• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Home Garden Joy
  • Home
  • How to Garden
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Diseases
    • Plant Profiles
    • Raised Bed Gardening
    • Seed Starting
    • Tools & Equipment
  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Herbs
  • About
    • Books & Classes
      • Herbalism Classes
      • Books for Christian Herbalists
      • Privacy Policy

Gorgeous Greens

November 22, 2010 by Jeanne

My neighbor Joan invited me to pick greens at her house last weekend, but due to wakes, funerals, travel and such yesterday was the first day I was able to make it over.  I brought her several garlic bulbs which delighted her; apparently her garlic didn’t grow too well this year, so the little bag of six bulbs, with their full, lush cloves was a treat for her.  We picked greens before the men headed out to tour the farm and their poultry house and Joan and I sat down to tea and catching up.

Greens are a treat here in the south, but up north on Long Island where I am originally from, very few people know or enjoy them. I think that’s also because very few are available in the grocery stores. You can buy bags of prepared kale and spinach, and sometimes find Swiss Chard at the store, but you have to really search the farmers markets and little vegetable stands to find other types.

We walked down to one of their three lush and well tended vegetable gardens. The greens grew near the house in a bed of red clay liberally amended with goat and cattle manure that made the perfect soil.  Joan handed me mustard green, field greens, and bunches of greens whose names I did not catch, while Mel picked perfectly globe-shaped turnips. The turnips glowed in the twilight with a purple beauty and a healthy, rosy light that you don’t find in months-old, heavily waxed turnips at the store.  With Virginia red clay soil still clinging to the turnips, John bagged them for the trip home. I think only a gardener can appreciate the beauty of the scene; the rich, red soil, the perfect purple and white spheres of turnips with the lush green leaves above.

Once we returned home, John chopped the turnip tops off for me and we put them in a big stockpot of water overnight to keep them fresh.  I’ll cook them tonight, along with our home grown sweet potatoes and pork chops for the fellas.  The other greens are bagged, awaiting their turn in smoothies and salads.  I feel so blessed to have generous neighbors! I could not get over how beautiful their greens were out in the field.  I’m inspired now to grow my own next year. I told Joan about broccoli rabe, and she seemed puzzled, so now I want to grow double – just to share it!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Pierre Takes a Ride
Next Post: How to Make Homemade Walnut Shell Toys: Fairy Cradles »

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Substack
  • YouTube

As Seen in Porch

 As Seen in Porch

We were featured in Porch.com and answered reader's questions about indoor plants.

Explore All Gardening Articles

Latest Articles

  • How to Adjust Soil pH for Vegetable Gardens
  • Meet a Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar
  • Home Grown Garlic: How to Grow Garlic

Herbalism Classes & Supplies

Goods Shop by Herbal Academy – botanically inspired products

Disclosure

Home Garden Joy participates in two affiliate programs: Amazon and The Herbal Academy. Home Garden Joy earns a commission from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. As an Herbal Academy Associate, HGJ also earns a commission when you sign up for classes or purchase herbs or supplies from The Herbal Academy. Herbal information and recipes on this site are provided for educational purposes only.

Footer

garlic growing alongside beets

Home Grown Garlic: How to Grow Garlic

Love it or hate it, garlic is a staple of most pantries. I happen to love garlic, but I know that some do not like it – or the odor that lingers after eating it! Garlic offers many health benefits, and it definitely provides a wonderful, robust flavor to many dishes. As with most home-grown…

Read More

garlic drying on the garage floor

How to Harvest Garlic

Everything you ever wanted to know about how to harvest garlic: when and how to harvest as well as how to properly cure (dry) it for storage. The Complete Guide to Harvesting and Storing Garlic For home gardeners, few moments are as satisfying as pulling that first bulb of garlic from the soil and discovering…

Read More

sunscald spots on tomatoes

Sunscald on Tomatoes: What It Is and How to Prevent It

If you’ve ever walked out to your garden and spotted tomatoes with pale, blistered patches, you might be dealing with a common but frustrating issue: sunscald. It’s not a disease, and it’s not caused by pests. It’s a physiological disorder that stems from too much sun and heat, especially when fruits are suddenly exposed. What…

Read More

close up of a calendula flower

Herbal Profile: Growing Calendula

Growing calendula is easy! The seeds germinate quickly, and calendula can be grown in pots, containers, or garden beds. Best of all, many parts of this beautiful flower are useful. The petals are edible, and the flowers are used to create many herbal skincare products. Learn more about calendula flowers and how you can grow…

Read More

  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Awards

Copyright © 2025 Home Garden Joy on the Foodie Pro Theme