This post is long overdue. But before I go on about all the lovely things growing in my tiny plot, I just want to give a bit what-up to Jeff. He really helped me out tons earlier this year by weeding my new plot and getting rid of all the broken glass, brick pieces, and rocks. He grabbed a hoe (not that kind) from the communal gardening tools area and really got to work turning the soil over and mixing in the organic fertilizer and rich gardening soil. The way he approached this task, with so much focus and determination, actually scared me a little. Thank you Jeff. I hope you'll let me make you a salad one day.
Remember when it looked like this?
It's not like I only just started planting. Actually, the plot is flourishing quite nicely right now. I kick myself for not having snapped pictures after planting the seedlings. Since planting, today was actually the first time I stepped foot in the garden! Why? Because I started a new job in April and it's been taking up all my time. Yes, I'd like to be a well-rounded person. Yes, I'd like to use my time more efficiently so I can pursue personal passions. Yes, I'd like to find ways to relax other than eating a big bowl of carbs while watching You Tube then falling asleep.
So I have to do another shout-out (is that what the kids are still saying these days?) to my mom who's been completely devoted to my tiny plot. She's the one who scoured the neighborhood for discarded sticks so the cucumbers have something to climb. She's been religiously watering the little ones, pruning, weeding. Today she asked me for an unused makeup brush so she can help the bees and other insects along by pollinating Gregor Mendel-style. My mother takes great pleasure in our co-op garden, but she especially loves the satisfaction of eating her hard work.
Case in point:
This was an improvised gimbap made with perilla and cinnamon basil (RIP cinnamon basil - more on that later) she used after we had ingredients left over from making Jade some vegan gimbap for her restaurant. This has pickled daikon, sauteed carrots, egg, and perilla. Delicious.
The new plot gets about 40% more sun than the last one. That combined with the hard work Jeff and I put in turning the soil and adding good fertilizer really makes a difference. See it now:
On the other side of the fence is the composting area. I helped out making some of the bins last year, before the hand surgery. I used a bit of the compost when my mother and I planted the seedlings.
The seedlings. That brings me to the darker side of this gardening club. Another reason I kick myself for not having taking pictures is that there's been some theft. Had there been thievery in other plots I'd venture to guess there's be quite a bit of email uproar. But I haven't seen any. How do I know it's human and not critter? The neatness in which my lettuce were so delicately plucked from the earth. But no matter. I'm just glad no one stole the first cuke of the season, like the way my baby eggplants would constantly disappear last year. Here it is:
I was so delighted! I snipped it off and took it home, washed it, and ate it. Not bitter at all and the skin was tender enough that I didn't have to peel it.
Here's some gorgeous purple basil I picked up at the Union Square farmers' market:
I'd like them to be doing as well as the Italian variety:
They are so tall and bountiful! I see a lot of pesto in my future. A word about my poor cinnamon basil. I got them along with the other varieties of basil from the farmers' market. I've never seen or tasted cinnamon basil before but they really do have the distinct fragrance of cinnamon. Unfortunately, they look a lot like the weeds propagating in abundance along the edges of the plots. Along came my overzealous mother out to destroy the weeds and, well, you get the idea. No matter, I'll get more another time.
To make up for the lack of posts documenting my little ones' growth, here are a lot of pics I took this morning.
Jennie's mint. They survived the bad location, the uprooting, and the winter. These guys are tough.
Potato leaves. When my mother and I started planting the seedlings, we found a small potato. We decided to plant it to see what happens. This is what happened.
The cucumbers doing very well. My mother scoured the neighborhood for discarded by sturdy rods to give something for them to climb.
Tall basil and tall perilla.
Perilla in the sun.
Basil, perilla, lettuce.
Future pickles.
Remember when it looked like this?
It's not like I only just started planting. Actually, the plot is flourishing quite nicely right now. I kick myself for not having snapped pictures after planting the seedlings. Since planting, today was actually the first time I stepped foot in the garden! Why? Because I started a new job in April and it's been taking up all my time. Yes, I'd like to be a well-rounded person. Yes, I'd like to use my time more efficiently so I can pursue personal passions. Yes, I'd like to find ways to relax other than eating a big bowl of carbs while watching You Tube then falling asleep.
So I have to do another shout-out (is that what the kids are still saying these days?) to my mom who's been completely devoted to my tiny plot. She's the one who scoured the neighborhood for discarded sticks so the cucumbers have something to climb. She's been religiously watering the little ones, pruning, weeding. Today she asked me for an unused makeup brush so she can help the bees and other insects along by pollinating Gregor Mendel-style. My mother takes great pleasure in our co-op garden, but she especially loves the satisfaction of eating her hard work.
Case in point:
This was an improvised gimbap made with perilla and cinnamon basil (RIP cinnamon basil - more on that later) she used after we had ingredients left over from making Jade some vegan gimbap for her restaurant. This has pickled daikon, sauteed carrots, egg, and perilla. Delicious.
The new plot gets about 40% more sun than the last one. That combined with the hard work Jeff and I put in turning the soil and adding good fertilizer really makes a difference. See it now:
On the other side of the fence is the composting area. I helped out making some of the bins last year, before the hand surgery. I used a bit of the compost when my mother and I planted the seedlings.
The seedlings. That brings me to the darker side of this gardening club. Another reason I kick myself for not having taking pictures is that there's been some theft. Had there been thievery in other plots I'd venture to guess there's be quite a bit of email uproar. But I haven't seen any. How do I know it's human and not critter? The neatness in which my lettuce were so delicately plucked from the earth. But no matter. I'm just glad no one stole the first cuke of the season, like the way my baby eggplants would constantly disappear last year. Here it is:
I was so delighted! I snipped it off and took it home, washed it, and ate it. Not bitter at all and the skin was tender enough that I didn't have to peel it.
Here's some gorgeous purple basil I picked up at the Union Square farmers' market:
I'd like them to be doing as well as the Italian variety:
They are so tall and bountiful! I see a lot of pesto in my future. A word about my poor cinnamon basil. I got them along with the other varieties of basil from the farmers' market. I've never seen or tasted cinnamon basil before but they really do have the distinct fragrance of cinnamon. Unfortunately, they look a lot like the weeds propagating in abundance along the edges of the plots. Along came my overzealous mother out to destroy the weeds and, well, you get the idea. No matter, I'll get more another time.
To make up for the lack of posts documenting my little ones' growth, here are a lot of pics I took this morning.
Jennie's mint. They survived the bad location, the uprooting, and the winter. These guys are tough.
Potato leaves. When my mother and I started planting the seedlings, we found a small potato. We decided to plant it to see what happens. This is what happened.
The cucumbers doing very well. My mother scoured the neighborhood for discarded by sturdy rods to give something for them to climb.
Tall basil and tall perilla.
Perilla in the sun.
Basil, perilla, lettuce.
Future pickles.
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