Artsy Photos of Stoddart Avenue Community Garden

I brought my friend, Vicki, to the Garden on Friday and she – like everyone else – fell in love with our scarecrows (courtesy of the Girl Scouts). She took some nifty photos with her new lens of the scarecrows, of some of the produce and of Rayna’s very nifty-looking plot. I thought that I would share them with you. They also show how much has grown in the last few weeks.

Vicki also enjoyed a nice salad of mixed baby greens and arugula from my plot.

Artsy Photos of Stoddart Avenue Community Garden

I brought my friend, Vicki, to the Garden on Friday and she – like everyone else – fell in love with our scarecrows (courtesy of the Girl Scouts). She took some nifty photos with her new lens of the scarecrows, of some of the produce and of Rayna’s very nifty-looking plot. I thought that I would share them with you. They also show how much has grown in the last few weeks.

Vicki also enjoyed a nice salad of mixed baby greens and arugula from my plot.

Stoddart Garden's Strawberry Expedition Was Moderate Success

Last week, a group of the Stoddart Avenue Community Garden Gardeners gathered early Saturday morning to go pick strawberry at a local U-Pick farm. We had planned to go to Hann Farms, which was the closest and least expensive farm. However, you know what they say about best laid plans. Luckily, I called that morning to confirm that they were still open and, in fact, they had run out of ripe strawberries the day before. So, we went to Schact Farms in Canal Winchester, which had only a few ripe strawberries. As a result, it was fairly difficult and took much longer to find ripe strawberries for our canning and fresh food addiction. While I had anticipated that we would only spend an hour picking, we worked for close to two hours and left when we got hot. Strawberry picking has become very popular this year and we had lots of company at Schact's.

Attached is a post-picking picture of some of our group. Melissa took lots of other great pictures while we were actually picking the strawberries, but I somehow messed up the downloading process and didn't have the patience to work my way through the 700+ pictures on her camera to try again:)

Beth, Melissa and I then went to work that day to making jams and preserves. (I had made raspberry and blueberry jam the night before since the berries were on sale at Kroger's). Note to self: In the future, make only jam. Preserves take a long, long time and none of mine jelled correctly. The jams, however, turned out perfectly. I've attached pictures of my jam/preserve collection and Melissa's 2009 collection. (I LOVE her rounded new jam jars -- she got the last bunch at Riffe's Market in Grandview. If anyone know where else in Columbus I can buy these jars PLEASE EMAIL ME so that I can buy them before I make my fuzzy-naval marmalade in August (during peach season)).

Mitch and I also froze strawberries (to use in smoothies and as ice cubes). This involves washing the berries, removing the stems and leaves, freezing them on cookie sheets and then putting them in freezer bags for storage.

I called Hann's Farm again yesterday and the message says that they still have a few ripe strawberries left. Doran's Farm reported that we can pick strawberries through Father's Day. However, next year, we'll be going the first weekend in June instead of waiting . . . . .

Stoddart Garden's Strawberry Expedition Was Moderate Success

Last week, a group of the Stoddart Avenue Community Garden Gardeners gathered early Saturday morning to go pick strawberry at a local U-Pick farm. We had planned to go to Hann Farms, which was the closest and least expensive farm. However, you know what they say about best laid plans. Luckily, I called that morning to confirm that they were still open and, in fact, they had run out of ripe strawberries the day before. So, we went to Schact Farms in Canal Winchester, which had only a few ripe strawberries. As a result, it was fairly difficult and took much longer to find ripe strawberries for our canning and fresh food addiction. While I had anticipated that we would only spend an hour picking, we worked for close to two hours and left when we got hot. Strawberry picking has become very popular this year and we had lots of company at Schact's.

Attached is a post-picking picture of some of our group. Melissa took lots of other great pictures while we were actually picking the strawberries, but I somehow messed up the downloading process and didn't have the patience to work my way through the 700+ pictures on her camera to try again:)

Beth, Melissa and I then went to work that day to making jams and preserves. (I had made raspberry and blueberry jam the night before since the berries were on sale at Kroger's). Note to self: In the future, make only jam. Preserves take a long, long time and none of mine jelled correctly. The jams, however, turned out perfectly. I've attached pictures of my jam/preserve collection and Melissa's 2009 collection. (I LOVE her rounded new jam jars -- she got the last bunch at Riffe's Market in Grandview. If anyone know where else in Columbus I can buy these jars PLEASE EMAIL ME so that I can buy them before I make my fuzzy-naval marmalade in August (during peach season)).

