Canning Workshop

One of the optional projects that graduating La Meza Verde familes chose was food preservation. So, last Friday Sylvia came down from San Francisco with her husband, Bill, and brought all the things that we needed.

Laura, Sylvia, Debbie, Patty



Laura, Dora, Sylvia

Sylvia, Dora and the stuff.

Sylvia, teaching as usual.

We had the workshop at my house. Because it's so close and  there's a stove it fit the criteria. Altogether there were 10 of us if you count the boys. That's the most people that I've had in my house in a long time.
I spent 3 days giving my dingy kitchen a much needed cleaning!!I had been nervous but by Friday AM it felt so good to have everything decluttered and clean. Luis pitched in and cleaned and painted(?) the bathroom and washed the outsides of the windows, even though it was his birthday.      
By the end we had made pickeled jalepenos with carrots and veggies, strawberry and blackberry jam. It was so much fun to cook with other people! Sylvia was awesome! I was inspired!         
Since then I've made a birthday cake with the strawberry jam in the middle, canned a jar of green beans, made zucchini parmesean and I might make biscuits tonight to go under the blackberry jam!

Malin, Debbie, Sylvia

My idea of canning involved bushels of fruit or veggies, steam, sweat and so much time. It never occured to me to just put up 1 or 2 jars at a time. What a concept. Thanks Ladies.

Red in the Garden and Visitors



It's happening!! In a sea of green, I'm finally seeing...RED!!

 The garden is in full swing now! There is now color in the green! The Pocket Farmer (www.thepocketfarmer.com) said it perfectly today with this picture on Facebook.
I've been a little camera lazy lately, but I have gotten some people pictures.
I feel so fortunate to get to meet so many people who are working to change the way we see and grow our food.

Thanks to Tim and Helen from Ag Innovations (info@aginnovations.org) for coming by last week.
" We care deeply about creating a more economically viable, socially just, and environmentally sound way to grow and distribute food."
This is from the home page of their website, and it seems to be the common thread connects most all of the visitors who want to visit a La Mesa Verde garden family and to learn more about our unique program.
Thanks again to Sacred Heart Community Service for providing the opportunity to make a difference!

These ladies visited from the San Jose Garden Club (sanjosegardenclub.com ) They answered so many questions, like how to reseed lettuce. It can be as simple as just letting them flower and drop their seeds back into the soil.
Every visitor leaves me feeling like a super star gardener. Diva, if you will, even though it's all pretty simple so far.

Master Gardener Visit

One of the nicest things about my La Mesa Verde garden is the visit from my Master Gardener, Carolyn Kameya every few weeks. She always has good advice and oohs and ahhs over the garden. She and others donate their time to help us new gardeners grow our little piece of paradise. Thanks again!

I harvested a zucchini the size of a small child today. I let it get big on purpose but geez! Tonight we'll have it stuffed and with a salad along side.