Someone Please Make It Rain & Hinklehatz Pepper Sauce

Someone Please Make It Rain...

I have to admit that I'm a sucker for a good sign. As I was walking my dogs this morning I saw this and started laughing out loud. This summer really is hot and dry enough to warrant this sign and I love that on the other side it advertises sweet tea. I can't think of a better way to pass a hot summer day. 

So, a quick garden update despite the lack of rain and more hot days to come. Who are the survivors left in the garden? Below is a list of the tough veggies and herbs that have made it through the hot summer. I should mention that we are blessed with large oak trees that provide shade for at least part of the day. Anything that is in full sun has either died or looks like it is on the verge by late afternoon. 

Hinklehatz peppers

Marketmore and Mexican Gherkin Cucumbers

Musquee de Provence, Rouge Vif D'Etampes and Chinese Miniature Pumpkins

Hill Country Red Okra 

Some shishito, jalepeño and frying peppers

Eggplant

Basil

Tarragon

Lemon Grass

Chives

Black Spanish Grapes....until the birds found them

Sage

Thyme

Tomatoes are on vacation until fall

Recipe for Hinklehatz Pepper Sauce

What to plant now? Swiss chard (try it as edible landscaping for a pop of color), black eyed peas, pumpkins, chickpeas/garbanzo beans, lentils, gourds and shallots would be great to plant now. You may want to start them in the shade or shade your beds with shade cloth or an umbrella in the afternoon. It is also great to let your garden beds rest and baby them with some great compost to start fall planting in late August. 

Plan your fall garden now. You can plant lettuce, radishes, beets, snap beans, carrots, more tomatoes and cucumbers, arugula and spinach...maybe even a few strawberries. Thank goodness we have an extra growing season!

Don't forget about the wildlife around you. Leave water out for birds and maybe throw a little leftover fruit out for them. They are thirsty and hungry too. 

Birthday Pumpkins

I've always wanted to have our own pumpkin patch, but I never can remember to plan for fall pumpkins in the middle of summer. It just so happens that my birthday falls about 120 days before October 31st and that means that if I get those pumpkin seeds in the dirt now that they should be ready in time for Halloween. If I can just remember that pumpkins should be planted at the same time I celebrate my birthday I should remember when to plant them every year!


We decided to go for a mini pumpkin patch design considering our small piece of yard that we're devoting to the pumpkin patch. We picked up 3 straw bales from Callahan's General Store and two 4' X 5' pieces of cattle panel from Montopolis Steel which is just up the road from Callahan's. All in all it cost us about $40-50 and a very small amount of time to create. We plan to use the straw as mulch for our strawberries and garden troughs in the late fall and winter...and I'm sure we'll see some disappear to be used for nests in our large oak tree.  


We are growing Musquee De Provence, Rouge Vif d'Etampes and Chinese Miniature Pumpkins (all from Seed Savers Exchange - Check Wheatsville for seeds) for our first try at a pumpkin patch. Don't forget to research different varieties if you plan to cook or bake with the pumpkins as some are not suitable for baking. Planting Instructions: We made 12" diameter mounds/hills around the seeds (with high quality organic compost) and spaced them 6" apart. Put about 6-8 seeds in each hill and thin to 3-4 plants once they've sprouted. Don't forget to give them extra water in the beginning and especially in the hot Texas summer sun. Don't be afraid to just allow the largest pumpkins to grow if you have limited space - even one pumpkin per plant is just fine for a small pumpkin patch.


The pumpkin vines will grow out of our metal trough onto the metal trellis and the pumpkins can rest on the straw or ground as they grow heavier. The leaves on the trellis will also provide shade for the pumpkins in the hot afternoon sun. 


Chinese Miniature Pumpkins and most small gourds can also be grown on an arch or trellis (similar to our cucumbers) which would make for some great fall decor in the backyard. Or, just for fun, grow some dinosaur gourds or giant pumpkins and impress the neighbors. 

Edible Landscaping Update

It has been a few weeks since I started our edible landscaping project, so I thought I would post an update. We haven't gotten more than a day of rain, but everything seems to be doing well only being watered twice a week. I love that there are little surprises tucked into the front landscaping. We've had so much fun spotting little cherry tomatoes or picking basil for dinner. The scarlet runner beans have really taken off and are showing off their beautiful red flowers.

