Back to the Basics!

Dark Opal Basil Jelly ... from Grow Great Grub

2012-02-15T15:42:00.002-05:00

Last month I reviewed an excellent gardening / food book Grow Great Grub by Gayla Trail. Then of course I had all sorts of excitement with the New Seeds announcement and I didn't get a chance to post what looks to be a delicious recipe. This is a jelly recipe I'll look forward to making as soon as my Dark Opal has reached maturity.

"This recipe uses low-methoxyl pectin, a type that allows jam and jelly makers to cut back on the sugar. As a result, this recipe will not work with regular pectin."

Dark Opal Basil Jelly

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups fresh Dark Opal Basil leave, finely chopped
1/2 cup white grape juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons low-methoxyl pectin
3 teaspoons calcium phosphate solution

Directions:
1. Place the basil, white grape juice and 1 1/2 cups water in a pan and bring to a boil. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and set aside to steep for about 20 minutes.
2. Strain the leaves from the liquid. Some liquid will have evaporated, so add more water to bring the quantity up to 2 cups.
3. Pour the liquid back into the pan along with the lemon juice and slowly bring the mixture to a boil. In the meantime, mix the sugar and low-methoxyl pectin in a bowl.
4. Once the herbal liquid is bowling, slowly stir in the sugar-pectin mixture using a whisk, continuing to stir until the powders have dissolved into the liquid and all lumps are gone.
5. Bring the liquid to a vigorous rolling boil that can't be stirred down and allow it to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
6. Quickly and thoroughly stir in the calcium phosphate solution and remove the jelly from from the heat.
7. Pour into sterilized jars and process in a boiling-water bath for 5 minutes.

Makes 5-6 quarter-pint jars

"If you'd rather not bother with sterilizing jars, leave the jelly on the counter to cool and set for a few hours before serving. It will last about a month in the fridge."

Detox Recipe: Salad Dressing

2012-02-14T16:35:00.001-05:00

Today is Day 5 of the detox. I am feeling great and we finally made it to the gym this morning. The recommendations for exercise are 30-45 minutes of moderate exercise every day. For the first few days we walked instead of hitting the gym. I must say the gym was a bit tougher than usual but we made it!

Below is a recipe for salad dressing. I found this recipe a few years ago when I started the program for the first time. I continue to use this recipe even after the program because it is DELICIOUS!

Apple-Cider Vinaigrette (my version)
6 tablespoons organic Apple-Cider Vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 clove garlic, crushed or minced
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons Italian Herbs (dried and pre-mixed)

Mix ingredients and refrigerate or let sit at room temperature.
I essentially mixed two of the listed recipes and omitted what I didn't want.

ENJOY!

Detox Day 3

2012-02-12T10:03:00.004-05:00

I've been busy lately preparing the fridge and kitchen for our detox. My husband and I started the Standard Process Purification program on Friday. I'll admit, it's not fun or easy. There are no super exciting recipes for detoxification. However, I did find a great recipe for salad dressing that I continue to make year-round.

Standard Process is a supplement company we offer in our Chiropractic office and they can only be purchased through healthcare professionals. You won't see them at walgreens or cvs. The products are high quality, whole-food supplements. You can even tour their farms in Wisconsin if you wish to see the operation.

During the 21-day Purification Program we eat unlimited fruits and vegetables (having an organic garden has come in handy) and 2-3 nutritional/protein shakes per day. We have eliminated dairy, nuts, meats and processed or canned foods. At day 11 we add limited amounts of lean meat and wild rice or lentils.

This is not the first time I have used this program and will not be the last. I have enjoyed amazing results each time I have embarked on this journey. This is not a crash diet nor is it a fad. I do not starve myself, nor am I eating pre-prepared sodium and chemical laden meals or drink only shakes or silly lemonade concoctions. This is a serious program offered to serious people interested in a life changing experience. The weight loss is a bonus!

For now, I'm off to the Farmer's Market for more nutrients!

Getting Started...Soil

2012-02-09T07:35:00.007-05:00

At the moment I have veggies growing in containers as well as a semi-raised bed garden. I have tried to replicate my Gran's recipe for soil and amendments, plus my own additions. I remember her "list" for my uncle every year. She had the BEST tomatoes I have ever tasted.

I use a mix of several items from the garden center and home. Here’s my recipe:

4 large bags organic garden or potting soil
1 small bag Perlite (optional)
1 small bag Peat Moss or Coconut Coir (improves drainage)
1 cup organic bone meal (high in phosphorus)
1/2 cup blood meal (high in Nitrogen)
Finely crushed eggshells (calcium)
Compost: 1 large bag store bought OR equivalent homemade

For pest control I use:
Spray bottle
Organic Neem Oil (for insects and diseases)

Next weekend might be moving day for quite a few seedlings. Plenty going on in the garden lately!

Happy Planting!

If you are interested in posting what you're doing in the garden, what works for you or just a few pictures, please email mari_backtonature@yahoo.com

Tuesday Garden Update

2012-02-07T10:01:00.000-05:00

We had another crazy weekend. Neither my hubby or I are sports fans so the craziness I refer to was the Nutrition seminar we attended Saturday and Sunday and the seed planting I was able to squeeze in between it all. Condensed version of the seminar was teaching patients about the value of nutrition in food...then adding whole-food (not synthetic) supplements when necessary.

The 72 cell seed starter greenhouse I purchased last week was money well spent. Still, I had a tough time deciding what I wanted to grow. I could grow 6 varieties (12 each) or 12 varieties (6 each) or many more varieties which require more detailed labeling. I couldn't decide so I made it up as I went along.