Mitch and I also froze strawberries (to use in smoothies and as ice cubes). This involves washing the berries, removing the stems and leaves, freezing them on cookie sheets and then putting them in freezer bags for storage.

I called Hann's Farm again yesterday and the message says that they still have a few ripe strawberries left. Doran's Farm reported that we can pick strawberries through Father's Day. However, next year, we'll be going the first weekend in June instead of waiting . . . . .

I Learned Much of I Know From Gardening Books.

Not everyone needs to become a certified Master Gardener to have a reasonably successful vegetable garden. You could also just be a bookworm – or geek – like me. I learned most everything I know from experience and studying. In addition to my modest collection of books on raising low-maintenance flowers, I also own a few books on vegetable gardening. If you don’t want to invest in your own personal library, the Bexley Library has a whole bookshelf with nothing but gardening books. (I’m sure that’s not a big surprise to many of you). I hope to gander through most of the Bexley collection over the summer and summarize them so that you can decide which ones are best for you.

Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening Vegetables. This is my gardening bible. It has a section in the back which summarizes the necessities for growing virtually every kind of vegetable and herb. It literally goes from artichokes to watercress and many places in between, such as beans, peas, lettuce, squash, melons, corn, etc. It summarizes when to plant, what kind of soil, special tips and how to know when to harvest. I couldn’t live without this book. The front of the book summarizes general gardening issues, such as raised beds, composting, pH, starting seeds indoors, trellis, etc. Great book.

The Complete Guide to Successful Gardening. This was a gift from a former neighbor, Page Heiss, when he moved away. It was my gardening bible last year and I took it with me everywhere. It’s much thicker and more informative than Rodale’s. For instance, its back section planting guide goes into more detail than the Rodale’s version (above) It also has pictures and some nifty tips which are lacking in the Rodale’s. It also talks about soils, digging and double digging, garden frames, rotating crops, successional crops, and goes into more depth about the proper depth to plant seeds. It also has a month-by-month guide of gardening tasks and harvesting schedules. It also has a section on growing flowers.

Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening Low-Maintenance Landscaping. This is the “lite” version of the first Rodale’s book (above) and also includes a section on flowers. I like it because it focuses on the easiest flowers and vegetables to grow, although it is not as comprehensive as the version above.

The Budget Gardener by Maureen Gilmer is in the Bexley Library and promises Twice the Garden for Half the Price. It does not, however, contain a planting guide or much specifics about growing particular plants. Rather, it focuses on how to recycle virtually everything you can imagine to benefit your gardening habit. It has a great section on composting, which items have the highest levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.. and where you can get ingredients (like horse manure) for free. It even has a section on stealing sticks from your neighbors yard waste in order to build artsy and free fencing. My favorite tip involved recycling beer bottle tabs into a boot scraper by nailing them to a round log which you keep next to your back door (in order to scrape the mud off your shoes after trudging through a muddy garden). (The brush scrapers seem to have a one-year useful life and I’m anxious to collect enough caps to try this new idea. Feel free to help me out). Very cute book.

I Learned Much of I Know From Gardening Books.

Not everyone needs to become a certified Master Gardener to have a reasonably successful vegetable garden. You could also just be a bookworm – or geek – like me. I learned most everything I know from experience and studying. In addition to my modest collection of books on raising low-maintenance flowers, I also own a few books on vegetable gardening. If you don’t want to invest in your own personal library, the Bexley Library has a whole bookshelf with nothing but gardening books. (I’m sure that’s not a big surprise to many of you). I hope to gander through most of the Bexley collection over the summer and summarize them so that you can decide which ones are best for you.

Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening Vegetables. This is my gardening bible. It has a section in the back which summarizes the necessities for growing virtually every kind of vegetable and herb. It literally goes from artichokes to watercress and many places in between, such as beans, peas, lettuce, squash, melons, corn, etc. It summarizes when to plant, what kind of soil, special tips and how to know when to harvest. I couldn’t live without this book. The front of the book summarizes general gardening issues, such as raised beds, composting, pH, starting seeds indoors, trellis, etc. Great book.

The Complete Guide to Successful Gardening. This was a gift from a former neighbor, Page Heiss, when he moved away. It was my gardening bible last year and I took it with me everywhere. It’s much thicker and more informative than Rodale’s. For instance, its back section planting guide goes into more detail than the Rodale’s version (above) It also has pictures and some nifty tips which are lacking in the Rodale’s. It also talks about soils, digging and double digging, garden frames, rotating crops, successional crops, and goes into more depth about the proper depth to plant seeds. It also has a month-by-month guide of gardening tasks and harvesting schedules. It also has a section on growing flowers.

Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening Low-Maintenance Landscaping. This is the “lite” version of the first Rodale’s book (above) and also includes a section on flowers. I like it because it focuses on the easiest flowers and vegetables to grow, although it is not as comprehensive as the version above.

The Budget Gardener by Maureen Gilmer is in the Bexley Library and promises Twice the Garden for Half the Price. It does not, however, contain a planting guide or much specifics about growing particular plants. Rather, it focuses on how to recycle virtually everything you can imagine to benefit your gardening habit. It has a great section on composting, which items have the highest levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.. and where you can get ingredients (like horse manure) for free. It even has a section on stealing sticks from your neighbors yard waste in order to build artsy and free fencing. My favorite tip involved recycling beer bottle tabs into a boot scraper by nailing them to a round log which you keep next to your back door (in order to scrape the mud off your shoes after trudging through a muddy garden). (The brush scrapers seem to have a one-year useful life and I’m anxious to collect enough caps to try this new idea. Feel free to help me out). Very cute book.

Musing on Gift Cookbooks and Purchasing Mason Jars Near Bexley.

This afternoon, as I walked outside my front door for the first time, I found a package from Amazon.com. I was instantly confused because I didn’t remember ordering anything. When I opened the box, I found a new cookbook—Jam It, Pickle it, Cure It and other Cooking Projects-- by Karen Solomon and panicked that I had forgotten that I purchased it in a few clicks after a few glasses of wine a few nights earlier. Imagine my delight when I scanned the packing slip and found a note:” Looked yummy and full of [my name]-worthy – full of bountiful harvest – Vicki”

A random act of kindness. She saw it, thought of me and bought it. Pretty neat. I can’t remember the last time I bought myself a hard-cover book. I wonder if she knew I was going strawberry picking tomorrow and hoped that I’d bring her some preserves when we get together next week. I think some preserves are definitely in her future . . . .

Anyway, once I recovered from the delight of an unexpected gift, I hopped into the car and rushed down to the Big Lots on Winchester Pike in Berwick. I had called a few weeks ago about mason jars, but they had not yet arrived. I called a few days ago and learned that they had sold out, but were expecting another shipment today. When I arrived, the shelves were half empty and the cashier was hording a few boxes for someone who called ahead. I bought two packages (12 jars each) of Golden Harvest regular pint jars for $6.75/each and two packages of lids for $1.25/each (half the price at the Main Street Krogers).

I then headed to the East Main Wal-Mart to comparison shop. Last year, the only Wal-Mart in Columbus to carry mason jars was the store on Morse Road. However, this year, my local Wal-Mart told me over the phone that they were also selling mason jars. I confirmed the accuracy of this information. However, while the Wal-Mart selection was better, it was also slightly more expensive. The same package of Golden Harvest pint jars were $6.85 and Ball mason jars were almost $8. Wal-Mart also carried extra lids, pectin (both liquid and powder) and – to my delight – a tool kit which included a jar lifter and lid lifter. (If you’ve every tried to fish the lids out of boiling water with only a set of tongs, you’ll appreciate how much I’m looking forward to pulling them out with a magnetic wand. I requested one for Xmas and my confused brother gave me an electric can opener insteadJ). Wal-Mart did not, however, have any of the half-pint jelly jars (i.e., the cut glass kind) in stock (but there might be some in the next to last southeast aisle at the Giant Eagle in Reynoldsburg). Another shopper warned me not to purchase any liquid pectin with last year’s date on it because it won’t work. She also told me that Aldi’s was selling strawberries for $1/pound, but I told her that I preferred to pick my own and preserve them within the same day. So there.

For those who are concerned about Wal-Mart’s reputation for squeezing their suppliers to get the best price and forcing them to outsource their production to third-world countries, Anderson’s General Store in Reynoldsburg also usually carries a full line of canning supplies, including mason jars and pectin. They’re usually right in front of the front entrance. As mentioned, some Giant Eagle stores also carry them. Kroger’s usually doesn’t get them until closer to Fall.

For beginner canners, I highly recommend that you purchase more pint jars than quart jars. You’ll need an awfully large stock pot (for hot water canning) or pressure cooker (for everything else) in order to can in quart jars. How often do you buy or use food in quart quantities anyway? I had to buy an extra tall stock pot last year so that I could can tomatoes and peaches (which don’t require pressure cookers) in my quart jars. My pint jars fit in both my pressure cooker and other stock pots. Just a word to the wise.

