Garden Wars!!! (Week 6)
Here we are, at the halfway point in an epic battle determining which of three men has the greenest thumb. Last week, Ryan Smartt left with a solid victory (with the help of a certain canine friend), but whose greens will reign supreme in this, the sixth battle of Garden Wars?
Here we are, at the halfway point in an epic battle determining which of three men has the greenest thumb. Last week, Ryan Smartt left with a solid victory (with the help of a certain canine friend), but whose greens will reign supreme in this, the sixth battle of Garden Wars?
Obligatory explanation of this Richmond Internet Juggernaut:
John Sarvay (of Floricane and Buttermilk & Molasses), Ryan Smartt (of ConnectRichmond), and Scott Pharr (of PharrOut and RVANews) face off each week as they showcase images of their agricultural efforts, complete with clever(ish) captions. Then you, the readers, decide who wins. Whoever has won the most number of weeks out of the three-month run of this series will be treated to a meal by the losers.
Our current standings are:
Sarvay: 1
Pharr: 2
Smartt: 2
Garden Wars, Week 6, begin!
Sarvay
Dinner this week included kale, carrots, and green beans from our garden. The beans were steamed. We sauteed the kale and carrots with some garlic, and then put it on some polenta cakes.
We picked our first Sungold tomatoes this week, and Thea spent the weekend walking around with her new toys. She tasted them twice, screwing her face up and saying “Yucky!” both times. (Not pictured: A ridiculous harvest of beans, kale and chard. And our first two cucumbers, which Thea devoured before I could get a photo.)
The gardener’s unmentionables. Take 10 hours of direct sun, plenty of watering and a busy work schedule, and you’ve got a recipe for a good crop of weeds! I loaded a full wheelbarrow Sunday morning, and only made it through a third of the garden.
Pharr
Now scared about Sarvay stealing my tomatoes as his own, I’ve had to hire security for safety.
First pepper of the season! Wasn’t sure if it was hot or not, but thankfully after making Kyla eat it, it was just a banana pepper. (Jk, people.)
Although our squash has slowed down we are starting to pull off 3-5 cukes every week now!
Smartt
There’s a reason you plant mint in a pot: IT WILL OVERTAKE YOUR ENTIRE YARD.
Our first batch of Early Girl Tomatoes came early this year. Now they’re all lined up, ready to be sliced, diced, and pureed.
Lyla is so proud of her first harvest. She helped me pick more tomatoes, hot peppers, REALLY hot peppers, and that cucumber we’ve been watching for weeks. I suspect a really spicy gazpacho is in our future.
Now it’s up to you, readers. Cast your vote in the comments and help us decide WHOSE GREENS REIGN SUPREME (for this week anyway)…
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Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Smartt delivered on the tomato front. He gets my vote!
OMG, Sarvay that dinner of kale, carrots, beans…looks great! You had me when served on polenta cakes! Nice move
Looks nothing like the original photo for an Evening at Morton’s does it?
The security force of. Flamingo gets my vote. Pharr this week.
I don’t know if Sarvay actually cooked that delicious-looking meal, but he gets my vote regardless.
Sarvay…
I gotta go with Smartt for the Mint advice, I had no idea. I just learned something (again) from twitter. I should start a diary.
A delicious meal is what growing a garden is all about. My vote goes to Sarvay.
Sarvay for sure!!
I’m gunna go with Smartt. Look at all those tomatoes!!! – Although Pharr almost had me with the Flamingo. Nice one.
Smartt gets my vote for the mint and the ‘maters!
Smartt…. so jealous of those big tomatoes and the artful display on the windowsill.
Sarvay. Is a deli a new sideline for the Sarvays? Loved the look of that dish.
My favorite pictures were: the wheelbarrow of weeds and the flamingo guard man. But Smartt gets my vote, and in return, I should be invited for a large bowl of Gazpacho. MMMMMMM!
Wow Smart already has Tomatoes. Guys catch up!!
It’s Smartt, by a sprig of mint and tomatoes.
Love Pharr’s security guard! Does it keep the deer away?:) Kyla with the pepper is too much. Pharr’s get my vote.
Sarvays get my vote! Dinner looks yummy and Thea’s hat is the bees’ knees!
Sarvay today ~
Tough one this week…but think I’ll go w/ Pharr. Love the flamingo security detail.
I vote for Smartt, because now we can have MOJITOS AND SALSA DANCING FOR BREAKFAST!!!!! A high energy way to start your day.
Pharr made me giggle. Giggles get votes.
Smartt for those tomatoes and that yummy mint. Mojitos anyone?
Dinner is served!! Good job Sarvay!!!!!
I dug the Flamingo detail but I will go with Smartt for the good photos.
Tough, but I’m going with Smartt on this one — the mint, the tomatoes and that patiently waited-for cucumber!
Implied child abuse is no fun, Scott. The flamingo makes up for it, though.
Still voting Smartt, however; the mint and tomatoes are just too much.
Pharr with the flamingo and the pepper!!!
i LOVE Spicy gazpacho. This week: Smartt
Pharr! Because of the phlamingo! (get it, guys?)
Smartt – the creative windowsill shot sold me.
Sarvay, because that first photo made me incredibly hungry. Lovely work!
had me at that first photo. sarvay!
Despite the fact that the tomoatos clash with the red chair Lyla is sitting in, the mint advice is priceless and thus he gets my vote.
Pharr
Smartt. Nothing says summer like a row of tomatoes on a windowsill.
John Sarvay this week for his amazing food picture! Are polenta cakes really good????
The polenta veggies photo is the perfect foil for the wee one’s expression. My vote goes to Sarvay
Smartt’s got a beautiful display of red tomatoes and mint, and Pharr’s flamingo almost had me, but I’ve got to go with Sarvay for Sungold tomatoes – my favorite. That’s classy gardening, John!
Gotta go with Smartt and his line up of Tomato’s they are lookin’ REALLY hot.
sarvay’s polenta cakes entree made my mouth water, i had to stop and stare, then almost ate my coffee cup. but SMARTT is my vote! he’s so smart…mint tea and gazpacho YUM! or mint mojitos and salsa, both combos are necessary down here in tejas. and beautiful capture of all ‘dem der tomatoes you got!
I vote for Smartt this week. At least we can say “He mint well”:):):)
Lyla Smartt is the cutest chili pepper! Ryan Smartt’s harvest is the best! He gets my vote!
The meal looked delish – Sarvay gets my vote. Also – you still had greens after all this dry weather. That takes some skill!
I’m going with Sarvay on this one because I can relate to the mess o’ weeds and the meal looks delicious!
Pharr – flamingos are funny!
To begin, I will have a cool mojito..the Cuban way, of course. Only the finest aged rum, just the right amount of Cuban cane sugar and a some of that glorious mint.
Accompanying my cocktail, I will order some of the cucumber dip (cream cheese, lemon juice, thinly chopped garden peppers, scallions spread on top) + flat bread.
My main course will be a lovely cold gazpacho the Madrid style, of course: cubed tomatoes, thinly sliced cucumbers, peppers, celery, red/orange/green/purple/black bell peppers, scallions, freshly baked croutons, and a dollop of creme fresh.
Mmmmmm….
Oh, yeah, I vote for Ryan and his produce.
And, oh yeah…I vote for that adoreable little “pepper girl” also.
In case you were wondering, the gazpacho was DELICIOUS. I vote smartt.
Smartt wins by a nose! #callingitearly
And the winner is: Smartt! Thanks to everyone who voted!
Tune in tomorrow for Battle #7!
Ryan and Lyla are the best harvesters. Smartt gets my vote!