Well, I finally couldn’t stand it any longer. Usually I can’t get the parsnips out past the frozen layer of dirt until March, but there they are, so easily pulled even in the “dead” of a very alive winter. So I did it. Stuck my hand down in that cold dirt, pulled a few, and inhaled deeply of the earth and the goodness overwintering in it. Ahhh! Smells like life itself. Can’t say “can’t wait for spring!” ‘cuz it’s here already!

Anybody harvesting anything now? How has this warm winter affected your garden?

You'd be smiling, too, if you were to eat us!

Though cucumbers can be cool and refreshing when bought from the store, sometimes they can be a little waxy or uninteresting.  I decided to try something new.  The Poona Kheera originated in India, and it seems to think it’s a potato!  But looks aren’t everything – it’s very refreshing, and is the best-tasting cucumber we’ve found.

We got the seeds from Seed Savers, and planted them just a few weeks ago.  We put some string in the raised bed garden so the plants could climb easily.  Today we had our first ripe ones, and here they are.  They grow very fast, and pass through several color stages, beginning with bright yellow, and then gets gradually darker.

The cucumber seems alarmed that its counterpart has been sliced up. Oh oh! But I'd be lying if I didn't say, mmmm, yummy with a pinch of salt!

We like them so much that we usually eat them by themselves, but they’d be great in a salad.   And they’re adorable.  We’ll be eating these for a few more weeks!

This is the type of deadly vegetable that gardens produce! If you have seen anything like this, call 1-877-Stop-Deadly-Oak-Park-Vegetables ASAP!

Get this – a woman who put a garden in her yard has run afoul of the law!  Cities often lag well behind positive practices for a variety of reasons.  But Oak Park is impressively clueless, and probably qualifies for some kind of award.

As I understand it, the whole thing stemmed from a neighbor’s complaint.  Of course, in many neighborhoods, the slightest show of individuality is problematic.  That’s the type of suburban neighborhood where I grew up as a kid – vast stretches of boredom and silence.  Oh well, at least it was basically safe.  Individuality upsets people, and lawns take on near-religious status among many, so this isn’t really surprising.  And of course, there’s the concept of upholding the letter of the law with no exceptions for any reason.  Whatever is the case here, the Oak Park government has decided to prosecute her, and bravely, the lady growing the garden is going to court instead of knuckling under.

Take a look at her garden and blog, and see if you think that her garden really is a manifestation of all things evil.  It’s definitely neater than ours.  While you’re there, donate if you feel the urge.  For additional interesting material from an urban gardener, check out this video:  Gardener’s Thoughts on Oak Park case

This rates at least a haiku:

Let’s live in Oak Park
Where they have a great campaign
No More Evil Plants!

And why not a limerick, too?

The Gang of Five Hacks from Oak Park
Were functioning like a dense narc
“We uphold the law”
“No matter how flawed”
“And show how our town jumped the shark!”

Today the garden is offering asparagus and mint. Beautiful, fresh tender mint, lovely spears of fast-growing asparagus. I don’t know if they go together in some way, but I’m going to find out. I have some pork cutlets that want to be cooked up. I have a bag of organic apples in the fridge, and some onions. Also a little white wine left over from Easter dinner. Can I make some breaded pork cutlets with a sauce of apples, onions, mint and white wine?  How will the asparagus pair with this combination? Asparagus is just so special… meaning it has a very distinctive taste.

I just don’t know, but I’ll find out. I’m going to trust the season to give me what goes well together. What do you think? Will it work?