The PURE Gardener, Inc.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

India & Mexican Gherkin Cucumbers- The end of our Cucumber Crop!

My daughter is holding some Mexican Gherkins next to a yellow pear tomato to show how small they are.

This is an India Gherkin cucumber. They have a very mild delicious taste.

A Pretty Plate of Cucumbers.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Happy Halloween- A Few Photos From Our Front Yard- Just For Fun!

Beans, Beans, Beans

This is the last of our 2008 bean harvest. My daughter, Emily, is holding a variety of beans that we grew and enjoyed this year. Very easy to grow and take up very little space since they grow vertical. We enjoyed them fresh and dried! All varieties are either from Seed Savers Exchange or Italy.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Garlic & Onions Are In!

One of the Entrances to Our Garden- Taken a few Years ago

Craig and I were unable to get our garlic in last Fall because of our busy schedule and boy was I heart broken! Therefore, I had no garlic to sell this Fall or enjoy on our own family table. This year we reordered organic garlic from Seed Savers Exchange again and are happy to be able to get it and a lot of onions planted! Once you grow your own garlic and onions - like tomatoes- you will wonder how you ever did with out them and what those imposters are that they sell at the grocery store!Below are the varieties that we have planted this time around.
I prefer to plant on or around October 15th. We spread a good amount of dried blood around the garlic and onions- they thrive on it! Then cover them with about 6 inches of straw.

Print or read Seed Saver's Planting Guide here .

Russian Giant
Pleasantly mild flavor, large cloves are easy to peel. Consistantly one of the largest garlics we grow at The PURE Gardener, both the plants and bulbs. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb. CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Shvelisi ( Chesnok Red ) Garlic
Originates from the village of Shvelisi, Republic of Georgia. Nicely colored bulbs peel easily. Good lingering taste, retains flavor well when cooked. Rated as one of the very best for baking or roasting. Stores well. Hardneck, 8-12 cloves per bulb. CERTIFIED ORGANIC

German Extra Hardy
Vigorous grower with long roots that enable it to overwinter without heaving out of the ground. Outside skin is ivory-white, clove skin is dark red. Strong raw flavor, high sugar content, one of the very best for roasting. Good keeper. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb. SUSTAINABLY GROWN: without the use of pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.

Elephant Garlic
Not a true garlic, but actually in the leek family. Huge cloves, and much milder than regular garlic. Bulbs have potential to grow 3-5" in diameter and up to one pound, dry weight under ideal conditions. Bulbs average 4-5 cloves. CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Red Wethersfield Onion
Great to plant in the fall for young green onions and over winter for Spring!

White Ebenezer Onion

Another good onion for Fall planting. Excellent for young green onions and to over winter- good to -30 degrees!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Last Sicilian Snake Zucchinis of the 2008 Season

Baby Snakes

I will need to measure this guy- he is big!

This guy is crawling along the ground

Fall Vegetable Garden 2008

Our Rooster & Hen Rockers to sit, drink coffee and relax while we watch the veggies grow in the AM.

A Bed of Onions Yet to Sprout!

Pok Choi, Last of our Beets that are ready to harvest and onions.
Slugs are eating our Pok Choi so we are in need of Sluggo!

Organically Grown Pok Choi, Romain Lettuce, Butter Crunch Lettuce, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, and Onions

Last Eggplant Harvest for this year- 2008

Corn Maze on a Full Moon at Night

Me in the green coat and Emily in the blue coat.
It was quite dark and hard to see. Marshall lit up the paths with the camera flash.

We went to the world's largest corn maze (Richardson's Farm) last night and Marshall took a few photos. Last time we went we had a great time. This year we arrived after 8:30 PM and ran into a rowdy crowd inside the maze- corn throwing, cursing and bear bottles in hand. Then, we waited almost an hour for kettle corn, after we paid. They didn't have enough staff. We won't return. But, the full moon was beautiful and glowed over the maze which made for a pretty view.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Handmade Halloween Buckets Filled with Candy & Candy Dishes by Artist Candice Smith

Artist Candice Smith makes wonderful miniatures and paper mache' pieces of art that are just fabulous. I couldn't help but carry some of her Halloween pieces. She takes baby formula cans and paper mache's over them & hand paints them and they are unique one-of-a-kind art pieces that will last years to come! Below is a cat candy container that is completely shaped by hand. The attention to details is fabulous!
Candice Smith collects baby formula cans from Tomorrow's Hope Pregnancy Center in TN. and donates to them .25 for every small & .50 for every large can collected.