My New Greenhouse

 

Here's a peek inside my new greenhouse.  This is heirloom tomatoes all lined up in a row.  They're waiting for the weather to be just right.  Then, I'll put them out in the garden.  It's warm enough that I am opening the vents on the greenhouse.  Although there was a little freeze about a week ago.  That's the problem with March....unpredictable!   There usually is a few more cold days here in March.

 

I am very happy with the greenhouse.  I got a small one...you know...making sure that I am going to like having a green house.  I'm happy to report.   I love my green house.  Love, love, love.

 

I am growing Pineapple, Cherokee, Brandywine, Cour Di Bue, Egg Yolk, and Amazon Chocolate tomatoes.  My favs are Pineapple (large, juicy, luscious and sweet) and egg yolk (small yellow (golf ball size) sweet, prolific and just keep on producing right through our heat, I also find they are more resistant to pests.) 

Shot's of the seedlings.

Artichoke

Large plants on the floor.

Here is how I grow my seedlings.  First I make small soil blocks (google them "soil block makers" you can buy them numerous places).  When the seeds sprout I make larger soil blocks with a indention that fits the smaller soil block.  Then I put the small soil block in the larger one.

I find this saves seeds, space and soil.

The small soil blocks are on the right the large ones on right already planted with sprouted small blocks.

A small sample of what I am still harvesting:  Carrots, cabbage, radishes, turnips, parsley, broccoli sprouts, green onion, Swiss chard, and collards.

 

Seeds to plant directly in the garden now (If you live in the New Orleans or Gulf Coast region):

cucumbers
melons (all kinds)
squash (all kinds)
beans (all kinds)
corn
potatoes
gourds
summer annuals:  morning glory, sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds
herbs:  basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, green onion, bay, mint
okra

Plant transplants of:
tomatoes
eggplant
peppers

Hmmmm....I think that's it.

Don't forget....you can plant small and bush varieties in pots!

Observations on Hurricane Isaac

First thing: The storm was waaaaaay underestimated.

Categorizing hurricanes...well maybe not such a good idea.  They each have their own personality, and just because it's winds aren't as fast as another hurricane's winds doesn't mean it can't reek havoc of it's own sort.

Although Isaac was a category one it packed a large storm surge, and some coastal and riverside communities experienced catastrophic flooding.  Katrina like in every way.  The truth be told communities along Louisiana's coast are being sacrificed for the protection of "the larger community" ie...Metairie and New Orleans.  These smaller communities are referred to as "trade-offs" to achieve "the most efficient use of funds to achieve the greatest benefits". (Louisiana's 2012 Coastal Master Plan - May 22)

One more reason why you must be responsible for yourself.  These same type governing bodies approved the building of neighborhoods in these vulnerable places.  Leading people to feel secure in their home purchase.  These areas were once included in flood protection and flood protection planning, and now are not.  (By the way...not having government flood protection doesn't equal lower property taxes. Yet, anyway)

If you blindly trust your future and security to government.  Then....you are foolish.  Government equals people....people are victim to their limited ability to see all sides of an issue.  Mostly they see the side that benefits them.  Since the majority live on the other side of the wall they feel smug and secure and support the actions of government.

That's fine.  I'll be responsible for myself.  Since I live in an area where occasionally a hurricane is inevitable, I make plans to deal with the issue of hurricanes.  I'm not complaining.

But those that feel secure on their "right" side of the wall, be aware that unless coastal restoration is successful the Gulf will creep closer and closer and more and more money will be needed to further strengthen and build higher those walls that protect your precious but small (and literally sinking) and mostly inconsequential investment.  .

With our country trending toward staggering debt, who will have the money to continue this?  When will the money be deemed "more efficient" to be used elsewhere.  Just asking and wondering.

On a very practical note...THE PLAN

Isaac stalled right over our home for hours and hours...dropping torrential rain, endless 90 mile hour wind and pushing a major storm surge.  No my house didn't flood.  I'm far enough up on the toe of the boot that juts into the Gulf, but just below me the flood waters did start.

We evacuated.  We followed our plans exactly.  I must admit...when looking at the daunting task of following our plan I was tempted to skip some steps.  You know... "it's just a category one hurricane".  I didn't though (pat pat pat on my back).  Some may say it's useless work since my area has never flooded.  NOTE:  A large area that had never flooded...(due to the new "walls" to protect more populated and valuable areas)...flooded.  The water must go somewhere people!

During the storm our neighbors who did stay were finally issued a mandatory evacuation order and had to leave with nothing but themselves, a few things and pets.  The authorities were worried that one of the stressed levees would break.

