It’s not too soon to think about next year’s garlic crop and I discovered that Blythe’s garlic seed crop at Barbolian Fields is disappearing fast. I could – and will – use some of this year’s garlic crop to seed next year’s. But Blythe sells a veritable rainbow of interesting and exotic garlic, making it impossible to stick to the tried and true. And I find it really hard to keep from getting excited when talking garlic with Blythe. She holds them with the gentle reverence of an artisan. In her hands garlic heads become beautiful jewels as she points out richly colored stripes, discusses their origins, or compares one head to another. She has collected garlics from garlic growing regions worldwide – Romania, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Czechoslovakiah, Asia. Who can resist planting a United Nations of Garlic?
This is a little more than half of Blythe’s remaining crop, much of which she sells by mail order. Needless to say, it wasn’t a quick visit or easy decision-making.
Who would think? Garlic?
From all over the world?
I think I’ve seen garlic before,
Perhaps in the grocery store?
But I’ve always thought it was a bore.
Perhaps I need to think some more?
🙂
“The best thing to do with garlic of course, is to eat it.” – Sylvia Rubin
Now, that’s a big one on the top shot!
Had to get your gar-lick in, didn’t you? Heh, heh. I do like garlic toast. Does that count for anything?
oh, thats so interesting!
i have no clue what garlic we are buying here, but i do know its so very cheap and so strong and tasty. we use it a lot. its much better than the one i used to get in the netherlands….
I have returned to this nice write-up you did, and you described it so perfectly. I continue to be amazed at the variations in color and size and flavor – the striped patterns – the way the color changes as you peel away the layers of the wrappers – how they can taste so very differently depending on how they are grown, the weather, how they are cured, and how they are cooked – and truly, how all the cultures of the world share a love for this simple, rustic bulb that can turn a common meal into an extravaganza! So much depth and complexity from such a humble (and often maligned) plant! Hope your garlic does well for you, Kay!