Comfrey, strawberries, and a pie for Sunday
We’ve had rain on rain. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. We haven’t had the onslaught that caused damage to crops a little ways over. We can’t seem to catch much sun, but the garden is sure flourishing with all the moisture. Because I use a deep mulch/Ruth Stout method of gardening, I can still amble about, even if it does squish beneath my feet.
Today, in between showers, I picked another gallon of juicy red strawberries. I have to stay on top of them before the birds get to them. I can’t be bothered with netting, as it’s too much work to move it back to pick each day. While I was picking, I noticed the comfrey plant a few meters over… but I digress.
First…. my pie. It was gorgeous. It smelled divine. It was all the right buttery golden texture from the freshly milled kamut. It had the perfect juice that seeped between the cracks. I made two for Sunday lunch with the kids and grands after church.
It really fell flat for me.
I tried to use up some rhubarb alongside the strawberries and it was just too tart for my liking, and the rhubarb a bit too firm yet. The kids were gracious, though everyone needed a lot more ice cream in their bowl to satisfy!
Next time, omit the rhubarb (my husband always stands by this stance), or just do 1/3 rhubarb, 2/3’s strawberries. I really don’t want to use more sweetener then I did (1/3 cup turbinado sugar per pie). So here’s a beautiful glimpse of a pie that looked better then it tasted:
Moving on to the comfrey: I purchased Russian blocking comfrey online last year, plugged it all throughout my garden and each and every root grew into a monster plant. To dig it out is going to be work so I’m still deciding if some should leave or if all should all stay. They are magnificent unto themselves. It seems a pity to prune them back and use them – I truly could just stare at them. The purple flowers, all humming with fat bumblebees make me stop each time I’m in the garden. The leaves are deep green and thick and just symbolize nutrition. But today I decided that tomorrow… it shall be dealt with. I will cut 2/3’s of each plants’ leaves, do some mulching throughout my garden with them, as they add vital nutrients to the soil, take a treat of them over to the cows, and also start to dry the leaves for salves and poultices. At the same time, as I walk back to the house, my eyes constantly see the lawn plantain, and think to transplant some to more fertile soil in the garden.
Again… tomorrow.
Today was a moody skies kinda day, but also felt rich and settling. I pray yours did as well. Let me know…
