Fresh Veg From a Co-worker...

All the hard work of Wisconsin gardeners is now bearing fruit. When I went to work yesterday, this beautiful bounty was waiting. On Tuesdays, I work with only one other person - Teresa - and we really work well together. She works in the kitchen, and I work in front as a cashier. Our days go fast, too, busy with sales or fuel, grocery, or freshly made food. With only two, we're really hopping most days.

She and I have a wonderful barter arrangement, too. I've shared canned or baked goods, and sometimes help her with sewing requests (machine embroidering her name on her work shirts, or sewing on a loose button. In return, she shares empty canning jars by the dozens, venison (which I love but don't harvest), or now, these beautiful vegetables from her garden. (There was another green pepper, but I used it to make grilled chicken sandwiches with sauteéd onions and peppers on my homemade buns last night.) We also buy her hens' beautiful farm-fresh eggs.

Our garden is small this year due to health circumstances. We have six tomato plants that are bearing fruit, but it's not ripening (yet). The squash I planted is doing really well, as are my basil plants, but overall, the garden won't be producing nearly as much this year. 

Handsome and I have talked about what we want to can this season, but most of the raw materials will come from farmers markets, local farmers and friends. Thanks to Teresa, we have some lovely, organic vegetables to enjoy for meals until we purchase what we need for our canning needs.

In the spirit of bartering, Teresa won't take any money, so I'm going to come up with something nice for her. I'll have to put on my thinking cap to make it extra special.