Seems to be soup weather again, with forays into blister rust

Bitter howling winds and rain, hail etc, means an extended soup season.

Which also meant, since my gallant son was not able to get here till this evening with the groceries, riding over the hill, panniers packed, I had to rummage about in the freezer.

I found the last of last year's farm asparagus, the last of some green beans, and remembered chickpeas in the Cabinet of Beans.

So, chicken broth, curry powder, plenty of fresh ground black pepper, milk powder, the end of the potato flakes for thickening, and a large pot of soup emerged.

With that bready cornbread, pretty good. And several more meals to go.

The other reason to finish the asparagus, aside from being high time, is that this year's asparagus season is almost on us.

This early in the year, the farm stand is not staffed, so there's an honor box for the money, padlocked, and a change box to get change. They've been doing this for years.

 Only in the last couple have they had to install cameras, sadly. Much bigger population, no history with the Stults family, and the sheer labor of farming, I'd guess.

 Anyway the first asparagus is an event. I imagine since it's food they'll be able to open. Since NJ is an agricultural state, despite our industry, pharma, etc, there are laws about permitting food production. Watering bans in droughts don't apply, even to home gardens producing food.

We have laws against gooseberries, too! They can not be grown here because they carry white pine blister rust, a scourge of the white pines which are an important export crop. One crop pitted against another.

Full disclosure: I had a lovely gooseberry bush in our first house, planted by the previous owner, probably predating the law. Made some good jam, too.