Despite everything that’s been going on, I’m trying to find little ways to continue to appreciate and mark the season with and for my children. Our harvest this year has been a sad one and I’m working on the assumption that will be plowing under the tomatoes (our last significant crop) any day now. Late Blight has already destroyed the entire potato and tomato crop at our CSA and it’s rapidly spreading through our town. As those of you in New England probably already know, local, organic tomatoes are going to be a great rarity this year. But as I said in my last gardening post at least there are still flowers!
And I do love to grow my sweet and cheery calendula! One night last week, while dinner was in the oven, Galen and I went out and harvested a bunch of flower tops from both his garden and mine. They are steeping in almond oil on my window sill now (with a bit of lavender added in for good measure), soaking up a bit more sunshine, the oil growing more and more golden all the time.
This summer (if you can call it that) has been shockingly low on vitamin D and I’m thinking that a little bottled sunshine might come in handy this winter, for massages and boo-boos and just breathing in the sweet smell of summer during the dark days of winter.
My garden has been poor this year as well. Summer was long in coming and has been very dry and cool. We got some rain last month and now the mosquitoes are unbearable. I have tomatoes on the vine but they are green. Not even a cherry tomatoe has a hint of orange on it. So disappointing.
My, our households have so many similarities! The other I just bottled up some calendula and oil (we use olive, DH is allergic to almonds)- and put lavender in it too! We are huge on calendula around here, with so many skin allergies.
We also make a salve with our calendula oil- have you done that?
Our CSA also lost their entire tomato crop, and peppers too. So far the potatoes seem okay. We also have late blight in our garden.
Just wanted to let you know that I've passed along the Kreativ Blogger Award to you. There is such beauty and strength in your posts and I've enjoyed being able to follow you on your journey.
Alisha
I hear you on the late blight concerns!! We've got it in our county, but so far not in our garden. I'm going to try one of the OMRI approved preventative sprays to see if I can keep it out of our tomato beds this year. Another option I'd like to try is compost tea which in some of the places I've read was another option (and the least worrisome). I'd really hate to lose the plants – there are so many fruits on the vine!
Love the calendula oil. I've been drying my flowers, but I should do a solar infusion with some olive oil. Thanks for the reminder!
Our calendula is blooming in abundance as well. I'm glad you are able to find ways to brighten your days. I have a great old-fashioned book recommendation for you.. The Five Little Peppers by Margaret Sidney. My favorite when I was little, read it this summer with my girls, it would be great for you to read with your little ones.
I'm sure that wherever you end up you will create a beautiful home full of love for your family. Wishing you much health and happiness!