After the storm we didn't have power for about a week, and we were some of the last ones to get the power back on. There was a lot of major whining and political grandstanding on the local talk shows.....this actually made me smirk...how long have most areas had electricity?  Sixty?  Seventy years?  People get really testy when they don't have electricity.  They're hot, cranky and have no idea how to entertain themselves as they wait for Entergy to fix their power lines and FEMA to deliver water and MRE'S.

So I was very thank full that we followed our plan!  Maybe I'll explain our plan in detail on another post.  For those who may want to make their own plan.

This is my front garden.  The shrubs and trees were all stripped of leaves.  The shrubs bearing the brunt of the wind were uprooted.

The top of my tall cypress tree in the back yard dog run snapped off.  See the chicken coop in the left hand corner?  For practical reasons we couldn't bring our chickens.  We loaded them up with food and water before leaving.  One grown chicken was killed in the wind.  Two young chickens also perished.  We also found a dead squirrel in the yard.

Food that survived in the garden...The medium and small sized citrus managed to maintain about 2/3rds of their fruit in 90 mile winds.  The grapefruits were all blown off.

The satsumas are actually getting ripe and were pretty good!

The plants in the veggie garden were stripped of most of their leaves and blown to the side.  The veggies that did best in the garden were those that were underground of course!  Sweet potatoes, ginger and peanuts!  The bean plants still look alive but are blown to the ground.

The figs held on tight as well as some of their leaves.  They still look pretty stressed.

My pears, persimmons and pecans.  Kiss them goodbye.  They are all on the ground.  ALL....sigh

My tropical plants were in tatters.  My bamboo stood but looked pretty much like this after as well.

Some sweet potatoes I dug while cleaning the garden.  We won't starve anyway!  Smile.

A Walk In The Swamp - Jean Lafitte Preserve - Barataria

I just need to take a walk through the swamp occasionally....beautiful...mysterious...magical....

Too Much

Water is an almost daily factor to consider when living in Louisiana.  At least where I live the more extreme southern tip of Louisiana.  On the left is the Mississippi River, the other the Marshes, behind is the Intracoastal canal, and in front the Gulf of Mexico.  To get out of Plaquemines parish you must cross a bridge or take a ferry...no exceptions.  It makes for a very safe Parish.  There's no where for criminals to run to!

But on days like this you not only have to consider the water you see everyday, but the water flooding the roadway, puddling in your yard, filling your shoes, DROWNING YOUR GARDEN!!!!

Really, honestly....I'm not complaining.   This is just what it means to live here!  I try hard, but don't often succeed in understanding the plight of those who live in drought prone areas.  I just can't imagine not having enough water. 
Water is life!  I know hurricanes and floods scare the heck out of people who aren't from the deep south..., but not having enough water scares the heckaroo out of me!  Often I've thought I would just love living in Wyoming...but when I think of the snow ....well....I change my mind completely.  Maybe that's how people from there feel about here and our hurricanes. 

It just rained over four inches in just a matter of hours.  The rain drops were so large that the few feet I ran from the front door to the car left me soaked.  If you've never driven or been in a Louisiana rain it can be pretty scary.  The above picture is of a culvert near where our drive meets the hwy.  In the fifteen minutes I sat waiting with Tera for her bus, I watched the culvert go from half way covered to almost all the way covered.  I wouldn't want to fight the current that was created from the rushing water flowing into that pipe.

So after getting the girls off to school I walked around the garden to survey what if any damage the high winds and heavy rains caused.  Not so much actually.  My only concern is that the sun may come out before the standing water has had time to recede and scald the plants.  It's still early in the year so it likely will not get hot enough. 

There's even standing water in the raised beds.  The heavy rains is another reason why raised beds work much better for me.

I have to look out for snakes while trudging through the flooded paths.

Eeeeks....oh well,  I think they'll perk back up soon.

....yep....It's drenched.

Living South of Lake Pontchartrain and How To Make Sauerkraut

Okay, two posts in one.  I'll start with the first.  I live "south of the lake".  Really, south of New Orleans.  Lake Pontchartrain is a fairly large lake north of New Orleans that is spanned by the world's longest continuous bridge over water.  The bridge is called the "Causeway", and I spent many an anxious night as a very young girl peering at the tail lights of the car in front of us as we traveled home on this bridge from some late night Bible Conference that my Pastor Father loved to attend.

My secret childish fear was that a concrete span surely one day would break and simply fall into the lake, and all the unsuspecting drivers would like lemmings fall over it's cement edge.  I wonder if my Father ever knew his tired little girl struggled to keep her eye lids open on those long late nights.   For surely my alertness would save the whole family from plunging into lake Pontchartrain and sending all our souls to a horrible watery grave.  My plan was to scream loudly  if the preceding car's tail lights suddenly disappeared thus causing my Father to slam the brakes and save us from an early demise.

