Phaedra's Adventure

[Phaedra]

Kind of dream comes true! A small jar of wild strawberry jam!

Remember that I divided a huge clump of wild strawberry plant into something like 15 plants? I transplanted them in one small raised bed (80*60cm) that was filled with homemade compost before the weather warmed up this spring. And, look at them! They are bearing a lot of fruits, and some of them are XXXXL size wild strawberries.

I already harvested some earlier and make the jam with another variety of strawberry. This morning, I just picked a lot again and made a pure wild strawberry jam. And then, I cut back most of the leaves (too dense, and the ventilation will be a problem soon) and gave them feed for a rest.

ProCut Red

My 'office' yesterday morning~

Wow, the wheat (from the bio-diversity seed package) look awesome!

 

[Dahlia]

Kind of dream comes true! A small jar of wild strawberry jam!
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Remember that I divided a huge clump of wild strawberry plant into something like 15 plants? I transplanted them in one small raised bed (80*60cm) that was filled with homemade compost before the weather warmed up this spring. And, look at them! They are bearing a lot of fruits, and some of them are XXXXL size wild strawberries.
View attachment 67419

I already harvested some earlier and make the jam with another variety of strawberry. This morning, I just picked a lot again and made a pure wild strawberry jam. And then, I cut back most of the leaves (too dense, and the ventilation will be a problem soon) and gave them feed for a rest.

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ProCut Red
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My 'office' yesterday morning~
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Wow, the wheat (from the bio-diversity seed package) look awesome!
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That wild strawberry jam looks amazing! Last summer I made wild salal jam. It tastes just like blackberry jam without the seeds! It was fabulous! I plan to make it again later this month when the berries are ready.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

@Phaedra very impressive pics and the wizardry you style for your cafe is amazing. Beautiful variety of flowers.

 

[baymule]

I’m so glad your cafe is doing so well. You have such creative talent and you get to share with others with your amazing food and bouquets of beautiful flowers. You inspire me!

 

[Phaedra]

Oh, I didn't make a post for such a long time?

Things are going fine, I just didn't have time to take a lot of photo every day in the garden. But the beauty is, while you were busy, plants just kept growing. We still have the critter issues, so a lot of potatoes are gone. Well, no time for doing anything about it. Maybe just wait, until the eco-system finds its own balance.

The rest is still very much abundant - I don't harvest a lot once, instead, just pick what we want to eat in a few days. We had a comparatively dry and hot weather for two weeks, however, the temperature will drop a lot from now on, and the rain is coming back....

It seems old-story, I give up to keep everything tidy after mid-July. Why bother? It's also fun to find food in different kinds of 'jungle' The only concern is, whatever you trim and cut back can quickly report to the compost heaps and turn into something more helpful later.

Not even mention that now my cafe keeps me busy, like a full time (and need some overtime) job.

This year's success includes peppers, okras, chilis, and zucchinis. Two varieties of sweet corn also look pretty promising.

I didn't have time to do summer sowing, so there won't be much to expect this autumn or winter. However, some perennials are doing very nice this year, I can see how well they established earlier.

Another lesson I've learned from my cafe journey - it's pretty like gardening. Some customers are like perennials, some are annuals, some are in-between. It's never a yes or no choice - diversification is good for a healthy and happy garden. It's totally the same for running a neighborhood cafe.

I plan to take a few more days off in October and do the cleaning works, how about you?

 

[Dahlia]

Oh, I didn't make a post for such a long time?

Things are going fine, I just didn't have time to take a lot of photo every day in the garden. But the beauty is, while you were busy, plants just kept growing. We still have the critter issues, so a lot of potatoes are gone. Well, no time for doing anything about it. Maybe just wait, until the eco-system finds its own balance.

The rest is still very much abundant - I don't harvest a lot once, instead, just pick what we want to eat in a few days. We had a comparatively dry and hot weather for two weeks, however, the temperature will drop a lot from now on, and the rain is coming back....
View attachment 68451

It seems old-story, I give up to keep everything tidy after mid-July. Why bother? It's also fun to find food in different kinds of 'jungle' The only concern is, whatever you trim and cut back can quickly report to the compost heaps and turn into something more helpful later.

Not even mention that now my cafe keeps me busy, like a full time (and need some overtime) job.
View attachment 68452

This year's success includes peppers, okras, chilis, and zucchinis. Two varieties of sweet corn also look pretty promising.
View attachment 68453


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I didn't have time to do summer sowing, so there won't be much to expect this autumn or winter. However, some perennials are doing very nice this year, I can see how well they established earlier.

Another lesson I've learned from my cafe journey - it's pretty like gardening. Some customers are like perennials, some are annuals, some are in-between. It's never a yes or no choice - diversification is good for a healthy and happy garden.

View attachment 68455

I plan to take a few more days off in October and do the cleaning works, how about you?

I love the cheery cherry tomato pic you shared! Congrats on your shop being such a success! I would love to stop in if I lived nearby!

 

[Phaedra]

From October, I took Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday as off-days for the cafe, so finally, I have much more time to go back and dive into the garden. As the summer this year is pretty rainy, most of the plants grow wonderfully. Several dahlias are pretty domesticated and need very low maintenance. All I have to do is keep cutting the flowers.

The weather today is charming, so I worked in the morning and afternoon to clean things up. The aster is at its prime now.

No need to think about what to cook or bake, so good!

I'm reading the 'Finding Freedom in the Lost Kitchen' - Well, I didn't know 'Freedom' is in fact a place, her hometown in Maine. But it's a word with multiple meanings, I believe.

I read the chapters she described how her father owned and worked in a diner. To be honest, it's a little bit scary. Maybe it's the same for all kinds of work - unless you keep yourself aware, work (or a job) consumes you, just the matter of time.

In the past four months, I spent much more time in running this small corner cafe than I've ever imagined. And, it's a good thing that now is autumn, I can finally slow down and think about it.

Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy running the shop very much. Without the shop, DH and I won't get to know so many lovely people from the surroundings. I do feel that I am rooting here - it's a feeling that never happened before. I just don't need any kind of full-time job, instead, only a more balanced combination can result in a win-win for me, my family, and my community. I need time for gardening and reading, and reducing opening days helps.

Live and learn - a good daily practice

Two fruity tarts with almond cream - plum and banana / yellow peach - such tarts are perfect treats - you can enjoy them cold or warm, different delights.

 

[ducks4you]

Just more luscious food to love and your Terrific photos!

 

[flowerbug]

From October, I took Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday as off-days for the cafe, so finally, I have much more time to go back and dive into the garden. [...]

happy to have you writing and posting pictures again, even if only here or there. exhausted and happy?