keeping them small and ugly. No matter - we gather what we can. 

I am sure that I am leaving something out. The raspberry bush is still too young to produce. Strawberries grow well enough but are all stolen by rabbits. My Purple Dragon Carrots have still tucked away under the dirt - no visible shoulders yet. Canning tomatoes are ripening, but are being eaten too fast to can. (ha!)

The potatoes sit quietly in their pot, minding their own business. I do not expect the plant to die for a while, yet. They occasionally get flooded by a good rain.

My's lettuce is finally coming up, now that the intense heat has backed off a bit. I look forward to fresh salads full of home-grown-from-seed goodies!

Our herbs also continue to grow well. Shell asked me why I grow them if I don't use them. I do *intend* to learn how to use them. Does that count? ;) We have enjoyed a lot of fresh food this year, both raw and cooked into dishes like BLT sandwiches, vegetable pizza, roasts and soups, in pasta, etc.

Also, the parsley is there to entice swallowtail butterflies. :) We haven't seen a single one so far. This is the first year that has ever happened. Still, I cling to hope. Swallowtails are my very favorite! The bees came back. Perhaps the butterflies will, as well. Next year, I need to add more flowers to the yard.

I think that about wraps up this update. I have loads of pictures to share, but I think these will do for now. We go out almost every morning, first thing. We bring out our chairs and sit there, relishing in the fresh air. The chirping of birds and buzzing of bees fills the soul.

Some mornings, we just rest. Other times, I can be out there for around three and a half hours pruning. I like to harvest, but so do the kids. I tend to let them have that pleasure. You are only young once, and I know the intense satisfaction of gleaning from plants you've sewn and tended. I am thrilled for them to have that experience! I even chuckle to myself when they are in the tomatoes fighting over who gets to pluck which one. haha

Before long, autumn will be in the air. We are already starting to witness leaves dancing down to the ground on the breezes. For now, my garden has shed its first life and is sprouting the second round of infant vegetables and fruits. There is a certain contentment in staying so nearly literally grounded. I find immense peace here with my little family. God is good.

"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." 1 Cor 3:7

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." Ecc 3:11