On the Grill

I have a new obsession that I foresee lasting the entire summer and beyond.  That, my friend, is cooking out with wood.  I don’t know if it’s the fire, the fuel, or the flavor.  Probably it’s a combination of all three.  And with my clone child at my side, showing the same enthusiasm, I know I’m not the only one mesmerized by the magic.

My family has only cooked out over campfires.  Part of this is because we never wanted to spend the money on a grill, charcoal can’t be good for you, and the stereotypical griller at my house is from the north where summer is set at a more humane temperature; why grill out in central Virginia where the cook would also feel fried by the end of the session?

So enter the free grill from a friend who moved, a recent reading of a friend’s blog about cooking with wood, several internet searches to find out what’s what, including these: http://www.bbqdan.com/grilling/wood_for_grilling.html and http://woodforcooking.com/wood-cooking-for-beginners/ and seven oak trees that drop enough fuel for the fire.  Why put this on your garden blog, you ask?  Because it’s about harvesting, learning, and delicious food.

First the harvest:  I learned that oak, cherry, and grapevines are great wood for grilling.  Fortunately, I have all those in abundance.  After garden work this weekend, I spent time finding fallen limbs and kindling.  I brought out my son to help, and taught him how to identify the wood.  I also explained to him why certain woods, like pine, should not be used.  Typically for camping we bring our own wood, so foraging has never been a skill he’s needed. 

ha-WAAAA!

And this is where the learning comes in.  Having a sidekick is great because I have an opportunity to utter what I’m learning aloud for the first time.  Plus, he’s figuring things out and teaching me.  We have a two fire system going – the actual grill fire and the side patio fire pit, which it turns out, is giving us better coals.  He realized that the larger pieces work better in the fire pit, saving us time and flare-ups.  Plus, as an official expert marshmallow roaster (according to Sophie from his class), he knows what kind of coals to look for.  As a side benefit, this kid likes to chop wood.  Clean swipes through thick tree limbs feel pretty good to an 11 year old.



And the taste….having had steaks cooked on a gas grill Friday night at a friend’s to wood grilled chicken at home on Saturday night presented a world of difference.  Even the resident vegetarian noticed an improvement in his veggie burger.  Other delicious fare has included sausage, corn in the husks, pineapple, and of course, marshmallows. Near future plans include lamb burgers over grapevine coals, skewered tomatoes with mushroom, doughboys, and grilled potatoes. Cooking that requires so much prep time seems to demand a quality taste menu.



MMMM!!!!



Oh, and one thing I realized while shooting the smoky breeze with my son – grill time also provides ample opportunities for relaxation and camaraderie.  Something about the fire is primal, and brings about a deep appreciation for the food, the process, and the people who take the time to fix it.  As my son learned, “instant gourmet” is an oxymoron.  Slow cooked savory delights are what it’s all about.



Accept no substitutes....



Taking Time

Everyone’s heard of the teachable moment – the time when we’re primed to truly understand something important, like if you’re drunk friend insists on driving, and you’re stupid enough to get in the car with them, you may end up in a rollover, so don’t do that.

I have found over the years that there’s also the plantable moment.  The time when getting something in the ground has to happen, like, right now.  Last year I learned the hard way that external concerns don’t supersede prime planting time.  As a first year doc student, I had to pass both written and oral preliminary exams that would determine if I could continue in my program.  For the month of April, I pretty much did nothing but schoolwork.  Looking out at my garden, realizing things were falling by the wayside was painful. 

Nature said, “Yea, so what?  I’m not waiting around,” and did its own thing.  I felt myself playing catch up the entire summer.  So this spring semester I decided my full load plus independent research could share time with the garden, and I’m oh so happy for it.  And, believe it or not, the classes and papers got finished and the garden’s on schedule.  Imagine that.

Part of what has struck me this year is that I’m paying more attention.  When I’m at work or focused on writing, that’s what I’m doing, and when I’m in the garden, I don’t think about the schoolwork.  If my kids need help with something, I’m all about that.  It’s not about being in Zen or anything like that, it’s about survival.  I can’t do schoolwork when I’m in the garden, so I have to let it go.  Worrying about it doesn’t help get garden tasks done, and besides, that kind of energy doesn't belong around vibrant growing entities. 

So when I see something like this, it’s time to do something about it.



Oh, so droopy....



Rootbound, would be my guess.



Time to expand...



