Dear friends,
tonight is the night. I covered for frost three times before and we got out without a frost. Today I picked another 120lb of Tomatoes and covered the carrots, celeriac, some flowers cilantro (yes we have a nice bed of cilantro coming on!) the last of the beans. I let go and said good bye to the tomatoes, and zucchinis and cucumbers. Peppers are under a tunnel and covers and should do good.
Tomorrow we will pick first parsnips and hopefully carrots. They have been so slow and the deer nibbling did not help. I have been on the fence for a few weeks now and I think they are not coming in anymore. It is so very frustrating if all the hard work and fun of growing crops goes to the deer who eat so much more than a woodchuck or a mouse in one night. I had added four strands to the fence between the cows and the garden earlier and last week we added 9 tall posts and more strands to that and two more strands to the tall fence near my house. Not something I want to do on long harvest day, but when they ate all! the watermelons 24 in one night, just ready to be given out to you, it got to me and in rage I dug the fence post holes and hammered the fence on to them and I don't get raging easy. Cam the SLU student of that afternoon was so very helpful, could have not done it without him.
On a good note the potato harvest is moving along nicely and we might be able to get all of them out this week. There are so many and they are so beautiful, not scabby or funky, it is a joy to dig them and collect them into buckets and bags.
tonight is the night. I covered for frost three times before and we got out without a frost. Today I picked another 120lb of Tomatoes and covered the carrots, celeriac, some flowers cilantro (yes we have a nice bed of cilantro coming on!) the last of the beans. I let go and said good bye to the tomatoes, and zucchinis and cucumbers. Peppers are under a tunnel and covers and should do good.
Tomorrow we will pick first parsnips and hopefully carrots. They have been so slow and the deer nibbling did not help. I have been on the fence for a few weeks now and I think they are not coming in anymore. It is so very frustrating if all the hard work and fun of growing crops goes to the deer who eat so much more than a woodchuck or a mouse in one night. I had added four strands to the fence between the cows and the garden earlier and last week we added 9 tall posts and more strands to that and two more strands to the tall fence near my house. Not something I want to do on long harvest day, but when they ate all! the watermelons 24 in one night, just ready to be given out to you, it got to me and in rage I dug the fence post holes and hammered the fence on to them and I don't get raging easy. Cam the SLU student of that afternoon was so very helpful, could have not done it without him.
On a good note the potato harvest is moving along nicely and we might be able to get all of them out this week. There are so many and they are so beautiful, not scabby or funky, it is a joy to dig them and collect them into buckets and bags.
celeriac
I was asked what the gnarly thing in the box this week was. It is celeriac, a root celery that needs to be peeled (cut in 1/4 and peel is the easiest for me) It will keep a long time in the fridge. I like using it in soups or cut into thin slices and dunk it into egg and fry it in a frying pan or bake it. It is high in vitamin C and can be grated into a salad.
 beets |  lemon balm |
For the beets: A Clarkson student told me that she bakes them in the oven and dips them into a sauce made of tahini and honey. I am going to try that this week on my Wednesday cook night.
I am always open to your ways of cooking things if you like to share them.
Here are uses for the lemon balm if you don't want to use or dry it for tea.
LEMON BALM USES
As with many herbs, lemon balm has been used medicinally for centuries. It's known to have 8 different antiviral properties, 8 different sedative properties and 12 different anti-inflammatory properties! The leaves are also antibacterial, antihistaminic and antioxidant.
Lemon balm has been used to treat:
LEMON BALM TEA - Make a therapy tea by steeping a heaping teaspoon of dried leaves or a large tablespoon of fresh for about 15 minutes. Mix with some honey and this is a great tea for children over 2 years old that have a fever or a cold. Of course, it's good for us adults also!
HOT WATER INFUSIONS - Lemon balm infusions have been used historically to treat Newcastle Disease, herpes and even the mumps! To make a hot water infusion fill a glass jar (a canning jar works but I love my coffee press for this!) 1/3 full of the dried lemon balm leaves or about 3/4 full of fresh. Fill the jar with boiling water, cap and let steep for at least 4 hours. The long steeping time brings out much more of the medicinal qualities of the herb.
LEMON BALM TINCTURE - I love making tinctures or extracts as they're sometimes called! A teaspoon of lemon balm tincture added to either warm or cold water is a quick way to make tea without steeping. They last for years and are a great addition to your herbal medicine cabinet!
LEMON BALM POULTICE - Using the leaves as a poultice can help heal small wounds, insect bites and cold sores. In Germany, lemon balm cream is a common over the counter treatment for cold sores.
