From My Home to Yours: 4/4/25

 From My Home to Yours

4/4/25

~  Spring may have just officially sprung, but it's time to plant the summer garden here ~

For our hot and humid area, timing is crucial if we want any kind of harvest from our garden hence, we have to get our summer garden planted in April or else the heat will destroy it before it's ready for harvest.

But, before we talk about the summer garden, let's enjoy a bit of spring beauty ...

... look at those iris's ... aren't they beautiful!  I get to enjoy this sight every single day!

And take a look at this azalea bush!  It's not fully bloomed out yet but will be soon.  This beauty is not on our property, but we do get to enjoy the sight every time we leave or come back home.

In the garden, this raised bed has both cabbage and broccoli planted in it along with some marigolds.  I covered or set up cages on the plants along the outer edges to protect them from critters that like to have a snack at my expense ... if you know what I mean!  Those wire baskets were purchased at a local $1 store several years ago.  They fit nicely over small plants while letting the sun and rain through and provide protection at the same time.  It's not pretty, but it's definitely functional!

The area under this apple tree is impossible to mow because the tree leans.  I decided this year to plant some herbs under it for pollination purposes and to eliminate the mowing issue.   I planted calendula, sage and marigold.  The calendula and sage will be used in home remedies, teas and salves.  The calendula is a great pollinator as well!  (All the plants were grown using the plastic jug method.)

(We are still watching every penny as we continue to pay off medical bills.  Not having to purchase plants for our garden has been a big savings and what we call a win-win situation.  It's not only saving us money, but I learned a new skill in the process!)

And here we go, the first planting of tomatoes for 2025 and the beginning of our summer garden planting.  These are a sweet cherry variety, 3 plantings to a 25-gallon container.  After planting the tomato plants, I went back and planted a marigold in the center of each container for pest control and better pollination purposes.  Both the tomato and marigold plants were grown using the plastic jug method.

Back in the kitchen I continued working on the box of lemons we purchased last week.  Pictured here are 5 pint jars of lemon, ginger honey that are fermenting along with the remaining lemons left to be preserved.  As soon as they're finished fermenting, I plan to use the end product to help with colds, sore throat, allergies, etc.

I dehydrated a gallon jar of lemon slices that will be powdered as needed.  (I finished filling the jar after this picture was taken.)

I harvested this bunch of curly mustard from the garden and turned it into powder for my greens powder jar.  Other things I dry, powder and add to my greens powder jar are cabbage leaves, nettles, carrot tops, beet tops, green onions, collards, etc.  My greens powder jar is a rotating kind of ongoing project ... greens powder out when used ... greens powder in to refill!

In my sewing nook, I'm still working on creating the bags for an upcoming event.  The sewing is done, and now I'm working on putting together the finished product.  This is a sneak peek of one of the versions, there's another one I'll share later in a complete post over on my sewing blog along with details about the event ... and what's in each bag.  I am so excited about this event; I will be teaching a class to teen girls along with creating a scavenger hunt for the entire event.  Yes, I am busy and yes, I love it!

I hope you've found something in my ramblings this week that will help and or encourage you in the upcoming week.

Until the next time ...

mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27 

You might be interested in my other blogs ...

Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine 

From This Heart of Mine