Musing on Gift Cookbooks and Purchasing Mason Jars Near Bexley.

This afternoon, as I walked outside my front door for the first time, I found a package from Amazon.com. I was instantly confused because I didn’t remember ordering anything. When I opened the box, I found a new cookbook—Jam It, Pickle it, Cure It and other Cooking Projects-- by Karen Solomon and panicked that I had forgotten that I purchased it in a few clicks after a few glasses of wine a few nights earlier. Imagine my delight when I scanned the packing slip and found a note:” Looked yummy and full of [my name]-worthy – full of bountiful harvest – Vicki”

A random act of kindness. She saw it, thought of me and bought it. Pretty neat. I can’t remember the last time I bought myself a hard-cover book. I wonder if she knew I was going strawberry picking tomorrow and hoped that I’d bring her some preserves when we get together next week. I think some preserves are definitely in her future . . . .

Anyway, once I recovered from the delight of an unexpected gift, I hopped into the car and rushed down to the Big Lots on Winchester Pike in Berwick. I had called a few weeks ago about mason jars, but they had not yet arrived. I called a few days ago and learned that they had sold out, but were expecting another shipment today. When I arrived, the shelves were half empty and the cashier was hording a few boxes for someone who called ahead. I bought two packages (12 jars each) of Golden Harvest regular pint jars for $6.75/each and two packages of lids for $1.25/each (half the price at the Main Street Krogers).

I then headed to the East Main Wal-Mart to comparison shop. Last year, the only Wal-Mart in Columbus to carry mason jars was the store on Morse Road. However, this year, my local Wal-Mart told me over the phone that they were also selling mason jars. I confirmed the accuracy of this information. However, while the Wal-Mart selection was better, it was also slightly more expensive. The same package of Golden Harvest pint jars were $6.85 and Ball mason jars were almost $8. Wal-Mart also carried extra lids, pectin (both liquid and powder) and – to my delight – a tool kit which included a jar lifter and lid lifter. (If you’ve every tried to fish the lids out of boiling water with only a set of tongs, you’ll appreciate how much I’m looking forward to pulling them out with a magnetic wand. I requested one for Xmas and my confused brother gave me an electric can opener insteadJ). Wal-Mart did not, however, have any of the half-pint jelly jars (i.e., the cut glass kind) in stock (but there might be some in the next to last southeast aisle at the Giant Eagle in Reynoldsburg). Another shopper warned me not to purchase any liquid pectin with last year’s date on it because it won’t work. She also told me that Aldi’s was selling strawberries for $1/pound, but I told her that I preferred to pick my own and preserve them within the same day. So there.

For those who are concerned about Wal-Mart’s reputation for squeezing their suppliers to get the best price and forcing them to outsource their production to third-world countries, Anderson’s General Store in Reynoldsburg also usually carries a full line of canning supplies, including mason jars and pectin. They’re usually right in front of the front entrance. As mentioned, some Giant Eagle stores also carry them. Kroger’s usually doesn’t get them until closer to Fall.

For beginner canners, I highly recommend that you purchase more pint jars than quart jars. You’ll need an awfully large stock pot (for hot water canning) or pressure cooker (for everything else) in order to can in quart jars. How often do you buy or use food in quart quantities anyway? I had to buy an extra tall stock pot last year so that I could can tomatoes and peaches (which don’t require pressure cookers) in my quart jars. My pint jars fit in both my pressure cooker and other stock pots. Just a word to the wise.

Summer Dreaming -- Strawberry Picking

For the last few years, I have a summer routine which includes visiting the Columbus Arts Festival and picking strawberries. When I was in high school, my Farm Bureau Youth group used to pick strawberries and then sell them for a small profit from the back of a pickup truck in the middle of my small town. In April, the Stoddart Avenue neighborhood kids expressed interest in us having a strawberry patch this year, so I started one in the northeast corner of the Garden. (Of course, it will be a few years before we get a significant number of strawberries to share). For now, I pick them at U-Pick farms, wash them, spread them on cookie sheets and then freeze them for later use as ice cubes in margaritas and in fruit smoothies. (I put the frozen strawberries in freezer bags to store them until I need them). I'm also going to try again to make strawberry preserves this weekend.

