Garden Work Party

The garden shed at Hazel Dell Community Garden.

Yesterday, we finished cleaning up the native plant bed at the Hazel Dell Garden.  We had a work party with student volunteers from Clark College and The Boys and Girls Club.  This bed took two work parties to complete.  Student volunteers are vital to making the garden a success.  Thank you volunteers for all that you do!

The native plant bed is all tucked in for the next couple of years.

I’m delighted that the native bed is all set except for one thing.  The irrigation system is broken and I’m concerned that a rogue shovel stab (possibly mine) took it out.  Bobbi has been watering the beds everyday this week with a hose during our hot July weather in May to keep the new seedlings alive. 

A square foot garden

The work parties are fun and it’s satisfying to knock out the various projects with the hard working volunteers.  I’ve decided is all I need is a Clark College student work party in my yard and then I’d be all set for the summer.  Yesterday, when I pointed out the pea plants growing on the trellises, a second grade student innocently asked, “What are peas?”

In surprise I asked her, “You’ve never eaten peas?”

“No, what are they?”

A fellow second grader firmly replied, “Peas are those bald green things that they make you eat.”

The garden is growing.

I turned away and swallowed my laughter.  In that moment, I wished that there had been a snow pea hanging off of the vine for her to sample.  And never has the importance of school and community vegetable gardens been so clear to me. 

It wasn't too long ago that the beds were being prepared by volunteers.

Paint Brush Migration

As we cleaned up after lunch today, My Pirate turned to me and asked, "I wonder if we're the only ones that store our paint brushes in the dish rack?"

I looked across the sink and thought, hmm...are we?  Or do you also find your paint brushes wandering into your kitchen to be washed and then sticking around for awhile?

I just moved the paint brushes back to their official home in the garage, marked by a piece of tape scrawled with the words PAINT BRUSHES in green sharpie. But, they will migrate back to the kitchen with the next paint project.  I just know it.

Morel Mushroom Hunting

On Saturday, we packed up the pooches and went on a gloriously sunny road trip to Klickitat, Washington to go morel mushroom hunting on our friend's property.  Morel mushrooms are culinary treasure and they aren't cheap.  I discovered why after hiking around looking for them; they are difficult to spot on the forest floor.

Can you see the two morel mushrooms?

The morel mushrooms are definitely worth the hunt because they taste rich and earthy with a delicate nut like flavor. In short, sublime.  This was my first time finding morel mushrooms and I felt lucky to have a friend help show me the ropes.  We cut them off the ground with a gold pocket knife, so they will produce again next year.  The Assistant and Barnaby ran around us enjoying their freedom, the beautiful day, and the occasional pellet of deer scat.

My Pirate found the largest morel mushroom of the hunt.  Nice job!

We brought home four ounces of morel mushrooms and I felt rich and happy.  I wanted to extend the pleasure of fresh morel mushrooms through the next six months, so I made a compound morel herb butter and placed it in the freezer. This is another one of my favorite secret ingredients and recipes.  I add slices of morel herb butter to resting steaks, grilled chicken, crostini, pasta, rice and even under the skin of a roasted turkey.  I keep it on hand and use it whenever inspiration strikes. You really need to try this.  Now, you may not want to splurge on morels, but you can substitute your favorite mushrooms, or even on a small black truffle.  

Morel Herb Butter

by Laura Heldreth

2 ounces of morel mushrooms, washed and minced--or substitute your favorite mushrooms

1 stick of good unsalted butter

1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed

1 sprig of thyme

5 sprigs of parsley, minced--or as much as you like

one pinch of salt 

tiny pinch of red cayenne

pepper

squeeze of lemon juice

Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat with a smashed garlic clove in it and then add the mushrooms and sprig of thyme. Add the salt, red cayenne, and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes or until the morels are tender.  Mine took three minutes.  Remove from the heat.  Stir in the parsley and finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  I prefer my compound butter to border on too salty. 

Pour the butter mixture into a bowl and refrigerate until it stiffens up a bit.  Then tear off a piece of parchment paper, spoon the butter mixture on it, and press it into a roll.  Then freeze.  Later, wrap the parchment wrapped butter in plastic wrap and foil or in a freezer container.  Cut slices off it as you need it.  Common wisdom says to use it up in 3 months, but I have kept it up to 6 months if I successfully hide it from My Pirate.  (A spinach bag in the freezer makes great camouflage for treasures like morel herb butter.)

Sharing Beauty and the Poetry Post Poem of the Week

Our new poetry post has been an interesting experiment, thus far.  People pull up in their cars and run to the post expecting to see a For Sale flier for our house.  Nope.  Others, shake their head at the same old poem still sitting there.  Hey, I have Puppy Brain and I fell behind...OK?  Geez.  Then there are those who take a poem with them and that is the magical part of this garden feature.  Along with the beauty of my plants, I'm sharing words strung together like beautiful jewels on a necklace.  I'm sharing beauty.  And isn't that what growing a garden is all about?

A Noiseless Patient Spider

A noiseless, patient spider

I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;

Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,

It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;

Ever unreeling them—ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my Soul, where you stand,

Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,

Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing--seeking the spheres, to connect them;

Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold; 

Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

Walt Whitman

Dog Spit in My Coffee

When we brought Barnaby home from the vet’s, I told The Assistant that I got a puppy for her.  Well, after a touch of trepidation and much sniffing, she has taken that to heart.  She has taken Barnaby to heart and they are tight pals.  Our daily schedule has shifted to incorporate Barnaby’s needs and they both eat, play, and nap together.

Don't bother me!  I'm chewing on a pinecone.

Along the way, The Assistant has been teaching him some life lessons like how to lie in the grass on a sunny afternoon and chew on a stick or a pinecone.  And Barnaby has taught The Assistant how to rough house and play.  We purchased a food ball for Barnaby and it’s The Assistant that’s playing with it right now.  Barnaby is bringing out The Assistant’s inner puppy.

I knew that things were going well last weekend when I caught The Assistant in the act of demonstrating how to steal coffee from Charlie’s coffee cup.  She tipped the cup with her paw and pulled back as Barnaby plunged his face in the cream and sugar laden cup and tipped it over in his enthusiasm.  I lunged for the cup while exclaiming my displeasure.  I ran for paper towels and by the time I returned, every sip of the coffee was gone.  Which made me wonder, how long has The Assistant been stealing sips of our coffee?