Living off the Land

It is that time of year.  The time of year when Mike and I start reducing our grocery store expenses by either growing our own food or finding it in the wild.

It is actually too early to do much outdoor planting but I couldn't resist buying some plants when I saw them at Buchheits last Sunday.  I mainly bought herbs but I also couldn't resist the broccoli plants.  They grew so well for me last year and I know now that they are cool season (or spring) vegetables.  (As versus tomatoes, for instance, which are hot season or summer vegetables).

Unfortunately, within twenty four hours after I planted my herbs and veggies in my elevated garden beds, the temperatures dropped below freezing.   This is not good for any season vegetables.  I covered them with containers I found around the house and it looks like all my herbs and vegetables have survived at least thus far.

In the meantime, Mike has been noticing how things are greening up around the farm.  Trees are budding and he has seen colonies of mayapple or umbrella plants springing up in the open woods.  Spotting mayapples is a big deal because they are a sign that mushroom hunting season is upon us.

Frying wild morel mushrooms is considered good eating by the Peterson family but first they have to find them.  Mike's brother Bill always comes to help hunt mushrooms and in fact arrived today.  I have to point out, however, that even though Bill came all the way from Florida to hunt mushrooms, and Lois (Mike's mom) is the most experienced mushroom hunter of the bunch (she has done it the longest), Mike was the person to find the first mushroom of the season.  This is a remarkable accomplishment because in all his 55 years this is the first time he has ever been first.

Now that mushroom hunting season has officially begun, and my vegetable plants are still alive, I know that the Peterson's have some good eating ahead.