Now, I love to cross the causeway.   There's always a sailboat or someone trawling.  The water shimmers and glistens and on a really windy day there are white caps.  But, once you get south of Lake Pontchartrain.....climate wise....things change.  Slightly milder weather allows citrus to be planted in the ground, and unless a once in 25 year freeze happens, your trees grow larger and more productive each year.

Today I was marveling at the abundance I find in my garden.  It's no wonder that the city is called "The Big Easy".  So much of living here is so easy.  The abundance, the food, the exuberance, the special brand of Jazz, the closeness of families.....many things.  I've looked at blogs from way north and marveled at the blankets of frost and snow that cover their landscapes.  Like squirrels people work at preserving the bounty of their garden for winter consumption.

I too love to can.  I canned green beans, carrots, pickled cauliflower, preserves and fruit of all types.  I dry produce and freeze it....but sometimes it seems as if I rarely use these wonderful put ups.  Fresh fruit and veggies from the garden always come first when planning my menu for the next few days.  And, they always are available!  Of course I want to feed my family the freshest foods first.  

Such as beets boiled until tender and sprinkled with salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar, coleslaw made from a fresh picked cabbage, salsa from the green onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic, lemon, lime, and onion (yes, I'm still picking them), cauliflower omelets, yummy tennis ball lettuce salad, greens and cornbread, sugared pecans, roasted carrots with deer roast, boiled turnips and butter....wow the list really goes on and on.....

With the winter abundance our local climate gives I rarely find a reason to use the canned items I have hoarded on the top my large dish cabinet (not really a china cabinet).  I find preserving berries is the most useful of all since they are so perishable.  Jams, butters, and frozen (especially frozen blueberries).  Dehydrating herbs is really nice too.  Especially garlic and parsley.  I'd rather use herbs fresh if possible.  yet sweet basil is too tender for even our mild climate.  But the other things I've canned....useful?....not so much.  I'm actually trying to work them in to keep them from being on top of the cabinet for too long. 

So what's a girl to do?  What's the best thing to do.  I think I've narrowed down the best things for preserving and storing in our climate.   The rest.....you can pretty much get local or grow yourself all year.  Here goes:

The List of The Best Things To Preserve, Freeze or Dehydrate if You Live in or Around New Orleans:

Canned tomatoes
jams
jellies
fruit butters
sauces
dilly beans
frozen purple hull peas
frozen Lima beans
frozen baby green beans
frozen corn
frozen blueberries
dried basil
dried parsley
dried mushrooms
dried garlic (a small creole variety I have keeps fresh pretty well)
homegrown popcorn
dried onion

That's all...I think.  What is available fresh in the yard right now is too numerous to completely list.  Some examples are:  All types of greens, carrots, lettuces, herbs, cabbage, broccoli, Romanesque, cauliflower, green onion, tomatoes, jalapenos, kale, collards, turnips, beets, onion, winged bean, arugula, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, satsumas, pecans.  So.......... fresh it is for the "Big Easy"!

Some pecans recently shelled.

Sample of what's up in the gardens......

Now on to the second post:  How To Make Sauerkraut

When I was growing up sauerkraut was for hot dogs and Rueben sandwiches...yum.  My husband family eats it cooked as a side to go with sausages and paneed, breaded and fried pork.  They love it, and they are certainly not German.  Growing so much cabbage has made me interested in trying my hand at making sauerkraut....So, Byron, finding this out, bought me a really awesome 10 liter Harsch fermenting crock.  Yea!!


So, let the experiment begin.  Wow, look at that opening.  How does this work?

First, thinly shred the fresh cabbage.

Oh, by the way, here are all the pieces to the crock, the crock itself, the weighting stone, and the lid.

After shredding the cabbage, sprinkle a little salt on layers of cabbage.  A few tablespoons will do.  After sprinkling the salt, mix thoroughly while crushing the cabbage.  Exert lots of pressure, this helps the cabbage release it's juices and create it's own brine.  If the cabbage doesn't release enough water you can make a brine by boiling water and adding salt.

Once done with the above step, put the cabbage and it's brine into the clean crock.  Put a fresh washed large cabbage leaf on top and then the stone to weigh down the mixture underneath the brine. The brine should cover the cabbage nicely.

Next put on the lid and fill the moat surrounding the lid with water.  As the mixture sits, check and make sure the water in the moat doesn't evaporate.  Add more if needed.  See the little mouse hole in the lid (that's what I call it)  The water level should cover that.  It will allow gasses to escape, but keep the mixture sealed.

Then......Wait....six weeks.....I'll let you know how it turns out.  Keep your fingers crossed for good results!

Foggy November