Wayyyy back in March I wrote with such longing for rain. It came! It came and fell so generously in southern Australia we had..you guessed it, floods. When I wrote about waiting for rain so I could prepare a new patch I had no idea just how wet this site could and did become. I have garlic that I am a bit scared to go and look for in long grass. I am so grateful that my clever hubby insisted on raising the garden beds as the water just pooled and pooled. I will will take a photo and get brave to show you just how the site has progressed.
Meanwhile our gardens around the house have flourished. In our 10 years here this is the best it has looked. The weeds have got a bit of a head start on me at the moment but I am gradually weeding and mulching to retain what moisture remains and hopefully smoother any future seed source.
Something I did today that was quick, will ensure a great stock for the next 12 months and feels productive was harvest a big bunch of oregano and dill.
I like to harvest in the morning after any moisture has dried up and before too much warmth hits. Oregano is a herb I am using more and more. It flavours so many different dishes including home made cracker biscuits (combined with sesame oil..I would never have thought of that combination). It is that classic pizza flavour and last years jar is almost empty – so time to restock.
I haven’t grown a lot of dill but as summer comes and the thought of jars of pickled cucumbers surface I remembered to grow some this spring. If the dill runs to flower – lucky pollinator insects in the garden and if the plants go to seed – even better, more flavour to pack in a jar with the cucumbers.
I have hung the oregano up on the new clothes drying rack that was VERY well used this winter. The dill I have just spread out on a tray. If we have a run of warm weather I should have some good dried leaves in about 2 weeks. The most critical (technical) consideration with drying is ensuring it really is dry. Super crunchy dry. You don’t want any spongy bits lurking as the whole jar will go mouldy and that would not taste good in a cracker.
So back to that weeding and choking down the brave pills to search for the garlic.