Growing like Weeds

I have spent a lot of time weeding this year. I tried to get an early jump on it but there really is no discouraging a weed, at least in the long-term. I started with the flower garden. I weeded and I mulched – I mulched a lot, but they still found a way. Some weeds came up with the flowers, trying to blend in. Some came in on the edge, trying to look like part of the lawn. Others sent out runners. The whole thing was a planned, three-pronged attack. Despite their continued assault, the flower garden looks good this year. We are at peak bee and butterfly season and the flower garden is literally buzzing with activity.

Next, I turned my attention to the vegetable garden. Try as I might, I cannot go to strictly no-till. I am ashamed to say that I pulled out the rototiller to tip the balance in my favor. In my defense, I needed the advantage. Unlike the flower garden, the vegetable garden starts each year as a blank canvas for the weeds to exercise their limitless potential. I think I have turned that blank canvas into more of a paint by numbers canvas with the weeds mostly coloring inside the lines. I am still constantly weeding and mulching, but I think that is what gardening is all about – a little weeding, a little mulching, and a lot of admiring of a job well don

The birds spread sunflower seeds everywhere making them weeds. Weeds, that when missed, turn into beautiful flowers.

Everything Always Happens at Once

There is a lot of waiting involved in gardening too. Weed, mulch, admire, and wait. On the farm the wait is over. There is squash, there is broccoli, there are tomatoes, there are raspberries and blueberries, there are peppers and beans. And there is squash – did I say that there is squash? Few things grow like weeds – squash and Kodi are a couple of things that do. I believe August has been declared, “Leave your squash on your neighbor’s doorstep” month.

I leave you with a weed-free wish and a recipe for getting rid of some of that squash. The neighbors will never suspect you if you come bearing a “loaf of bread.” Enjoy the bounties of summer and our Zucchini Bread recipe. Also, don’t forget the wonderful Blueberry Buckle recipe from last year.

Zucchini Bread 

This recipe starts with a bag of our own gluten-free pancake mix, and also includes our maple sugar. For the complete, maple experience, top off a slice of zucchini bread with our pure Maple Cream.

Come See Us

We are at the Old Austerlitz Blueberry Festival in Austerlitz, New York on July 31. We are at the Amherst and Great Barrington Farmers Markets until mid November. Come visit us! Check out our website for where to find us.