Rain please

Remember this spring when it was raining all the time?  We could use some of that now.  The fields are downright dusty!  Fortunately, this seems to be good tomato growing weather.  Much less danger of getting those nasty late blight conditions like a few years back.  The zucchini are cranking away nicely, and it seems like every time I turn around there is another one lurking under the leaves.  Cucumbers and green beans were a pleasant surprise too.  I went to survey the field and voila!  Ready to harvest almost overnight.  The chickens seem to spend most of the mid day lazing about in the shade of the coop, and giving themselves dust baths.

  Early morning and evening they are out and about hunting for bugs in the new area of the pasture.  The paths they make through tall grass are amazing.  Not quite sure how they navigate back to the coops through the maze.

We pulled a bunch of garlic which is now drying in the hoop house.  Some will be saved for seed garlic this fall and the rest will be for eating!

Tomatoes are climbing high in the hoop house.  Never mind that one on the ground... (it actually just got trellised this evening.)

These are storage onions for the fall.  They're getting nice and fat.

Melons!  

Almost have some Jalapenos.

Here is the latest progress on the veggie cooler.  Super Rob made it possible to get those big beams on top without any scary maneuvers.  The front porch on this thing is going to be sweet.  And the veggies inside will be even sweeter.

Whatcha Eatin?

Cucumber Salad

1 cucumber, thinly sliced (Peel if skin is tough, or not if it is tender.  If you can't decide, make race tracks with the peeler and effectively peel %50 of the cuke)

Toss cucumber with
1-2 Tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
2-3 teaspoons finely minced dill (maybe more!)
2-4 Tablespoons minced onion or scallions
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
Sprinkle with garlic salt to taste.

Chill in fridge for 20 min or so.  But beware! It might get eaten...