Planted 2/3/12 and 2/4/12:
Extra Dwarf Pak Choy (6)
Little Gem Lettuce (6)
Danvers Half-Long Carrots (12)
Atomic Red Carrots (6)
French Breakfast Radish (6)
Feverfew (6)
Dark Opal (3) and Green Verde Basil (3)
I know I planted these 2 weeks ago but I want to grow a few to give as gifts. Stay tuned for a Dark Opal Basil recipe!

Marigolds, Bachelor Buttons, Zinnia and Cosmos.

left side

The left side was planted Friday so it those seeds have a head-start.

right side

I managed to harvest a few veggies from the garden to make a lovely salad this weekend.

German Giant Radish (medium size)

Happy Planting!

My latest garden dilemma...

2012-02-03T15:38:00.001-05:00

This is not the worst dilemma I've faced and certainly won't be the last. I have run out of room on the patio area (the raised area the cats shouldn't be able to reach) and I want to plant more seeds. You're probably thinking "More Seeds? Is this chick Nuts?"
Is there such thing and Veggie Gardeners Anonymous?

There I was this week, thinking about which seedlings needed to be transplanted and which seeds I had planted that didn't do so well. What did I do? I planted more! Last Saturday I planted a few herbs and flowers (one's I meant to plant the previous week). I have now added Dark Purple Opal Basil, Oregano, Thyme and Cosmos.

Here's where the dilemma comes into play. I've used up all of my recycled toilet paper and paper towel rolls and if I use anymore of the peat pots I won't have any to sell on my website. How can I manage to plant more seeds with little or no space?
{{Lightbulb}}
I remember checking in at Preserving the Simple Life and seeing that she had purchased a Jiffy Seed Starter Greenhouse. I promptly squealed with delight (quietly since I was inside) and drove to (insert big box home store) and bought a similar item for myself.

YEAH!!!

Since Mary's Heirloom Seeds just announced new seeds like Feverfew, Extra Dwarf Pak Choy, Lettuce and Radicchio, French Breakfast Radish and Huckleberry, I'll be able to plant more and save space.

New Seed Announcement

2012-02-01T19:53:00.003-05:00

I am pleased to announce that more new seeds will be available Monday, February 6th, 2012!!! There have been many changes made at Mary's Heirloom Seeds.

First, ALL orders over $15 will now ship Priority mail for FREE! Second, the price of several seed varieties has been reduced. Third...drumroll please...more NEW SEEDS!!!

Herbs:

Basil - Genovese

Borage

Feverfew

Vegetables:

Danvers Half-Long Carrot

Long Island improve Brussels Sprouts
Country Gentleman Corn

French Breakfast Radish

Greens:

Arugula

Tom Thumb Lettuce

Cabbage - Extra Dwarf Pak Choy

Rossa Di Treviso Precose Radicchio

Fruit:

Huckleberry

I'm trying to keep today's post short and sweet and I will happily provide an explanation of all new seed varieties on Friday.

If you are interested in making an early purchase ~~(before they are available on the website)~~ please email or post a comment.
*UPDATE* Now available at Mary's Heirloom Seeds!

Stay tuned for website updates! Education Pack and Mini Education Pack available now and include flower seeds and plant markers.

Garden update and More Seed Varieties for 2012!!

2012-01-31T08:15:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited I just can't wait another week! I'll post an official announcement once the seeds are available at Mary's Heirloom Seeds. For now, I'll just spill the beans (or Dwarf Pak Choi and Country Gentleman Corn) for those of you in blogger-land. Hint: Corn is now available!

Tomatoes and Peppers have been my favorite veggies to grow so far. Radishes and Swiss Chard have been the easiest veggies I've grown so far...Until now!!

Cherokee Purple Tomatoes

Before

After

A few weeks ago I planted Long Island improved Brussels Sprouts...What a name right? From seed to transplant they are wonderful. I have planted a few extra LIiBS over the last few weeks so that I don't have 20 pounds of LIiBSs all at once.

I am very pleased at the rate of growth from these LIiBS. They need very little care other than light airy soil and regular watering. The soil should be moist but not drenched. They seem to transplant well.

I'll talk about new seed varieties tomorrow!

Growing Radish from Seed

2012-01-30T07:05:00.010-05:00

The German Giant is my favorite Radish. It's not fancy or hard to grow and tastes great at any size. The Radish may be a cool-weather crop but I continue to have success even in South Florida.

Grow radishes in full sun or partial shade. Plant radishes in loose, well-drained soil. Remove soil lumps, rocks, and roots from radish planting beds. Obstructions can cause roots to grow malformed. Add organic matter to planting beds before sowing radishes. Radishes prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8.

Sow radish seed ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart; thin successful seedlings from 1 to 4 inches apart in wide rows depending upon the variety.

Sow radishes in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before average date of the last frost in spring. Sow succession crops every 2 weeks in spring and in autumn. Two or more crops can be grown in spring. Radishes require 22 to 70 days to come to harvest. Warm weather can result in small roots. Long days may also cause radishes to flower; plant radishes during the shorter days of spring and autumn. In mild winter regions, grow radishes in late autumn and early winter. Radishes can withstand frost.

Keep radish planting beds moist but not wet. Even, regular watering will result in quick growth. Radishes that receive too little water will become woody tasting. Prepare planting beds with aged compost. Side dress radishes with aged compost at midseason.

