Also From Picfair Village

Scarlet Nantes

It's been a really good year for carrots (of the scarlet Nantes variety) in our small garden. We planted seeds in late September, and have been harvesting since January. It's now late March and we still have a handful left. We'll be missing them soon.

Strawberry Picking

This is two years old; and I just realized I never posted before.

Look Out, Instagram

I just discovered Lightroom presets. Forgive me.
This is the very first photo I've taken with my brand-new Canon G15, which I am liking a whole lot.

Sad Garden

I usually try to show garden triumphs here, but for a bit of a change—maybe even a touch of honesty—here's the current state of affairs. Work has been busy. So too everything else. The garden is neglected, mostly dead. But by my count fall—our favorite garden season here in Picfair Village—is a mere 19 days away. Let the preparations begin.

I Dislike Nature Photography More Than You Do,

but when we grow it, we photograph it. If my calculations are correct—and there's no reason to assume they are—this Russian mammoth sunflower is from the fourth generation of saved seeds here at our Picfair Village compound.

LA Green Grounds (dot org)

They do amazing work. I hope you'll follow the link and read up about them. I shot a time-lapse of one of their garden Dig-Ins. Watch it here.

Artichoke Number One

Artichoke is my new favorite backyard crop. Pictured here is the first we ever grew.

Backyard Economics

Kitchen gardens usually don't make economic sense. That's been my experience, at least. I put more money into mine than I save by growing my own food. Still worthwhile, of course, but don't get into it to save money. The exception: salad greens. And, as with most vegetables you can grow at home, the quality of homegrown is dramatically better than anything Whole Foods or your local farmer's market has to offer.

Emerging Pea Pod

First Turnip(s)

Brocolli Rabe Harvest

Garden Helper

Well, almost.

Summer Garden

Our summer garden isn't in great shape, but one cherry tomato plant doesn't know that.

The Moment Before the Moment

This Russian mammoth was grown from a seed we saved from a Russian mammoth that was grown from a seed we saved.

Kale Chips

This is what it looked like moments after we harvested it and before we roasted it.

Low-Maintenance Veggies

Friends gave us radish seeds, we planted them, and now we have radishes. Veggies that aren't easily botched are the kind of veggies we like to grow here, and so radishes are now part of the regular rotation.

Recipe suggestions are hereby welcomed.

The Carrot Seed

By Ruth Krauss and Crocket Johnson is a must-read.

Otra Vez

It's been a bit repetitive here lately, but that's because the garden's been supplying some good material. Hope you don't mind.

Root Down

Our modest garden has offered up some satisfying root vegetables lately. These beets were roasted and enjoyed on Thanksgiving, and we've also had a decent carrot harvest this winter.