Peppers are continuing to produce. The persimmons are still on the tree, but the leaves are on the ground. I go out each morning and collect a few to eat. At this point, we don't preserve them in any way, but I have collected some recipes to try.
From the Almanac:
Recent studies confirm the old folk medicine regarding the immunity characteristics of Elderberries. Here is a recipe for Elderberry syrup.
1 cup black elderberries 3 cups of water 1 cup raw local honey
Bring berries and water to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Crush berries, strain, and let cool. Combine with honey. 1 tablespoon daily foe prevention. 1 tsp. every few hrs for treatment of flu or cold.
Remember that raw honey is not to be given to children under 2 yrs old. Honey for those who can take it is also a natural cough suppressant.
Have a great weekend. God Bless.
Pinging the list.
I got the garlic in. It’s about two weeks late, but hey it’s done! If all goes well, which it usually does with garlic, I’ll have 175 scapes and bulbs this summer!
Question 1: Hase anybody frozen chopped garlic in olive oil?
Question 2: Has anybody created raised beds out of just composting materials; i.e., no soil?
Meanwhile my starfruit tree that I planted in the spring is flowering and I actually have some tiny fruit developing:
Trinidad scorpion peppers still producing:
Plus some Tahitian limes for Margaritas and Mojitos :) 
And under the shade trees the Pine cone gingers are up for some fall color:
Hi Everybody!
Too much rain for riding, but the bananas are ripe!
I posted an important article on a thread earlier today that I feel the Garden Thread would enjoy:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3219036/posts
Scientists Discover First ‘Virological Penicillin’(Honeysuckle)
Chinese researchers have discovered what they say is the first ‘virological penicillin’ – MIR2911, a molecule found naturally in a Chinese herb called honeysuckle. This is the Japanese Honeysuckle that grows wild around here.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a well-known Chinese herb. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has been used to effectively treat influenza infection for centuries.
Monday, the tiller gets hauled to the shop for who knows how long. We're heading in that direction to get a load of firewood, so it'll be a double-duty trip.
Finally getting an average of 6 eggs a day, which explains why I'm making egg foo yung for dinner when I finish this post.
One of our 3 apricot trees turned red at the top only, while the other 2 went yellow. Yes, I have to repair the fence, thanks to an antlered rat.
Had my first persimmon of the year this afternoon, That’s some good eating!
Got a 4 year old tree I hope bears next year.
Hazelnuts are all in.
Fruit and nut trees are great plantings.
WOW… I can’t believe it’s Friday already. Lots of rain here so no garden activity. Still have to plant more garlic AND a cover crop on the rest of the soil and dig the remaining potatoes.
Temperatures have been up and down and I have covered up the eggplant with a plastic tent every night. The size and shape has not changed for a couple of days so it might be ready for picking. Like with tomatoes, if the stem breaks easily when twisting it, does that mean it is ready?
Spent a few hours yesterday cleaning up in the garden and getting a patch prepped to plant my garlic. Now I just need to find the sack of garlic that I saved back to plant. I put it in a safe place that is temporarily evading me.
The old smokehouse soon-to-be potting shed is mounted on skids and ready for transport. I expect it will show up sometime this week.
Did a bit of repair work to Mrs. Augie's deer stand and cleaned up some sprouts and briars in the general vicinity. The condo of doom is all but finished. I just need to cut and hang a piece of plywood for the entry door and mount a couple or three grab handles to make climbing in a bit easier.
I got a 10'X15' plot in a community garden this year and I would like to do some fall/winter produce gardening. We live in the Pajaro Valley on the central California coast. Conditions are much the same as the adjacent Salinas valley. Possible crops are kale, Brussels sprouts, Peas, broccoli, carrots, and others. The space limitation is a factor in what we grow. Another issue is seeds or plants started indoors. Mrs. Homer has instructed me to look into seed tape. I am not familiar with that.
We probably have another month before the nights start getting seriously cold.
I would be grateful if anyone else who has had this type of gardening experience gave me the benefit of their experience.
Regards, Homer