CHANGING SEASONS

Phew,

 the smoke from all the wildfires is persistent.  Air quality rivals downtown LA or Mexico City.   We can only work outside for a short spell these days during breaks in the smoke.  This morning we finally had a chance to weed the veggie garden.  It is amazing how quickly the weeds can grow in there.  Fortunately, we re not getting too many outside of the raised beds and barrels so it is pretty manageable.

Pulling Cornstalks

Composting corn stalks

It was quite windy today and for the first time began to feel like Fall... some of the leaves are changing in tiny patches around town and coming home this afternoon I saw a patch of yellow on one of the big birch trees along the creek.  I'm not ready for summer to wind down but I am excited about planting some Fall and Winter beds.  We pulled all the cornstalks today.  They were mostly dead after the two days the watering system went down.  Next year we need to plant it earlier and feed it earlier and water more heavily.  I know folks say corn doesn't do well here but I think ours was doing well.  It was big and healthy and lots of ears set.  I think it just needed a bit more TLC and it dried out when the timers got shut down without our knowing.

   

Harvesting Beets

We also harvested a bunch of chiles to bring to town.  We pulled the last of the rutabagas today.  They were not nearly as impressive as the first round.  We did pull our first beets of this crop. They are big and beautiful and hopefully tasty.  We will hunt for a few potatoes tomorrow and dinner will be grilled steak with roasted root vegetables... and maybe a side of sauteed chard!

I hope to plant some cauliflower, spinach and kale this week as well.  I'd also like to put in another round of beets, rutabagas, parsnips, leeks, chard and lettuce for the fall.  I have to read up on what else we can grow in the fall and winter.