I have some news. I am going back to school. I posted about it this week and more than 18,000 of you saw it, which I did not expect. The plan is to keep posting, with some older projects mixed in while I find my footing. The garden does not check my class schedule, so there will be plenty to share. Wish me luck, greenhorns.
The four kinds of homesteaders
This week I broke down the kinds of homesteaders I keep meeting, and close to six thousand of you watched. The comments were better than the video. A bunch of you claimed the learner. One greenhorn made the case for a fifth kind, the animal caretaker, and they might be right. My favorite comment came from someone two years in: "Started out as a garden, then this year I made a leap of faith bought chickens, ducks, geese and caught my first swarm of bees. It's been the best decision of my life so far." That is the whole idea in three sentences. Also, an unreasonable number of you complimented the shelf I built in the background. Thank you. It is a nice shelf.
New on YouTube
The newest video is the story of Johnny Appleseed. His real name was John Chapman, and the true story is better than the tall tale. Watch it here.
Too much zucchini
It is early August, which means the zucchini is winning. If your counter is stacked with more than you can eat, you are in good company. Here is the fix from Mom's recipe box, and it feeds you twice. Night one, wash the zucchini, trim the ends, cut them in half lengthwise, and coat each piece with olive oil. Grill two to three minutes a side and keep it al dente. The less you cook zucchini, the more nutrients you keep. Season with garlic salt, sea salt, and parsley, and grill more than you need on purpose. Night two is the good part. Cube the cold leftover zucchini, quarter eight or so Roma tomatoes, dice a thick slice of red onion, and drizzle the bowl with balsamic vinaigrette. The zucchini is already seasoned from the grill, so the flavors blend with no extra work. Mom says she makes sure there are leftovers now just so she can build this salad the next day. Cook once, eat twice, and the pile on the counter finally gets smaller.
In the app
This update is for the greenhorns you know overseas. The Garden-to-Table Companion now turns up when gardeners in Germany, France, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, and Japan search in their own language, for the ways they actually grow: raised beds, balcony gardens, small urban plots. If you have a friend growing tomatoes on a balcony in Berlin or a patio in Mexico City, the app is easier for them to find now.
From the comments
Under the Johnny Appleseed story, one greenhorn wrote: "Hey John Chapman aka Johnny Apple Seed is my distant relative, for real. My maiden name is Chapman." Imagine carrying that name into an orchard. You never know who is reading.
One thing this week. Reply and tell me which kind of homesteader you are. I read every reply, and your answers help me decide what to teach next.
Most watched this week: the school announcement and the story of Johnny Appleseed.
I have not forgotten the marinara jar tally. That one is coming once enough counts are in.