Blizzard 2011

Gardeners depend on nature to keep their projects going. Always present, sometimes gentle, sometimes fearsome.

Last night and this morning was an awesome display. almost 10' on snow, sustained 35+mph wind with gusts reaching 60 mph. It still has not stopped.

At 4:45am I looked out the window. The neighbors Escalade is nearly buried!

The force of the wind pushed snow inside the screen porch.

In a few short months we'll be dining al fresco, a cool beverage and hot BBQ. But for now.... we wait here is a series of pictures showing what we got.

It hurts my back just looking at it!

That's a driveway under there. I estimate it is about 3.5' of snow.

All done digging out. Three hours of work, and very fortunate for me, a neighbor has a a big truck and a plow, he was having fun!  He plowed from the house to the street. Saved me several hours work!

Did I say that is a 4' fence?

Spring is coming right? Yes it is!

Nature reminded us of the power we have to enjoy and endure, without discussion! 

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt

http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Releasing Roses from Bondage.

About seven - eight years ago, I planted the shrub roses in the back. They were small and tender, but not much to look at. In 2003 they were still quite small and spindly. There they are against the picket fence. Can you see them?

As they grew, they started to need support. When I was still in my apartment in the late 1990's, the house (a second empire style house) next door was being rennovated. That's not the house, just an example of second empire. Note the large curved windows on the first floor.

I was amazed to find beautiful arched storm windows in the trash. I asked the handyman doing the work and he said he was told to throw them out!  At the time I didn't know what I what I would do with them but knew I couldn't let them be discarded. I plucked three from the dumpster, carefully broke out the glass (gasp!) and carted them up to my apartment. There they stayed, leaning up against the wall for a few years.

When I moved to this house, I still didn't know what I would do with them, but they came along and went into the garage.

At first the roses were small and didn't need much support. Here they are in 2003.

As the roses grew, I wanted to give them some structure, so I tacked some wire fencing to two of the frames and installed them to give the growing roses some support.

Well now, fast forward 5 or 6 years and by last year the roses are HUGE! Muscular and tall they have outgrown the supports.

Underneath it all, the powerful canes have destroyed the frame!  I'm pretty sure the roses don't need the support anymore.

Now in deep of winter, I've decided to disentangle the plants from the support. Today I took care of it.  Not what are normally thought of as "gardening tools."

A bit of wire snipping, and cutting the wood, and the roses are released!

They still need some pruning and cleanup but I'll wait to see when they are more budded out.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well! 

The Gastronomic Gardener

Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/

Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/

Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt 

http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Micro greens 13 days in

Still growing but no second set of leaves yet - allegedly in another 4-7 days.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

10 days in and no Secondary leaves

So here we are 10 days into the micro greens.

They look healthy, they are growing but there are no secondary leaves. Oh well, time is all we have and when they do their thing, I'll harvest them.


Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Microgreens Day 7

As exciting as watching sprouts grow, wait that's what we are doing. Each morning and night I spritz with water, and rotate the bed. Everyday the tiny sprouts stretch and reach for the light. If shot in time elapse and sped up, They would be waving like the crowd at at an ABBA concert.

Here they are:

Cute little fella's huh? Another few days and we'll be snacking on them!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Microgreen progress after 5 days

Here they are after days three and four respectively.  There seems to be some light fuzzy mold on some of them. If it doesn't clear up after the lid has come off, I'll start over again. Why the mold? I'm not sure. Maybe too wet, not enough air circulation, not warm enough?

Day 3

Day 4

Day 4 closeup 

Update: It's only been about 2 hours since the above pics post and the fuzziness is clearing up already!
Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!



The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Starting Micro Greens

It's snowing, the middle of January, and here in Zone 5a there's nothing happening outdoors in the garden remotely resembling green growth. Not for several months anyway.

With that in mind, there is no need to wait to start some new life, new life that will be delicious!

Mico greens differ from sprouts in that sprouts can be done without any soil and are harvested before the second set of leaves (after the cotyledon) form.

Personally I'm not big on sprouts though I know many people love them. They do add crunch to salads, stir fry,s and sandwiches.  Enjoy them in good health!

Micro greens typically are harvested at 10-14 days after germination, grown in shallow soil, and kept moist. They have the flavor of the adult plant in a more subtle fashion.

Let's get started, shall we?




I'll keep them moist and covered with paper towel until they start pushing it up, at which point I'll remove it.

This is a quick project to get started and a super way to teach children about plants and introduce them to gardening!



Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener