Picking Strawberries at Marburger Orchard, Fredericksburg, Texas

     We started our weekend at the strawberry patch!  Strawberries are one of my favorite things about Spring.  Marburger Orchard in Fredericksburg, Texas has an abundance of fresh ripe strawberries starting in mid to late March every year.  They allow you to go out in the field and pick away.  Sampling two or three is okay, but try telling that to a two year old.  My berry eatin' girl couldn't get enough and there was no hiding it.  Her fingers, face, and shirt were stained so badly she might as well have had an "Over the Limit"  sign stamped across her forehead.  I think they may do better by weighing kids in and out and charging by the pounds gained!

     I plan to make preserves and possibly a strawberry pie with our berries this year.  I didn't get around to making my strawberry preserves last year and we sure missed them.  Marburger Orchard is a wonderful place for a family outing.  Just know that for a two year old and five year old the attention span only allowed for about 30 minutes of picking.  For more serious picking for your canning needs, go it alone.  I will be going back by myself one early morning during the week.  They are a cash or check operation and they're only open when there are berries to pick, so make sure you call ahead or check their website before making the drive.

     They also grow blackberries, peaches, and vegetables throughout the Spring and Summer months, so get on their email list to get notifications as things ripen throughout the season!

By the way, I have no affiliation to Marburger Orchard.  I just really like them and want to spread the word about a local farm and encourage you to buy local, eat local, and support your local farms.

Happy strawberry picking,

Outside Lisa

Rather Loyal to Rather Sweet

Rather Sweet Bakery and Cafe in Fredericksburg, Texas has been a favorite of mine for years.  I discovered it back in college when I was living in Johnson City and working in Fredericksburg.  

It is a quaint, delightful, and very tasty little spot that I have really enjoyed over the years.  I ate lunch there after doctor's check-ups during both of my pregnancies.  It was my little reward after being poked and prodded during those final days before giving birth to my son.  I have hosted bridal showers there and have invited many a girlfriend to join me there for a weekend lunch.  I love the atmosphere, I love the name, I love the food, and I think Rebecca Rather, the owner, has done a great job of branding and marketing her goods.  I appreciate, respect, and am inspired by women who have the gumption to take something they love to do and turn it into a successful business.  I also have her beautiful cookbook, which I would photograph and share with you if only I could find it.  I know it is in some box somewhere in our big cedar barn labeled "Step-woman's Books"(by Dylan, my step-daughter) awaiting the day when I finally make the time to finish unpacking from our move.  

They have a glass case full of amazing-looking desserts and pastries that make your mouth water.  My favorite cookie there is the Pink Pig.  It is perfect.

I went out on a limb this particular day and ordered something I had never tried before from the specials on their blackboard menu- Curry Chicken Salad.

I was not disappointed.  It was scrumptious!  The only thing that would have made it taste even better would have been faster service.  I literally waited for 50 minutes...for a salad!  There was no "quick lunch to go" happening around there that day.  I am a die-hard fan, though, and returned on Tuesday morning thinking surely I wouldn't have to wait long for breakfast.  I ordered an egg and cheese breakfast taco on corn tortillas.  Thirty-five minutes.  Because I know they cook to order and I had my cappucino to drink while I waited, I was okay.  After all, if I wanted McDonald's fast, I would go to McDonald's.  

This morning I was much wiser and  CALLED in an order for the same taco.  IT was waiting for ME when I got there and IT, along with the cappucino, was GREAT!  I might complain a little, but dammit, I'm loyal!  Check it out. 

Time to Plant the Fall Garden

I know I'm new to vegetable gardening in the hill country, but I've lived in Texas all my life and I never dreamed that August would be the time to plant the Fall garden.  It's crazy.  I have no doubt that everything I am about to plant is going to catch on fire right there in the ground.  How will those little babies not get scorched by the 100 degree heat and blistering sun? Alas, I will throw caution to the wind, ignore my instincts, and listen to the recommendations of the local people.  After all, I am the one who couldn't get a single yellow squash out of my Spring garden!  I need all the help I can get.

Last week I trekked over to my favorite feed store in Fredericksburg to purchase seed and bedding plants.  This was after looking at a local nursery in Kerrville called the Plant Haus.  It is a great nursery and I highly recommend it.  I was able to buy some amazing looking tomato plants there, but they didn't have all of the other vegetables I wanted.  So, I drove to Woerner Warehouse in Fredericksburg and hit the mother load!  They were just unloading a truck full of vegetable transplants when I arrived.  I was able to get everything I needed, short of butternut squash.  They only had one tiny little squash plant and I need a lot.  Anyway, I ordered some butternut squash, got a bit of seed, and loaded up on plants.  Transplants are the way to go, especially if you're getting a late start like I am.  I'm telling you, this Fall garden in August thing really bushwacked me!  Purchasing plants that are already started buys you at least a month of time.  Is it cheating?  Absolutely not.  You have to keep them alive just the same.  

  

My Fall garden planting list (with respective planting dates): 

Beets (September 1), Broccoli (August 1), Brussels Sprouts (August 1), Cabbage (August 1), Carrots (August 15), Cauliflower (July 1), Swiss Chard (August 15), Collard Greens (August 15), Eggplant (June 15), Garlic (August), Kohlrabi (September 1), Radish (October 1), Spinach (Spinach), Butternut Squash (July 1), Mustard Greens (October 1), and Tomaotes (June 15)

You can see how using transplants instead of seed enables me to plant a Fall garden.  If I only had seed, I would be too late for all but a few!

As a gardener, you have to decide if you are going to follow the planting date recommendations of the nurseries or the recommendations based on the moon.  The idea is to get everything planted so that you can harvest before the first frost, which in the hill country of Texas usually happens around the first of November.  On the left hand side of the chalk board above are the dates based on the moon.  I just happen to be planting my little plants according to the moon this time!

I had too much to fit in my car and had to send for help to get it all back to the garden!

Salad anyone?

The good, the bad, and the ugly- At any garden store it helps to be there right after the truck delivers the goods.  It's just too difficult to keep all of the little peat pots watered this time of year and those babies can start to look rough pretty quick.  The plants on the top shelf are not from the latest delivery and you can see that they have seen better days.

Sallie is watching guard over the new transplants.  I made sure to give them some shade and water as soon as I got them home.  

These are the raised beds where I usually plant herbs and greens.  We cleaned out and composted all of the old stuff and trimmed up what is still good in order to make room for the new transplants for the Fall.  Before we plant, we will add some shade cloth over these areas.  This should especially help the basil and arugula.

Next gardening post will show the new transplants in the ground.  Stay tuned!