Harvesting the Savor

              If any edible garden is going to be a cost saving endeavor, thought has to be given to preserving the harvest. The labor in harvesting and preserving herbs is not onerous, but it must be done in a timely fashion.

            Timeliness is essential. Harvest your herbs before they bloom, while they are at their most flavorful.  Cut them in the morning, after the dew has dried, but before the heat of the day.

            For  hundreds of years farmers and gardeners have been drying herbs. Before they knew about UV rays, they did understand that sunlight will diminish the flavor of herbs, and often discolor them as well. Hence the general direction to dry any herb in a dry area, out of the sun.

 I have harvested herbs like mint, parsley, rosemary, lovage, oregano, marjoram, tarragon and sage, washed them and let them dry off before bundling a few stems together. I putt the whole bundle in a paper bag with the stems coming  out the open end, then tie the bag shut and hang it where it will be out of the sun and out of the way for two or three weeks.

            I also use this technique for herbs whose seeds I want, like dill, caraway, and chervil. After drying for a time the paper bag just needs a bit of whacking to knock the seeds loose. The collected, dry seeds can then be stored in a small glass jar. Don’t forget a label.

            Herbs, like thyme with its small leaves, can also be dried on a drying tray placed in a dark warm place.  A window screen works well. If you have a lot of herbs to dry this way, you can put spacers, perhaps 2x4s, between the trays and stack them.  When thoroughly dry, store the herbs in small glass jars.

            Many people have herb and spice racks near their stoves. Very handy for cooking, but actually not very good for the herbs which degrade from the light and heat.

            Some people like to dry herbs in the oven. I have never done this and I think you have to be careful not to dry them too quickly, or at too high a temperature, or you’ll lose the volatile oils, and the reason for drying the herbs in the first place.  Don’t have the oven any hotter than 180 degrees, and keep an eye on the herbs which should be adequately dry in 3 or 4 hours.

            Those who really want to be done with the task fast can use a microwave oven. Place the herbs on a paper plate and turn the microwave on for 30 seconds, stir them up, and repeat. Do this for 1 to 3 minutes until the herbs are dry.

            Herbs must be dry before storing or they could turn moldy.

            Chives and parsley can also be frozen. Wash and dry them, snip the chives and chop the parsley, then spread on a cookie sheet and freeze, just as you would a harvest of berries.  When they are frozen they can be put into freezer bags. Since they are frozen separately, the few can be removed as needed.  They will not be useful as a garnish, but will add their flavor as well as fresh.

            Actually, any herb can be washed, then chopped and mixed with water. Take that mixture and freeze in ice cube trays.  When the ice is frozen, remove the herbal ice cubes and put them in a labeled freezer bag. A single frozen herbal cube can be added to a dish as needed.

            I don’t think basil dries terribly well and it discolors when it freezes. I harvest a good amount of basil, put it in the food processor with an appropriate amount of olive oil. The flavor stays fresh. I take the resulting puree and put a spoonful or two in plastic sandwich bags, twist shut, and then put several of them in a labeled freezer bag.  When I need basil for a sauce, I just pull out one little bag and add it to whatever dish I am making.

            While most of us think of culinary herbs as those we use in flavoring stews, marinades, and rubs, a glance at any herbal tea mix will tell us that we could very well be putting up our own tea mixes as well.

            We use fresh black stem peppermint for tea during the growing season, and dry the leaves for winter use. Some people like to add a leaf or two of lemon balm or lemon verbena to a pot of black tea.

            I’ve known mothers who swear by a tea made with fennel seeds for soothing a colicky baby.

            Peter Rabbit’s mother made a chamomile tea, and chamomile is an ingredient of many soothing teas.  On the other hand, borage tea is said to give one a lift, and comfrey tea will cure what ails you.

            However you use them, herbs are beautiful in the garden, and useful in the kitchen. All year long.

I’d also like to remind everyone that The New England Wild Flower Society’s Nasami Farm Nursery in Whately opens its 2009 Spring Season Thursday, April 16 and will remain open Thursdays through Sundays until June 14. The Society’s nursery propagates and features over 450 native plant species for sale. For more information logon to www.newfs.org.  

April 11, 2009

Ahead of Schedule

I measure the march toward spring by the arrival of the first dandelion in my ‘flowery mead’ which some call The Lawn. Yesterday, the first dandelion showed up, at least a week earlier than usual. This morning it has been joined by a host of sunny compatriots. I hope the five days of 80 plus temperatures haven’t lulled us into a fatal spring.