Radishes can be grown in containers. Sow radishes in containers at least 6 inches deep. Plant radishes in round containers in concentric circles. Move containers to cool locations if the weather grows warm.

Companion plants: Cucumbers, Lettuce, Nasturtiums, Peas, and Peppers.

Happy Planting!!!

Growing Onions from Seeds

2012-01-28T08:39:00.003-05:00

Currently, the patio seedling garden is home to Red Burgundy Onions and Bulgarian Giant Leeks (among many other things). I've only harvested 1 Red Burgundy onion so far and that was from my first batch. This time around I planted more seeds and started them out right!

Plant onion seeds about 3/8 inch deep and 1/2 inches apart. Rows should be about 15 inches apart. Once seedlings emerge, then to about every 3inches.

Some say it is best to choose a type of onion best suited for your area: Northern US: Long Day. Southern US: Short Day.

However, others say they grow many types of Onions just fine. Bunching onions grow well in all regions.

Depending on what type of onion you’re growing, will depend on the sunlight they require. Provide onions with 12 – 16 hours, depending on long day or short day onion.

The best soil for onions has organic material and neutral pH. (If your onions are too strong, the soil may be too acidic.) Onions like well drained soils, and the organic matter in the soil helps.

Onions like more water initially as they grow. As they mature, onions do not require as much water. Depending on how much rain you get, they may be okay with just rainwater. Just make sure they get some kind of water every 5-7 days.

Mulch will help maintain the right soil moisture level and reduce weeds. Remember, onions don’t like weeds. Weeds and onion, both, compete over the same soil nutrients. When weeding, be careful not to disturb the onion’s root system.

Maturity rates vary with each type of onion from 65 days to 115 days. Onions should be harvested in the morning, but avoid any morning dew on them. Lay them in row to cure or air dry for a few days. But place them in the shade. The onions can actually sunburn.

Companion Plants:

Growing Carrots around onions will be helpful.

Some plants actually are bad to the health of onion plants. Avoid these plants around onions: beans, peas, and parsley.

Happy Planting!!!

Book Review: Grow Great Grub

2012-01-25T07:57:00.005-05:00

I have a few books on the table right now and most are garden books. I'll try to review as many as I can this month. There are a few I have already read and really enjoyed.

Each book has a link to my Amazon Store. If you purchase anything using the link I make a small percentage on almost everything (doesn't have to be an item I listed). Every bit helps and is always appreciated!

Grow Great Grub: Organic Food From Small Spaces
by Gayla Trail

I have really enjoyed reading Gayla Trail books. This is the second of her books I have read and I'm looking forward to her next book.

When I read about gardening, more importantly growing my own food, I like to see pictures. Even if you have a large space to garden with this book is very informational and a fun read. I have a small area for my garden so I have added containers here and there to make more space. There are so many gardening books out their to choose from. This book is perfect for the beginner gardener or apartment dweller, really for anyone who like to garden.

One bonus I found in Grow Great Grub... RECIPES!!! I found her ideas and exciting recipes refreshing. What do you do once you have successfully harvested your hard-earned grub...Eat it!

Find more book recommendation at My Bookshelf.

Growing Broccoli

2012-01-24T09:03:00.001-05:00

I'm not quite sure where I picked up most of this information about Broccoli. As you will read, Broccoli is a cool weather veggie. Living in South Florida, I haven't had a chance to grow broccoli.

Calabrese is easier and quicker to grow than other types of broccoli, with only 15 weeks to harvest from planting. Broccoli requires approximately 40 weeks.

For the best results, broccoli should be planted after a crop of peas or beans, as these vegetables leave deposits of nitrogen in the soil, which is much needed by the broccoli for healthy growth and development.
Broccoli is a cool weather crop that generally thrives in cooler temperatures that do not exceed 30°C (86°F). The ideal temperature for cultivating broccoli is between 65 - 75°F.

Broccoli should be planted in an open, sunny or partially shaded area.

Sow broccoli seeds thinly, approximately 1 inch deep in rows that are 2 feet apart. Cover the seeds loosely with soil and water well. The seeds will germinate within about 10 days and then the seedlings can be thinned out to 1 foot apart (for Calabrese).

Calabrese is an extremely fast-growing crop and some varieties will be ready to harvest from anything between 40 - 65 days. If sown in April or May, the broccoli should be ready to harvest from July onwards until November.

Harvest the broccoli when the side florets start to loosen slightly but the main head is still very compact. Cut the Calabrese at the base of the stalk, so that the main head is removed.

Last chance Sale items for January ... NEW stuff!!

2012-01-22T14:50:00.002-05:00

Mary's Heirloom Seeds announces NEW items:

Education Pack $44.00
Great variety pack for Homeschoolers, Educators and School Gardens.
This pack contains 16 varieties of seeds. Each seed pack contains 25 seeds with detailed growing instructions and educational information.
Includes herb, veggie and tomato seeds!!
Veggie Varieties include: Black Beauty Zucchini, German Giant Radish, Small Sugar Pumpkin, Calabrese Broccoli, National Pickling Cucumber, Little Gem Lettuce, He Shi Ko Bunching Onion, 5 Color Silverbeet Swiss Chard, Pak Choi Cabbage.
Tomato Varieties include: Beefsteak Tomato and Red Fig Tomato.
Herb Varieties include: Fine Verde Basil, Dill Vierling, German Chamomile, Oregano and Thyme.
Also includes plant markers and 2 packs of flower seeds.

