June was the first month that I finally felt like our homestead was back in full swing after being away for a couple years. With Juniper clinging in my arms, we would walk the garden to harvest and tend our little slice of heaven.
Several delicious veggies filled our plates at mealtime including kale, chard, spinach, lettuces, and piles and piles of artichokes.
When Jay would get home from the work, we took family walks to “graze” before dinner on red currants, goumi berries, raspberries and plump strawberries.
I canned about a half dozen jars of raspberry jam and another half dozen of strawberry. Three bags of goumi syrup are packed in the freezer. If this is a sign of things to come, I predict this will be the best harvest year on our homestead yet.
Lots of fruits are on the horizon. The fig tree is PACKED with fruit and we are foaming at the mouth, waiting for late July when those jewels will be ripe for the taking. We dream of fig pizza, fig preserves, roasted figs with blue cheese and honey, and the list goes on…
Asian persimmon flower
The pear tree and hardy kiwi have fruit growing – the first time we’ve seen them bear fruit. Even our Asian persimmon has fruit this year!
At the beginning of the month, Juniper learned how to roll over and we heard her first chuckle. She is now full of smiles and laughs. She continues to be one of the strongest babies I’ve ever seen. It won’t be long til she’s crawling, and then we’re in for it!
Every day the garden grows more and more productive. And everyday feels like another gift, another day in our own urban paradise.