Along with the dandelions, these violets seemed to pop up and bloom over night in the sand next to the house where we are planning to put more pavers. And witch grass. Of course. Who could call such beauty a weed? There are more violets, white and purple in the flowery mead. They indicate that my soil is acid. I knew that.

Monday Record 4-27

Tynan arrived to spend part of school vacation with us and we devoted ourselves to art, the garden, and celebrating Earth Day at the eleventh most beautiful waterfall in Massachusetts.

    First, off to Umass, my alma mater, to visit our friend Dan at the new Studio Arts building. He gave us a tour of the undergrad studios where we saw all kinds of art, collage, drawings, assemblages, paintings, clay sculptures, and even a work made with black headed pins.  Tynan was greeted by a Junk Man.

            Then off to the famous Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The Museum is celebrating Carle’s 80^th birthday and The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 40^th Anniversary with a special exhibit.  Another wonderful exhibit was of Virgina Lee Burton’s work. What child isn’t a friend of Mike Mulligan and his Steamshovel? 

Cleaning around the new Potager

 Back at the End of the Road there was work to do. My husband, known as The Major to the grandchildren, and Tynan had to take down old barbed wire fencing around the new Potager, and clean out to give room for the squash vines to spread. 

Working on the tractor is no chore.

            Removing a big beam and an old harrow required the help of the tractor. 

Saplings into beanpoles

            Ty also helped me by cutting down 10 saplings for bean poles which I will need very soon.

Tannery Falls

            Then we set off on a quest to find Tannery Falls in the Savoy Forest. The map showed a parking lot by the trail, but as we got close there was a sign saying the road was not maintained and we traveled at our own risk. It was a pretty rough road! But a very nice parking lot. 

The trail is very steep, but there are occasional railings and stairs built into the hillside. There are actually two waterfalls, but the trail mostly leads beside the rushing stream that makes the larger, and very beautiful falls. We estimated it at about 70 feet high. 

            If there is water there must be bare feet. Even if the water is icy 

            After garden work, and a hike amid great natural beauty we came home to build a fire for the first cook out of the year.

            On Saturday The Major took Ty back to his mother while I picked up my order from the Franklin Conservation District. Why didn’t I check that American Hazelnuts are a favorite food of deer, or that Serviceberry grows very tall before I ordered them.  My planting scheme needs to be totally reorganized! 

Nasami Farm in Whately

            A brief stop at Nasami Farm run by the New England Wildflower Society.  They  have several large greenhouses where they propagate native plants suitable for the garden.

Like this beautiful Pinkshell Azalea.  But I already didn’t know what I was going to do with my hazelnuts and serviceberry so left empty handed.

This Monday morning I can see all the growth in just one week, especially since we had three days of extremely unseasonable temperatures in the 80s.  But all my attention now is on water.

A happy day when we found this well in the garden

 Yesterday afternoon the water pump died. We opened a little well in the Lawn Bed for emergency water and now we are waiting for the repair man.

            Wish us luck!

Monday Record 4-27

Grandson Tynan, at 11, is almost 5 feet tall. Gardens are not the only places where growth is amazing.

Tynan arrived to spend part of school vacation with us and we devoted ourselves to art, the garden, and celebrating Earth Day at the eleventh most beautiful waterfall in Massachusetts.

First, off to Umass, my alma mater, to visit our friend Dan at the new Studio Arts building. He gave us a tour of the undergrad studios where we saw all kinds of art, collage, drawings, assemblages, paintings, clay sculptures, and even a work made with black headed pins.

Tynan was greeted by a Junk Man.

Then off to the famous Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The Museum is celebrating Carle’s 80th birthday and The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 40th Anniversary with a special exhibit. Another wonderful exhibit was of Virgina Lee Burton’s work. What child isn’t a friend of Mike Mulligan and his Steamshovel?

Back at the End of the Road there was work to do. My husband, known as The Major to the grandchildren, had to take down old barbed wire fencing around the new Potager, and clean out to give room for the squash vines to spread.

Removing a big beam and an old harrow required the help of the tractor.

Ty also helped me by cutting down 10 saplings for bean poles which I will need very soon.

Then we set off on a quest to find Tannery Falls in the Savoy Forest. The map showed a parking lot by the trail, but as we got close there was a sign saying the road was not maintained and we traveled at our own risk. It was a pretty rough road! But a very nice parking lot.

The trail is very steep, but there are occasional railings and stairs built into the hillside. There are actually two waterfalls, but the trail mostly leads beside the rushing stream that makes the larger, and very beautiful falls. We estimated it at about 70 feet high.

