Coteau Valley Farm is in the final stages of the epic journey of the garlic! Wow, almost one year ago we were all outside freezing cold and planting these bulbs in the ground, wondering if they would even grow. Well grow they did and now the final stages of cleaning up the cured garlic are here. After eight long weeks of drying the garlic on a flat screen with no light and plenty of air circulation the roots finally feel like a hard bristled brush. It is time to trim the garlic up and remove the excess dirt. They will be stored in a cool dry place until they will go back into the ground. Looking at the garlic prior to cleaning and trimming it, the garlic looks like a dried-up ball of dirt. When it was harvested we did not remove a lot of the excess dirt from the ground so it just dried with the garlic. But, oh how satisfying, to remove the dirt and skin and see the lovely garlic bulb that lays under all the grime. Simply cut the stem a good inch or two above the bulb to ensure no bacteria attacks the bulb and then just trim off the roots. Finally, gently rub off the excess dirt taking a layer or maybe more if necessary of the paper-like skin. The cleaning process is so rewarding to see the fruit of the plant and its beauty. It definitely is a reminder when a crop is planted in the ground and one waits almost one year that God is really the master of the harvest and the sower has little to do with the event. Especially with an organic crop planted with your own hands a whole lot of energy is exerted. I am unsure how much pleasure one receives from harvesting with a giant combine but when you bend over and do the work it is in my opinion much more rewarding. It reminds me of running on a treadmill versus getting outside and feeling the dirt under your feet, seeing the scenery, and smelling the fresh air, it cannot compete. Although we still have a lot of garlic to clean this was a completely satisfying family project. We will plant a good amount again for next year and some is already sold and a little more is going to some Coteau Valley Farm family. It was a great learning experience and we hope to do a better job next year and a larger crop!
Coteau des Prairies
South Dakota Hobby Farm
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