The 2022 Salsa Season Starts!

 Karen's Side-Street Salsa Kitchen is NOW OPEN!

Karen in super salsa form down on our seasonal salsa farm!

Recent Salsa History                                                                                                                      The last couple years have been rough as far as salsa. Life and ministry were so crazy in 2019 that we didn't have a salsa garden (tomatoes or related peppers). And then in '20 and '21 we lost a large portion of our tomato crop to "bottom rot" which is caused by irregular watering and/or a calcium deficiency. We had a very hot/dry season in '20 and a very wet/warm season in '21. 

Current Salsa Situation                                                                                                                  So THIS year we were ready with an improved water management plan and a calcium control regimen. Those elements helped as the tomato garden took off like crazy this spring.

Pepper Problems                                                                                                                         Of course, that means our pepper garden (jalapeno, bell, and banana peppers) nearly failed. Karen planted seeds three times in quest of germination. The third seeding grew-out uneven with 1 1/2 jalapeno plants, 7 bell pepper plants, and 1 banana pepper plant. Normally we have 6 plants each. While jalapeno and bell peppers are found retail down here, banana peppers are rather rare in our local produce reality. And if someone tells you that "Hungarian Hots" are the same thing (because they look nearly identical to banana peppers) don't believe them. So we're hoping our single banana pepper plant has a banner banana year. 

Our thin pepper patch. 

Forging Ahead, Full Speed Ahead                                                                                                That being said, WE JUST HARVESTED, PROCESSED AND CANNED our first batch of Salsa for 2022. It was a great harvest with only one tomato having bottom rot. The rest were ripe, red, and ready to be picked. This first pick produced 11 lovely quarts of Karen's Side Street Salsa.

Chopping, slicing, and dicing.

Salsa pot simmer in the North Carolina summer.

Poetry in motion.

Karen's Side-Street Salsa 2022, Batch #1

We look forward to at least two more tomato harvests this year.

Future Salsa Batches #2 and #3?

While we don't ship salsa, we do share it if you're ever in town.