Rainy Week

There is such a thing as too much rain. The figs are rotting on the tree. The green beans have fungus on them! The okra pods turn gigantic overnight. The good news? The butter beans are finally filling out!

Okra

I had a big bag of okra accumulating in the 'fridge. Used the smaller tender pods to make my first attempt at okra pickles... 3 pint jars full. Froze the remaining larger pods. They'll be best suited for the soup pot or for seasoning beans.

Elvis Has Left the Chicken Yard

Today is a sad day. Elvis the King was dispatched to that hen house in the sky... death by dog. Grayson found a weakness in the fence surrounding the larger chicken yard. Once he got his nose under, I'm sure instincts took over. Not sure why he went for Elvis and not one of the hens or ducks. I like to think Elvis was the hero, coming forward to protect his girls.

Growing Greens

Picked the last butternut squash and planted black-seeded green leaf lettuce and a mesclin mix. The salad greens (lettuce, arugula, spinach, beets) and the cooking greens (kale, turnips, mustard) are tucked into their beds. Of course, spinach and beets can be cooked, too! Now, if Mother Nature will do her thing - providing lots of good sun and rain - we can look forward to some good eating!

Speedy Seedlings

Can you believe the arugula has already sprouted? The kale is up, too. Greens are so much fun to grow, and good to eat, too!

More greens in the ground...

Planted arugula and spinach this morning. Waiting for the last of the butternut squash to ripen before I plant the rest of that bed in a variety of lettuce.

Time for Good-for-You Greens

Planted smooth kale, mustard, and turnip greens this afternoon. Purchased seeds for arugula, a mesclin mix, and black-seeded green leaf lettuce. I'm going to pull up the tomato plants, prepare that bed, and plant the salad greens there.