If there is water there must be bare feet. Even if the water is icy.

After garden work, and a hike amid great natural beauty we came home to build a fire for the first cook out of the year.

On Saturday The Major took Ty back to his mother while I picked up my order from the Franklin Conservation District. Why didn’t I check that American Hazelnuts are a favorite food of deer, or that Serviceberry grows very tall before I ordered them. My planting scheme needs to be totally reorganized!

A brief stop at Nasami Farm run by the New England Wildflower Society. They have several large greenhouses where they propagate native plants suitable for the garden. Like this beautiful Pinkshell Azalea.

But I already didn’t know what I was going to do with my hazelnuts and serviceberry so left empty handed.

This Monday morning I can see all the growth in just one week, especially since we had three days of extremely unseasonable temperatures in the 80s. But all my attention now is on water. Yesterday afternoon the water pump died. We opened a little well in the Lawn Bed for emergency water and now we are waiting for the repair man.

Wish us luck!

Earth Day 2009

 Earth Day celebrations remind us that there is work to do to build a sustainable world – and that we have to begin in our own neighborhoods.  I know of two local efforts. 

A new area with cardboard and compost

Fall planted garlic now sprouting

One of six solar greenhouses

Earth Day is about creating a world that will sustain life. Gardens and gardeners can help sustain our hungry neighbors. Celebrate!

Earth Day 2009

Earth Day celebrations remind us that there is work to do to build a sustainable world – and that we have to begin in our own neighborhoods. I know of two local efforts.

Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Franklin County Hunger Task Force. We are launching a Plant a Row for the Hungry project that will help gardeners give their excess produce to food pantries and meal sites, etc. Since the recent economy has put new demands on these organizations, gardeners are invited to plant a row specifically for the hungry. An effort like this not only sustains people by feeding them, it can sustain their spirits as well. Watch for more news about this project.

Earth Day is about creating a world that will sustain life. Gardens and gardeners can help sustain our hungry neighbors. Celebrate!

Monday Record April 20

Gray and chilly. Temperatures in the 40s with winds gusting at 14 miles and more. There is still one pile of snow in The Sunken Garden.

Van Sion hiding behind a rose bush

Still, I got a lot done over the past week.  First I found out that the old daffodils growing here when we bought our house in 1979 are Van Sion, a heritage variety.  I have Kathy Purdy of Cold Climate Gardening to thank for the ID. Van Sion is a beautiful frilly double daffodil dating back to 1620. It is available at Old House Gardens where the description “explodes into a froth of green and gold” includes the information that it is often found at the site of old homesites. Multiplies.  And multiplies.

Now under the old apple tree

I also moved some daffodils that I planted in the lawn years ago.  My thought was to turn the lawn into a golden sea.  Could have happened, but since the foliage needs to ripen before cutting, it meant I couldn’t mow the lawn until just before the Annual Rose Viewing. Not good. This isn’t the best time, obviously, to move a plant about to bloom, but it had to be done, and I think they will settle in and bloom. They were only out of the ground for a few

minutes.

The scillas, Siberian squills, are in full bloom, not only the ones that have self seeded in the weeds that came up earlier. 

Lots of cleaning up. Brush from downed trees.  Weeds and wild raspberries in the rhubarb bed where I added compost.

I started building a new compost pile next to the slowly evolving Potager. Still moving cardboard and wood chips for paths.

The seeds that I moved into a temporary cold frame are thriving.  I also planted sweet peas on the White Trellis, crib sides I pulled out of the metal bin at the Transfer Station, and Sugar Snap peas on a piece of fencing from the shed.The photo shows the plastic compost bin filled with fall leaves. I also planted Detroit Red Beets, Green Ice Lettuce and Neon Lights Chard. My seeds came from Fedco  and Renee’s Garden.

Stalwart lettuce starts

The lettuce starts, Red Fire, planted in front of the house in a new bed have suffered from being planted too early, and being bitten by frost a couple of times, but it is holding on.  I planted lettuce and spinach seeds next to the starts.

Buds are swelling on the lilacs, tree peonies, rhododendrons, and even one early peony. Last fall I moved division of Joan Elliot campanula to the new cellar door bank and it is up, as is alchemilla.  Rain is promised. Spring is here!

Monday Record April 20

Gray and chilly. Temperatures in the 40s with winds gusting at 14 miles and more. There is still one pile of snow in The Sunken Garden.