Mini Education Pack $22.00
Each seed pack contains 25 seeds with detailed growing instructions and educational information. This pack contains 8 varieties of seeds.
Little Gem Lettuce, Pak Choi Cabbage, National Pickling Cucumber, Small Sugar Pumpkin, Red Fig Tomato, Fine Verde Basil, German Chamomile and Oregano.
Also includes plant markers and 2 packs of flower seeds.

NEW seeds:
Country Gentleman Sweet Corn and Long Island improved Brussels Sprouts

SALE items:
Peat Pots and Plant markers, NJ Wakefiled Cabbage, National Pickling Cucumber, Cal Wonder Bell Pepper, Ace 55 Tomato and ALL HERB seeds on sale!!! $19 OFF Planting Guide A-Z for your Kitchen Garden.

HAPPY PLANTING!!

Growing Dill

2012-01-20T06:29:00.016-05:00

Short and sweet post today: DILL!

Dill is a very easy herb to grow and can be grown indoors or outdoors.

Dill enjoys full sun, and flourishes in average to fertile soil with good drainage.

Sun can damage dill if it has too much of it. However, you will want sun shining on it at least six hours a day. If you have some moisture in the air this is great. But if you struggle with moisture in the air you will want to mist your dill plant from time to time.

To plant dill, place seeds over loose soil and cover about a half inch deep. Keep soil moist but not water-logged.

Much of this information (and more) is available at Easy to grow Herbs.

Growing Basil

2012-01-18T17:51:00.004-05:00

I am so pleased with my little Basil plants!

Sow seeds outdoors when soil is warm and temperature does not drop below 65°F. Basil can also be started indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Seeds usually germinate within 7 days of planting.

Seedlings need 6-8 hours of sunlight . Basil can be grown indoors on a nice sunny ledge or windowsill or outdoors in a sunny spot.

Make successive sowings for continuous summer supplies. Pinch back flower stalks as they appear to keep plants from bolting. Basil prefers rich well-drained soil.

I have found Easy to grow Herbs very helpful.

It's Purple!!!

2012-01-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

Well...Almost purple! The ugliest Cherokee tomato so far is the first to turn a shade of purple! I gave a loud hoot outside this morning when I discovered it. I'm not aloud to "hoot" in the house...I can get pretty excited about these things.

The German Giant Radishes I planted a few weeks ago are starting to take shape.

I've transplanted 2 of the Long Island Brussels Sprouts...One in the ground and one in a container.

There are quite a few large Cherokee tomatoes that are still a very dark green.

Last but certainly not least, below is the mess that I refer to as "The Side Yard Project."

This garden is 100% Organic, non-gmo and grown from heirloom seeds. I have had many issues from the beginning, mostly keeping the bag bugs from demolishing my plants. After planting a few flowers and companion plants along the outer edges of the garden the bug problem became almost non-existent. I still find the occasional tomato hornworm but they're pretty easy to spot if you look close enough.

Happy Planting!

Planting more Seeds this Week!

2012-01-16T18:17:00.004-05:00

We had another busy weekend and I felt a bit crummy on Sunday. After work on Saturday I managed an hour of weed-pulling and cleaned up the garden a bit. The new total of Cherokee Purple tomatoes is 25! A few are just about ready to take off the plant but most are mid-sized or just little babies.

Today I planted a few new varieties of seeds for the garden:
Anaheim Peppers
Amana's Orange Tomatoes
Red Fig Tomatoes
Black Beauty Zucchini
National Pickling Cucumber

I also planted more Swiss Chard, German Giant Radish, Spinach, Cherokee Purple Tomatoes and Purple Top Whiteglobe Turnips.

Whew! Now I need another shelf for the patio or the kitties will have a feast and I'll have no seedlings. Tomorrow I'll try to plant more herbs. I'm thinking Oregano, Sage and 2 more Fine Verde Basil. Maybe I'll plant a couple Dark Purple Opal Basil.

Over the next few days I'll post a few more "growing instructions" for those of you who are just purchasing seeds or just getting started. If you live in an area that is still cold (or snowy) not to worry, you should be starting a few plant seeds indoors to get ready for spring.

Happy Planting!

More amazing blogs

2012-01-15T06:06:00.001-05:00

Another random post today, well maybe not so random. I am amazing at how many garden...homestead...DIY...crafty...green blogs there are and I haven't even been searching them out.

I'm sharing a few more worth while blogs with you today.

Rhonda in Australia has a very useful blog, Down to Earth. Last year I started participating in her "On My Mind" series.

Another fun blog you'll find under my blog list is FlowerLady's Musings. If you like flowers and beautiful things be sure to stop by.

Also listed under my blog list is Food In Jars. This blog inspired me to actually USE the canning supplies that my hubby bought me. There is even a section for small batch canning.

I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I have. I know I've sent many a link to friends with useful info from each of these blogs.

Any blogs you'd like to mention?

Garden Update: Where do I begin?

2012-01-12T08:06:00.000-05:00

I was speaking with a friend yesterday about the ups and downs of the garden. She asked me what I had growing at the moment. My answer, Where do I begin?

The side yard project is home to:
Hungarian Heart and Cherokee Purple Tomatoes,
Black Beauty Eggplants,
Tam Jalapeno,
Cal Wonder Bell,
Pak Choi Cabbage,
5 Color Silverbeet Swiss Chard,
Little Gem Lettuce,
Detroit Dark Red Beets,
Purple Top Whiteglobe Turnips and
German Giant Radishes

Cherokee Purple

Tam Jalapeno

Eggplant blooms

Beets, Chard and Lettuce

I also planted a few Flower seeds: Morning Glory, Daisy, Marigolds, Bachelor Button and Snap Dragon.

