Greetings from Connecticut! I am a first time grower and voracious reader of THP. Thank you for creating an amazing community to exchange info. I have been a member of skiing, mountain bike, BBQ, and wood stove forums over the years. I know the time and effort it takes to contribute to a community like this and I hope to contribute my share in the areas I have knowledge.
As a first time grower I tried to get fully immersed from the start. I started lots of my non-pepper plants from seed indoors this March. I also started others from seed outdoors. I was really stoked to do the following; carrots, beets, radishes, red and yellow onions, leeks, mesclun, peas, strawberries, and a ton of different herbs. I ended up grabbing 6 jals and 4 habs plants from the local nursery on a whim. It turns out the hot peppers have taken the lion share of my interest and are by far my favorite section of the garden. I also have some tomatoes and an eggplant that a buddy gave me. The whole garden project started as something to do between jobs and has turned into one of the most rewarding daily activities this Spring/Summer. Thankfully my new gig is working from home so I don't have to neglect my garden.
The whole project has been great for me and my 6 year old son. Both of us have been amazed at the process from seed to plate. Providing some food for the two kids and my wife has helped me deflect some of the flack I got from the wife regarding the monetary expenditure of going balls deep on my first grow effort.
Other hobbies include playing lacrosse (25+ years now), coaching HS lax at the local HS, skiing, mountain biking, and cooking. The cooking has evolved into its own thing. We have entered and won awards at the first 3 cook offs we entered in Westport CT... even scoring Grand Champ in our second year. While I plan to learn more about growing peps I plan to add my share of content in the BBQ, cooking, and Throw Down forums!
Here is a link to a short segment I was hired to film for a web site...
http://hooplaha.com/grilling-out/
And now for some pics!
4 habs on the left and 6 jals on the right. That jal in the lower right is my runt. Way too much rain here lately so they look overwatered IMO.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9160299147/[/img]
Overhead shot of my garden. I have moved the peps, tomatoes, and eggplant in containers to an area that gets more sun.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9162523764/[/img]
And some food porn...
Korean marinated beef short ribs
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9160303937/[/img]
This free form layered cheese cake took 3rd place this past September.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9160304471/[/img]
Some broccolini, mashed purple potatoes, and a rib eye with a shallot and herb compound butter.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9162527716/[/img]
I will try to dig up some more food porn later. I have a few good picks of Rick Browne stopping by our cook site at one of the BBQ comps.
PS - Sorry for the crappy iPhone pics. I need to upgrade to take better pics of my garden and food... I mean kids... yeah pics of my kids.
As a first time grower I tried to get fully immersed from the start. I started lots of my non-pepper plants from seed indoors this March. I also started others from seed outdoors. I was really stoked to do the following; carrots, beets, radishes, red and yellow onions, leeks, mesclun, peas, strawberries, and a ton of different herbs. I ended up grabbing 6 jals and 4 habs plants from the local nursery on a whim. It turns out the hot peppers have taken the lion share of my interest and are by far my favorite section of the garden. I also have some tomatoes and an eggplant that a buddy gave me. The whole garden project started as something to do between jobs and has turned into one of the most rewarding daily activities this Spring/Summer. Thankfully my new gig is working from home so I don't have to neglect my garden.
The whole project has been great for me and my 6 year old son. Both of us have been amazed at the process from seed to plate. Providing some food for the two kids and my wife has helped me deflect some of the flack I got from the wife regarding the monetary expenditure of going balls deep on my first grow effort.
Other hobbies include playing lacrosse (25+ years now), coaching HS lax at the local HS, skiing, mountain biking, and cooking. The cooking has evolved into its own thing. We have entered and won awards at the first 3 cook offs we entered in Westport CT... even scoring Grand Champ in our second year. While I plan to learn more about growing peps I plan to add my share of content in the BBQ, cooking, and Throw Down forums!
Here is a link to a short segment I was hired to film for a web site...
http://hooplaha.com/grilling-out/
And now for some pics!
4 habs on the left and 6 jals on the right. That jal in the lower right is my runt. Way too much rain here lately so they look overwatered IMO.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9160299147/[/img]
Overhead shot of my garden. I have moved the peps, tomatoes, and eggplant in containers to an area that gets more sun.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9162523764/[/img]
And some food porn...
Korean marinated beef short ribs
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9160303937/[/img]
This free form layered cheese cake took 3rd place this past September.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9160304471/[/img]
Some broccolini, mashed purple potatoes, and a rib eye with a shallot and herb compound butter.
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/98146529@N07/9162527716/[/img]
I will try to dig up some more food porn later. I have a few good picks of Rick Browne stopping by our cook site at one of the BBQ comps.
PS - Sorry for the crappy iPhone pics. I need to upgrade to take better pics of my garden and food... I mean kids... yeah pics of my kids.
from sunny South Florida! 
