the august garden ~ still producing.

pink chiffon althea

assorted greens

squash

morning glory

garlic chives and blue beard

hosta bloom

garlic chives

squash and black-eyes susans

canela russet potatoes

zucchino rapicante, yellow crookneck, striata d'italia zucchini

yellow brandywine

The August garden was quite enjoyable with significant harvesting {almost an additional 200 pounds} and a continual profusion of blooms. Although the month was dry we were able to abate plant demise with frequent watering, and thankfully, we have been the recipient of rainfall over the past few days. 

I heavily planted flower annuals this year and that is one of the best decisions I could have made. Since these zinnias, cosmos and black-eyed susans bloom through the first of autumn we are still enjoying much color in the garden. Slowly the tides are turning. We can feel it with a cooler than normal day here and there, the many cobwebs we just can't avoid, and that unmistakeable scent in the air telling us we are shifting to autumn.

Eggplant, squash, tomatoes, carrots and greens will continue to be harvested through September and I'm hopeful to reach 500 pounds of harvest. Originally I had thought to harvest 750 pounds! I'm not sure what I was thinking, but if that is the goal, then I'll definitely need to plant twice as much potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and carrots. Time will tell if we actually attempt to do so in this yard. 

Overall, I am thankful to grow so much of our own produce. The process of planting, tending, harvesting has so many lessons for me on frugality, health, diet, exercise, planning, investing. Our are meals are really quite simple - mostly protein complemented by many vegetables. I know that having a home garden is viewed in our modern times as either a trendy lifestyle or peasant-like lifestyle. We, however, have simply come to find that fresh vegetables taste really good. 

Produce Total:  416 pounds  

Strawberries - 20 lbs.

Raspberries - 2 lbs.

Blackberries - 9 lbs.

Kale, Spinach, Endive, Brocoli Rapini, Swiss Chard, Beet Leaves - 69 lbs.
Beets - 4 lbs.
Fingerling Potatoes - 10 lbs.

Norland Red Potatoes - 26 lbs.

Canela Rusett Potatoes - 34 lbs.

Yukon Gold Potatoes- 20 lbs.
Red Inchelium Garlic - 10 lbs.

Carrots - 11 lbs.

Onions - 3 lbs.

Snow Peas - 7 lbs.

Roma Tomatoes - 94 lbs.

Beefsteak Tomatoes - 24 lbs.

Cherry Tomatoes - 13 lb.

Cucumbers - 13 lbs.

Eggplant - 10 lbs.

Squash - 15 lbs.

Green Beans - 21 lbs.

Sweet Peppers - 1 lb.

Other Harvesting
Seeds: Kale, Snow Peas, Poppies, Coriander, Cosmos, Zinnias, Black-eyes Susans

Herbs: Oregano, Sage, Thyme, Mint, Parsley, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Raspberry Leaf, Dill, Cilantro, Basil

Cold Storage: 

Potatoes, Kale, Garlic, Onions

Freezer Storage

Tomatoes, Pickles, Strawberries, Blackberries, Snow Peas, Green Beans, Basil with Olive Oil, Cilantro with Olive Oil, Beet Leaves, Carrots, Squash