AND...I have another crop of plants maturing on the patio. A few are almost ready to be transplanted. The patio crop includes:
Long Island improved Brussels Sprouts
Pimiento Pepper
Serrano Pepper
He Shi Ko Bunching Onion
Bulgarian Giant Leeks
Table Queen Bush Squash
more Turnips and Swiss Chard
Dill
Basil
Echinacea Purpurea

Peppers and Brussels Sprouts

Baby Onions

Baby Squash

Basil

Today's post is more of a "show and tell" than a "live and learn." If you have not yet started your garden or you have never had a garden, check out Seed Starting Basics Part 1 and Part 2 and the "growing instructions" label on the right side of the blog.

Happy Planting!

New Items and Sale items at Mary's Heirloom Seeds

2012-01-11T09:09:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!
Today is the start of all new sale items and just in time for the new planting season (depending on where you are planting of course).

New items for 2012 include Job's Tears and Long Island improved Brussels Sprouts.

ALL Herb seeds are on sale for the ENTIRE month of January!!! Now this is a plus because most people can grow an herb garden on a windowsill in just about every part of the world.

On Sale trough January 18th:
A-Z Planting Guide for you Kitchen Garden is only $30 and includes Peat Pots with seed purchase.
This is a total saving of $24.
Beefsteak Tomatoes and National Pickling Cucumber seeds are also on sale.

As always, Standard Shipping is always free within the Continental US. Express Shipping also available.

For more information or to get on the mailing list, send an email to mary@marysheirloomseeds.com

Random Post!

2012-01-09T07:18:00.002-05:00

Good morning! I have a random post today about a few beautiful blogs I found. I have notices a few new bloggers checking in lately and I thought I'd give them a mention today.

Denise at Preserving the Simple Life has a very useful blog. I too am on a sort of journey to live life more simply and sustainably. And that chocolate cake...what a husband she has!

Dave over at Cimba7200 has been posting wonderful photos and I encourage you to stop by. I've never been to New Zealand but I almost feel like I'm there when I check out Dave's blog.

Just in case you'd like to imagine yourself on an island, Yvonne at The Happy Hippy has got what you're looking for. I only just found Yvonne from homegrown.org (where a few of my posts have been re-posted).

Any blogs you've noticed lately that deserve a mention?

What's the Point?

2012-01-07T07:10:00.001-05:00

My posts have been all over the place lately! I don't mean re-posted on different sites (even though that's been going on as well) but the topics may appear a bit random. I assure you there is a "theme" or purpose to the seemingly indiscriminate posts.

It is very easy to get so wrapped up in your personal finances or environment and forget that we share this planet with billions of other humans and (equally as important) billions of animals, insects and other creatures. I hate to read the news because it's always bad. When I stop to think about what humans and animals in other cities and countries are dealing with (even as I write this post) I feel a sense of responsibility. While I may be only 1 person I can make a difference in my own way.

I don't recycle because I'm afraid of global warming, or whatever the "latest" cause. I recycle because I'd like to keep my trash out of landfills that are fast taking over precious land. In future generations, humans and animals will need that land. I plant extra flowers and am careful not to use harmful chemicals so that bees have a safe place to forage for nectar. I plant heirloom seeds and encourage everyone I know to do so, because I don't want anyone (humans or bees) to suffer harmful effects of GMOs.

It's all about taking responsibility. I plan on starting with the little things that in the end, make a big difference.

What will you do?

On my mind...GMO's

2012-01-06T07:55:00.001-05:00

"On my mind" is a Friday feature from Down to Earth. Today's topic in particular has been heavily "on my mind."

What are the effects of eating GMOs?

UNKNOWN! What? We (not me but as a society) have managed to put a man on the moon, place satellites in space, created nano-technology (don't even ask) and yet science doesn't have an answer to the long-term effects of GMO food. It seems like science and scientists are getting ahead of themselves.

According to Live in the Now,
"There are no human clinical trials of genetically engineered foods. The only published human feeding experiment revealed that genetic material inserted into GE soy transfers into the DNA of bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function. Even after we stop eating GE foods, we may still have the GE proteins produced continuously inside us."

"The idea of having genetically engineered genes permanently living inside our guts has staggering implications:

If the antibiotic gene inserted into most GM crops were to transfer, it could create antibiotic-resistant diseases.
Bt toxins (Bacillus thuringiensis) inserted into GM food crops to kill pests are reaching the bloodstreams of 93% of women and 80% of unborn babies because of the consumption of meat, milk, and eggs from livestock fed GE corn. This could turn bacteria in our intestines into pesticide factories.
Animal studies show that DNA in food can travel into organs throughout the body, even into the fetus.

Allergies have already skyrocketed in the US, and with the introduction of GE soy in the UK, soy related allergies rose to 50%. Yet federal agencies turn a blind eye to the dangers of genetic engineering"

It seems the possibilities are endless. Some scientists think that eating gmo food could cause cancer. Have you ever looked at cancer statistics? Cancer is more prevalent now than ever.

Say NO to GMO!

2012-01-05T07:10:00.000-05:00

What the heck is GMO anyway? A Genetically Modified Organism, according to wikipedia, "is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes."

GMO seeds are genetically modified seeds. WHAT? They want to do WHAT to my food?