Still, I got a lot done over the past week. First I found out that the old daffodils growing here when we bought our house in 1979 are Van Sion, a heritage variety. I have Kathy Purdy of Cold Climate Gardening to thank for the ID. Van Sion is a beautiful frilly double daffodil dating back to 1620. It is available at Old House Gardens where the description “explodes into a froth of green and gold” includes the information that it is often found at the site of old homesites. Multiplies. And multiplies.

I also moved some daffodils that I planted in the lawn years ago. My thought was to turn the lawn into a golden sea. Could have happened, but since the foliage needs to ripen before cutting, it meant I couldn’t mow the lawn until just before the Annual Rose Viewing. Not good. This isn’t the best time, obviously, to move a plant about to bloom, but it had to be done, and I think they will settle in and bloom. They were only out of the ground for a few minutes.

The scillas, Siberian squills, are in full bloom, not only the ones that have self seeded in the weeds that had c0me up earlier.

Lots of cleaning up. Brush from downed trees. Weeds and wild raspberries in the rhubarb bed where I added compost.

I started building a new compost pile next to the slowly evolving Potager. Still moving cardboard and wood chips for paths.

The seeds that I moved into a temporary cold frame are thriving. I also planted sweet peas on the White Trellis, crib sides I pulled out of the metal bin at the Transfer Station, and Sugar Snap peas on a piece of fencing from the shed. I also planted Detroit Red Beets, Green Ice Lettuce and Neon Lights Chard. My seeds came from Fedco and Renee’s Garden.

The photo shows the White Trellis, and a plastic composting bin that was filled with last fall’s leaves. Later in the season I’ll use it for a potato barrel.

The lettuce starts, Red Fire, planted in front of the house in a new bed have suffered from being planted too early, and being bitten by frost a couple of times, but it is holding on. I planted lettuce and spinach seeds next to the starts.

Buds are swelling on the lilacs, tree peonies, rhododendrons, and even one early peony. Last fall I moved division of Joan Elliot campanula to the new cellar door bank and it is up, as is alchemilla. Rain is promised. Spring is here!

A Cough Remedy

Most of us go to the drugstore for all manner of over the counter remedies, but it wasn’t so long ago, that people turned to plants for their remedies. Even now, some of us know that poppies and foxgloves still provide us with medicines, but others are quite forgotten.

Coltsfoot grows along my road. Its yellow dandelion-like flowers mean spring is here. It often grows along roadsides where the soil has been disturbed. The brilliant flowers are quite a surprise because they bloom so early and are so noticeable.

Unlike the dandelion, coltsfoot has flat blossoms. The large leaves (shaped like a colt’s foot) appear after the blooms, hence its old name of Filius ante patrem which means the son before the father.

Its proper name Tussilago farfara actually means “cures a cough’”, The large leaves are harvested in June and July, then dried. When needed a tea was made and served with honey. It was used not only for alleviating coughs, but also for asthma.

Although I don’t often think of herbs being smoked, coltsfoot leaves are an ingredient in herbal cigarettes.

It can be propagated by root cuttings or seed and because it is such a spreader, it can be used as a groundcover in a sunny location. And be handy for a homemade cough cure.

Bloom Day April 2009

Finally I have blooming flowers other than houseplants to report on Bloom Day. I planted scillas and a few Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) in the grass a few years ago. Yesterday, when I tramped through all the dead tansy stems from last year, out to the new Potager my eye caught these two tiny plants pushing up through the rough stems and weeds. I can tell you that I have never planted any little bulbs in this area which has been overrun with spearmint and tansy for probably 20 years. Take note. Never ever plant spearmint or tansy where it cannot be firmly controlled! In fact, there were several isolated brilliant blue scillas winking at me, far from where any were intentioally planted.

I certainly intended those two sets of little bulbs to increase, but to find them so far away from the orignial planting is very mysterious. Does anyone know whether these flowers can somehow self seed? It seems as if they must, but so unlikely.

It is also amazing that these flowers growing among strong weeds should bloom before the ones planted in grass. Those showed their heads just this morning.

The daffodils that were here when we bought our house in 1979 have also just started blooming. This is a daffodil unlike any other I have seen. It is a very early bloomer, although I have to note that it is growing in a protected spot, against a bit of stone wall. Also the flowers are very fringey, both cup and petals. I think it must be a very old variety.

I am going to take a cue from Veg Plotting in the UK and note that this is the Middle of the Middle Month of spring and send you on to Carol of May Dreams Gardens who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and Mrs. Nesbit of ABC Wednesday.