Dill, lettuce, and catnip. I already blogged about the dill-drying.
Yesterday I picked a whole bunch of lettuce.
Pablo and Mantilia are my varieties this year. The Pablo is the redder type, and Mantilia is the springy green.
In the past, I've always had trouble with lettuce tasting bitter and gritty. So I started growing spinach, and now I really prefer that. But I wanted to at least try lettuce again this year, so I read the descriptions in the seed catalog pretty closely and went for the types that were described as sweet or tender. I haven't been disappointed, either. I drizzled ranch dressing over one helping, and it was delicious. They're both good, pleasant lettuces.
Pablo Lettuce
Mantilia Lettuce
I pulled up several clumps that were bursting out of their pallet rows, twisted off the roots, and washed them separately. The goats were happy to get all the little loose leaves afterwards. After the lettuce dried, I stuck it in a plastic bread bag and it went in the refrigerator.
We'll make lots of salads this year... :P
I won't pull up all of the lettuce plants. I'll let some of each kind grow up and bolt, so I can save seeds for next year. I actually just found out how to save carrot seeds, and found out some really cool stuff. I'll share that in due time, too.
Next we have catnip...
I want to dry a whole bunch of this to give my barn cats in the winter, or stick in a sock toy for the kittens.
After you cut it, it wilts fast. I got a couple of clumps and used the same paper bag method as with the dill. I didn't cut the slits so big, though. Enough to give it a little air.
Its supposed to be kept dark, dry, and warm. When it gets crisp, I can rub all the leaves off and keep it in a jar.
After finishing the siding job with my grandpa the other day, we came home and went up on the hill with him. I found a couple of old- yet salvageable- buckets in the dump in the woods. I can use them for planters... and I have a couple pepper plants Owen started that need homes. (Dork moment: I referred to them as "Pepper Pots" and then realized I had named Tony Stark's girlfriend.)
Mama found me this little sign at Joann's, 90% off. :3
Alyssum is growing and thriving, as his her namesake. ;)
Mama's flowers along the chicken coop are gorgeous...
Everything is sprouting, blossoming, and ripening. It truly is amazing to be able to watch it, use it, and learn more. My appreciation grows.
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