Happy Christmas SNH’ers,
It has been a pretty crazy couple of weeks, thus my lack of posting. Let’s run down the list:
* I suffered a severe back injury that laid me up for several days and had to go to the emergency room!
* Little SNH’ers got sick before the Christmas holiday.
* Christmas school events were attended.
* Santa’s lap was attended by the youngest SNH lady.
* Lots of good home cooking was done – chili information below.
* Cabbage ended up getting a leaf miner and will likely die out completely unless it is treated and tended.
* Grow bag seems to have 2x growth versus standard plastic planters.
* I had an injury to my foot, rather, an attack of psuedogout. It swelled my right foot to double the standard size and needed some quick treatment. I am currently on the mend, but will likely take about 5 days to be really walk-able again per the fine staff at the walk in clinic.
The Garden has had some interesting items happen to it. First, Little SNH’er #2 planted a cabbage for a school scholarship progress. The winner was to submit the cabbage for a chance at a $1000 scholarship. Unfortunately, it has secumbed to leaf miner and the growth is very slow. Likely not a winner. Here is a picture of the leafy pathways it has made through the plant:
I have battled with leaf miners before when living in Florida about 15 years ago. They can be treated effectively with organic solutions, but can damage plants to a point that they cannot recover. With my foot being out of commission, it may have gone too long. I plan to get some this weekend to try.
The grow bag with the turnips are outgrowing the plastic bins with Parris Island Romain and Beets. I think the water regulation (soil drainage) of the grow bags is far superior to that of the plastic bins producing a better environment for soil consistency in a container garden. I removed the water retainer in the beets to allow more water to flow out of the container in hopes it will regulate better. I have never done will with beets.
It really is time to get my metered gardening solution up and running. I have 1 more major component to order, a vegetronix VH400 meter (https://www.vegetronix.com/Products/VH400/). It is in my scientific and engineering opinion, the best option for long term soil metering. It uses TDR to read moisture vs corrosive annodes as are most of the low cost solutions. TDR ignores the salt content (a big issue in coastal Florida where I am at) as well as maintains a long lifespan sitting in the soil.
I made a great chili and seem to be honing in on a style that I really like. I apologize, but I put beans in mine. Here goes the latest version:
- 1 lb micro cubed steak
- 2 serrano peppers, finely chopped
- 2 jalapenos finely chopped
- 1 poblano finely chopped
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 white onion finely chopped
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 can of red kidney beans
- 1-4 cups water depending on how soupy you like.
- Saute the onions, peppers and cubed beef together until brown and creating a lovely “spicy” scent through the house.
- Add your favorite chili spices. With this recipe, the peppers do a pretty good job, but some paprika, 2 tbsp of generic chili powder, 2 tbs salt work well.
- Add in your tomato sauce and beans and simmer on low for about 2 hrs.
- Serve with sour cream and cornbread.
Have a blessed Christmas, praise Jesus.
Mr. SNH.