LEMON BALM MOSQUITO REPELLENT - Crush a handful of fresh leaves and rub them on your skin for a natural mosquito repellent!
LEMON BALM LEMONADE - This lemon balm recipe makes about 6 cups and has only about 36 calories per cup! Of course, you can add more honey if you like it a little sweeter but that will up the calories. You'll need:
Stir it well before serving. Add a small sprig of lemon balm as a garnish if your feeling fancy:) This refreshing tea is wonderful either hot or cold!
LEMON BALM INFUSED OIL
Lemon balm infused in organic olive oil can be used both in the kitchen for culinary uses or for making your own ointments, body creams, etc.
IDEAS FOR LEMON BALM RECIPES
Get creative and make your own lemon balm recipes! Lemon balm can be used in any recipes that would benefit from a soft lemon flavor. Just remember to chop it finely. Here's a few ideas:
Lemon balm is said to influence love, healing and success so if you arr looking for any of the mentioned carry a few sprigs with you!
Lemon balm wine when shared between two "friends" is also said to bring about love. You can make this easily be steeping in wine for several hours, strain, and then share with your partner. Fun stuff!
All the best, till next time
Dulli
I am always open to your ways of cooking things if you like to share them.
Here are uses for the lemon balm if you don't want to use or dry it for tea.
LEMON BALM USES
As with many herbs, lemon balm has been used medicinally for centuries. It's known to have 8 different antiviral properties, 8 different sedative properties and 12 different anti-inflammatory properties! The leaves are also antibacterial, antihistaminic and antioxidant.
Lemon balm has been used to treat:
- Fevers
- Digestive ills
- Painful Menstruation
- Headaches
- Colds & Flu
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Cold Sores
- And For Improving Moods
LEMON BALM TEA - Make a therapy tea by steeping a heaping teaspoon of dried leaves or a large tablespoon of fresh for about 15 minutes. Mix with some honey and this is a great tea for children over 2 years old that have a fever or a cold. Of course, it's good for us adults also!
HOT WATER INFUSIONS - Lemon balm infusions have been used historically to treat Newcastle Disease, herpes and even the mumps! To make a hot water infusion fill a glass jar (a canning jar works but I love my coffee press for this!) 1/3 full of the dried lemon balm leaves or about 3/4 full of fresh. Fill the jar with boiling water, cap and let steep for at least 4 hours. The long steeping time brings out much more of the medicinal qualities of the herb.
LEMON BALM TINCTURE - I love making tinctures or extracts as they're sometimes called! A teaspoon of lemon balm tincture added to either warm or cold water is a quick way to make tea without steeping. They last for years and are a great addition to your herbal medicine cabinet!
LEMON BALM POULTICE - Using the leaves as a poultice can help heal small wounds, insect bites and cold sores. In Germany, lemon balm cream is a common over the counter treatment for cold sores.
LEMON BALM MOSQUITO REPELLENT - Crush a handful of fresh leaves and rub them on your skin for a natural mosquito repellent!
LEMON BALM LEMONADE - This lemon balm recipe makes about 6 cups and has only about 36 calories per cup! Of course, you can add more honey if you like it a little sweeter but that will up the calories. You'll need:
- 3 cups loosely packed, fresh lemon balm leaves (or about 1 cup dried)
- 6 cups hot water
- Juice of 4 fresh lemons (around 1 cup)
- 3 Tablespoons honey (I wonder how pure maple syrup would taste in this?)
Stir it well before serving. Add a small sprig of lemon balm as a garnish if your feeling fancy:) This refreshing tea is wonderful either hot or cold!
LEMON BALM INFUSED OIL
Lemon balm infused in organic olive oil can be used both in the kitchen for culinary uses or for making your own ointments, body creams, etc.
IDEAS FOR LEMON BALM RECIPES
Get creative and make your own lemon balm recipes! Lemon balm can be used in any recipes that would benefit from a soft lemon flavor. Just remember to chop it finely. Here's a few ideas:
- FISH - Add about 1 Tablespoon of minced leaves to about 1/2 cup of mayonaise or tarter sauce for a mild lemon zing.
- FRUIT - Add about 2 teaspoons fresh, minced leaves per 1 cup of fruit. Great for any type of fruit salad!
- SALSA - Add a teaspoon or 2 to your favorite salsa recipe for something a little different.
Lemon balm is said to influence love, healing and success so if you arr looking for any of the mentioned carry a few sprigs with you!
Lemon balm wine when shared between two "friends" is also said to bring about love. You can make this easily be steeping in wine for several hours, strain, and then share with your partner. Fun stuff!
All the best, till next time
Dulli