Natural News has LOTS of useful information:

"The US food supply is riddled with GMOs, and most people are completely unaware of this
There are still no federal, state, or even local requirements that GMOs be labeled. Monsanto and the other biotechnology giants have blocked all attempted efforts at GMO labeling thus far. Many Americans simply have no idea that they even exist. This is, of course, how Monsanto and other purveyors of GMOs have gotten away with converting the vast majority of US staple crops like corn, soy, and canola to GM varieties over the years, and sneaking them into a wide array of conventional, processed foods.

Many people that are aware of GMOs are under the false impression that if "frankencrops" are being used in the food supply, then they must be safe. Such an idea is propagated by the mainstream media and by many in the mainstream scientific circles, but it has no basis in reality, of course.

And this is precisely the point of GMO Awareness Week -- to spread the truth about GMOs to as many people as possible with the hope that, eventually, we will get them properly labeled. Once labeled, millions of Americans will choose to avoid products containing GMOs, and instead choose non-GMO products. In the end, non-GMO and organic will win out because, as many public polls have already shown, the vast majority of Americans are opposed to genetic modification of food (http://www.naturalnews.com/031569_G...)."

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

2012-01-04T07:42:00.000-05:00

What is Colony Collapse Disorder?

Wikipedia states "Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006.^[1] Colony collapse is significant because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees."

According to Florida Dept of Agriculture:
"Colony Collapse Disorder, also known as Fall-Dwindle Disease, is of great concern to beekeepers worldwide. Beekeepers are reporting the sudden loss of adult bees in their colonies – few, if any, adult bees are found in or near the dead colonies. Queen and baby (brood) bees remain in the colonies, but the adults are not returning to provide food, so the colonies collapse or die. Over 22 US states reported significant colony losses in the fall of 2006. Similar reports are coming from Europe as well. Researchers are considering viruses, bacteria, fungi, weather, food loss, and other stresses as possible causes."

For more information, below are a few helpful links.
Vanishing Bees
Scientific American
KPBS

Going Green in 2012...It's easy!

2012-01-03T08:19:00.003-05:00

Maybe the title should be Greener in 2012. There are so many "green" products out there but I'm more interested in DIY "green" projects. Below are a few items that will save you money and are more eco-friendly.
1. Turn off lights in rooms that are not in use.
2. Stop buying bottled water. Use a Britta filter (or something like it) and a BPA-free bottle.
3. Make your own soap or detergent. (Instructions to follow)
4. Recycle. It takes little to no effort to throw bottles and cans into a separate recycle bin.
5. Grow your own. If you haven't already started a veggie or herb garden what are you waiting for?
6. Buy locally. Look for a farmer's market for weekly produce purchases or shop at your local hardware store instead of the big box stores.

Just these six steps will get you started on the right track. While you're at it, why not look for the little guy. Shopping online has become the norm these days. Why not look for a small-business to support instead of always looking for the big-guy-on-the-block.

Just my 2 cents! Happy greening in 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

I had a semi-exciting, extremely productive weekend. I had to work on Saturday (gasp) but only for a few hours. My hubby and I braved costco, which was a madhouse, and I managed to can my first batch of jelly. And that was just Saturday!

Apricot Cranberry Jelly

Sunday we took it easy (kinda). I made a large batch of Lasagna with my mom's instructions. I would post the recipe but I kinda threw it together. One lasagna is all meat, another meat and veggies and another with just veggies. **Send me an email or leave a comment for instructions** I also made an extra mini veggie lasagna for us to eat right away and the rest went into the freezer.

I harvested a few pieces of Swiss Chard

On Sunday I also learned more about Bees. I plan on sharing the info within a few days. Now is the BEST time to start thinking about what to plant next season. In Florida I plant and transplant in January/February. In other states it can be more like late February/March. Whichever your planting date, it's time to start thinking about what to plant next!

New Years recipe: Apricot and Cranberry Jelly

2011-12-31T12:05:00.002-05:00

I am REALLY excited to try this new recipe...And my new water-bath canner!!!

Apricot and Cranberry Jelly

Time to prepare: 25 mins

Ingredients:

2 cups water
2 cups sugar
4 cups cranberries
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 orange, zested

Directions:

Boil the water and sugar together for 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and apricots. Simmer until the cranberry skins burst, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the orange zest and cool.

To can: sterilize and prepare appropriate jars. Add jelly to warm jars, making sure to remove air bubbles and wipe rim of jars, and seal. Process in boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

Happy New Year!!!

Why are Bees so Important?

2011-12-29T08:48:00.001-05:00

I know bees are important, but Why? As I continue to research and learn about Bees and the garden I am beginning to understand the "why."

According to Ready Magazine:
"Bees are important to the production of fruits and vegetables. The honey produced by bees have important medicinal uses and is a good replacement for sugar as a sweetener. A healthy bee hive is also an indication of a healthy environment. The beekeepers that I speak to talk about a spiritual connection with the bees and the enjoyment that get for caring for them. That is why bees are important."

That's a pretty simple and straight forward answer. However, this raises yet another questions. If bee hives are an indication of a healthy environment, what does Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) mean to our own environment?

New Years recipe: Espresso Bark

2011-12-28T12:47:00.002-05:00

I don't plan on making wild and crazy (or unreasonable) New Years resolutions. I will continue to eat healthy and exercise. I will try to stress less about things that I cannot control.
I will NOT be giving up coffee or chocolate!!!

Espresso Bark

Ready in: 25 mins.

