This was my first time growing tomatillos here on my farm, and I learned a little along the way. The fruits turned out much smaller than I expected, so next year, I plan to try trimming some of the plant growth and see how they respond. I’ll also pay closer attention to their growing conditions to see what might help improve the harvest. Once I had enough tomatillos to use in the kitchen, I decided to roast them with onions, salt, and pepper before blending them into a salsa. Roasting softens...

Pumpkins have been showing up in our family in all sorts of ways lately. My daughter has been bringing me pumpkins, and last Sunday night, we shared a pumpkin pie made by my son-in-law. He likes to roast pumpkins, puree the flesh, and freeze it for later, so he has pumpkin ready when he wants to bake. I appreciate that kind of planning, especially when it means homemade pie down the road! Choosing and Carving Your Pumpkin Pumpkin season is a good time to visit a local farmers market. You...

Tomatoes are one of those garden vegetables I always like having around because they can go straight from the garden into so many everyday meals. At Garden Gate Lavender, we grow tomatoes along with cucumbers, squash, peppers, greens, and other seasonal produce, so simple recipes like this tomato quiche are a practical way to use what is growing. It starts with a proper pie crust, made from scratch. I know a store-bought crust is tempting when you're already busy with harvest, but a homemade...