Beautiful Bouquet of Spinach

My first harvest!

I think it's good enough to eat...

Wall O What?

Wall O Water.

It was almost as if I was speaking another language. I had just mustered up enough courage to approach the West Seattle Nursery Employee but when I asked my question, "Where are your Wall O Waters?", she just blankly stared before wrinkling her nose and asking, "Wall O What?"

"W-a-l-l Ooooo W-a-t-e-r. " I repeated.

"Never heard of them." She replied.

Great. My next door neighbor, who is also my landlord, brought over three b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l tomato plants that made my starts look like Jack next to the Giant. She started these plants from seed. She strongly encouraged buying a product called Wall O Water from the West Seattle Nursery.

Great. I have no idea where to get these. The garden expert thought I was speaking another language when I asked for them. And my land lord will evict me if I don't find Wall O Waters and the Giants die. Not really.

The internet search began. Oh great Google, tell me where and how fast they can get here. Found 'em and for a great price.

I guess they are also known as Aqua Shields. The shields trick the plant into thinking it's getting more sun than it is and it also keeps the air surrounding the tomato plant warmer.

Potage St Germain

I was looking forward to coming home yesterday because I had a recipe in mind to make. It was Potage St Germain, a French peasant soup:


2 T. butter
3 leeks, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 head of butter lettuce, chopped
30 oz. frozen peas
1/2 cup mint, minced

Sautee the leeks in butter over low heat until the leeks are wilted. Raise to medium heat and add the broth and water. Bring to a gentle boil. Add lettuce and peas. Cook until peas are tender. Add mint.

Either with a hand immersion blender or a food processer, blend the soup. If you find the soup is too thick, add water. Garnish with fromage blanc (soft white cheese) or sour cream. Serve hot or chilled.

My garden is only yielding radish at the present time. I had to buy all the ingredients except the mint. But as I started preparing this recipe, I realized that in a few months, I would be able to use peas, lettuce, mint and leeks from my own garden. I could make vegetable broth with leftover scraps of vegetables. The only thing I would have to buy is the butter...unless...I got a cow. Right.

The soup was ready to be served. I had even made bread the night before to go with the Potage, but then I heard a sound. I could NOT believe what I was hearing. Standing at the window, I finally had to face reality.

It was hailing.

Hail. It's May. It's Seattle. Thunder roared and lightening illuminated the yard just enough for me to see my vegetables covered in white.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain

Okay. So my trellis are not mountains, but surprisingly enough my idea worked. The Square Foot Gardening book suggested I use electrical conduit, rebar and trellis netting to construct the trellis I need for peas and beans.




Instead, I bought a package of 5' bamboo. There were 10 - 5' pieces in the package and it cost all of $6.00. Each trellis netting cost $4.00 and the twine? I already had it. I simply overlap the bamboo poles and secured with black electrical tape. I then tied the trellis netting to the poles. (I want to cover the black electrical tape with twine, but haven't done it yet. I think the electrical tape looks a little trashy. But at least I didn't use duct tape!)

After pushing the poles into the ground, I wrapped the pea vines around the bottom row of the treelis netting.

So, I guess I should change the lyrics of my song to: Grow, Grow Up Trellis Netting!

Herbal Addiction

I love to cook. And if I could only do one thing for the rest of my life, I would cook. I love to explore different foods from different cultures and sometimes that requires fresh herbs for recipes. In Seattle, I'm lucky that I can find an insane variety of fresh herbs. The problem lies in the cost of these fresh herbs. So, begins my herb garden.

Basil. Lavendar. Chives.

Thai Basil. Peppermint. Dill.

Morrocan Mint. Thyme.

Pineapple Mint. Oregano.

Tarragon. Garlic Chives. Parsley.

Chamomile. Savory. Cilantro. Rosemary.

Pea Update

They are growing! After blogging about the rain washing the seeds right out of the dirt (Please, Please, Peas Please), the peas are growing. I need to make a trellis for them to climb on, and I need to do it very soon.

I'm a little intimidated about using the material in the square foot gardening book (electrical conduit and rebar). This weekend I'll attempt to make trellis out of bamboo poles and trellis netting. Wish me luck! Of course, pictures will follow.

First Harvest

A radish.

Life is good.