July 25: Better frozen veggies.

Before removing air

After removing air

Learned a new trick today for removing more of the air from bags of blanched veggies before freezing.  Just insert a straw into the bag before finishing sealing and suck the air out.   Nifty!  Should help them stay fresher!

July 25: Pickles!

Campers helped pick cucumbers this morning and then I helped them make a batch of pickles for the camps next meal.  But there were so many cucumbers ripe.  Marge Krueger took some home to make pickles and so did Bill and also me. Plus there were a bunch to take over to the lodge kitchen.  Here's the pickles- to-be cooking on my stove and the finished jars of pickles after being in the canner.  

July 24: herb class!

Herb class today.  Began in the garden picking herbs 

Jean Catania snapped this photo after we went into the Anderson Center for the remainder of the class. Ten students. All so enthusiastic!   Most said they've been growing herbs but didn't know how to use them. We made bundles of thyme and savory and rosemary to dry. Plus bundles of bouquet garni. Then herbal vinegar with the purple basil and little cups of chopped chives, basil, and parsley to fill with water at home and freeze.  Then we crushed herbs I'd put in the dehydrator on Friday and made teabags of chamomile and tea bags of lemon verbena, stevia, and cinnamon.  Lastly we made peppermint foot bags for a refreshing foot soak!  Great class.  

July 22: super long super sweet carrot!

Farm campers helped pull onions and carrots this week.   Here is the longest carrot:  

It's long and skinny and very sweet. Supersnax variety. 

July 15: cucumbers and more!

So many cucumbers coming in so fast!   I've made 2 batches of pickles and taken lots of cucumbers to The Center kitchen.

Quite a trunk full of vegetables!  Beets, turnips, carrots, and a few potatoes in middle.   Clockwise from front:  Yellow summer squash, the first yellow apples, cucumbers, chard, yellow and green beans, zucchini!

July 11: garlic!

Farm camp boys helped pull all the garlic today!

July 6: Alissa's micro greens and abundant growth in the garden!

Alissa Dahlgaard (a 2016 Children's Farm Garden Guide) has started her new Farmer in the Dell microgreen business. She was at the Palos Heights Farmers' Market doing a brisk business on this debut day for her new business!  Hooray Alissa!

Just like last year.  Something eats the first head of lettuce. Rabbits I suppose??  But this yer didn't get too much!
I started digging out the comfrey from behind the compost bin where we hang the tools.  Huge woody roots.   I finished in 2 days, but doubt that I got it all.  I think I'll plant sunflowers there.  Wait a year or two before planting another perennial there, since it will be easier to see the comfrey I missed.
Corn plants look wonderful  We are way ahead of the knee high by the 4th of July standard!  Garlic and onions looking about ready to pull.
 Kale, cabbage, broocoli in bed 5 (far right).  Potatoes in bed 6 (middle).  Tomatoes in bed 7.
Cucumbers growing fast!
Squashes growing fast too.  

Herb garden looking great!  Pink are Bergamot.  Tall purple spikes on left are licorice mint.  Both great for tea.  Yellow and a few orange Calendula line the inside path of the garden.  Eible petals to add color to salad, salsa, etc.