Does anyone else find that every year there's one star performer that outpaces every other crop? I'm getting better at gauging how much my family consumes and which crops are the most popular, but I still end up with an overabundance of certain vegetables. Just when I think I'll have a bountiful year of broccoli, or I'm hoping my lettuce will be as crunchy and sweet as last season, I end up with gobs of cucumbers instead. It's a reminder that despite all my careful planning, crop rotation, and tending, nature always has the final say.
I tend to remember my gardening seasons by their star performer. Every year, one crop seems to steal the show, and because there's always so much of it, I find myself coming up with creative ways to use it. In 2022, it was dried beans. I'm still working through jars from that harvest four years later. Last summer, however, was the Year of the Cucumber. I was up to my eyeballs in cucumbers, and I didn't want them to go to waste, so I bought an inexpensive juicer. It turned out to be one of my best garden purchases. Fresh cucumber juice is surprisingly delicious, and I later learned it's packed with health benefits, too.
Juicing is also an excellent way to use up a surprising amount of produce. Since our apples begin ripening around this time of year, I started making my favorite combination: apple, carrot, beet, and lemon. I can’t take credit for inventing that combo. I stole it from Howard’s Station Café in Occidental. If you haven’t tried their fresh juices, you’re missing out.
This season, I'm experiencing an overload of greens. My beets are thriving, and I've finally found a great way to use the leaves instead of just the roots. I harvest enough greens to fill a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and freeze them. Each morning, I grab a handful and toss them into a smoothie. It's an easy way to get an extra dose of vitamins and use up those greens without always turning to yet another salad. You can also make your own blend with kale, Swiss chard, collards, broccoli leaves, spinach, or whatever leafy greens happen to be overflowing in your garden.
Now, you must evaluate your own garden. Who is your all-star this year? And more importantly, are you still a fan?
Happy Gardening!