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The Garden Thread - November, 2025
November 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 11/01/2025 5:46:00 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Education; Food; Gardening
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: FRiends; Liz; FamiliarFace; Qiviut; MomwithHope

Eating from The Land, Your Hand, Your Garden:

Supper tonight was Bear Pepper Steak and it. was. awesome! Peppers were frozen, from the garden earlier this season. I used all red peppers as that’s what I had frozen, but any color combo is fine. Also, no reason you couldn’t throw in a few Shishito or a Jalapeno or two for added interest! ;)

I use this Crock Pot recipe, but used a Bear roast that Beau brought back from camp this season. I have also used Elk, Beef and Pork with similar delicious results.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23567/slow-cooker-pepper-steak/

Note: Instead of the Soy Sauce, I prefer Teriyaki Sauce - just personal preference. I also add some homemade gravy mix (a scant 1/4 cup) at the end to thicken it up and skip the corn starch part of the recipe.

Homemade Brown Gravy Mix:

https://iamhomesteader.com/homemade-brown-gravy/

Since I am IN LOVE with a total ‘Meat and Potatoes Guy’ this Brown Gravy Mix has saved me cash and time and effort. They want 50 cents for a little packet of gravy mix? Yeah. No.

Bear Pepper Steak served over rice with crunchy Chinese Noodles and a side salad and homemade bread. Heaven on a PLATE, Baby! :)


81 posted on 11/03/2025 4:18:10 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

https://iamhomesteader.com/homemade-brown-gravy

.........this Brown Gravy Mix has saved me cash and time and effort......
served over Pepper Steak, rice with crunchy Chinese Noodles and a side salad............


A winner for sure.


82 posted on 11/03/2025 4:25:10 PM PST by Liz (To make a conservative mad, lie to him. To make a leftist mad, tell him the truth.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Fill in the blanks

83 posted on 11/03/2025 4:30:37 PM PST by Liz (To make a conservative mad, lie to him. To make a leftist mad, tell him the truth.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

My experience has been the hardnecked has bigger cloves.


84 posted on 11/03/2025 4:40:53 PM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Eating from my garden this season almost always means shishito peppers! Tonight was no exception! Blistered shishitos with smoked paprika aioli were appetizers. Always a win!

A few nights ago, we had most of the last of my baby red potatoes. Nothing short of amazing!

All the herbs are being used, nearly daily. I have ten + different herbs, so every day, one of them is harvested. Basil, oregano, thyme, tarragon (dying back), chives, marjoram, mint (nearly gone), rosemary, sage, dill (almost gone but looking for a rebirth, even now), and parsley.


85 posted on 11/03/2025 5:32:04 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I am Snoopy this year. I can’t believe how fast the year has gone already! Is it really November? I have so much to do!


86 posted on 11/03/2025 5:36:03 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: MayflowerMadam

That’s super cool!

My younger son has had his hand in many different restaurant jobs. Most recently he was a line chef for an up and coming restaurant where he lives. He got frustrated with their business plan. When he cooks, he wants the prep work to have been completed before he goes in to create his masterpiece. He says you can’t prep and cook (amazing meals, anyway) at the same time.

I heartily agree. A chef should always have access to his ingredients before he starts going at it.

I think I could’ve been a decent pastry chef, or maybe my sister, I think she’s more talented than I am, but I am a bit riskier, so I sometimes have inconvenient flops. Ahhh, that’s the stuff of life, isn’t it!

Hubby was recently discussing with me when we go to vacation next June with our adult kids and our grandchildren. He wondered if we should have each family sign up to take a dinner meal. I told him that I don’t think we need to worry about that more than 6 months away. We are, and all of our kids are, accomplished cooks. It will be more likely that we will be fighting to show off some culinary skill to the others. The kitchen is a hyper busy place when we’re all together.

Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are several of us on top of each other in the kitchen. I kid you not. A nice problem to have, no?


87 posted on 11/03/2025 6:28:18 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Qiviut; MomwithHope; FRiends
The water feature was completed today! There’s still much work left to do before the meditation garden is where I want it to be. I spent the rest of the day (late morning to sunset) moving dirt around, planting ajuga bits from a larger pot, planting several of the perennials I’ve bought (many more to go), and just continually giving it all an eagle eye, making sure that what I’ve been planting is where each should go. Here’s what we have so far. I realize now this is a longer project than I first figured on. My landscaper friend thinks I will be able to get it all done before the first really HARD freeze of the season.

IMG-1853

88 posted on 11/03/2025 6:57:28 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

I particularly like fresh chopped fine shishitos as a pizza topping.


89 posted on 11/03/2025 7:20:53 PM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: FamiliarFace

Wow that looks beautiful thanks for the picture.


90 posted on 11/03/2025 7:23:59 PM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: FamiliarFace

In my post I left out the most important part (duh). Her restaurant is the focus of a PBS series now for a few weeks.

And yes, having so many eager and competent cooks in your family makes you a lucky person!


91 posted on 11/03/2025 7:32:53 PM PST by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: All

Green Beans in Butter Sauce w/ Turkey Morsels

ING---use morsels of cooked leftover turkey seasoned w/ s/p, minced onion, minced gar/cl, heated in bit of turkey gravy or chicken broth, dried or fresh minced thyme, or poultry seasoning.

For green beans-- 1 lb fresh green beans 2 tbl butter 2 minced gar/cl 2 tsp Italian seasoning Pinch red pepper flakes, s/p, ¼ c water, lemon wedges.

To melted butter add onions; sauté 3 min, translucent and golden. Add garlic, stir/cook 30 sec. Add broth, bring to simmer. Add thyme, stir to combine, on med-low simmer 5 min. Add green beans, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, s/p. Stir to distribute. Add water, cover. On low simmer 10-12 min, stir occasionally. Remove lid, squeeze lemon wedge over, stir. (Can thicken w/ cornstarch roux; simmer 2 min to heat thru). Serve turkey w/ green beans in butter sauce and lemon wedges.

92 posted on 11/03/2025 8:11:06 PM PST by Liz (To make a conservative mad, lie to him. To make a leftist mad, tell him the truth.)
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To: MomwithHope

We’ve been using shishitos on our pizza, too! Along with pepperoni, mushrooms, and a bit of red onion. Delish!


93 posted on 11/03/2025 9:14:17 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: MayflowerMadam

Very cool about the PBS show! That’s awesome!


94 posted on 11/03/2025 9:15:39 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: MomwithHope

Thank you! More to come! (Next Spring)


95 posted on 11/03/2025 9:16:35 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

Try swapping out the peperoni with some thin sliced capicola strips, if you can find real capicola. That and a few chopped up fresh tomato pieces instead of a lot of sauce.


96 posted on 11/04/2025 4:10:56 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

Interesting twists! We love trying different things, thanks!


97 posted on 11/04/2025 4:22:07 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

If you can’t get real capicola, cooked good bacon bits are tasty too.


98 posted on 11/04/2025 5:06:22 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

I haven’t looked for it lately, but I think it’s still out there. I appreciate the tip! 😊


99 posted on 11/04/2025 5:51:01 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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