Stoddart Avenue Community Gardeners are gathering this Saturday to go strawberry picking. You'll need to contact me to find out the exact time and location. However, these are the best options for strawberry picking from the Bexley area:

a. Hann Farms 4600 Lockbourne Road has u-pick strawberries $1/pound. This is the closest u-pick farm to Bexley, but the trip there is a little tricky (through an industrial district, etc.) and it is not exactly the most scenic farm. Beth and I picked strawberries there last year and it was depressing to see how many of the berries were rotting in the field. You can't beat this price. Beth made a strawberry pie with them. Call 491-0812 for more information.

b. Schact Farms, 5950 Shannon Road in Canal Winchester, $1.9/pound. This is the next closest to Bexley. I discovered them last September and made many visits for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to appease my Friday night addiction to canning tomatoes. They have an extensive pumpkin patch. Call 833-1932 for more information.

c. Jacquenmin Farm, (between Plain City and Dublin), $1.8/pound. I visited here last May with my niece and it is very quaint and very close to Dublin and Sports Ohio. Call 873-5725 for more information.

d. Doran Farms, 5462 Babbitt Rd. New Albany, $1.6/pound. I've never been there, but have heard good things about it. Call 855-3885 for more information.

e. Kroger’s weekly special: This week strawberries are on sale for $1.5/pound. Who knows where and when they were picked;) Usually, strawberries sell for a minimum of $2.50/pound.

f. Circle S Farm, 9015 London-Groveport Rd west of Grove City. $1.3/pound. I went here a few years ago with my niece and it’s a nice, large farm, but is way, way out in the country. However, they also sell a lot of strawberries and other items in Farmers Markets and don’t always have strawberries available for U-pick (like yesterday). They tell me strawberry picking season will run through Father’s Day. Call 878-9462 for more information.

Wherever you go, the strawberries are so plentiful that you're likely to spend more time driving than picking. It will take no more than one hour to pick close to 15 pounds.

Summer Dreaming -- Strawberry Picking

For the last few years, I have a summer routine which includes visiting the Columbus Arts Festival and picking strawberries. When I was in high school, my Farm Bureau Youth group used to pick strawberries and then sell them for a small profit from the back of a pickup truck in the middle of my small town. In April, the Stoddart Avenue neighborhood kids expressed interest in us having a strawberry patch this year, so I started one in the northeast corner of the Garden. (Of course, it will be a few years before we get a significant number of strawberries to share). For now, I pick them at U-Pick farms, wash them, spread them on cookie sheets and then freeze them for later use as ice cubes in margaritas and in fruit smoothies. (I put the frozen strawberries in freezer bags to store them until I need them). I'm also going to try again to make strawberry preserves this weekend.

Stoddart Avenue Community Gardeners are gathering this Saturday to go strawberry picking. You'll need to contact me to find out the exact time and location. However, these are the best options for strawberry picking from the Bexley area:

a. Hann Farms 4600 Lockbourne Road has u-pick strawberries $1/pound. This is the closest u-pick farm to Bexley, but the trip there is a little tricky (through an industrial district, etc.) and it is not exactly the most scenic farm. Beth and I picked strawberries there last year and it was depressing to see how many of the berries were rotting in the field. You can't beat this price. Beth made a strawberry pie with them. Call 491-0812 for more information.

b. Schact Farms, 5950 Shannon Road in Canal Winchester, $1.9/pound. This is the next closest to Bexley. I discovered them last September and made many visits for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to appease my Friday night addiction to canning tomatoes. They have an extensive pumpkin patch. Call 833-1932 for more information.

c. Jacquenmin Farm, (between Plain City and Dublin), $1.8/pound. I visited here last May with my niece and it is very quaint and very close to Dublin and Sports Ohio. Call 873-5725 for more information.

d. Doran Farms, 5462 Babbitt Rd. New Albany, $1.6/pound. I've never been there, but have heard good things about it. Call 855-3885 for more information.

e. Kroger’s weekly special: This week strawberries are on sale for $1.5/pound. Who knows where and when they were picked;) Usually, strawberries sell for a minimum of $2.50/pound.

f. Circle S Farm, 9015 London-Groveport Rd west of Grove City. $1.3/pound. I went here a few years ago with my niece and it’s a nice, large farm, but is way, way out in the country. However, they also sell a lot of strawberries and other items in Farmers Markets and don’t always have strawberries available for U-pick (like yesterday). They tell me strawberry picking season will run through Father’s Day. Call 878-9462 for more information.

Wherever you go, the strawberries are so plentiful that you're likely to spend more time driving than picking. It will take no more than one hour to pick close to 15 pounds.