Harvest journal: days of pickles and beer

We cycle through hot and humid to sudden and spectacular storms this time of year.

We make “3 day pickles” which often take 5 days to ferment. The cucumbers went from no cucumbers to a gallon’s worth a day. Michael packs the cucumbers in with fresh dill, garlic cloves, a tea bag and grape leaves. Water and salt on top. Leave in a warm place, lid loose enough to allow gas to escape. The recipe is from Michael’s Aunt Halyna, who immigrated from Ukraine. We do not can them but save them in the “overflow” refrigerator. They turn out crisp and delicious. We go through a lot of pickles in this household! They go well with a beer on the deck after a long, sweaty day.

Storms have been coming in from the northwest*. I braved rushing out right before the rain to grab the few ripe cherry tomatoes. The fruit will split if it ripens and then it rains. I kept thinking how ridiculous it would be to die of a lightning strike in the tomato patch. At least I’d die happy!

*2.1” from this last one.

The warmth and wet have encouraged the watermelons to grow. They are creeping out of their enclosure and taking over the deck yard.

Rabbit’s foot clover, evening primrose, thistles, wild cucumber, butterfly milkweed and common milkweed. The flowers of late summer.

So good to watch small ones grow!