This time of year, we eat greens almost every meal. I picked about a full 5 gallon bucket of greens the other day. It’s mostly collard greens but there’s a bit of spinach, chard and kale mixed in. By far, the collards are growing better than anything else this year.
You can see that some of the leaves have bug holes in them. A friend once told me it always made her happy to see a few bug holes because it indicates pesticides have not been used. Never any pesticides used in my garden!
I wash these several times outside, trying to get as much grit off as I can before I taken them inside. Our septic tank gets enough dirt in it from us and our clothes without adding more from the veggies.
We had okra, greens, asparagus and ham for dinner yesterday. So good having fresh veggies from the garden, though the okra was from a previous year’s garden. Once I dig up all the garlic, Vince will add a bit of composted chicken manure, re-till that area and I’ll plant okra. It isn’t easy to grow okra because of the pH of the soil. I have to spray it at least weekly with foliar iron spray. I’m not good at remembering to do that but I’m going to try really hard to be dedicated and consistent this year because I so love okra!
It won’t be long, probably the end of May, and it will be hot enough that the greens are bitter and we’ll not have those any more. I’ve tried freezing them and canning them and haven’t had much success. We eat them but it’s nothing like having them fresh. We’ll surely miss them when they’re gone!
The 5 gallon bucket of greens cooks down to being enough for three meals for the two of us so it does take a lot of greens to make a meal!
pattilynn9 says
Wonder how the greens would do in the dehydrator?
Judy Laquidara says
About the same as in the freeze dryer. They would end up more of a powder to be used in gravies, soups and smoothies.
Rebecca in SoCal says
I always laugh at how much spinach shrinks when cooked! I stuff as much as I can in a pan (without crushing it), and it cooks down to a couple servings. Lots of water?
Rebecca in SoCal says
Freeze dryer? The question is: how would they reconstitute?
Sandi B says
I wondered the same thing…
Judy Laquidara says
Once freeze dried, they would probably end up powdered – mostly to use in soups, stews, gravy and smoothies.
Nelle Coursey says
I love okra, fried, boiled and pickled! Nothing better!!
w jordan says
Why not give leftover greens to the chickens. I’ve been told they eat everything. Had leftover onions ( 50 lb bags)at food bank and no one wanted them and we can’t keep do no no place to keep after that day giveaway.. Lady took for her chickens I said “What” they will eat onions she said yes they eat anything.
Judy Laquidara says
We always give leftover greens and a lot of the spent veggie vines to the chickens but not til they’ve turned bitter and we can no longer eat them.