denafoltzrissman
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Freezer’s Full
The freezer is full and the garden is empty. Well, mostly empty except for carrots we plan to winter-over, a half-bed of potatoes and some broccoli and cabbage carcasses we left for the rabbits that have managed to break into… Continue reading
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Winding Down, Sorta
It’s mid September. When you ask a gardener how it’s going, they’ll answer 1) Things are really winding down or 2) I’m over it or 3) Both. In some ways I feel like we just got started. Growing season is… Continue reading
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‘Tis the Season
Deck the counter with peppers and potatoes, fa la la la la, la la la la.Beans, and corn and ripe tomatoes. Fa la la la la, la la la la. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for gardeners.… Continue reading
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Prepping for Corn
When the corn starts taseling, the Boss starts drooling. It means the time is near — Sweet Corn Season! When corn season hits, that’s all he will eat for dinner the entirety of the season. His goal is a 300-ear… Continue reading
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Garden of Weedin’
“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson I wanted to title this post I hate weeding, but hate seems like a harsh word to use for gardening, so I’ll just say,… Continue reading
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Saturday Communion
Farmer’s markets are a highlight of Summer for communities around the country. On a typical Saturday in America, people come out in droves, to shop local. Same here in Garden, however, our market is neither typical nor are people coming… Continue reading
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Marathon May
May is a butt kicker of a month for gardeners. Yes, I know it is June and that is my point. We were already rolling in abundance when we completed our eastward migration. YES! Cold frames filled with spinach. Three… Continue reading
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You Can Take the Man Out of Garden . . .
Many Yoopers are snowbirds. They migrate to warmer climates and closer civilizations for the winter. Not us. We migrate laterally. People can’t wrap their brains around the idea that we go somewhere cold for the winter. We are skiers and… Continue reading
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Garlic Planting at the Eden of Garden
We planted 1,248 cloves of garlic this year. Those cloves will most likely turn into 1,248 bulbs of garlic, at least a few hundreds pounds. That’s a lot of freaking garlic. And it’s a big task. We get asked a… Continue reading
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Fall Planting
October is the month when most gardeners hang up the hoe, stow the shovel and prepare to hibernate. Most gardeners are burnt out. Over it. Not us. Well, not the Boss. Yeah, I’m running out of steam. But the Boss… Continue reading
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Fall-ing
“I’ve got my work cut out for me.” — The most common refrain you’ll hear this time of year around these parts. It’s busy. Everyday, putting up food. It’s bushel season. Everything is coming in extra large amounts. Apples, pears,… Continue reading
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Copious Corn Consumption
Corn. That’s what happening around here. The Boss has been waiting for this all year. He’s been carefully planning since browsing the seed catalog in February. Three hundred seeds. Three hundred opportunities for bi-colored deliciousness. You know corn season is… Continue reading
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Awesome Amazing Abundant August
August is the best month! “Sun is shining, the weather is sweet,” – Bob Marley. The weather is perfect. Abundant with sunshine and well-timed rain (the kind you can take off all your clothes and dance in). It’s warm enough… Continue reading
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Re-branding the Cucumber
Is your garden overrun by cucumbers? Is the farmers market giving away free cucumbers with every purchase? Are your neighbors foisting their excess cucumbers on you? Sick of pickles? Then I’ve got a solution for you: spa cucumbers. Cucumbers have… Continue reading
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Recovery
Gardening can seem like a lot of trouble and turmoil (hence, all the Boss’ war references), especially when everything is small and getting started. So vulnerable. Us gardeners can take is personally and “some of us” really let it get… Continue reading