Servings: 12

Ingredients

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon margarine

3/4 cup whole coffee beans

1/4 cup chopped white chocolate

Directions

1. Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper.

2. Combine the chocolate chips and margarine in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Mix in the coffee beans until evenly distributed.

3. Pour the chocolate out onto the waxed paper and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the pieces of white chocolate evenly over the top and press in lightly to make sure they stick. Place in the freezer until set, about 5 minutes. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

On My Mind...

2011-12-23T13:44:00.001-05:00

Good Morning!

Family in San Diego

I miss you all very much! Merry Christmas!!!!!

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you're part of "On my mind". Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment below, with a link to your blog.

More New Seeds!!!

2011-12-21T10:21:00.001-05:00

I haven't even added these babies to the website yet. I just found a supplier for Job's Tears seeds. This plant has healing properties such as natural anti-inflammatory as well as detoxifying agents. I am so excited to offer this new plant!

I'm really looking forward to planting Job's Tears. Another new seed variety available for 2012 is the Long Island Brussels Spouts. This is an amazing veggie! This is an open-pollinated, heirloom variety whose origin can be trace to the 1890s. The Long Island is a heavy producer and grows about 20"-24" in height.

I'm getting ready for the coming garden season!

Happy Planting!

DIY kids gifts...I did it!

2011-12-19T07:05:00.000-05:00

I had a major/minor project to finish this weekend and I did it. I made aprons for my oldest niece and nephew and a shirt for my baby niece.
Okay, so I didn't make them but I decorated them.

Here is the apron before I started:

Here they are after the iron-ons:

I added a few finishing touches with 'puffy paint'

And last but certainly not least, I decorated a shirt for the baby:

Garden update. Tomatoes are here!

2011-12-18T09:34:00.000-05:00

I love tomatoes! I've waited for months for the Cherokee Purple plants to blossom and give me tomatoes.
Here's a beautiful baby:

This is what the four tomato plants look like from the back: (a mess)

Here's a look inside the grey bin: Beets and Silverbeet Swiss Chard:

This morning I transplanted a few German Giant Radishes into a prepared bed:

Before

After

Happy Planting!

Vanishing Bees

2011-12-13T12:35:00.001-05:00

Wow! I watched a movie today that just blew my mind. Check out the website for Vanishing of the Bees.

Here's a quick clip:

Bees are essential to food production. Bees are important in maintaining a balance ecosystem. As I continue to research bees I'll be posting about the benefits of bees.

The Radishes are alreading sprouting!

2011-12-12T08:26:00.002-05:00

Wow! I only planted the German Giant Radish seeds on Saturday and when I went out to check on everything this morning they're out! I only planted a few seeds of each veggie variety this weekend (more for next weekend).

If you can't tell in the top picture, 5 out of 6 have already sprouted. Not bad for 2 days!

New Seeds!!!

2011-12-11T13:51:00.003-05:00

A few months ago my new seeds arrived and so I updated the website. This weekend I planted a few seeds to get ready for next year. I'm a few weeks ahead of schedule but what the heck, I'm going to plant a few seeds every weekend.

On Saturday I planted German Giant Radishes. I tried this variety earlier this year but it was too hot. I also planted Red Burgundy Onions and more Little Gem Lettuce. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen issues a few of my previous lettuce plants were destroyed.

On Sunday I planted Bulgarian Giant Leeks, Purple Top Whiteglobe Turnips and Table Queen Bush Squash. I don't dare post a picture of the current state of my covered patio. When I see little sprouts I'll share but not yet.

If you don't live on sunny South Florida (or even if you do) and would like to know what to plant for your area and when to plant it send me an email or post a comment. I'm happy to point you in the right direction.

Happy Planting!

Dinner: Slow-Cooker Chicken and Spanish Rice

2011-12-10T16:35:00.001-05:00

Dinner for tonight has been cooking for a few hours already. I have made chicken this way so many times but I have never used a specific recipe so here goes:

Slow-Cooker Chicken

Servings: 6-8
Time: 4 hours

Ingredients:
8 chicken breasts
6-8 cups water (enough to cover all ingredients)
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 jalapenos, chopped
1 can stewed tomatoes or tomato sauce (even pasta sauce in a pinch)
1 bunch cilantro, whole pieces or chopped

Directions:
Place chicken in the slow cooker and cover with onion, jalapeno, tomatoes and cilantro. Add enough water to cover all ingredients. Turn slow cooker on high for the first 3 hours, turn to low for the remaining hour.
Done!

This recipe is great for taco filling, sandwiches or with rice and/ or beans.

Spanish Rice:

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

1 1/4 cups rice

1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine

2 teaspoons chili powder

3/4 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon cumin

Directions:

In medium saucepan, combine all ingredients (I usually mash tomatoes with potato masher or give them a quick spin in food processor).

Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low.

Cover and simmer 25 minutes or until rice is done. (Unless you like sticky, gooey rice, don't take off the lid and stir at all until it is done).

Garnish with green onions and/or cheddar cheese.

Compost! Take 2...

2011-12-08T09:33:00.001-05:00

I am re-posting from July because my tomatoes are growing bigger than I could have possibly imagined thanks to a bit of aged compost. The best part...It was FREE!!! Since Christmas is right around the corner and I'll be cooking like a madwomen, I'll also be adding most of my kitchen "waste" to my brewing compost bin.

What is Compost?
Compost is a natural soil amendment and garden fertilizer. It can be made FREE using kitchen scraps. Apple cores, banana peels, celery or carrots parts, rinds and peels from fruits and veggies...throw it all in there! But don't stop there- also use grass clipping, dead leaves and other yard waste.

