Garden of Eaton

This year we did blocks rather than rows. I think in the end I prefer rows but it was a fun change.

No one looks forward to the apples more than Cubby.

Jane had a pet crow for a day.

We ordered some fun new seeds this year.

This rainbow was amazing!

Garden Times

It felt like an accomplishment to teach the kids about preparing and planning and planting and harvesting and composting and weeding and canning this summer. There's so much to learn but I'd say it was a substantial start.

 

Had to get a shot of Tim working in the garden. He shows up for the major weeding sessions. We all noticed how much faster and better he is at weeding than us. 

Thie kids couldn't wait to show Baba our onions. Jacob eats onions like apples.

 The problem is his breath after...

 Ezra loves to say to me, "Not the greens one right mom, just the orange ones." 

He loves the cherry tomatoes.

We all agree that cabbage is the most beautiful.

This is our first year canning pickles.

 Tim keeps daring us to open up pea pods and say there's no God. So funny.

 We came home from vacation and discovered we have a rooster! 

Scarlet often disappears to the raspberry patch.

 We won't be able to see her but we'll see the whole patch just swaying and shaking and then we know she's in there somewhere.

 Scarlet impressed me with her garden stamina. She's not always a "stay to the end" worker but she is when it comes to gardening. She'll say, "what's next mom?" or "what else can I do?" It was nice to spend the gardening time with her

 Jane whipped up some raspberry jam on her own this year.

 Sometimes the kitchen feels more like a factory.

 Jacob found gooseberries in the front yard. We have a few bushes of them. 

They look like teeny melons.

Rah Rah Radishes

I started off planting my garden and wondering why I didn't just use all the money I spent on dirt and plants and tools etc. at the market where I could pick up fresh veggies all washed and cut and ready. 

I take it all back. Now I get it. I can think of a million reasons now.

Every single thing I planted is growing and thriving. It's a miracle! 

One afternoon I found this guy in the garden. He looks so real that he startles me sometimes. 

I think he actually does work too.

Comfrey is amazing. I'm learning more and more about it and realizing how magical it is. I wish all my other plants would grow like this one. I infused oil with comfrey last summer and used it this summer to make salve so now I'll infuse another batch for next summer- well, actually Jane will do it this year so she can learn the art of green salve. We need to pass these things on :) You can also use comfrey to make fertilizer for the the garden and it's supposed to be awesome for the compost too.

We find froggies in our straw regularly. The last time we found a big one and the kids fed it to the ducks and watched them eat it. I couldn't go near the situation.

The first rhubarb bounty.

 This was a fun one. I packed their hobo sticks with lunch and sent them off on an adventure. They were gone all afternoon. Even Ezra.

  No one can tea party like Jane. It makes Scarlet's day when she will.

The girls will often come inside wearing daisy chains. Best childhood ever.

I'm obsessed with the lilacs this year. I cut them daily and bring them inside- they smell so good!

On my lilac to do list:

lilac bath

lilac lotion

lilac sugar

lilac salad

pressed lilacs in an old book

dried lilacs