"Bummer In The Summer". Worst year ever in the garden. A botched sewer reconstruction and repaving project in our hood unleashed a plague of voracious rats. While I'm in full-tilt gonzo complaining mode I should also mention that the army of rabbits in the Chelsea finally discovered that my heirloom tomatoes taste way better than the weeds most of us call our "lawns". And I 'll never forget the flocks of ravenous birds that hovered and pecked out the centers of my lovely tomatoes and sweet peppers. It's a miracle that we were left with much of anything to eat but our luckier neighbors were happy to share. Every day we count our blessings that we moved here. I hope everybody on Earth can find their way to a peaceful place like this. As often as we can we put some produce on the curbside table to share with our neighbors and all others who wander down South Chelsea Lane. My 2015 'still life' depicts Italian summer squash, one very big Amana Orange tomato, violin shaped butternut squash, Armenian hard neck garlic Black Cherry tomatoes, Sungold Cherry tomatoes, a heart shaped Romanian tomato grown from seed given to me by a neighbor whose mother hand-carried it from the old country, Thai hot peppers, wrinkly "fish" peppers, sweet Texas purple torpedo onions, red "Cheese" peppers, an orange Hungarian pepper, a delicious yellow onion, German "Lunchbox" red/green mini pear shaped tomatoes, red mini bell peppers. Our goal this year is to save as many of seed types that worked as we can and share them with the neighborhood in the coming years. Almost everything we grow is from organic seed, never any GMOs. That's right, Monsanto, Bayer etc. No GMOs, no pesticides, no herbicides, no chemical factory fertilizers. We never have and we never will. You don't need to dose your garden with chemicals to grow lovely, delicious food for your family and neighbors.

East Bethesda, Maryland late September 2013. Cheese pepper grown from Baker Creek Seeds. I discovered Baker Creek while roaring through Petaluma CA in a rented Mustang. The sign said "Seed Bank", and it was. All banks should be seed banks, no more money banks. Out of 60 seeds I tried germinating in February 2013 only one produced a viable plant. I nursed that sucker along until May when I put it into the ground with no expectations of success. If you can get your hands on this one go for it; it's a killer roasting pepper, very meaty and sweet. Postscript. At the end of Fall 2013 I saved and dried quite a few seeds from this heirloom pepper. In February 2014 I got a very high germination rate and expect to be harvesting delicious peppers in few months. In the garden every year is different. Last year I was harvesting around 80-100 Sun Gold cherry tomatoes almost every day from late June through September. This year I'm getting only 8-10. I got a blast of BIG heirloom tomatoes in July; Mortgage Lifter, Cosmonaut Volkov, Neves, Argentine, ugly but delicious Vorlon from Bulgaria and the star of the show Amana Orange (by far the tastiest big one I've ever grown...). Last year Early Girl was a sugar bomb, this year a bore as were the highly touted Bloody Butcher variety; what works one year in one garden may manifest itself very differently in another place, another time. Other highlights this year were yellow summer squash, lemon thyme, lemon verbana, one precious Savoy cabbage, sweet red Texas Torpedo onions, yellow cippolini onions, Rioja Spanish garlic, "cheese" (shaped) sweet red roasting peppers, red and orange mini bell peppers, hot "fish" peppers from the Chesapeake region, Thai Dragon red peppers (not just hot but very flavorful...), Mammoth dill from California, crazy good oregano from Sicily and over 20 varieties of delicious lettuces (Little Gem, Red Sails, Outredgeous, Gentilina, Oak Leaf, Flame, Red Velvet, Rubin, Speckles, Flame, Sunset, Tango, Bon Jardin, Butter Crunch, etc.). Growing flavorful basil in Maryland is about as difficult as finding a cheap cold glass of beer in Baltimore Town. I grew (and mostly gave away...) Boloso, Genovese, Large Leaf from California, purple Violetto, Classico, Ararat from Armenia and a very unique and wonderful lemon flavored gem from Iran given to me as seed by a neighbor in 'the Chelsea". Flops included raddichico (last year awesome, this year hardly any that didn't bolt...), cilantro (quickly went to seed and turned purple/black yikes!), Mammoth yellow peppers (never turned yellow nor grew Mammonth but fell off the plant limp and green...), Jimmy Nardello peppers (great name but no flavor), Bordeaux Spinich, cute but weakly flavored "greek" bush basil, mostly sour strawberries, delicious but out of control mint and cucumbers (some kind of beetle infestation...). My front yard farm "store" (everything is free...) was a success in terms of doing the hang with our way cool neighbors and assorted folks traveling down our street. We've been rewarded with many new friends, thumbs up, right ons, travel tips, countless recipes, "marketing" advice, many bottles of good red wine, home grown produce, dinner invitations, gardening hints, political commentary, personal histories, memories of musical performances, neighborhood news, delicious homemade pesto, delicious summer squash soup, fiery hot pepper ketchup and more. Better still there's a sizable contingent of neighbors who have started growing their own vegetables and herbs including some things I never thought of planting.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 7 I started a tray of tomato plants. It took about seven days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Organic, low impact and non-GMO is how we roll. Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plant I take the trays upstairs to a cooler darker location every evening. People, it's easy. If you're still buying tomato plants you should try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant delicious Vorlon Russian, Solar Flair, Armenian, Pomadoro, Ten Fingers Of Naples, Black Icicle, Paul Roebson, Striped Roman, Black Cherry, Sungold Cherry, Big Rainbow, Black Mauri, Roman Candle, Azoychka, Hillbilly Flame, Mortgage Lifter, Amana Orange, two types of Romanian tomatoes given to me by my gardening buddy neighbor, San Marzano Lungo and Aunt Ginny's Purple. Starting in July we'll have plenty of fresh heirloom tomatoes for the table and for our neighbors.

