Harvest goodness

row 1- zucchini, onions and beans!
(that is another plot where things start to grow high again)

This year, Brian and I planted our very first garden. I remember having a little garden many years ago in our backyard as a kid. I think that we grew zucchini and watermelon. When I was really young in New Zealand we definitely grew sunflowers. Brian's parents have always been into gardening, his Dad particularly, so he definitely has the greener thumb of the two of us.

So we decided to take our collective gardening expertise, or maybe it was just nostalgia- paired up with an interest in growing things in Newfoundland, it was a good year to plant a garden! We applied for a plot at the university community garden. A few weeks later, we were assigned plot #35. Our gardening plans were a bit disrupted by our month long trip to BC in the spring- watering was a bit sparse, and we missed out on a big load of compost. But, it turned out pretty well after all! We planted beans, zucchini, peas, onions, radishes, beets, carrots, parsnips, lettuce and spinach. Most of those things ended up turning out pretty well. We have been eating salad every night with supper- there's nothing like fresh lettuce! Brian made zucchini chutney with our zucchini. 

row 2- peas, beets, carrots, parsnips and beets again

Also, one of the good things about living in Newfoundland is the wild berries! We have been blueberry picking a few times, and got enough to make 6 jars of jam which is now in the pantry... ready to enjoy in the dead of winter. Bronwen and I went one last time on Monday and got a couple more pounds to eat fresh... blueberries on oatmeal in the morning is the breakfast of choice lately. Or, just a handful of fresh ones for dessert. Yum!

I think that Brian and I encourage each other in our growing, picking and foraging tendencies. He loves to pick wild mushrooms... an activity which I had never really heard of before we met. Well, not besides 'medicinal' mushrooms.. but I think that growing up on Vancouver Island can turn you into more of a mushroom picker! He found some chanterelles on one of our berry picking trips, which are quite delicious fried with a little bit of butter (who knew!). 

row 3- lettuce! (and some spinach in there too)

There is something really satisfying about collecting food from the wild, and from the garden! I think that it's a combination of taking advantage of what is available to us, appreciating the seasons more, and the joy of being outside! If you take the time on a hike, you can see those little blueberries growing all over some of the hillsides! Having a garden gives you new excitement for spring planting, for watching things grow all summer, and for harvesting and storing them when fall rolls around. And of course, it is always nice to be outside when you're doing all of this.

So there you have it.. living off the land in St. John's. Sort of. One day I'd love to have a huge vegetable garden... with a big raspberry patch. Maybe even some hens for eggs. A nice long clothesline and some woods in the back. I'm glad to be married to someone who will go live on a homestead with me someday. Or at least, we can dream about it together!

last summer in Bonavista... but you get the idea!