Friday, August 14, 2009

Victory in my Victory Garden!

Sweet Victory in my Victory Garden!



Walking through our vegetable garden yesterday I snapped a few photos. I must say that I am rather pleased with how things have turned out in my little garden this year.
I didn't always feel that way over the past few months and there were many days that I didn't think I would see a single vegetable come from all of my hard work!
I started up a brand new garden this year and took a leap when I decided whole heartedly to leave out the chemicals and see where organic gardening would lead me. It has been an interesting journey. My tomatoes once grew long and stalky and squash and zuchini once flowers fell off of the plant if I brushed past it. I quickly realized that converting over would not be all too easy.
My pepper plants are still in a pitiful state, producing barely a thing and when it does it is too small to be worthy of eating! This is something I will have to work harder at for next year.

To my surprise though, mothernature eventually took the reins and led me in the right direction. By adding natural fertilizers and pestisides, regular watering and tender loving care, very slowly I began to see some results.


Success can truly be valued after a few failures. My new venture in organic gardening has taught me patience most of all! It seemed to take longer than usual and there were a few times I looked upon all of my hard work and thought it would never come to pass. There is a reason, after all, that Miracle Grow has the word miracle in it, and getting instant gratification from a few sprinkles every now and again was just all too easy!

Some things are definately worth waiting for!

But there is a true miracle in the slowly moving process of letting mothernature do her job, slowly coaxing it along naturally and patiently waiting for it to show you the satisfaction of hard work.
I cannot say that my organic garden has shown me the bounty thus far that my "miracle" gardens of the past could easily produce, however, I am sure that this is certainly another learning process and in time I plan to master this organic garden of mine. Perhaps next year the peppers will also show up for the garden party!

Sweet Success!

Now, what is a girl to do with all of these vegetables?
Well, we have been feeling a little under the weather this past week and had quite a few rainy days so I thought some soup could do us all some good. I made some vegetable soup and mini quiche for lunch. It was a nice combination and the kids really liked it.
I sauted an onion, one of our mini red peppers, and a little bit of minced garlic in a T. of butter. until transparent. Next, I chopped one of the smaller zuchinis and tossed it in too.
I opened up and drained a can of corn. I know what you are thinking! All this talk about my garden and I open up a can of corn! Corn is not growing in my garden and since I wasn't feeling so great and didn't want to hit the farmers market, I reached into the pantry, but you could def. use fresh corn. Roasted corn would be great too!
I added some chopped basil, oregano and parsley from my garden. Then I added a can of crushed tomatoes, about 1/2 cup of vegetable broth and brought it to a boil. Next, I added about 3/4 cup of whole milk and 1/4 cup of 1/2 and 1/2. Stirred it up and for extra creaminess I threw in a dollup of sour cream.....It was pretty good, and much better than a can of campbells.
I have so many more recipes that I want to try! I will be making zuchini cake tonight...if it is good I will share the recipe, so....stay tuned!
By the way, the giveaway for the harvest sign is still on until the end of August, so if you want to sign up, just click on the link to the right and leave a comment, I just love reading everyones descriptions of fall, I am getting excited for its arrival!


6 comments:

  1. I love your door with the Fried Green Tomatoes sign! Very cute! Looks like you've had a wonderful garden crop this summer! I'll have to check out your recipes and show your pic's and recipes to my husband. He's the gardener and the cook around here!
    Laurie

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  2. I love all that your garden is producing..we too have an organic garden..we have one of those roll composters that we add to all year long and then come spring we dump it in the soil mix it up with the dirt and add chicken manure and then plant..we then or I should say my hubby on a weekly basis takes his miracle grow and gives all the plants and veggies a nice drink of the stuff..our garden is the best this year by far..more sun helped and we have 3 pumpkins growing in our garden this year..haven't grown them for years because they never did anything..having the spring/summer we are having did it will all the sun..we are harvesting cherry tomatoes this week and our potatoes and beans..gotta pick some squash and hope I get more zuchinni,..we only got 4 of them this year..the plant is huge but didn't produce what I thought it should.but we did get 4 so can't complain..got it grated in 2 cup baggies for zuchinni bread...:)have a great weekend..I sure enjoyed your photos and I love your signs and that door..that is too neat.:)

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  3. That looks great!! I am trying my hand at an organic lasagna garden. It is growing better than anticipated. I only wish I had planted more!! :)

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  4. I feel like I can almost smell your garden, with all of those beautiful vegetables thriving in it! There's nothing like that smell! I can't grow any vegetables, because I don't get enough sun, except for out by the street, so I live vicariously through those of you that do!
    Love the Fried Green Tomatoes screen door too!

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  5. Amen! A beautiful garden indeed and a healthy stuff there as well. I love the pics and it reminded me of my childhood days when I loved doing gardening! God bless you.

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  6. Thanks for the lovely post, with all the great photos of your gifts from the garden. Good on you for trying to go organic. Looks like it was a journey but one that was worth it. :)

    Blessings!

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