Author Archive: My Kitchen Wand

Tomorrow is almost here! and it will be Leave some zucchini on your neighbour’s porch day! Anyone with a garden knows the feeling. It can be a little like the face on Edward Munch’s picture, The Scream at this time of the year. What do I do with it all!!!!!!! Now it doesn’t actually say […]

Years ago, it was suggested to me that there were two kinds of cooks. One variety finds a recipe, goes shopping for the ingredients and prepares the dish. The second opens the cupboards, looks at what is available and then gets to work. I would generally put myself in the second category unless I am […]

Friday, August 8th is a very important day according to Wellcat.com. It is SNEAK SOME ZUCCHINI ONTO YOUR NEIGHBORS PORCH DAY! a day all gardeners look forward to with relish…uuummm zucchini relish! Zucchini or courgettes as it is known in other parts of the world, are a summer squash, only 21 calories per cup, an […]

This is going to be a very quick post as I am still nurturing my pinched nerves and attempting not to get caught at the computer. Since standing is a much better position, I have been having adventures in the kitchen. At this time of the the year, there is sooooo much fresh produce available. […]

As the summer progresses, herbs ripen, flowers bloom and the question becomes what do I do with it all? For the most part,  I would say enjoy what Gaia offers; walk the earth, appreciate the colours, breath in the aromas and enjoy the season in gratitude. A portion of the bounty can however be collected […]

As the wheel turns towards Lammas, the Earth comes into Her fullness and harvesting becomes the next natural step. How to hold the fresh tasty flavours of the garden for those times when the days are not so long and warm? There are a variety of ways to preserve herbs. They can be dried, crumbled […]

One of the realities of gardening while cohabiting with the local fauna is that things do not always go as planned. Jean had a freshly sprouted planter full of basil on the back porch about two inches high. Earlier this week I received an email saying that every last plant had been eaten overnight. The […]

As the days begin to grow slowly shorter, harvesting picks up and all the good things that have been growing in the garden can be collected, combined and used in the creation of balms, ointments, jams, vinegars and all sorts of other good things. This afternoon a little fun was had on the back patio […]

This post is by way of encouragement for those of you that have been reading and wondering what might be possible on a smaller scale than the almost five acres of Jean’s Garden. If home for you is a condominium or apartment, do not loose heart. There is always the option of container gardening. Jean […]

Three days to summer solstice and then slowly, or not, the wheel will turn towards harvest time and winter again. For now though we can enjoy the summer beauty and enticing scents of all the flora working hard to outshine the competition and attract the local pollinaters. Jean’s garden is full of all kinds of […]