Our backyard, which is made up mostly of trough container gardens, is becoming quite productive and we're reaping the benefits of our work in early spring. Yesterday Clay and I added some compost to the troughs and pulled a few lingering winter plants. We were able to harvest several red and 1015 onions, candy striped beets, blackberries, swiss chard, fennel, parsnips and carrots. The tomatoes are all over the place and we've already had the chance to enjoy a few sun golds, early girls and sweet 100s. 

Our arch with cucumbers and scarlet runner beans leading to our container garden troughs.

The little butterfly garden under our pergola has been home to many bees and butterflies over the last few weeks. I love the splash of color just outside our door.  The lemon grass shooting out of the side is a fun addition. We included some butterfly weed which they really seem to love. 

Edible landscaping is a wonderful way to incorporate edible plants into your existing landscaping. Remember to look for varieties that do well in your region and if possible, heirloom varieties that bring diversity back to the landscape. Add rich compost to the soil and make sure there are not any plants that could put toxins into the soil and use only organic methods when gardening. I used a mix of herbs and fruiting plants in our edible landscape which has given the landscape an interesting mix of textures and colors. The herbs are beautiful when they flower. 


There are many resources available. Here are 3 books that I used to get started. Check your local library or bookstore for these books as well as other helpful resources online. 


Edible Landscaping: Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat It Too! by Rosalind Creasy


Eat Your Yard! Edible trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and flowers for your landscape by Nan K. Chase


The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden by Ivette Soler

Spring in Austin, Texas

It's spring in Austin, Texas and that means there are events all over town for foodies and gardeners. Learn about green gardening, visit a local farm or just enjoy some great local food with friends. 


Here are a few of the events coming up:
APRIL


It's Austin Restaurant Week this week, April 10-13 and April 17-20, 2011


Check out Edible Austin's events for April


Slow Food Slow Session: Bee Keeping 101
Monday, April 11th, 2011 7-9 p.m. 
Location: Habitat Suites, 500 East Highland Mall Boulevard

RSVP: anneh@slowfoodaustin.org

Farm.Fresh.Taste. Event

April 16th from 9 am - 1 pm

SFC Farmers' Market at Sunset Valley @ Toney Burger Center 

Green Easter Egg Hunt

(We've been for the last two years-lots of fun for the kids!)

April 16, 2011  

SFC Farmers' Market Downtown (Sunset Valley location is April 23rd) 

10:00 am start for ALL ages

Information from the Sustainable Food Center Site: 

" A "green" hunt with no sugar and high fun! Egg cascarones are filled with grass seed and kiddos are encouraged to 'break' the eggs over their friends and family member's heads to make the scene green. Also egg-inspired coupons all over the park (also happening at the Sunset Valley-Toney Burger Center site April 23rd) to redeem for a 'sweet'  strawberry direct from the farmer. Free egg collecting bags to first 100.  

We need more of your farmers' egg shells (empty and clean) for the cascarones!

Please see the link here to learn how to get an eggshell ready for cascarones and how to bring them to the market by the dozens!"

East Austin Urban Farm Tour

Date: April 17, 2011

Tours at 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:15

RSVP: BetsyL@slowfoodaustin.org 

MAY

Slow Food Pure Luck Goat Dairy Farm Tour

Date: Sunday May 15th, 2011 11 am - 2pm

Location:  Dripping Springs

RSVP: BetsyL@slowfoodaustin.org 

Slow Food Thunderheart Bison Ranch Overnight Farm Tour and Cook-out

Date: Saturday, May 21st, 2011

Location:  South Texas

RSVP: BetsyL@slowfoodaustin.org 
Participating East Austin urban farms: Hausbar, Rain Lily, Springdale, & Boggy Creek Farm.

Vanishing of the Bees Screening Recipes

I was so happy to share the documentary, Vanishing of the Bees, on Sunday with a small group of women who share the desire to understand the current state of honeybees in our country and the importance of eating local and organic foods and growing organic and non-GMO crops. 

If you would like to find out more about the movie, please visit my post on Vanishing of the Bees. There is another bee movie coming out this summer, Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? You can see the movie right here in Austin at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on May 8th and 9th or May 16th. 

We hope to share Vanishing of the Bees at the Austin Farmers' Market very soon!

We had a few movie snacks and I thought I might share the recipes. 

Becker Vineyards Lavender Lemonade

Our honey tasting - Guajillo Honey from Thunderheart Bison, Raw Orange Blossom Honey from Goodflow Honey and Round Rock Honey

Honey Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

I followed the recipe on the King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour Website, but added chopped Texas pecans (in the bulk section at Wheatsville) and Enjoy Life Gluten and Dairy Free chocolate chips, although a local version would be to chop up local cocoa beans (at Central Market). I also used Earth Balance Soy Free Spread instead of butter and half Round Rock Honey and half sugar. For the eggs, I used Richardson Farms duck eggs. 

