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Summer Food

By
Home Inspector with Helm Home Inspections

As the summer progresses, this Bellingham, Washington vegetable garden gets more out of control.  The pumkins and squashes leap out of their beds and fill the pathways.  The fourth succession planting of brocolli is ready to harvest.  The corn is producing tassles.  Eggplants have started producing fruit.  Tomato plants and pepper plants are loaded.  I ate my first pole beans today.  The first planting of bush beans is not far behind.  It gets harder to find the time to weed, but I try to do a little each day.  It is truly wonderful to go out to the garden and pick the days dinner.  There is nothing fresher, and for the eco people, it's a carbon negative way to eat.

Brassicas

Brocolli, two kinds of Kale and some flat leaf Parsley sandwiched between them.

Corn

The corn is doing better than I expected.  We had some cold weather just as it was beginning to germinate.

Asian eggplant

These are Asian Eggplants.  If you look closely, you can see some fruits beginning to form.

Beets

A couple varieties of Beets.  The beet tops are my favorite green, way better than spinach or chard.  And pickled beets are to die for.

Pumpkins

This is the unruly pumpkin bed.  My grandsons planted these back in the spring.  They'll be here in November to help pick.

Peppers

This is my Salsa bed.  There are eight different varieties of hot pepper in this bed.  Can't wait till they're ready.

Thanks for looking at this small section of early August garden.  I can't think of anything more satisfying than growing vegetables.

David Helm

www.helmhomeinspections.com

 

Posted by

David Helm, Inspector, Helm Home  Inspections Bellingham, Washington  Licensed Home  Inspector #272                                                       WSDA  Licensed Structural Pest Inspector  #69844              http://www.helmhomeinspections.com           HelmHomeInspections@yahoo.com                                                                               

Danielle V. Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
DDR Realty
I don't have time for a garden, but I do appreciate all of the hard work that goes into making one. I have supported local farmers for years, and plan to go peach picking soon.
Aug 04, 2007 12:34 AM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD
WOW! Fantastic garden! Makes me long for my days living in Europe, when I had a large vegetable garden of my own. I would not try it again down here in Florida.I tried it once and the bugs ate everything!
Aug 04, 2007 03:18 AM
Tricia Jumonville
Bradfield Properties - Georgetown, TX
Texas REALTOR , Agent With Horse Sense

I love it.  Ours doesn't have as many things in it (my husband's the gardener, I'm the critter lady - or "The Food Lady" as the animals call me, and my husband has his own business and thus a time and a half job), but what we do harvest out of it tastes SO much better than what we can buy at the store!  Nothing like picking a mess of green beans and taking them in the door and cooking them right away.

And I always thought I hated collards and kale until I had them young and fresh-picked.  It's an entirely different vegetable from what you usually get at the supermarket!

Last night I made up a dish pf stewed okra with tomatoes, onions, bell pepper - all the summer vegetables - and roasted some corn on the cob in the husk.  My husband trimmed some of his corn off the cob and added it to the stewed okra and it made the dish.  Along with some fried pork chops, and we felt fed and happy.

 

Aug 04, 2007 06:52 AM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor
David,

amazing pictures again, hm... I do not like to do things on the backyard or take care about the plants, but it is always good to know how people take care about their precious things.

Ray saenz
Aug 04, 2007 01:13 PM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
Chris, they must grow food in Florida.  It just takes the desire and a bunch of work.
Aug 04, 2007 05:58 PM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
Danielle, that is one of the best things you can do.  Supporting local farmers by buying their produce, buying shares early in the season, and promoting local stores buying from local farmers.  We somehow have to get away from this destructive agribusiness mentality.
Aug 04, 2007 06:01 PM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
Bill and Barbara Jo, Bugs can be a problem.  My way is to plant enough to share with them.
Aug 04, 2007 06:02 PM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
Tricia, You are so right.  This evening the meal was made with fresh picked eggplant.  I think that even if I didn't have the space for a large garden, I would always grow something.
Aug 04, 2007 06:04 PM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
Thanks for stopping by Ray.  It is really good, and reassuring to know exactly where your food comes from.  No chemicals, only good rich organic dirt.
Aug 04, 2007 06:06 PM
Margaret Rodgers
Keller Williams Realty - Karns, TN
Realtor, AHWD

Very nice garden we can all tell that you really take good care of it and that you enjoy it.

I miss not gardening I have not had the time ,oh well next year

Aug 05, 2007 01:49 AM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
Hi Margaret, I know what you mean.  In this era of two earner families, it seems hard to just find the time to talk with your spouse.  The day is over before I realize it.  I try to prioritize to do things so the important ones get done and those not so important can be put off till they become important.  With gardening, if you try to do it all at once, it becomes overwhelming.  Early spring is intense because beds need to be prepared and planting needs to be done.  Weeding happens a little bit at a time (I try to do some every day).  Harvest happens as needed, except for those things that all become ready at once (potatoes, garlic, onions, shallots, etc.).  For these things I block out weekend time or, if I have an afternoon with no inspection, I do it then.
Aug 05, 2007 05:48 AM
MAUREEN STACCATO
Springfield, MA
What a garden! I am so impressed! I love broccoli especially with cheese- healthy huh? LOL
Aug 06, 2007 12:13 PM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

David~ 

I have a container herb garden on my deck...and two tomato plants!..but WOW..talk about GREEN! You may have outdone all of us at the Eco-All-Stars Group. =)

Aug 06, 2007 04:25 PM
Melissa Wagner
Leo Parker Real Estate & Auction - Woodbury, TN
Gorgeous garden! Love the pictures.... makes me want to go plant something!
Aug 06, 2007 04:36 PM
Bonnie & Terry Westbrook
Westbrook Realty - Ada, MI
Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Enjoyed looking at your garden pictures, David. Mine is just starting to get underway here, the asparagus is up and ready to eat!  Seeds I planted earlier are slow growing this spring - too cold, I think.

May 21, 2008 05:41 AM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp

Hi Bonnie, Thanks for stopping by.  Obviously this post was from last years garden.  Mine is slow to get started this year too (because of the cool weather).

May 21, 2008 05:58 AM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD

what a wonderful garden!!! those photos make me want to reach into the screen and get some fresh veggies!!!

May 31, 2008 04:25 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I love fresh garden vegetables, but we don't much luck with our gumbo soil. Tuff to grow veggies.

May 31, 2008 04:42 PM
Penny Florence
Midvale, UT

Terrifc garden!  I love fresh veggies and fruit but don't like to garden, luckily my inlaws have a HUGE garden and always give us stuff.

Jun 03, 2008 01:35 AM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp

Bill and Barbara Jo, I too would like to reach in and grab.  This years vegetable garden is getting off to a much slower start due to the unseasonably cool weather we are experiencing here.  It's always fun to have a year old post come back up.

Cindy, you can improve your gumbo soil.  All it takes is ample amounts of compost (organic matter) and some additional sandy loam and you'll be growing with the best of them.

Penny, since I am a father in law, I do get to provide some homegrown produce.  Unfortunately, since all the kids and grandkids live far away, what they get is things like garlic and keeper onions.

Jun 03, 2008 06:07 AM