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Friday, August 15th, 2008
food and garden
So I posted a set of "food and garden" photos -- http://www.humzoo.com/girlcarew/photos/32/ . But I wanted to expound a bit on some of them.
First I'd like to state for the record that gophers are now the bane of my existence. When we moved in to our house last year (almost exactly a year ago), the back yard was dirt and weeds, emphasis on the dirt. It had zero landscaping. So, we saved a bit from the down payment in order to be able to get a good backyard. When they put in the grass, they put gopher wire in. And I am soooo thankful.
But at the back of the yard, there is a short (~2.5 ft) retaining wall. We did not have gopher wire put in there. The space behind the wall is, on average, three feet wide and then there is the back fence. On the other side of the that fence is a large corner lot that is empty, meaning prime gopher territory.
Well, the gophers have discovered our little un-gopher-wire-protect treasure trove of plants. And they have gone to town. It has been a very Caddyshack experience. We have literally seen plants start shaking and then get pulled down into the ground, right in front of our eyes.
A friend of mine swore by these electronic devices that you put in the ground that emit a vibration that is supposed to drive away the gophers. She too had had a Caddyshack moment. And since they installed their electronic gopher repellers they have had not a problem. Well, they aren't so good in our yard. In fact, I have not seen any less activity whatsoever.
So, we are going to dig up many of the plants and put in gopher wire ourselves. We don't know whether the plants will survive the transplant, but if we don't try they'll simply become gopher food. So far, they seem to have stayed away from the sage, euphorbia, lavender, and calla lilies. Also, we are unsure what to do with the apple and magnolia trees. Both trees are quite young. I don't know whether the gophers would go after those trees if they are the only things available. But we can't really transplant the trees.
Anyway... in my photo album you can see the remnants of many pea plants. The stems were simply left hanging in the air after the gopher at the roots and bases. He has gotten so many of my plants. Luckily the tomatoes were planted in an area next to the house that the gopher can't seem to get to.
There are a few other pics of various garden plants, as well.
And the peppers. A few years ago I discovered pickled peppers. Well, I had an over abundance of them in my CSA box, and for some reason decided to pickle them. I love pickled peppers! I do not have any specific recipe, though. So if someone has one, I'd love to see it. Right now I cheat and just use the McCormick pickling spices and whatever recipe I happen upon in a quick online search. I think I am going to pickle some radishes this weekend.
food and garden
So I posted a set of "food and garden" photos -- http://www.humzoo.com/girlcarew/photos/32/ . But I wanted to expound a bit on some of them.
First I'd like to state for the record that gophers are now the bane of my existence. When we moved in to our house last year (almost exactly a year ago), the back yard was dirt and weeds, emphasis on the dirt. It had zero landscaping. So, we saved a bit from the down payment in order to be able to get a good backyard. When they put in the grass, they put gopher wire in. And I am soooo thankful.
But at the back of the yard, there is a short (~2.5 ft) retaining wall. We did not have gopher wire put in there. The space behind the wall is, on average, three feet wide and then there is the back fence. On the other side of the that fence is a large corner lot that is empty, meaning prime gopher territory.
Well, the gophers have discovered our little un-gopher-wire-protect treasure trove of plants. And they have gone to town. It has been a very Caddyshack experience. We have literally seen plants start shaking and then get pulled down into the ground, right in front of our eyes.
A friend of mine swore by these electronic devices that you put in the ground that emit a vibration that is supposed to drive away the gophers. She too had had a Caddyshack moment. And since they installed their electronic gopher repellers they have had not a problem. Well, they aren't so good in our yard. In fact, I have not seen any less activity whatsoever.
So, we are going to dig up many of the plants and put in gopher wire ourselves. We don't know whether the plants will survive the transplant, but if we don't try they'll simply become gopher food. So far, they seem to have stayed away from the sage, euphorbia, lavender, and calla lilies. Also, we are unsure what to do with the apple and magnolia trees. Both trees are quite young. I don't know whether the gophers would go after those trees if they are the only things available. But we can't really transplant the trees.
Anyway... in my photo album you can see the remnants of many pea plants. The stems were simply left hanging in the air after the gopher at the roots and bases. He has gotten so many of my plants. Luckily the tomatoes were planted in an area next to the house that the gopher can't seem to get to.
There are a few other pics of various garden plants, as well.
And the peppers. A few years ago I discovered pickled peppers. Well, I had an over abundance of them in my CSA box, and for some reason decided to pickle them. I love pickled peppers! I do not have any specific recipe, though. So if someone has one, I'd love to see it. Right now I cheat and just use the McCormick pickling spices and whatever recipe I happen upon in a quick online search. I think I am going to pickle some radishes this weekend.
I don't know anything about pickling peppers. I've never had them. I should try some!
LIGHT-SPICED AND PICKLED SUMMER CARROTS
Serves 2 as a separate course or 4 as a side dish.
Pickle:
• 3 c. rice vinegar
•1/4 to1/2 c. sugar, divided
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black peppercorns, bruised
• 2 to 3 star anise, bruised, or 11/2 tsp. fennel or anise seed, lightly crushed
• Water as needed
Carrots:
• 11/2 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into slender fingers about 2 in. long by 1/4-in. thick
• Salt
• Boiling water
Directions
Combine the vinegar,1/4 cup sugar, salt, peppercorns and star anise or other spice in a 6-quart pot. Heat just long enough to melt the sugar. Pour into a 3-quart glass or plastic storage container and let cool. Taste to see if the mix needs a little more sugar. You're going for a gently tart, slightly sweet flavor.
Before peeling the carrots, set the 6-quart pot back on the stove with a collapsible steamer inside. Add water to come just about to the steamer's bottom. Cover the pot and turn heat to medium. Once the carrots are ready, turn heat to high.
When water boils, drop in the carrots and sprinkle them with salt. Cover securely and steam for 6 minutes, or until tender-crisp, leaning toward crisp. Drain in a colander, rinsing with cold water to stop the cooking.
Add the carrots to the container with the vinegar mixture. Add water if necessary to just cover the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate 12 to 48 hours.
Serve the carrots cool, but not ice cold.