Getting Your Gardening Fix in an El Niño Year

Gardening in Spite of El Niño

This year, weather-wise, has been topsy-turvy because of the emergence of El Niño, which consists of warm water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean along the equator. This pattern can wreak havoc on anything related to weather, including gardening.

In my neck of the woods, we have been experiencing record rainfall, while other areas have been experiencing moderate to severe drought. Either scenario is going to affect gardening efforts.

While I have added to my container garden--cherry tomatoes, peppers, squash, and herbs--I have, honestly, not been able to do anything with the main garden this summer. While the weeds continue to grow higher than my head, I could start feeling frustrated and inadequate, not to mention resentful of this weather pattern, but what purpose would beating myself up mentally serve? This attitude would be a waste in emotional energy.

Instead, I've decided to take things a sunny day at a time. On the mornings or evenings it's not raining, I take an hour, or even two, to weed, to tend the container garden, or to prepare the main garden for a fall garden (in my area, a fall garden is feasible and practical). The "Tortoise and the Hare" fable definitely comes to mind here: I know I'll get there, eventually. It's a practice in delayed gratification at its finest.

An example of a container garden 

I have determined that the El Nino pattern could be seen as an obstacle, or it could be seen as an opportunity to slow down and to savor the garden, even if it's not "perfect." The truth is that a garden is always a work in progress: this realization becomes more obvious when one has to seize the gardening moment whenever it decides to present itself.

There's no use in fighting or resisting the El Niño weather pattern: that is an exercise in futility, and who needs that?

"Learn to be an observer in all seasons. Every single day, your garden has something new and wonderful to show you"  (Anonymous Author). This is a worthy goal and lesson--even in an El Niño year. 

Dreaming of a Spring Garden

Spring Vegetable Garden: Dream Big, but Start Small

Ahhh! Spring is here at last! It's time to shake ourselves out of hibernation mode and start digging in the dirt.

As with every year, I have a lofty aspiration of creating the vegetable garden that will surpass all others. This is a hopeful season, after all. In order to keep this goal realistic and manageable, I have created a path to get the garden to where I want it to be this year.

1. Test the garden soil: done. The garden soil's N-P-K ranges have graduated from depleted to deficient. We're making progress here!

2. Add soil amendments to the garden soil: in progress. Recent heavy rains are delaying this chore a bit, but we do need the rain so no complaints here. This year I'm adding blood meal (for nitrogen), bone meal (for phosphorus), and numerous, about a hundred or so,  Nori sushi roll wrappers, cut up (for potash), as well as good ol' reliable compost.

3. Plant snow peas, carrots, and Swiss chard (the rainbow variety) in the container garden area: mission accomplished.

4. Plan the main garden with an app: done. For a list of great gardening apps, you can't go wrong with Gardenista's "The Top Ten Gardening Apps You Need Now." 

5. Start tomato, cucumber, and squash seeds: partially complete. Some of the seedlings didn't make it, so I'll try again this weekend. I also want to start some pepper seeds--both hot and sweet varieties--at this time. One thing I really want to do is to start at least 90% of my plants from seed myself,  rather than rely on bought transplants.

6. Feed and mulch the blueberry planter box: done. I used pine bark mulch since the blueberry bushes are acid-loving plants.

7. Feed and mulch the strawberry plants: in progress.

8. Transplant the four citrus trees--Meyer lemon, key lime, grapefruit, and kumquat: mission accomplished. The trees are looking happy.

9. Transplant tomato, cucumber, squash, and pepper plants: in about a month to six weeks' time.

10. Keep the compost pile going: this is a continuous project.

11. Plant green beans, wax beans, collard greens, and basil: in a few weeks.

12. Mulch the main garden: in about six to eight weeks' time. This will cut down the weeding headaches tremendously.

13. Put a comfortable lawn chair near the garden area in order to relax and bask in the garden: soon, very soon.

Here's to making garden fantasies a reality! Happy Gardening!

By Spedona (Spedona) (Cliché personnel - own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

This is close to how I envision my garden in the making.

