Parsnip Paradise

Three weeks ago it was still 30 degrees, cold and rainy, but I could smell the soil as the rainwater melted the snow and hopefully the 4 feet of ice under the soil.

After 3 days of rain I grabbed my digging tools and ventured out to the area where I had planted parsnips last summer.

With dozens of storms this winter, I was lucky that the plow driver missed my parsnip row by a few feet.       I wasn't so lucky the first winter I lived here.  He plowed over my row markers and dug up 80% of my crop.

I now mark my parsnip row both with tall posts and rocks.

Anyhow, I quickly found the tiny little green leaves barely showing in the ground and dug up a few short parsnips and smelled the damp earth coming alive after a very very long winter.

The larger, longer parsnips proved harder to dig up as the ground was still frozen 8 inches below the surface.

The flock tried to help get them out of the ground.

Soon, it was like doing an archiological dig.
I had to carefully scrape away the dirt , frozen layer by frozen layer, and try to remove the delicate vegetable from a block of ice that did not want to let it go.

Eventually I won, but it took time and patience.

There were plenty more for the next week, so I knew it would be easier as the ground defrosted to dig up the rest.     I planned on sharing this wonderful harvest.

Here is what I am having for supper and probably for tomorrows lunch too.

SWEEEEET!    I never knew parsnips could be so delicious.  Especially if they stay in the ground through the winter.   Carrots are sweeter too if you overwinter them.

Last year I was digging them up in March, since there was hardly any snow. This year we are all a month behind.  I am glad the parsnips waited for me.

Mrs Howell likes to check on the crocus garden ever few hours.

These purple beautires came up today.   Nice surprise.

 
Here are my parsnips all cleaned up and ready to be parboiled and then sliced and put in a cast iron frying pan with some butter and rolled around until they are fork tender.

I had dig up so many by the weekend that I put a few parsnips in little brown paper bags on Sunday and handed them out at church when the service was over.

As I handed them out at the exit door, I said " Parsnips Be With You!"

(instead of Peace be with you...)       Vermont Veggie humor....

Hope you are either planning your gardens, planting your gardens or sending photos of your growing gardens!   What stage are you in ?