My large vegetable garden is so much fun to visit right now because of all the growing produce - there’s something new popping up every day.
This garden, which is now in its third growing season, is already planted with many wonderful crops - tomatoes, brassicas, artichokes, fava beans, celery, carrots, sweet and hot peppers, peas, all sorts of herbs, and so much more. I always plant in succession, meaning I seed crops at intervals of seven to 21 days in order to maintain a consistent supply of harvestable produce throughout the season. I can't wait for our first big bounty.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
What a difference a couple of months make. This garden is looking great. It is close to my Winter House, so I am able to walk through every day and see all the crops planted over the weeks.
Kale always grow so well here. Kale is a group of vegetable cultivars within the plant species Brassica oleracea. They have purple or green leaves, in which the central leaves do not form a head.
Nearby, I also plant cabbages. To get the best health benefits from cabbage, it’s good to include all three varieties into the diet – Savoy, red, and green. Savoy cabbage leaves are ruffled and a bit yellowish in color.
The broccoli is still small, but developing so perfectly. Broccoli is a hardy vegetable of the cabbage family that is high in vitamins A and D. And, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, the average American eats more than four-pounds of broccoli a year.
These are the leaves of my artichokes. Globe artichokes, Cynara scolymus, are popular in both Europe and the United States. Artichokes are actually the flower buds, which will emerge from the center of the plants.
Artichoke plant leaves are silvery-green in color with long, arching shapes. The plant stems are thick and fleshy.
On this day, my gardeners planted a crop of edamame or young soybeans. They are known for being nutrient-rich, gluten-free, and low in calories, making them a healthy addition to a meal or appetizer eaten alone. The term “edamame” translates to “beans on a branch” in Japanese.
One of my go-to seed sources is Bakers Creek Heirloom Seed Company.
Edamame seeds are pretty large – easy to see and plant in the garden bed.
The seeds should be planted about an inch deep and four inches apart in rows that are spaced about 15-inches from each other.
Once the seeds are pushed into the soil, the rows are raked, marked and watered. The growing time for edamame is about 95 days.
In another center bed along this trellis are lots of peas – one section for shelling peas, which need to be removed from their pods before eating, and another for edible pods, which can be eaten whole, such as our snap peas.
The peas are best grown on supports to keep them off the ground and away from pests and diseases.
Pea plants produce beautiful flowers that range from white to purple.
It’s easy to spot where the tomatoes are growing by all the bamboo stakes. If you’ve ever grown a vining plant, you know how important it is to provide strong structures to which the vines can cling and climb. I stake my tomatoes in stages, using taller, stronger supports as the plants develop.
I always grow an abundance of tomatoes to share and to make all the delicious tomato sauce I enjoy through the year. It’s a good idea to grow a range of varieties, including at least one or two disease-resistant types.
This is a bed of basil – both green and purple are planted here. Basil is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae. Basil is native to tropical regions from central Africa to Southeast Asia. It is a tender plant, and is used in many cuisines. Since basil grows in tropical climates, it grows well in hot weather.
My garlic bed is also looking good. I planted the garlic last November. Do you know… Americans consume about two to three pounds of garlic per year? And consumption continues to increase because of the many flavors and health benefits.
Right now, there are many scapes. Garlic scapes are the flower buds of the garlic plants. They’re ready about a month before the actual garlic bulbs. Scapes are delicious and can be used just like garlic. Scapes can be cut when the center stalks are completely formed and the ends are curled.
This week, we’re starting to see some of the first jalapeño peppers growing.
At the edge of all the beds, I planted herbs. This is sage. Sage is an aromatic herb of the mint family, cultivated for its pungent edible leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean and is often used fresh or dried as a flavoring in various dishes.
Also always growing here at the farm is parsley. This will find its way into my morning green juice. Parsley is rich in vitamins K, C, and other antioxidants. It has a bright, herbaceous, and slightly bitter taste.
This is curly parsley. This comes from the same family, but curly parsley leaves are thicker and ruffled. Some also say its flavor is a bit stronger in curly parsley than in the flat-leaf varieties.
Everyone always asks what I do with all the vegetables I grow. I share them with my family, but I also love sharing the bounties with friends, colleagues, and my hardworking crew here at the farm. I also provide fruits, vegetables, and eggs for photography and video shoots. And, of course, all my birds get vegetables too.
And Lilium makes three - three Persian cats at Cantitoe Corners.
If you follow my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you may have seen photos of my newest resident feline, Lilium. She's a brown Persian longhair I adopted through Rock 'N Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Bedford Hills, New York, not far from my farm. Lilium traveled all the way from Doha, the capital city of Qatar in the Middle East. She joins Magnolia and Dahlia, also beautiful Persians. All three are doing well and getting to know each other. No doubt they will soon be good friends.
Here are some photos.
When I received the text and photos about another pretty Persian at Rock ‘N Rescue, I knew I wanted to meet her right away. This is Lilium.
Lilium is about three years old with beautiful facial expressions and markings.