Gluten-Free and Sensual: A Delicate Balance

Gluten-Free and Good Taste Need Not Be Mutually Exclusive

Recently, I found out that, like about 18 million people, I have gluten intolerance: I have an allergy or sensitivity, depending on whom you ask,  to wheat, barley, and rye. With a wide range of symptoms such as weight gain, lactose intolerance, alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation, headaches, and fatigue, this increasingly common, or increasingly diagnosed, condition needs to be considered. Those who are not directly affected by gluten intolerance are increasingly more likely to know of someone, a friend or loved one, who is affected by this condition.

What does all of this mean for Sensual Thymes? Having to go gluten-free does not mean having to give up good taste: it just means having to do a little more research to find suitable alternatives for recipes that contain gluten, such as finding a ready-made mix, or a make-it-yourself recipe, of flour substitute. It also means embracing foods that are naturally gluten-free and healthy, such as the vegetables, fruits, and herbs that you either grow in the garden or purchase. These natural gifts should take center stage.

One can honor the natural marriage of gardening and cooking, embracing an Epicurean ideal, without sacrificing quality. I believe this in every fiber of my being.

 I am still learning all of the gluten-free tricks--it's a bit of a learning curve, but I will pass along whatever I glean.

For my part, in a concerted effort to be as inclusive as possible, I will offer gluten-free and sugar-free (for my diabetic friends and readers) options to any recipes I post. I want everyone to be able to join the party. In that spirit, bon appetit: always.

By Jina Lee [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

On another note: The Creative Goddess ecourse offered by the Amazing Biz and Life Academy can make a impact in your overall creativity. While the course does not focus specifically on the culinary arts, what you learn from the ecourse can be transferred to cooking. This course has made a difference in my own life, and I recommend it heartily. Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for the Amazing Biz and Life Academy; I maintain an affiliate relationship only with companies that I fervently support and believe in.

Sage: Herb of the Month

Sage: A Wise Herb

Each month, I pick an herb somewhat arbitrarily but usually one that suggests the month's season. Sage, or salvia officinalis, is the herb of honor for October 2014.

Sage is a shrubby herb that traditionally has grey-green, slightly fuzzy leaves, but some cultivated varieties include purple sage and red sage. It has a slightly peppery scent and flavor. Sage grows in the U.S. Hardiness zones of 5-9, so this is one flexible herb.

Sage is one of the easy-to-grow herbs: you can start this herb from seed or from established plants. Give sage a nice sunny spot in the garden or herb box, water it occasionally, and this perennial will reward you with savory leaves for culinary or medicinal purposes.

By aomorikuma (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P2) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

In the kitchen, sage can be used in stuffing, to season poultry, or added to many sausage recipes. Sage can also be made into a tea in order to treat, naturally, a laundry list of ailments, including sore throat, gastrointestinal upset, and fever. Sage, as a tea, or even sniffing the leaves, is also reputed to help improve memory.

Sage can also be burned to cleanse the area of negative energy. You will often find bundled sage sticks sold for this purpose.

And now for some "sage" advice: I recently experienced the Radiant Goddess E-Course, offered by Leonie Dawson's Amazing Life + Biz Academy, and it has been a life-changer. This e-course has been an empowering tool physically, mentally, and emotionally, and I highly recommend it. Disclosure: The Amazing Biz + Life Academy links are affiliate links. I only use affiliate links for products and services that I genuinely and wholeheartedly endorse.

Herb of the Month: Thyme

Thyme, the Namesake of this Blog, as Herb of the Month

Each month, an herb shines in the spotlight: its scent, flavor, even literary associations may make it a candidate for adulation. This month, thyme, also known as Thymus vulgaris, takes the stage.

Thyme is a tiny plant with a bold flavor and scent. In the herb garden, thyme, a perennial,  is easy to grow: just plant it in a reasonably sunny area and water it occasionally. Bees love thyme, so this is a good herb to encourage bee populations--an important consideration in the increasing times of bee colony collapse.

"Thymus vulgaris 001" by H. Zell - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thymus_vulgaris_001.JPG#mediaviewer/File:Thymus_vulgaris_001.JPG

For such a small herb, thyme has a pronounced flavor. Try this herb added to poultry, soups, and stews: perfect for the emerging colder weather. In addition, I like to saute tomatoes with thyme and black pepper for an intriguing side dish.