Honey and Strawberry Pie

Adapted from the Easy Strawberry Pie in the Sustainable Food Center's Austin Farmers' Market Newsletter, Rise and Shine.  

1 quart strawberries, sliced

1 cup honey or sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot (for corn intolerances)

3/4 cup water

1 pre-baked pie crust (gluten-free or regular)

Start with a pre-baked gluten-free or regular pie crust. Add sliced strawberries (check your local farmers' market for them) so that they line the bottom of the pie crust. In a saucepan, mash the remaining strawberries with the honey over medium heat then allow to boil. Stir constantly. Whisk the cornstarch or arrowroot with the water and gradually add the mixture of strawberries and honey until combined. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer until the mixture is thickened. 

Chill for 3-4 hours or more in the fridge. 

Top with whipped cream or rice whip for non-dairy!

Honey Pecan Popcorn

I started with bagged popcorn and Texas pecans. On a baking sheet lined with a silicone pad or parchment paper, spread the pecans and popcorn out so that there is one flat layer. Drizzle honey over the pecans and popcorn and bake at 200 degrees for 10 minutes or until the honey has carmelized on the pecans and popcorn. Be careful not to burn them!

Lemon BBQ Meat Loaf with Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Suggestions

Lemon BBQ Meat Loaf
Adapted from Edible Austin: Barbecued Meat Loaf and Courtesy of Gelya Camp


1 1/2 pounds of ground venison, bison or beef 
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup water or milk or rice milk (for non-dairy)
1 egg, slightly beaten, Vital Farms, Richardson Farms or Milagro Farms eggs are fabulous!
4 slices stale bread or gluten free bread - finely dice them or take them for a spin in a food processor
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped onion or a few small onions if you're picking them out of your garden
2 tsp salt

Topping
1/2 cup ketchup 
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey, Round Rock Honey or Guajillo honey from Thunderheart Bison
1 tsp dry mustard
6 thin slices of lemon
salt and pepper
Optional: 1/4 tsp ground cloves and 1/4 tsp allspice


In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the venison. Place ingredients in a lightly oiled loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes then cover with the topping and add lemon slices to the top. Bake an additional 30 minutes and then let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. 


Extra meat loaf makes for great meatloaf sandwiches the next day!

Gardening Projects for Kids

Get those kids outside over Spring Break! Head over to my other blog to check out some great gardening projects for kids. 

Gardening Projects for Kids

Edible Landscaping

My sister, a Master Gardener in California, introduced me to Rosalind Creasy. She has several books on growing and cooking with herbs, heirloom fruits and vegetables and a new book on Edible Landscaping. We plan to transform our front landscaping into an edible landscape this spring and summer, so it came out just at the right time! I've also checked out several books on edible landscaping from the library as well as finding information online. We're planning to use eggplants, tomatoes, rosemary, swiss chard, lavender as ornamental and edible plants and thyme as ground cover. 

Wheatsville has some amazing heirloom seeds from Seed Savers that they have handpicked for our area. They also carry Seeds of Change seeds which I've used with great success in our garden.


Additionally, look at your local nursery for organic, locally grown transplants. Breed & Co. carries transplants from Gabriel Farms. Johnson's Backyard Garden (you can order yours online here and pick it up at several locations around Austin) will be having a transplant sale on March 5th from 10-1 and Sunshine Community Gardens is having a transplant sale on March 5th from 9-2. 


What to do with your harvest? Here are a few ideas from Rosalind Creasy (books available at the public library and BookPeople) and some of my Internet research on what to do with herbs in your edible landscape. 


Also, check out Judy Barrett's Homegrown Texas website and book, What Can I Do With My Herbs?


