Cleaning Garlic

Growing garlic is one of the most fulfilling things I've ever accomplished.
It's a pretty hands-off kind of crop,
and it yields a harvest that lasts for months.

The original starts for this garlic 
were purchased at Sow True Seed, 
a source for open-pollinated and heirloom seeds
in nearby Asheville.

Each year when I harvest,

I put aside a few heads for the next crop.

Last year, I increased my planting area,

so I was blessed with over 30 heads of garlic.

Lesson learned from the previous growing season,

as I ran out of garlic well before the next crop was ready.

These are the best heads from this harvest,

and they will be placed in a brown paper sack to await planting in the fall.

After drying for 2 weeks,
the current crop was ready for processing.
You can see how much they change in appearance
from the first photo in this post.



 The only tools needed are a stiff brush and a pair of scissors.

The roots are cut fairly close to the bulb
and the embedded soil or mulch goes with them.
Whatever remains behind can be dislodged with the brush.

 The frayed ends are lopped off
and left long enough for braiding,

or cut them off close to the bulb
and keep in the pantry for daily use.

 There are various ways to braid,
but it's pretty much the way one would braid hair.
I tend to place the larger bulbs toward the bottom.
The discoloration on the papery cover doesn't bother me.
It reminds me that this was grown right here.

I'm thinking this bunch will last us the whole year,
with plenty to share.
What a feeling of satisfaction,
knowing there is one thing that we use every day
that we need never buy again.