"Thymus vulgaris". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thymus_vulgaris.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Thymus_vulgaris.jpg

Medicinally, this herb contains thymol, which has antiseptic properties. For this reason, many natural mouthwashes contain the essential oil of thyme. Thyme can also be used to treat bronchitis and other infections.

For its versatility and beauty, thyme deserves its place as herb of the month. Enjoy, and bon appetit! 

Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry That Inspire the Love of Gardening

Gardening and Literary Inspiration: Read On! 

At this time of year, when the summer garden is all but spent and the fall garden is still but a dream, we need all the inspiration we can get. Literature can provide that inspiration, in spades (pun intended)

Fiction and Nonfiction Books that Inspire the Love of Gardening

Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Diary of a Worm, by Doreen Cronin

The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies, by Cicely Mary Barker

In The Garden Trilogy: Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily, by Nora Roberts

The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns, by Margaret Dilloway

The Inward Garden: Creating a Place of Beauty and Meaning, by Julie Moir Messervy

The Red Garden, by Alice Hoffman

The Ruth Stout No-Work Garden Book, by Ruth Stout

A Hoe Lot of Trouble, by Heather Webber

Garden of Secrets Past, by Anthony Eglin

Night Gardening, by E. L. Swann

Forget Me Not, by Isabel Wolf

The Memory Garden, by Mary Rickert

The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton

Death in the Orchid Garden, by Ann Ripley

Garden of Madness, by Tracy L. Higley

The Star Garden, by Nancy E. Turner

Tomorrow's Garden, by Amanda Cabot

Buckingham Palace Gardens, by Anne Perry

The Dark Garden, by Eden Bradley

In the Garden of Stone, by Susan Tekulve

Walden, or, Life in the Woods, by Henry David Thoreau

Short Stories with a Gardening Emphasis

"Rappaccini's Daughter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne

"The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck

"A Rose for Emily," by William Faulkner (okay, this one is a stretch: enjoy the story anyway)

"The Garden Party," by Katherine Mansfield

"The Occasional Garden," by Saki

"The Garden of Forking Paths," by Jorge Luis Borges

Poetry with a Gardening Theme

"The Garden," by Andrew Marvell

Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

"La Belle Dame Sans Merci," by John Keats

"The Daffodils," by William Wordsworth

"This Lime Tree Bower my Prison," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"The Gardener," by Robert Louis Stevenson

"The Deserted Garden," by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"This is the garden: colors come and go," by e.e. cummings

"The Little Garden," by Amy Lowell



Here's to inspiration: happy reading!

By Simon Speed (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Pie of the Month: Lemon-Lime Pie

Each month a certain pie--usually a dessert, rather than savory, pie--is showcased. This month, we have the lemon-lime pie, one which does not require much baking time and is served chilled--a boon in my neck of the woods, since September is usually still quite warm, with highs in the 90s during the day.

This recipe makes two pies, enough to treat a large household.

Lemon-Lime Pie

2 graham cracker crusts
12 egg yolks
2 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup lime juice
whipped cream or whipped topping for decoration (optional)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the prepared graham cracker crusts for ten minutes; this will help prevent the crusts from getting soggy.

Lemon-Lime Pie, Unadorned

Gently beat the egg yolks and then stir in the condensed milk. Gradually incorporate in the juices, stirring often. Fill the pie crusts and then bake for 30 minutes. Cool the pies completely for several hours; finish the cooling process in the refrigerator. Right before serving, if desired, decorate the pies with whipped cream or topping.

Lemon-Lime Pie, Decorated

Bon appetit!

Herb of the Month: Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm: A Blissful Herb for August

Each month we are focusing on a particular herb, looking at its growing and cooking potential. This month, the honor belongs to lemon balm, also known as melissa officinalis. This member of the mint family is great for inducing and inspiring calm and tranquility.The balm in the herb's name also hints at the health benefits that this plant offers. Lemon balm, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center,  helps to alleviate stress, insomnia, anxiety, and indigestion.

Nicholas Culpeper, the Early Modern author of Complete Herbal and English Physitian (1652), has further suggestions in how to use this herb: he says that it is good for women recovering from childbirth and may be used to disinfect certain skin irritations, among other maladies; not only can lemon balm be steeped as a tea but can also be steeped in wine.

