TOMATOES - the bounty of Summertime

My veg garden, 4 8x8ft raised beds because of horrible heavy clay soil.  Planted up and growing nicely June 16th.  Organic with no pesticides, no sprays.  

Growing vigorously, tomatoes supported with wire cages - June 25th.

Almost needing bamboo sticks as they are growing so tall - July 3rd.  I did not prune back side shoots, but did fertilize with an organic seaweed fertilizer that was watered on to the leaves and flowers, only once last week.  

Starting to ripen, cocktail tomatoes.

Plants are healthy, large with lots of flowers and fruit.  July 25th. I read an article about pollinating tomatoes by "shaking" them, so I tried (when I remembered), to give the plants a gentle shake.  Tomatoes are self-pollinating.  

July 27th, summer growing.  Outside planted up with runner beans and Hydrangeas Annabel (grown from small slips), and lavender on the outside.

Starting to grow some lovely big tomatoes and a few beginning to ripen in the sun.  July 30th.  I planted a lot of butterfly and bee flowering plants around to attract them, to do the pollinating - and because I love them.

Cocktail tomatoes.

Beefsteaks - July 30th.

Some of the bounty - picking of tomatoes, cucumbers and jalapeño chili peppers. August 8th.

Staked with long bamboo stakes as they are outgrowing their wire cages, heavy with fruit.  August 13th.

Basil - outstanding companion plant with tomatoes and great added to tomato sauces - I chop and add once it's done so that the basil is fresh and delicious.

A few ripe, many, many bunches of green cocktail tomatoes. Aug 13th.

More cocktail tomatoes and cucumbers picked August 13th.

Today, August 25th.  I had so many ripe tomatoes, I decided to make some sauce to freeze and add to soups, curries, stews when there aren't any fresh tomatoes.  I chopped up a large bowl of fresh tomatoes, added 2 jalapeños.  I like hot stuff!

A nice big bowl, picked a big bunch of fresh thyme and tossed it in.

Into my Le Creuset cast iron pot, added a 1/2 tsp of Himilayan Pink Sea Salt, a 1/2 tsp of crushed black pepper and a rounded tsp of organic raw Turbinado sugar - you can leave this out but it's a small amount and I always add to tomato dishes to cut the acidity.  

Bring to a boil, simmer on low for about 20 minutes.

Allow to cool, divide into useable portions and freeze.  This would have been absolutely delicious eaten as is, with crusty warm bread to sop up the juices.  You do not have to add the chili.  Use as a base for any dish calling for a fresh tomato sauce.  

MY VEGETABLE GARDEN - also a refuge to relax

BABYLONSTOREN PART IV - The Farmshop

Welcome to the Farmshop - Winetasting, Bakery, Charcuterie & Cheese

The Farmshop

The Bakery - the marble countertop where the breads are kneaded, behind is the old oven where amazing breads are baked

Beautiful bread creations, red stripes of beet juice, different herbs, seeds and nuts abound.

Wine tasting area - I absolutely love the table - a solid piece of wood on iron legs.

Wine gift baskets woven from grape vines.

More wine tasting in the attic.

Charcuterie - home smoked meats from the farm

Ready to slice, don't you just love their signature wall tile murals?

Biltong - South African dried meat

Selection of cheeses, fresh from their farm.

Taste, buy a slice, wedge or chunk of your favorite.
Babylonstoren - the most amazing farm to visit - for a wonderful walk amongst their 8 acre veg gardens, tea in the glass house, or wine tasting.  If you are in the Cape Winelands, you have to go!  

BABYLONSTOREN Part II - in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. In the 8-acre vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. Gorgeous vistas, walks, structures created from wood and willow like trellises, archways, and fences, and then there are the bees to pollinate, ducks and chickens who live in really cool homes. Oh to be a chicken, duck or bee living at Babylonstoren.

One of my favorite photos - strolling by the tree tomato!

Where the ducks hang out.

Inside the duck structure

I want to be an egg-laying chicken living in this place, my own garden and work out area.  They tie bunches of vegetables, leaves etc. that the chickens have to jump to reach - FOR EXERCISE! There it's hanging from the roof structure.

Between the rows of fruit trees in the orchards, carpets of herbs and flowers.

The bee hives are enclosed in this large walled area that you can look through bee cutouts in the doors, and see the hives amongst their very own orchard.  

One of the many bee hives

Clucking and scratching around everywhere amongst the vegetable gardens and the fruit trees, are these beautiful chickens.

Quite a cute little chicken house for those who scratch around the farm and need a break.  I love the bunch of fresh herbs and veges for them to nibble on.