Come see what is growing in my coldhouse
You may recall my blog about the cold house, which was built at my farm. The coldhouse, minimally heated, utilizes the energy from the sun, and allows for certain cold hardy crops to be grown in the richly composted soil throughout the cold months of winter. I must say that it's been wonderful to harvest this produce and serve it at dinner parties and to share it with my family and friends. Come and see what's growing right now.
It is nice having a garden I miss all the fresh veggies right outside my door. This garden looks to be shaping up pretty good, when summer comes you will have so many good produce to eat. Now you get to eat fresh items year round with your garden and green houses, hot houses so on.
I will rake a salad please can you send it to e? Looks like you could just sit down in the middle of this garden and start munching all you need is some dressing.
Yummers.
Well it is 2.320 AM here and my eyes feel like they have been glued open to the bottom of my shoes. Time to sign off and I guess dream of a good salad to eat. Now I will have to make one tomorrow.
I am heading to Costco to get a Martha ham I called to see if they are in for/by Easter and nobody knows. I sure hope somebody finds out before I drive way down there and can't find my ham lol! I have been waiting since New Year's for another good Martha ham and they are supposed to be coming in for Easter.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | March 27th, 2009 at 4:33 am
I hit send before my spelling was checked out sorry. I am really tired tonight and battling a wicked cough and cold.
Please forgive the spelling errors whoever has to clear the posts. I only have 30 percent vision in one eye and zip in the other, sometimes I miss a letter here and there.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | March 27th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Hi Martha! The crops looks so fresh and colorful, I am sure it is so tasty and healthy.
I live in Kuwait so I buy my vegetables from the market, but in my country Lebanon we eat our fruits and vegetables from our own land.
Good luck dear
I wish you can follow me on twitter!
God bless you and protect you always.
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | March 27th, 2009 at 5:15 am
There is nothing I love more than veggies! I hate that I have nowhere to grow them. I've been researching indoor gardens to see if there's anything I can come up with so I can grow it on my own. I wonder if an Aerogarden would be any good?
Posted by: Kari | March 27th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Hi Martha:
I love when you share your farm life and pictures of your farm. Thank you so much. Your coldhouse is great. So many vegetables and herbs not far from your own back door and kitchen. How wonderful. Here in the city I can only wish for such things. I guess I could grow some herbs on my window sill but its not like having a real farm and a kitchen garden. In an indirect way you answered my question as to what you do with so much bountiful produce. You share it with friends and family, of course. And you probably give it to the company that produces your soups and foods. We don't have a Costco in Philadelphia as far as I know. I read other people's blogs here in your blog and they talk about driving over to Costco to purchase your products but I can't do that. There is no Costco here. So its nice to read about how wonderful a Martha Ham is (from Pam from California).
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | March 27th, 2009 at 7:31 am
What a wonderful luxury to be able to grow your own crops year long! They look mouth watering delicious! I too love Concord grapes. When I was young my mother used to buy or make (I don't know which) a delicious Concord grape jam. It was thick and had some of the grape skins in it. If you or any of your bloggers know how to make such a jam, please let me know! Good luck with your Concord grape crop.
Posted by: Barbara | March 27th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Wish we had a Costco here in Western New York. I want a ham for Easter. Trying to decide between Wegman's or Aldi's for purchasing an Easter ham.I'm going to plan a menu for April 12 today. Do you have any asparagus growing in the cold house? Happy spring!
Posted by: Catherine | March 27th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Hi Martha,
First off, your cold house is gorgeous; I love the stone trim all around the bottom, and wow, you have vegetable soup ready to be heated in a pot and salads galore in there! I love beets and cabbage and Borsht which no doubt you have a good recipe for. I can almost picture Alexis browsing and then talking about her “booty” from Martha’s on her blog at Whateverradio.com. It is amazing to see how tall garlic grows since I have not seen mature garlic plants before.
Well, I won’t be putting up a cold house anytime soon but as an alternative, I’m all for the idea demonstrated on the show yesterday, the salad table I think your guest called it, or garden table. Either way, I have a table almost like it with wheels on the bottom and it is long/wide enough to affix two compartments on top for lettuce so that is what I will do. What a great idea and I have plenty of room on my screened in patio that gets plenty of sun. You are always providing us with excellent ideas!