How to Grow Lemon Balm

Pick a nice sunny spot: a large pot or planter box works fine. Either sow the lemon balm from seed or transplant the plants. Water well, as for mint. Once lemon balm is established--give it a couple of weeks--make sure that the herb is watered regularly. Like other members of the mint family, lemon balm will spread if not contained; also, like other members of the mint family, lemon balm is (happily) difficult to kill.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Lemon_balm_2.JPG

How to Use Lemon Balm in Cooking

If you want an uplifting herbal tea, look no further than lemon balm. This light, citrusy flavored herb tastes great infused in a tea; sweeteners are optional. As an alternative, you can add the bruised leaves to a pitcher of ice tea and let it set for several hours before drinking for a refreshing beverage. As the Herb Society of America points out, the leaves are better used fresh than dried.

Lemon balm can also be used to flavor poultry and fish, and it can also be added to salad greens. The possibilities are nearly limitless.

Have you yet tried lemon balm? If not, I highly encourage you to try this herb. Bon appetit!

Preserving Options for Garden Riches: Making Chutneys

Making Chutney: A Taste of the Exotic

If you have a surplus of peaches or other fruit, or of vegetables, and you are wanting to do something different with the extra produce, try making chutney, an Indian condiment that offers a sweet-sour-spicy touch to chicken, pork, venison, or vegetarian dishes.

The word chutney comes from Hindi caṭnī.  This versatile accompaniment will delight the senses and the imagination. In honor of August being Peach Month, I recommend this recipe for peach chutney; you might also try mango chutney, tomato chutney, coconut chutney, zucchini chutney (to help prepare for August 8, which is National Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Day), and cilantro mint chutney, to name but a few possibilities. As an added bonus, chutneys make tantalizing, unique holiday gifts.

By Simon Law from Montréal, QC, Canada (Chutneys) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Quotations about Spices (not many quotations about chutney exist): Food for Thought

“Variety is the spice of life” – American proverb

“Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor. – William Cowper

“Is not birth, beauty, good shape, discourse, Manhood, learning, gentleness, virtue, youth, liberality, and such like, the spice and salt that season a man” – William Shakespeare

“I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” – Bible

“He who controls the spice controls the universe.” – Frank Herbert, in Dune

On that note, bon appetit! 

Bread and First Harvest

Bread as Staff of Life and More

This first weekend in August sees the arrival of Lammas, a time of early harvest. This is a time to celebrate the bounty of the season; since bread is widely regarded as the staff of life, this harvest time is also a time to celebrate the act of making and breaking bread.

Making bread is a time-honored process of transformation: the unassuming ingredients of flour, water, yeast or other leavening, sugar, and salt become a rising dough that, with the kiss of the oven's heat (or, as I discovered one summer, the barbecue pit's heat), becomes a wholesome loaf.

Many varieties of bread exist: you can choose, among other options, white or wheat bread, cornbread (my personal preference this time of year), multi-grain bread, even gluten-free bread. Flat breads such as tortillas, pita bread, or lefse bread are among the myriad of possibilities.

"Mixed bread loaves" by Flickr.com user "FotoDawg" - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotodawg/111052842/. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mixed_bread_loaves.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Mixed_bread_loaves.jpg

Quotes about Bread: Some Inspirational Food for Thought

“All sorrows are less with bread. ” -- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

“Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,/A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and Thou/

Beside me singing in the Wilderness -/And Wilderness is Paradise enow.” -- Omar Khayyam

“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“In the Lord's Prayer, the first petition is for daily bread. No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach.” – Woodrow Wilson

“Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.” – Ursula K. Le Guin

“It is not accidental that all phenomena of human life are dominated by the search for daily bread - the oldest link connecting all living things, man included, with the surrounding nature.” – Ivan Pavlov

“‘A loaf of bread,’ the Walrus said, ‘is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides are very good indeed.’” - Lewis Carroll

“If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens.” – Robert Browning

“Deliberation, n.: The act of examining one’s bread to determine which side it is buttered on.” – Ambrose Bierce

Here's to making and breaking bread with those we love this weekend. Bon appetit!