I picked a batch of jalapeño, habanero, and cayenne peppers from my garden and decided to dehydrate them in my Instant Pot so they wouldn’t go to waste. 🌶️ It was my first time trying it with whole peppers, and I was curious to see how it would turn out.
The Instant Pot automatically sets the dehydrator to 125º for 7 hours, so I loaded all the peppers in together and let it run. When the timer finally beeped, the cayenne peppers were perfectly dried — crisp and ready to store. But the jalapeños and habaneros were still soft and far from done.
So, I reset the dehydrator and ran another cycle. And then another. It ended up taking two long days before the jalapeños and habaneros finally reached that perfect dry snap. The whole house smelled amazing — smoky, spicy, and earthy all at once.
It was definitely a slow process, but totally worth the patience. Now I’ve got a container of homegrown heat ready to crush or grind whenever I want to add some fire to my cooking. Nothing beats preserving your own peppers straight from the garden. 🔥
Back in June, I planted basil, not realizing just how well it would thrive over the summer here in Maryland. Between the warm days and all the summer rain we get, my basil practically took off on its own. Before long, I had a lush, green supply ready for harvesting. There’s something special about stepping outside, picking fresh herbs, and bringing them straight into the kitchen.
This week, I decided to put that abundance of basil to good use by making a classic Pesto alla Genovese. It’s fresh, vibrant, and simple to make, with ingredients that blend together beautifully. Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or even as a dip.
When I planted my garden, my goal was food—but I was methodical about what plants I brought home. I wanted herbs I could cook with, but I also chose ones that could help keep mosquitos and ticks away. That’s why I started with mint, lavender, citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary. Over time, the garden turned into more than just practical; it’s become this little haven of flavor and color right outside my door.
The rosemary is strong and fragrant. I love running my fingers through it just for the scent. Oregano is spilling everywhere, always ready for sauces or soups. Basil has been a favorite, too, with soft green leaves that go perfectly in just about anything. And then there’s the mint. I never quite know what to do with all of it. Other than mint ice cream—which sounds amazing, but I’d have to figure out how to extract the oils first, it just keeps spreading and taking over its corner of the yard.
I’ve been clipping bunches of the herbs and hanging them in my dining room window. They catch the light during the day, filling the room with their scent as they dry. It makes the whole space feel alive, and I love knowing I’ll have jars of homegrown herbs to reach for even after the season ends.
The chilis are another story. I love a little heat to my entrées. So I have habanero, cayenne, and red jalapeños growing, each one fiery in its own way. The funny thing is, I can’t eat spicy foods right now because of diverticulitis. So while they’re growing beautifully, I mostly admire their color, dry some, and am thinking of giving some away. I know one day I’ll be able to enjoy them again, but for now, they’re more for drying and jarring up at the moment.
What I love most is that even without the heat from the chilis, my meals still have plenty of flavor. A little rosemary on roasted veggies, basil with fresh tomatoes, oregano in a simple pasta, it’s enough. The garden has been teaching me that abundance isn’t just about having a lot, it’s about appreciating what you can use in the moment, and being patient with what you can’t.
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After 27 years of living in the mountains of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area of Gardnerville, Nevada, I didn’t expect to fall in love with something as simple as a yard.
In Tahoe, I barely had a yard, just a patch of dirt and a very short summer. I had to put a greenhouse in my garage just to give anything a chance to grow. And even in Gardnerville, where I had chickens, ducks, rabbits, and a garden and outdoor greenhouse, the growing season didn’t last long. The seasons changed fast, and the dry air always made it feel like I was forcing things to grow rather than just letting them.
But here in Maryland… it’s different.
The yard is green. The rain comes often. The humidity? Honestly, I don’t mind it — it feels like everything is alive here. I have a small garden this year, and it’s thriving in a way I’ve never experienced. I’ve got green tomatoes everywhere, chili peppers growing strong — and I barely had to fight for it.
After years of working so hard just to get a few things to grow, this feels like a gift.
I think what surprises me the most is how fast it all happened. In all the years I lived out West, I never had a garden take off like this. There’s something about the soil here, the longer growing season, the moisture in the air — it’s like it just knows what to do.
This yard is healing me in ways I didn’t know I needed. And I’m so grateful for it.
I can’t wait for next year when I can really plan it all out. When I can start from scratch, plant my seeds, and watch them grow from the very beginning. I’ve been saving heirloom seeds for years, just waiting for the right place to plant them. And I think I finally found it. 🌱
☕ Support the Journey: If this post resonated with you or made you feel a little less alone on your own path, you’re always welcome to support my writing with a cup of coffee. Your kindness helps me keep sharing real stories and new chapters, one step at a time: 👉 coff.ee/smalltownmichele
I am tired and dirty, but my garden is finally in. I have some bare spots, but hoping the cantaloupe, pumpkins and watermelon will fill in the gaps.
I planted seeds back at the beginning of April and kept them happy in the greenhouse. The seedlings were getting way too large for their containers and decided this weekend was a good day to finally plant them in the ground.
Summer is officially coming to an end. While I am sad, my kids are actually glad to be back at school which gives me more time to catch up things I have neglected over the last few months.
But seriously (sniff, sniff) summer went by way too fast!!
My kids were out of school just 3 days when we headed to Seacliff Beach in Aptos, CA. I love, love, love the beach!! Living 6-hours away from the ocean we get out there maybe once or twice a year if we are lucky. And this year we were lucky and were able to actually go twice – once in June and then again in August!!
The second time we were at Seacliff — it was AMAZING!! My mother, kids and I had such an extraordinary time at Seacliff State Beach today thanks to my cousins and their kiddos. It was an awesome adventure that included Whales, Dolphins, Seals, and Otters galore! I felt like a kid squealing at the site of the whales. This sighting was MORE EXCITING than when we paid to whale watch in Maui back in April. Oh my gosh it was just jaw dropping and ALL A FREE NATURE SHOW for all at the beach.
Small Town Living in Maryland 