Signs of Autumn, and the Mystic Garlic Festival
There is one heirloom tomato plant, four green pepper
plants, four Japanese eggplant plants, tomatillos, two Ancho hot pepper plants,
kale, basil, parsley, and lettuce left in the garden. It’s September 15. This
weekend, we plan to strip all the plants and take them down (except for lettuce
and kale, which like cool weather). My husband had the pellet stove running
early this morning. The air conditioners are off, thank goodness. Don’t like
air conditioning. I’m shopping around for hyacinth bulbs for winter forcing.
And I’m craving hot chocolate. I think autumn is creeping in.
One of the ways I’ll keep busy indoors this winter is by
making quark! Quark is an easy-to-make, soft cheese that is yummy plain, or infused
with garlic and herbs (for a healthy, super-fresh dip), or honey (for serving
like crème fraiche on fresh fruit), or anything you like. I ordered the culture
last week; it should be here soon. Add the culture to fresh, warm, raw milk,
let it sit overnight, strain in cheesecloth for up to 24 hours, and store in
the fridge. It sounds delicious, and I can’t wait to make it.
Within a couple of weeks, I’ll have to bring in the three
potted geranium plants. They did great this summer. They’ll drop leaves once
indoors, then look sad and anemic for a few months. By January or February
though, they’ll know spring is around the corner, and start perking up.
We’re heading to the Mystic Garlic Festival in Mystic,
Connecticut this weekend. It’s a garlic-lover’s dream. All local garlic from
local farmers. Many varieties you never find at the market. Plus, tools for
cutting, crushing, cooking, and storing garlic, garlic braids, garlic bread,
garlic French fries, and lots more. Lots of natural food venders. No yucky carnival
food at this festival. My husband and I plan to be there early on the first
day, and get a bag of that AMAZING black, fermented garlic. It sells out on the
first day every year.
And speaking of garlic, the bulbs I ordered for planting
haven’t arrived yet. Hmmm. Have to give Seeds of Change a call this week.
/II\
Namaste