...and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

No-tato Bugs

This garden miner has Irish roots.  In fact, my mother is full blooded, 100% Irish.  My father was 50%, but in his heart, more like 98%, holding out just a bit for his hasenpfeffer and Wiener schnitzel which he enjoyed a few times a year at his favorite German restaurants.  At home, though, Irish cooking was the norm.  And yes, we had some potatoes.

So when I can grow potatoes, life is good in the garden.  I enjoy feeling close to my roots both figuratively and literally.  And closeness is what the plant needs; it wants you to pay attention.

Central Virginia is doing the Irish thing right now.  We’ve had enough rain and gray skies to help the potato plants stand tall as they shout Erin go Bragh!  And that clamor has called forth some very hungry and prolific potato beetles.  They can wipe out your crop, so if you too are in need, let me help you identify them and show you what to do to keep your plants healthy:



REM would be so proud

 I was going to start with the dreaded beetle, but thought better of that.  Here are some of my plants.  I planted a truckload, it seems, as this is just one small selection of my Pontiac Reds.  You can see they're flowering, which means baby reds, aka "new potatoes" like the little ones you get at the market, are ready for picking.  I grow potatoes in straw:  At planting time I dig a small trench, lay potatoes down about a foot apart, cover with soil and then add a few inches of straw (not hay - you don't want grass seed).  As the greens emerge, keep buttressing the plant with straw.  I will actually be adding more this weekend, so you can go higher than I have here.  Straw has two benefits:  1) it keeps the potatoes in a looser medium which makes harvesting throughout the season easier and 2) the potato beetles have a harder time getting to their luxury destination (the leaves). The walkway is newspaper covered with a thin layer of straw to keep down the weeds, but my Zen Master, (bermuda grass) has crept in, D'oh!

Not the Mr. Stripey I want to see in

the garden

Here he is.  Ugh.  Cool looking, for sure, but you don't want him around.  So what to do when you see this?  Crush him between your fingers (wear gloves cuz the yellow ooze is just gross) or just pop him into a cup of soapy water.  BTW, soapy water is my method of choice for Japanese Beetles. 

Then check the underside of your leaves for the yellow eggs and crush them.  Just smear them right up.  I have recently discovered that as the larvae hatch, they eat their way through to the upper side of the leaf from the spot in which they were born.  Nature is so fascinating when you can put your aggravation at what's happening to your plant aside for a moment.

So you missed some eggs, and you will.  Not to worry, yet.  You can see in my first picture that some of my leaves have holes.  That's because these guys made it through my defense. This is why you need to check your plants regularly.  You're bound to hit the cycle somewhere.  These are quite crushable as well, so have at it.  They disperse quickly, so if you see one, keep looking over the plant and at the neighboring potato plants.  Once while visiting Monticello, I was stunned to see millions of these things on the potato plants in the garden.  A woman passed by and said, "Now that's a different kind of ladybug!"  I said, "Those aren't ladybugs, that's negligence."  On the way home I don't know who was more upset:  Me about the bugs or my youngest upon learning that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves.  It was a long, somber trip home. 

BREAKING NEWS!  Assassin caught
snacking between meals!


Had there been ladybugs on the plants, all would be well.  They're a great benficial to eat the eggs, and my friend the assassin (he's a beetle) goes after the larvae.  So that's another thing to check...who else is hanging around?  If you see parasitic wasps, ladybugs, assassin beetles, and/or spiders, congratulations!  You have just won the prize for providing what your garden needs to attract beneficials.  They're the hired help whose remuneration is good eats that you're happy to share.  Doesn't the assassin look like he got caught in the act on some convenience store camera?  I may have to send this to "Inside Edition."



Buckwheat - so easy to plant, just broadcast seed
EVERYWHERE.  You'll be glad you did.

Lastly, how do you attract beneficials and provide other deterrents?  Plant buckwheat and clover (red or white) near your plants to attract the bugs you want. Nasturtium (which comes from the Latin meaning "to turn the nose") repels potato beetles, as do dill and cilantro, which also happen to taste really good with potatoes - a nice added benefit.  Eggplant is a good trap crop, but the two I planted did such a good job there's nothing left of them, so I'm moving on to a new plan.

 So pay attention, and enjoy!  As you check your plants, take a peek and see if you have some new potatoes coming in.  Who knows? You might just get a few nuggets to enjoy for your time and effort.