The other day I was browsing through one of my Martha Stewart Living magazines, the special garden issue from March 2001 and in the Do You Know section was this interesting tidbit: ‘Before plant life took hold on land, the earth’s soil was very much like sand. Today’s topsoil consists mostly of the decayed plants of previous generations’. Some people might not have that issue so I thought I would share your information again. Thanks so much for the look inside you cold house. Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 27th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I think i saw basil in this coldhouse and wonder how they do so well, it must b that the rich compost keeps the roots nice and toasty, my experience has been basil needs it warm, mine fails until it is consistently warm, coldhouse (neat neat stone base) is the most perfect i've seen, i love it......
Posted by: Charmayne | March 27th, 2009 at 9:44 am
It is very enjoyable to see pictures of your gardens and greenhouses, and to read about what's happening in the garden in your region. Your blog and website have so much interesting and useful information -- and they're good looking! Also really like to read stories and see pix about the Ford family house in Maine. I'd like to invite you to visit my gardening blog at http://www.michigangardenmuse.blogspot.com, you might enjoy the writing about gardening on the northwest coast of Lake Michigan. Cheers!
Posted by: Em Wreford | March 27th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Nice cold greenhouse.I just put my 10 year old coral geranium in the south window of my dining room. Glad to read you are partnering with Crane Paper. I live about 4 miles from Cranes. If you need a helper give me a call. Sincerly, Judi Chenail
Posted by: Judi Chenail | March 27th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Wow! It's beautiful. Everything looks great!
Posted by: Sherry | March 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Martha : Not fair,not fair - i'm a vegetarian.(by choice).Can you imagine the torture writing
about the cold house?
While watching plumping pussy willow,
There's cause for talk upon the pillow.
The cold house tale has now been told
Its purpose,is,to keep out cold.
And secretely,with lights and sun
The plants short life has just begun.
Parmex round,with fluffy carrot top,
Another little weirdy,starts to flop.
Bolting Forona beets - makin' for the door,
Various types of salad green,as tasty as before
Healthy Swiss chard,ruby red the stalk.
Maturing garlic standing tall,to walk.
Red cabbage,with a balding head.
Rosemary,waiting for its outside bed.
Green wave mustard greens,peppery and ticking.
Fresh dill there is,ready for the picking.
Martha's Concord grapes scheduled for a trip.
Delicate moth that busily keeps things hip.
Tendril reaching out,in case someone should fall
But mind take care,and dont tell Hannibal.
Squeeze a smile-this was a toughy.
Posted by: celia stock | March 27th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Hi Martha, These are the most beautiful photos of your fantastic coldhouse yet. Oh, how I wish I had the space and money to build such a wonderful building to grow all of those great vegetables all year long. It would be perfect for my area because the growing season seems to get shorter year after year. Can you grow tomatoes and cucumbers in there? Wow, wouldn't that be great?!!! Everything looks so fresh and delicious. I guess I'll have to go to the Pike Place Market and get some fresh veggies to satisfy my desires right now. Maybe I could build a smaller coldhouse to satisfy my needs. Sounds good to me! Thanks for the great look inside. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 27th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Martha,
I suppose if a 'cold house' was big enough, there would be no limit as to what you could plant-grow in them, yes?
Your cold house is probably the most important structure on your acreage. You're a smart cookie, Martha!
Posted by: tinay | March 28th, 2009 at 8:29 am
What a wonderful place to spend the early days of spring. Those carrots look delicious!
Posted by: april~living the sweet life | March 28th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I love your cold house! A cold house would be perfect here on our farm.
I already have asparagus up(for the last few weeks) brussel sprouts, radishes, garlic, onions, greens of all sorts, and red cabbage growing in my raised beds.
Springtime is wonderful!!
Have a great weekend.
Pam
Posted by: GaFarmWomanPam | March 29th, 2009 at 7:35 am
It that time of year even if it snowing here in North Idaho.
Coffee is on.
Posted by: peppylady | March 29th, 2009 at 10:01 am
What a great idea! We have an enclosed porch that would be great for something similar. I should plant some herbs and grow them in that room. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Tina in Boston | March 29th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Looks delicious! I'm definitely envious.
Posted by: Jennifer Squires Ross | April 14th, 2009 at 6:38 pm