Spring Harvest

The garden plot had a nice long winter sleep.  In February, we tilled up the earth and planted our spring harvest plants: peas, turnips, garlic, and green onions.  After many months of waiting, and carefully covering them each time the frost threatened, our peas are finally ready to harvest.  

This morning I stayed in bed hours longer than I normally do.  I am usually up well before the sun, but the temperature was just right for sleeping in and the sound of gentle rain lulled me back to dreaming. 

But, there are animals to feed, as the rooster reminded me, so I rolled out of bed, gave a good stretch and went out to take care of my morning chores.  I don't mind morning chores, in fact I really enjoy saying good morning to everyone, and while I can't exactly tell if they're happy to see me or just happy to see me carrying food for them, I'd like to think it's equal parts both.  

I'm planning a very special meal today as part of a celebration of spring and our first gathering from the garden.  On the menu for today is Ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and cheese and topped with sauteed onions, fresh spinach and peas (still in the shell, so crunchy and sweet!) and some grilled chicken for our meat eaters, with a nice Moscato wine to drink.  

Restrictions have let up (just when I'd given up hope and cut my own bangs/fringe and very badly I might add), so I'm having my parents over today to join us and they have promised to bring fresh strawberries from their garden for dessert.  What better way to celebrate the spring than with the people I love most, my family.

Our turnips have yielded abundantly to the point they have no room to grow, so I'm picking a few of those today too.  I'll par boil these and then put them in a nice Japanese curry for dinner tonight.  I might even try to sauteé a few of the greens to add to our ravioli for lunch.

All these months of tilling, planting, fertilizing, and covering the plants from the frost have not exactly been something I would call enjoyable.  It's been work, but work in the best sense because it has been meaningful and now has yielded not only fresh, healthy food for my family, but being in the garden has become my happy place.  And I have no intention of stopping with the spring.  

I'm planting these sprouted tomato seeds today.  If I put them in the compost, they should sprout nicely and be ready to go into the garden in no time at all.  If there is one thing I have to have each summer, it's homegrown tomatoes.  I can hardly wait!  And it just wouldn't be spring without some fresh peas from the garden, still wet with rain.

Where ever you are in the world, and regardless of whether or not you have your own garden, I hope you'll join me in setting aside some time to prepare a wonderful meal of fresh veggies, raise a glass and toast the ones you love in this season of new life.

Shopping Info: Summery Sense Blue Stripe Cami Dress from ChicWish, veggies provided by nature