Gardenkeeping

Years ago I dreamt of a day without the ever present wind that use to mark the passage of days here on the Peninsula.

Wow, we’ve had a really amazing summer here in Port Townsend.  It’s been day after day of blue skies, barely a hint of a breeze and temperatures regularly  in the 80’s.  I kept wondering where I could be?

Being an inland girl I was use to still summer days. That was when the heat had a chance to gather. It would force all thoughts to focus on relief; a dip in the lake, sitting by a fan, drawing the curtains in the middle of the day and water fights with the neighbors! Okay, I am definitely idealizing those times but,  it had been a while since I hadn’t had to brace myself against the wind or add layers of clothes (that famous Northwest layered-look) as evening came. Every day.

The last two years have been different. Where did the jet stream go?  Is somebody in Nebraska getting blown around instead?  Yesterday the wind came back and with it, gray skies.

I’ll admit that it is a relief and I have been putting off certain garden chores. Namely, heading into the kitchen to put up the harvest.  The vegetable garden did really well which at times can feel like a mixed blessing. What to do with all of that food? We try to pick and eat daily or give some to friends but, even with that it becomes more than what we can use. That’s when it is time to shut up and put up!

I started by pulling up the green bean plants.

This makes it very easy to harvest, no need to bend over as you sift through the bushes. It also cleared some space to start some winter spinach and lettuce. My favorite way to keep beans is by blanching and freezing them.

Pulling the plants.

There’s a lot of chopping to do.

An ice bath to stop the cooking process.

Drained and ready for packaging.

Green beans packaged for the freezer.

OK,  there’s no picture of the boiling part. It goes by fast, only  3 minutes. No more,  no less.

 Then the wind picked up and brought more clouds.

I was starting to feel a little chilly. Maybe that’s why for the first time in months I decided to turn the oven on and do a little baking.

The blackberries were early this year.

We started picking in late July. I’ve already made a few batches of jam but, now I wanted something a bit yummier. PIE!

I started with an old recipe of my mom’s.

Tried adding lemon zest.

Into the pie shell.

Folded up galette-style.

Baked and golden with sugar on top.

So good! I  like it still warm with vanilla ice cream. A classic end of summer treat.

Remember to get out and do something with all of that food  out there. These endless summer days won’t last forever!

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