Note to Self for Memorial Day

I wish these would plant themselves in the yard

The arrival of Memorial Day signifies two things in the UrbanFarmJunkie universe:

1. It's time for my husband to put in the garden. Like all the Little Red Hen's reluctant helpmates, I refuse to have anything to do with farming/gardening, but I am impatient for and most willing to share in the results, come July-September. Left to himself, my husband will plant the exact same things every year, so if there is going to be any branching out in varieties of tomato, it's up to me. I plan to scour the Market's plant starts this Thursday for this year's variation on Beefsteak, Big Beef, and Sweet 100s. The guy doesn't do herbs either, but I want parsley, mint, and basil and think I can get the 12-year-old to plant and care for them.
   
2. Barbecuing season has officially begun. Never mind the rain or temperatures in the 50s and 60s. You haven't lived in the Northwest until you've huddled under a patio umbrella in the pouring-down precip, trying to keep your paper plate of potato salad and hamburger dry.

Market potato varieties that stand up well to rain

 For my fellow barbecuers-in-the-rain, I've compiled a Memorial Day shopping list:

Just a few of Kittitas Valley's tomato offerings

• Hamburger patties
• Sausages
• Bacon (if you like bacon burgers)
• Potatoes for salad
• Eggs for potato salad or to devil
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Cheese of your choice
• A jug of Rockridge Cider
• Salad greens
• Rhubarb for this fabulous cake I've linked to before
• Or a Pie, if you don't feel up to baking

Rockridge Orchard Ciders

 If you've been lucky enough to cadge an invitation to someone else's Memorial Day BBQ, there to huddle under that person's patio umbrella, make yourself more than welcome with a container of toffee, a jar of jam, or a loaf of artisan bread and chunk of Golden Glen Creamery's Queso con Salsa. With such hostess gifts in hand, you'll be sure to receive an invitation to repeat the whole experience when the 4th of July rolls around...