Sugar Peas, Drying the Bounty, and Fall Events / Classes

Dear Folks,

Have I mentioned recently how much I love sugar peas? :-)

First Sowing (September 1st) are up - about 2-3 inches high already

I do have a love-affair with this gorgeous and totally edible plant.  From the flower to the growing tip to the delicious peas from young and raw to older and cooked. they are a bonus to your garden soil and table. [This is what I am looking forward to with first flowers and pods coming in late November/early December.]

I successive sow the sugar peas about every 3 or so weeks through February.  A couple of years ago I did a whole blog post on my "Ode to Sugar Peas".  You can read it here.  So what are you waiting for, get sowing!

With the temps still in the "Hot" times I decided it was a good day yesterday to sun dry some of my Mexican Oregano and Conehead Thyme.  It only took about 5 hours from fresh cut to ready to store.  Chose cool, dark, dry containers and pantries to store.

I need to get some other herbs dried while we still have hot days.  85+ degrees, bright and dry-ish work very well, you do not have to wait until it is 100!

Sun drying is a great way to dry bulk vegetables, herbs and fruit, but the heat does remove some of the color and essential oils.

You don't need to wait for a hot day, you can dry in the refrigerator on a rack, paper plate or paper towel.  Our modern refrigerators mimic the "freeze-drying" process of commercial facilities by constantly removing the moisture from the leaves, thus "air drying" without losing color or essential oils.  Leaves dry in 1-3 weeks in the frig depending on the thickness.  Pictured is the rack I am using (I dried these in April this year).  The rack fits nicely on my top shelf in the refrigerator (NOT freezer), out of the way and easy to get to.  I put small-leaved varieties on paper towels to keep from sifting down.


Sharing Some Great Sites below - - -
 
GREAT AMERICAN SEED UP!!!  September 22 & 23, 2017

Get a ticket -- $7.50 -- to the Great American Seed Up where you can purchase seed in bulk, listen to great speakers

"Featured at the Seed-Up will be presentations and workshops with seed experts to spread knowledge about traditional and modern seed saving practices. Discussion topics will include: how to save and store seeds, planting and starting seeds, how to start a seed library, how to properly store your new seeds and how to grow a garden using your new seeds."

The Seed Up is a wonderful event.  I hope you can take advantage of it. 

. . .

Smiling Dog Landscaping in Gold Canyon hosts FREE classes.  Check the list for the classes and dates.  Each class is free but limited to 15 and YOU must register.  Click here for the information.

. . .

Two Sustainable/Permaculture folks newest posts below are links for Geoff Lawton and Lisa Steele (Fresh Eggs Daily).  I get their latest updates in my email and I think they are totally worth following if you are not familiar with either of them.

Geoff Lawton is a permaculture expert who has helped launch desert reclamation projects in many places and one in particular in Jordan is a true inspiration for us desert gardeners. Read up on this and more here.

I have been following Lisa Steele for a couple of years now and I am always so happy to see one of her posts show up in my inbox I just smiled before I even read it.  I have been wanting to get hens again for eggs and just have not made the jump yet.  I used to have hens and a couple of dairy goats - miss them A LOT, so while I am still making up my mind about getting some hens again, I enjoy Lisa's take and inspiration.  She has a new TV series and this link takes you to the current episodes.  FYI my computer is old and I found the Episode 3 out of sync of audio and visual, but you can still get a lot out each show.

I encourage you to subscribe to their sites.  You won't be disappointed.

. . .

And now for something fun and helpful, one of my nieces, Allison, is a very creative gal.  She is a trained pastry chef, but likes other creative avenues as well. Check out her etsy site.

 

Finally, my Lecture coming up October 7, 2017 at Mesa Urban Garden.


Have a great day in the garden and kitchen!


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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