Edible Gardening

I have been filling my spring with growing things. It is very satisfying, except when the neighbor's naughty cat does her business in my garden box and destroys the entire crop of spinach...jerkface. I am ever tempted with the idea of sustainable living in which I grow as much of the produce that I can that we consume. I think I should probably own a place with a more substantial yard. Someday.

Meanwhile, the landlord has allowed us to put in a 3' x 6' planter box. I've got 4 strawberry plants, several heads of garlic, some lavender, some bergamot, some chives and the evil cat ruined the spinach patch. Also, immediately outside our door, we have a 5' x 10' green space that I have lots of pots of other stuff in. Also, put some sunflowers in around the border for fun and hopefully seeds.

I am growing only edibles, less the pansies I bought to dress up the stoop when my parents came. (My mom always has flowers on the front steps...have to keep up the expectations ;). I have several herbs and LOVE cooking with fresh herbs whenever possible. I'm also drying and preserving some as the season progresses.

Edible plants list includes:
-strawberries
-chives
-garlic
-bergamot (for tea)
-mint
-basil
-cinnamon basil
-oregano
-cilantro
-dill
-sunflower
-lavender
-chamomile (for tea)

Earlier this spring (in a month I consider summer). I experimented with dandelions. I made battered dandelion blossoms, dandelion jelly, dandelion cookies, dandelion syrup (best kind was infused with oranges!) and roasted dandelion root for tea. Here are several good sources for dandelion recipes. I was very satisfied with all of the yield and happy to have such an abundant free ingredient!
http://www.eattheweeds.com/dandelions-hear-them-roar/
http://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/dandelion-flower-cookies
http://www.almanac.com/recipe/dandelion-jelly-0
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fried-dandelions-appalachian-style/detail.aspx

Here is a tour of my garden for the curious:

Drying oregano, mint & dill for winter (on a vintage tie rack)

Non edibles, pansies and some wild violets I found in the weeds in the back yard. Just stormed so leaves everywhere

Lavender, chamomile, bergamot, the tea herbs

Cinnamon basil, basil, mint & oregano, the sauce herbs

Mini sunflowers that came in a $1 kit at Target-boutique, next year I will plant jumbos!

I started lots of herbs in pots in the window when I thought it should be spring already, I am gradually transplanting some of them into larger pots and soil as I see fit. Leaving some here too as they are quite sweet! 

Dill bolted recently, going to bloom soon, I will harvest the seeds for pickling. 

Strawberries! I've pulled about 20 berries or more off these plants so far. Tart first year growth but should be good next year.

Free garden box planter. This is a junky particle board book shelf a neighbor was throwing away. It won't last forever of course but is good enough for now. Frugal gardeners unite! The other half has garlic, lavender, chives, bergamot and 1 surviving spinach plant.

1 of many spiders in the garden. I like them. They eat mosquitoes and other jerks. 

Some of the yield from my dandelion experiments. Dark large jar is syrup, smaller jars jelly, and brown stuff is roasted dandelion root. 

Chamomile blooms I have picked and am drying for tea. I think I may have enough for 1 cup. Le sigh.

Fresh chives I have freeze dried for later.