Shard= Swiss Chard

I have an abundance of shard right now. And I have two Salmon fillets in the freezer. I see a delicious dinner being made in my near future. Salmon lightly grilled with lemon, pepper, salt, and thyme (from the garden of course), and the chard sauteed with a little garlic, salt and pepper, and some hot peppers (just a pinch). mmmmm.

In other news... the other day one of my neighbors, a chatty ol fellow, commented on my garden and asked if i had any _________ (enter undecipherable word here). I looked at him with my eyes crossed and said, "Huh?" He repeated. I was all like,  "I have no idea what you are saying." And he crossed his arms and said to himself, " How do you say it in English??" So I start listing things off in my garden, and he finally shouts out "Basil!" So he's probably first generation Italian here.... and so I think what he was trying to say was Basilico... but it came out sounding like basagooliio... hmmm. ok. I pointed it out to him, which he did not recognize, and told him to help himself to it whenever. He said he needed some for a picnic. :)

the garden... in full bloom. so far this year has been good to my tomato plants. nice beautiful disease free leaves. the plants are so full and look so healthy. green fruits are popping up everywhere, and i can't wait to taste the first tomato. i already have an eggplant and a few jalapenos to harvest. i also notice a cherry pepper ready to go. i keep waiting for the blossoms on my crookneck squash and cucumber plant to turn into something...but they mostly just fall off. gotta figure out what i am doing wrong there... i recently added compost and mulch to my planters. it really had an immediate effect, especially on a couple of my tomato plants that were looking a little bare. they are suddenly flowering and are becoming more full.

My garden as a social forum...

While working in my garden I have met quite a number of my neighbors. They walk by and compliment my garden, then introduce themselves. I have come to realize very quickly that my garden is a "conversation piece." Without it, I might not have had the opportunity to talk to or meet some of my neighbors. One neighbor asked me about my currants, and I told him that I made a jam from them. He quickly brought me over a jar of some of his homemade fig preserves.

South Philly really is a great place to live. My neighbors are awesome, and they don't bother my garden (knock on wood). I don't mind if they want to pick a tomato or two though. Having my garden here and meeting new people has opened up my eyes more to the potentials of awesome neighborhoodness. I am so glad I decided to go through with my garden after my move. I am glad I have the motivation and inspiration to pull it all together. It makes my everyday better, just seeing my plants, and from what I hear from my neighbors, it makes the street look better, and smell better! Yay!

Someone else's beans

On 11th St. Beautiful purple runner beans. I'm not sure what exactly they are.

Spinach Harvest

 

Let's see if more keeps coming!!

The Red Lake Currant Berries Harvest 2010

I harvested my berries and made a very simple and delicious jam from them. First time jamming. 

It has 3 ingredients: currants, sugar, and water. 

It is so yummy. And I was surprised how much I got from that small batch.

Egyptian Walking Onion

all bundled up... waiting to break free... this was taken at the old apartment. sort of a metaphor maybe. being controlled...held back....and then bursting free. exploring outward....