The Transatlantic Touch

Wow. I am SO glad to be back home. Visiting the UK was delightful, with stunning scenery and huge fun with old and new friends, but - alas - I am not an easy traveller and coming back to the lovely VB fall weather was perfectly timed. What does this have to do with a little backyard garden blog? Well, I returned to the States with a full realization of what lousy food we generally settle for here! The U.S. is known for its quantities of food but most of our European friends are horrified at the quality of the food we eat, both from the store and in restaurants, and now I can see why. For two weeks, travelling around public eateries and staying at the homes of friends, we never saw pre-prepared meals. No "instant" anything. NO fake foods, no artificial flavoring or coloring, no fake sweeteners. I was staggered by the extent of the emphasis on locally grown, organically produced, fresh veggies and meats. According to all the travel jokes, Hell is where the cooks are British.... but we found the food to be delightful! The old days of overcooked vegetables and podgy porridge have given way to a new paradigm that combines the old recipes with a wonderful freshness.

We've come home to harvest the last of our fading garden - had friends over to help eat up last, delicous figs and che fruits, glean out the end of the tomatoes and peppers and help us feel we'd gotten every ounce out of our summer production. We'll spend the next week cleaning up the raised beds and replanting with the winter crops of mesclun mixes, lettuces, garlics, leeks and winter greens. Can't wait!!!