She’s independent, confident, very friendly, and so far loves the attention from everyone here at the farm.
Persian cats are well loved for their regal appearance and are often referred to as the “aristocrats of the cat world.”
Lilium is not only regal, but playful. Here she is rolling on her back for belly rubs.
Of the three Persians, Lilium is the largest. Males and females are medium-to-large-sized cats with round, flat faces, known as brachycephalic, and long, flowing coats.
It’s great to see her feel safe enough to nap anywhere in my home. Kittens six months and older, and adult cats, sleep about 16 to 18 hours a day on average. And, kittens have a similar routine to adult cats, napping throughout the day. They are usually most active at dawn and dusk.
Lilium is an excellent eater and drinker – a sign of good health, especially when acclimating to new surroundings.
Lilium is getting more comfortable in my home every day. I think she’ll be a wonderful addition to my menagerie and family.
Here is Lilium being “watched” by Magnolia, who was the first of these three to come live with me. She also came from Rock ‘N Rescue.
Magnolia is a lovely silver shaded Persian with beautiful golden-copper eyes and a friendly disposition.
Magnolia is quite curious – roaming from room to room, upstairs and downstairs keeping an eye on everything that goes on.
Here is Magnolia looking out of the big floor to ceiling windows of my enclosed porch. I wonder what’s caught her attention. Cats have a wider field of vision than humans, but need to be closer to see things in the same detail. Felines have much better night vision than humans too.
And as serious as she looks, Persians are known for being laid-back, charming, and very affectionate.
Magnolia is also full of personality.
And the youngest in my Winter House is Dahlia – just about a year old.
Dahlia is extremely friendly and wants to be wherever the action is.
She is a dilute calico Persian, meaning her calico coat colors are softer. She is so gorgeous with her long, flowing coat and tail, which must be brushed every day to prevent matting.
Dahlia is a favorite at the farm – and comes when called.
I am sure all these cats will love living here at Cantitoe Corners. And don’t worry my two stable cats, Cinco and Mayo, as well as Blackie in my greenhouse, are all doing well too.
There's always lots to do here at my farm. Among my latest projects - creating a shadier paddock for my donkeys.
I have several large pastures - enclosed spaces where my Friesians, Fell pony, and donkeys are turned out to exercise and graze every day. For the summer, I decided to move my donkeys to another paddock under the shade of some tall pines, where they can view farm activities from a different location and be more comfortable during these hot summer months. Doing this meant we needed to build more fencing and a gate, move their hay mangers, and connect an automatic waterer.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Here in the Northeast, summers can be very hot and humid. Donkeys are able to regulate their body temperatures and do have sweat glands all over their bodies, but they also seek shelter during extreme heat. I decided it would be more comfortable for them if they were turned out in a shadier area during the day.
This space under the shade of some tall white pines was perfect, but a proper paddock needed to be created.
The area was already half fenced, so my outdoor grounds crew needed to put up two more sides of fencing. I instructed them where the fence would go and then all the necessary antique fencing rails were carefully delivered to the site.
Stakes and landscape twine were secured to make sure the fence was perfectly in line with the adjacent pasture.
Fernando begins the job of digging post holes using a post hole digger, a hand tool used to manually dig deep and narrow holes in order to install fence posts.
Each hole is more than three feet deep. The new posts will be very secure here – and no cement is needed.
Once the posts are in place, Pete and Fernando secure the horizontal railings.
The nails used to secure the railings are quite long – four inches. These are long enough to go through the railings and into the corresponding posts.
My pasture fencing is made from 100-year-old white spruce railings I purchased in Canada. I have lots of fencing here on the farm. This antique fencing surrounds all my horse paddocks and various trees. The railings are sandwiched between two cedar posts and attached to the inside of one of them. The other supports the railings from the other side.
My five donkeys get turned out into a paddock every day, so it is important to ensure they are all in good condition. This new enclosure is near my chicken coops and a flower cutting garden.
Next, the crew works on digging the area to connect the proper piping for a watering source.
I have automatic waterers in every paddock and all my Friesians, Fell Pony, and donkeys know exactly where to find their fresh water.
Next, the hay mangers are placed inside the enclosure – painted my signature “Bedford Gray” of course.
The crew also inspected the area to make sure it was cleaned of any debris. This enclosure has some grass for grazing, but not too much.
And then on a warm day, the donkeys are brought in to see their new yard – lots of shade as well as room to roam.
… or roll, as donkeys love to do.
Next to Clive is a bowl of salt blocks. Salt blocks provide essential minerals, but they are also important for donkeys in hot weather. They help them stay hydrated and encourage them to drink water.
Here’s Truman “TJ” Junior testing his manger. I think he enjoys eating under the shade of the tall pines.
Jude “JJ” Junior is also happy resting in the grass nearby. This area will definitely provide more comfort for my donkeys when it is hot and humid.
Where one goes, the rest are sure to follow…
… and the next stop is the waterer – always filled with fresh running water.
It’s important to me that my donkeys and other equines are as happy as can be. I am sure these five will enjoy the change in surroundings.
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