My weekend is pretty tight and I had to forgo my usual weed expedition/walk to the farmers market. I strongly considered letting Addy fend for herself in the yard but there wasn't any human food in the house either so I made time to drive to the market. I'm glad I did; usually whenever I say "It's for my tortoise," people are interested and willing to sell or even give me something in small portions.
From the Hmong vendor who sells vegetables by the pound I bought one very small head of mustard greens; "dandelions" (these are actually smooth sow thistles but I guess most people don't know the difference); and a small handful of bitter melon vine. I asked if I could have a few Daikon radish leaves and they threw them in free. $2.
I picked up four squash flowers: thirty cents.
I saved a few turnip leaves from the baby turnips I bought for myself. The cucumbers I buy come with some of the stem still attached, so those went into the feed pile as well.
The stand that sells cactus was only selling them in cut up strips for salads this weeks; when I asked if they had any uncut paddles in the back, they just gave me a few strips. The owner there had a tortoise in his native country. Something larger than a Russian for sure; he's always trying to give me a bagful of something.
I wanted to try something different this week so I bought one mushroom at the herb stand; she went crazy for the one she found and dug up in the yard last spring. They sell "dandelions" (chicory) but in huge bunches. I asked if I could have a few of the stems that had broken off for my tortoise. "Sure, they said, "But don't you want more?" as they scooped up a handful. Apparently they sell fourteen bunches at a time to a couple that own very large tortoises!
I don't know how much she'll eat this week--she's slowing down with the weather--but she sure won't starve! (And yes, I definitely know how lucky I am to live in this climate!)
From the Hmong vendor who sells vegetables by the pound I bought one very small head of mustard greens; "dandelions" (these are actually smooth sow thistles but I guess most people don't know the difference); and a small handful of bitter melon vine. I asked if I could have a few Daikon radish leaves and they threw them in free. $2.
I picked up four squash flowers: thirty cents.
I saved a few turnip leaves from the baby turnips I bought for myself. The cucumbers I buy come with some of the stem still attached, so those went into the feed pile as well.
The stand that sells cactus was only selling them in cut up strips for salads this weeks; when I asked if they had any uncut paddles in the back, they just gave me a few strips. The owner there had a tortoise in his native country. Something larger than a Russian for sure; he's always trying to give me a bagful of something.
I wanted to try something different this week so I bought one mushroom at the herb stand; she went crazy for the one she found and dug up in the yard last spring. They sell "dandelions" (chicory) but in huge bunches. I asked if I could have a few of the stems that had broken off for my tortoise. "Sure, they said, "But don't you want more?" as they scooped up a handful. Apparently they sell fourteen bunches at a time to a couple that own very large tortoises!
I don't know how much she'll eat this week--she's slowing down with the weather--but she sure won't starve! (And yes, I definitely know how lucky I am to live in this climate!)