East Bethesda, Maryland, June 20, 2015. Here's a beautiful and very tasty Savoy cabbage. I wish I'd planted more than two of these. I'll plant more in August for late fall harvest.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. The garden will abide. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a location that's cooler and darker. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants from local corporate suppliers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Whole Foods etc. you should try to grow your own. The availability of heirloom, organic non-GMO seeds online is just astonishing. On May 1 I'll plant Corno DiToro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the brutal single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that's easy to see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. The garden will abide.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 7 I started a tray of tomato plants. It took only about seven days for most of the seeds to germinate. Amazing! Conditions? Organic, low impact and non-GMO is how we roll. Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to cooler and darker location. People, it's easy. If you're still buying tomato plants from Whole Foods, Home depot and other corporate retailers you should really try to grow your own. Send me an S.A.S.E. and I'll mail you a bunch of cool seed FREE! On May 1 I'll plant delicious Vorlon Russian, Solar Flair, Armenian, Pomadoro, Ten Fingers Of Naples, Black Icicle, Paul Roebson, Striped Roman, Black Cherry, Sungold Cherry, Big Rainbow, Black Mauri, Roman Candle, Azoychka, Hillbilly Flame, Mortgage Lifter, Amana Orange, two types of Romanian tomatoes given to me by my gardening buddy neighbor, San Marzano Lungo and Aunt Ginny's Purple. Starting in July we'll have plenty of fresh heirloom tomatoes for the table and for our neighbors. The garden will abide.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a location that's cooler and darker. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants you should try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant Corno Di Toro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.

Worst ever year in the garden. Let's call it "Bummer In The Summer". A botched sewer reconstruction and repaving project in our hood unleashed a plague of voracious rats. I should also mention that the army of rabbits in the Chelsea finally discovered that my heirloom tomatoes taste way better than the weeds most of us call our "lawns". We were also attacked by air. Flocks of ravenous birds hovered and pecked out the centers of my lovely tomatoes and sweet peppers. It's a miricle that we were left with much of anything to eat but our luckier neighbors were happy to share. Depicted is Black Incan Kulli corn thats now around fifteen feet tall. Two of the stalks actually have two ears of corn each. We look forward to harvest.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. Just behind the flimsy wire fence are about 100 garlic plants, loafing away mostly underground, waiting for Spring. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not too much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. The garden will abide.

Bethesda, Maryland 2017. I started germinating pepper seeds inside under wide bandwidth shop lights on New Years Day 2017. During January and February I also started basil, lettuces, Italian oregano, parsley, marjoram, radicchio, cabbage, fennel, tomatoes and some French shallot bulbs. I've now got over 100 plants to take care of until I start planting them in my front yard garden in April.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a location that's cooler and darker. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants from Whole Foods, Home Depot etc. you should really try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant Corno DiToro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.

Bethesda, Maryland 2017. I started germinating pepper seeds inside under wide bandwidth shop lights on New Years Day 2017. During January and February I also started basil, lettuces, Italian oregano, parsley, marjoram, radicchio, cabbage, fennel, tomatoes and some French shallot bulbs. I've now got over 100 plants to take care of until I start planting them in my front yard garden in April.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a location that's cooler and darker. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants you should try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant Corno Di Toro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.

East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a cooler and darker location. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants you should try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant Corno Di Toro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.

Bethesda, Maryland 2017. I started germinating pepper seeds inside under wide bandwidth shop lights on New Years Day 2017. During January and February I also started basil, lettuces, Italian oregano, parsley, marjoram, radicchio, cabbage, fennel, tomatoes and some French shallot bulbs. I've now got over 100 plants to take care of until I start planting them in my front yard garden in April.

Bethesda, Maryland 2017. I started germinating pepper seeds inside under wide bandwidth shop lights on New Years Day 2017. During January and February I also started basil, lettuces, Italian oregano, parsley, marjoram, radicchio, cabbage, fennel, tomatoes and some French shallot bulbs. I've now got over 100 plants to take care of until I start planting them in my front yard garden in April.

