In Gilda’s Garden

from Country Acres - July 17 edition

Toe-MAY-toe, toe-MAH-toe

Page 22 • Country Acres - Friday, July 17, 2020 In Gilda’s Garden Compiled by Diane Leukam

SAUK CENTRE – Gilda Gieske has been gardening north of Sauk Centre for nearly 30 years, where she and her husband, Dan, work together and have raised their three children. Gilda grows a wide variety of vegetables and berries, and attends farmers’ markets in Long Prairie, Melrose and Sauk Centre. In addition, the couple has a number of sheep and laying chickens, along with some cats, which Gilda says, “just show up.” Having grown up in a large city, Gieske has a unique perspective on her life in the country. We hope you enjoy these photos, accompanied by quotes from Gieske that were gleaned from a visit with her July 9 at the farm.

“These are our winter squash and pumpkins. Back where Dan is mowing is an 1875 log building that we moved from Dan’s home farm. It was originally a granary.” “I grew up in Cincinnati. I went to Macalester College for a few years for urban planning and then I discovered I really hated urban planning. So, I stayed in St. Paul and met Dan. It’s kind of silly stupid, but I remember sitting in my big high school class doodling and what I really wanted was this farm with these animals, two of these and two of those. I think three

“These are my hollyhocks. A lot of these things I grow for eye candy. Sunflowers come up every year. I leave them where I want them and where I don’t want them they become a weed. The definition of a weed is a plant out of place.”

“A bee lawn is a new thing. Ours started 29 years ago. Some is intentional and some just happens. We maybe take it a little bit extreme with the bee lawn to encourage pollinators, but we have all our cherry bushes and plums loaded so we can’t complain.”

species is plenty; I am enjoying this.”

“These are garlic scapes and they don’t do anything. Right now, it’s very ‘foodie’ to have garlic scapes on the menu. You can pickle or chop them, or use them in scrambled eggs, hotdishes and soups.”

“The south end is potatoes that belong to a young friend in St. Paul whose masters program got closed down because of COVID. Instead of doing nothing, he was working with potato farmers in Mexico and Peru. So, he bought 100 pounds of seed potatoes. I asked him, ‘what are you going to do with 800 pounds of potatoes?’ Idealistic young people don’t plan that far ahead. They are enthusiastic, they are wonderful. I love young people. He is 34.”