Monday, July 26, 2010

Summer ~ Full Moon in the Garden

Been busy keeping up with all the new developments in the garden. My beet seeds were harvested, winnowed, and are now drying for storage. I cut all the carrot seed heads today. They are all curled up, with their prickly coverings. I had no idea when carrot seeds would be ready. I had to look it up online, only to discover that commercially prepared carrot seeds are processed to remove all remnants of the prickly hairs covering carrot seeds.
Now...I wondered why? I think it is to ease their planting in commercial carrot grower's fields, perhaps because of the seed planting equipment? Adulterated seeds? A carrot seed circumcision? I really like being able to recognize a seed, and to know that it has not been sprayed with an enhancer or a inhibitor....don't you?
A friend had passed an email on to me today indicating that MSG, the flavour enhancer, has begun to be sprayed on more crops. If you have an allergic reaction to MSG, which is a known migraine instigator for many people, shouldn't this be labelled on the foods, along with all the other additives? At least we could make an informed decision whether or not to buy it. This is, of course, the corporate market laissez-faire approach, buyer beware!

So, as I've begun to harvest from the garden, I am documenting exactly how much I do indeed bring in through the back door. Yellow zucchini, green and baseball zucchini, peas, lettuce, beans, spinach, parsley, oregano, chives, and green onions have all been enjoyed for dinner.

And to please the garden gods, I have been offering some classical music, mostly Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The monarch butterflies sitting on the flowers seem to enjoy it!