Bethesda, Maryland 2017. I started germinating pepper seeds inside under wide bandwidth shop lights on New Years Day 2017. During January and February I also started basil, lettuces, Italian oregano, parsley, marjoram, radicchio, cabbage, fennel, tomatoes and some French shallot bulbs. I've now got over 100 plants to take care of until I start planting them in my front yard garden in April.

The Peppery Man was cross and thin;

He scolded out and scolded in;

He shook his fist, his hair he tore;

He stamped his feet and slammed the door.

Heigh ho, the Peppery Man,

The rabid, crabbed Peppery Man!

Oh, never since the world began

Was any one like the Peppery Man.

His ugly temper was so sour

He often scolded for an hour;

He gnashed his teeth and stormed and scowled,

He snapped and snarled and yelled and howled.

He wore a fierce and savage frown;

He scolded up and scolded down;

He scolded over field and glen,

And then he scolded back again.

His neighbors, when they heard his roars,

Closed their blinds and locked their doors,

Shut their windows, sought their beds,

Stopped their ears and covered their heads.

He fretted, chaffed, and boiled and fumed;

With fiery rage he was consumed,

And no one knew, when he was vexed,

What in the world would happen next.

Heigh ho, the Peppery Man,

The rabid, crabbed Peppery Man!

Oh, never since the world began

Was any one like the Peppery Man.

- Arthur Macy

Worst ever year in the garden. Let's call it "Bummer In The Summer". A botched sewer reconstruction and repaving project in our hood unleashed a plague of voracious rats. I should also mention that the army of rabbits in the Chelsea finally discovered that my heirloom tomatoes taste way better than the weeds most of us call our "lawns". We were also attacked by air. Flocks of ravenous birds hovered and pecked out the centers of my lovely tomatoes and sweet peppers. It's a miricle that we were left with much of anything to eat but our luckier neighbors were happy to share. Depicted here are two ears of Black Incan Kulli corn growing out of the same stalk. In the distance see a huge condo building nearing completion. Once a sleepy outlying district with lots of affordable housing for government "clerks", B-Town is undergoing the urbanization/"gentrification" we anticipated when we moved here fifteen years ago.

#BreakfastMealDeal - #EggBacon or #EggSausage on Muffin with Regular Coffee £3.50 #CheesePeppers #CityCafe #ShopLocal #eatlocal #localcafe #CityofLondon #MealDeal

Cheese and Peppers #CityCafe is bustling, cosy, friendly cafe in the heart of the City of London near Monument tube station -

We have been taking care of hungry City workers and visitors in the Square Mile for 30 years. We are a privately owned independent eatery.

Cheese and Peppers

11 Eastcheap #CityofLondon EC3M 1BN

To order call +44(0)2076238673 or email cheeseandpeppers@outlook.com

#EggBacon or #EggSausage on Muffin with Regular Coffee £3.50 - #CheesePeppers is a bustling, cosy, friendly cafe located in the heart of the #CityofLondon near #Monument tube station on #CheapsideLondon - Follow #CheesePeppers for #specialoffer #MealDeal #chicken #vegan #GlutenFree #CityCafe #CityofLondonLocals #KeepThingsLocal #ShopLocal #eatlocal #localcafe bit.ly/2XWC7zj

#Vegan #GlutenFree Aubergine Bake £5.80 #CheesePeppers #CityCafe #ShopLocal #eatlocal #localcafe #CityofLondon #MealDeal

Cheese and Peppers #CityCafe is bustling, cosy, friendly cafe in the heart of the City of London near Monument tube station -

We have been taking care of hungry City workers and visitors in the Square Mile for 30 years. We are a privately owned independent eatery.

Cheese and Peppers

11 Eastcheap #CityofLondon EC3M 1BN

To order call +44(0)2076238673 or email cheeseandpeppers@outlook.com

#Vegan #GlutenFree Aubergine Bake £5.80 - #CheesePeppers is a bustling, cosy, friendly cafe located in the heart of the #CityofLondon near #Monument tube station on #CheapsideLondon - Follow #CheesePeppers for #specialoffer #MealDeal #chicken #vegan #GlutenFree #CityCafe #CityofLondonLocals #KeepThingsLocal #ShopLocal #eatlocal #localcafe bit.ly/2YOKr1h

Cheese and Peppers: Sandwich Platters - Free Delivery to the City of London - Free Fruit Platter with orders over £50 -Yummy Sandwich Platters from #CheesePeppers #CityCafe #FreeDelivery to the #CityofLondon PLUS #FreeFruitPlatter with orders over £50 #BreakfastPlatter #SavouryPlatter #DessertPlatter #FruitPlatter #ShopLocal #eatlocal #localcafe #CityofLondon #MealDeal bit.ly/2XNcOQr