Growing Season 2018

The garden did great this year. Despite no significant rainfall for 4 weeks this summer - from mid June to mid July - most things grew well. This was the first year that cucumbers did well, and we pickled 19 jars of dill pickles! We could have done more, but we both thought 19 jars was more than enough. Writing this in February, I can say that we have learned a lesson: always preserve more if you can. Not only are we already down to 4 jars, my grandmother wisely reminded me that this was the first time in 3 years that my cucumbers were any good, and that I should be prepared for more cucumber-less years in the future. We will get the hand of this at some point - another lesson learned.

In this photo you can see some of our lovely cucumbers,

purple carrot, different tomato varieties, zucchini, peppers, and a squat little dichon. We also grew peas, corn, jalapenos and banana peppers, eggplant, strawberries, raspberries, beets, kale, onions, beans, summer and winter squash, radish, and various herbs. The only thing that didn't do so well was the kale. We had a serious infestation of some little black bug that decimated the crop. Special shout out this year goes to the single jalapeno plant that produced over 200 delicious peppers that were divided about equally into cheese filled, bacon wrapped poppers, and pickled peppers that we are still enjoying. A close second is awarded to the basil plant, which we fully utilized for fresh caprice salad and several servings of pesto.

The hops also had a good year. This is a relative observation since this is only the second year that we've grown hops and I have nothing to compare to. However, they looked good and produced hundreds of aromatic cones which we dried and are vacuum packed in our freezer waiting for us to try home brew again.

Finally, we have to introduce Sprout, the newest member of Korclair Farm. He is a pointer, poodle mix and cute as pie. Mugo is over his initial excitement and seems to now be wondering why brought this little pack of energy into his life. I think they'll be best friends in no time.