The Eldest's organic garden was his final project for the "official school year". As unschoolers, the unofficial year continues through the summer and we digest our experiences, camps, field trips, vacations, and activities as we would digest and discuss an epic tome by Charles Dickens. In a sense, they are equivalent.
Back to the garden, growing veggies organically is a challenge because it requires you to take the right route (as opposed to the easy route) to solve challenges and issues which arise. The wonderful part is that it allows us to study ecology in action- to learn from experience how every input affects the world around us, how every pesticide destroys more than we intended to destroy. The parallels to modern war are endless. The lessons in persistence and also endless- as are the opportunities to learn from more seasoned gardeners and older, wiser neighbors.
The Eldest used Botanical Interests' Bean Bush Pencil Pod Yellow Heirloom Seeds purchased at Manna Grocery in Tuscaloosa. He planted the bush yellow beans early this spring and by late April or early May, they started to flower. Stunning, delicate white hooded flowers.
Delicious Phaseolus vulgaris
Early this week, he harvested a basket of yellow beans (leaving a few bushes untouched because he is "saving seeds" for next year).
Prophet carefully splits open a yellow bean to see the "peas". She was relieved that the colors lined up.
Gnome declares them delicious.
Tossed in salt, olive oil, parsley, and thyme and then broiled at 400 until soft. The Eldest- who likes to say he doesn't eat vegetables- polished off half the bowl of his own-grown beans.
And then today, after brunch with Bunica and Ratpaw, we harvested another handful. I'm thinking about adding them to a summer stew with squash, dill, carrots, and a dollop of sour cream.