Herb Blends and Pestos

Rosemary - preserve in vinegar or oil breads, pizza, pork marinades, roast potatoes

Sage - stuffing, saltimbocca, tomato sauces, roast potatoes, white beans w/garlic, tempura

Thyme - fish dishes, soups, stews, salad dressings & marinades, add under poultry skin, add to mint tea, preserve in vinegar or oil

Hyssop - flavor of anise/rooot beer, great with mushrooms, edible flowers

Basil - pestos, sauces, soups, infused oils

Borage - cucumber flavor, salads, soups, edible decorations, remove hairy sepals w/left hand grasp the stem and w/right hand pinch the middle of the start and pull, flower should separate from sepals intact

Chamomile - best for making tea, petals in salads

Chives - in goat cheeses, soups, mashed potatoes, chive butter

Cilantro - toast seeds before grinding, use roots for Thai dishes

Lavender - drinks, jellies, souffles, sorbets, salads, soups

Mint - with chocolate, tea, tabouli

Oregano/Majoram - pasta sauces, chile relleno, pork stew

Parsley - soup, stew, new potatoes

Garden Notes for January

Oh, sunshine, how I've missed you! I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon up to my elbows in dirt. Something happens to me when it is a sunny day and I get to dig my hands into the dirt and plant something. I think I turn into a kid again. 

Over the rainy weekend, we passed the time by letting Clay splash in the puddles at The Great Outdoors  (also try Breed & Co. and The Natural Gardener) while we picked out some onion transplants. They promise me that the asparagus transplants will be in soon. 


Clay informed us after watching an episode of Jamie Oliver (who happened to be cooking asparagus) that he would like asparagus in his garden this year. IHe will be disappointed to hear that it will be 2-3 years before we'll be able to harvest much asparagus! Luckily he is distracted by the chickens, broccoli, compost piles and dirt at garden camp, learning all kinds of things to help us in the garden (like the fact that caterpillars take naps in sleeping bags and wake up as butterflies).



Here are a few notes from my garden journal on things to do for January and February to prepare for a spring garden. Our garden is a series of water troughs (so that the dogs stay out of them) that have drip irrigation running through them fed from our rain barrels (which are full thanks to all the rain). 

• Add compost and fertilizer to garden
• Plant onion, shallot and asparagus transplants (and more strawberries!)
• Start seeds indoors or in a greenhouse or cold frame to be planted in March or April (We plan to get quite a few transplants from Johnson's Backyard Garden transplant sale in March and from Breed & Co. Transplants are a little more expensive, but will give you a head start on your garden.)
• Research organic methods for pest control and companion planting
• Make a garden plan for March and April planting
• Build trellis for blackberries and a tunnel for peas to grow over near Clay's playhouse area
• Find netting for fruit trees and blackberry (the birds stole our figs and peaches last year!)
• Buy straw at Callahan's to put under strawberry plants to deter pests
• Check out the AgriLife Extension resources, The Natural Gardener and books on gardening at the library

What's Growing in the Garden? Fall Edition

Despite the cooling weather, we still have plenty happening in our garden. The mild Austin weather provides an extra growing season in the fall. We're taking advantage of every day we have left before it freezes. 

Kaffir Lime

Now is the time to put winter transplants in the garden if you haven't already and start building greenhouses or considering how you will cover the more fragile plants or fruit trees in your garden. You might also consider building a small cold frame or greenhouse to begin growing your spring seeds in January or February (6-12 weeks before the last frost). Don't forget to plant your fruit trees during January and February as well. Check out The Natural Gardener for other helpful tips for November.  


We plan to use some old windows we found at Habitat for Humanity to make cold frames for our seedlings this winter. My sister gave us the idea and I think it is a great way to re-purpose old windows! How to make a cold frame using an old window. 


Our yard is small (and the space is shared with  2 large dogs and a 3 year old and his many important projects), so we maximize the space using metal water troughs and various pots and containers. We have a worm bin (a great place to get rid of shredded paper and kitchen scraps and endless entertainment for our son) and compost bin that provide compost and compost tea throughout the year. We installed rainwater barrels and drip irrigation last year, so you might think about installing that as well in the winter or spring to help during the hot, dry summer months. 


Here is what is popping up and fizzling out in our garden. 


Fall Harvest

On its way out...purple basil, lettuce leaf basil, jalepeños, Santa Fe peppers, Joe's Round peppers, Italian frying peppers, chives, oregano, cucumbers, butternut squash, bell peppers, Thai basil, sweet basil, Hinkelhatz pepeprs, Meyer lemons, tomatoes and eggplant

Putting on new leaves for spring...Arbequina olive tree, dwarf peach tree, Meyer lemon trees, orange tree, blackberries, Texas Everbearing Fig tree and strawberries

New for winter...cauliflower, collard greens, carrots, parsnips, arugula, lettuces, rosemary, mint, sorrel, bay leaves, French thyme, winter savory, brussel sprouts, fennel, broccoli, artichoke, radishes, swiss chard and mizuna greens