Not only does composting save money on expensive fertilizers and soil amendments, it keeps all of this "trash" out of your garbage bin and out of landfills.

Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity.

Warning: Everything I read about compost says not to use meat, diary or pet waste in your compost.

Do I need to buy a fancy (expensive) composter? No way!

In my own yard I have a big (dark) plastic tub which I drilled holes into the bottom. I've added my kitchen and yard "waste" and then a layer of soil...repeat! Every 4 or 5 days I go out into the yard and turn it over. No, I don't dump it out, "turn it" is garden-speak for stir or mix. The more I "turn" the mix the faster it seems to decompose.

What's in My Compost Bin?

Cherry stems, apple cores, lime rinds, coffee grounds, tea bags, celery leaves, potato peels, carrot ends, cucumber and onion bits, egg shells (washed and dried), grass clippings, dead leaves, dead flowers, mango skins. I might have forgotten a few things but you get the picture.

Stay away from using lawn clippings or additives with chemical fertilizers or pesticides!

Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms and decomposing waste. These three ingredients are essential for a thriving veggie garden.

Happy Planting!

Eggless Birthday Cookies

2011-12-07T08:19:00.004-05:00

I found a recipe last night more out of desperation than curiosity. I've been a bit distracted lately and even with a trip to the supermarket I was out of eggs. It seems I just forgot.

It's my hubby's birthday so he got to choose what I made for dinner last night. He chose the easiest dinner (in my opinion) that I have prepared so I have made it a bunch of times. For dinner we had Chicken Tacos with cilantro, mixed greens, onions, jalapenos, sour cream, salsa and cheese. But dessert was a secret (and eggless).

I had planned on making Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies but without eggs I had to find another recipe. The eggless recipe was perfect because oatmeal raisin cookies are his second favorite cookie.

Eggless Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup All Purpose Flour

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/8 teaspoon Salt

1 cup Shredded Coconut (I used sweetened)

1 cup Quick Cooking Oats (I used large flake)

1/2 cup Butter

3/4 cup Granulated Sugar

2 tablespoons Honey

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F for 15 minutes. Butter two cookie sheets. Usually cookies baked on such dark coated sheets turn brown very quickly, so I lined it with parchment paper and then greased it with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in the coconut and oats.

3. Melt the butter with the sugar and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove it from the stove and let it cool for 2 minutes.

4. Pour the melted butter mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well with a spatula.

5. Add in chocolate chips.

6. Roll into balls the size of walnuts and place 1 inch apart on the baking sheet and flatten it slightly with a fork.

7. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. If using 2 cookie sheets, shift racks halfway through the baking to ensure even browning.

8. Let the cookies cool on the sheets until they firm slightly. Then using a spatula carefully lift the cookies and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.

***My tweaks to the recipe***

Omit Honey

Replace butter with unsweetened apple sauce (do not heat on the stove)

Add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Enjoy!

Garden Update. Harvesting!

2011-12-05T11:13:00.002-05:00

I took a few pictures Sunday after I harvested Lettuce and Huckleberries.

Below are pictures I took bright and early this morning.
The seeds I planted a few weeks ago are now thriving seedlings.
On Saturday I transplanted most of the seedlings.

Transplants

Hungarian Heart Tomatoes

My very first Cherokee Purple Tomato

Black Beauty Eggplant

Tam Jalapeno

The Side Yard Project: (from the back-side)

Happy Planting!

Cookies Make Great Gifts

2011-12-03T07:55:00.001-05:00

COOKIE RECIPE!!!!!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup unsifted flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

3/4 cup dry-roasted, unsalted peanuts, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar until well blended. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and peanuts. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then transfer to wire cooling racks. Store tightly covered.

On My Mind...

2011-12-02T09:31:00.002-05:00

Grandma Demme

December 15, 1942-November 10, 2010.

She loved the outdoors. Grandma Demme was a creative and adventurous, free-spirit.

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you're part of "On my mind". Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment below, with a link to your blog.

DIY Soap Recipe

2011-12-01T07:30:00.001-05:00

Soap-Making can be an involved process requiring special tools and ingredients. I like to keep it simple.

I have used several methods for making soap. The first time I made soap I purchased melt and pour soap as a base.
1. Chop up M&P soap
2. Melt in a double boiler (or microwave)
3. Add essential oils
4. Pour into prepared mold
5. Refrigerate
After a few hours in the fridge, or overnight on a counter, the soap is ready to be released and packaged.

Another option for making soap is using ready-made soap such as Ivory or Dr. Bronner's bar soaps.
Supplies:
1/4 cup Water
Dried and pulverized Herbs
Essential Oil
Approx 2 cups shredded bar soap
Double boiler or Large glass bowl
**It is not necessary to use both herbs and essential oils.

1. Pour boiling water over herbs.
2. Add 5 or 6 drops of essential oil.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring regularly.
4. Remove from heat and add shredded soap.
5. Mix well and let stand for 15 minutes.
6. Divide the mixture into several small balls or pour into prepared molds.
7. After a few hours in the fridge, or overnight on a counter, the soap is ready to be released and packaged.

There are recipes all over the internet for both Melt and Pour or Made from Scratch soaps. Happy Soaping!

Eco-Friendly and Budget-Friendly Gift Giving

2011-11-30T10:29:00.000-05:00

Christmas is right around the corner. Every year the news reports of crazy shoppers and over-consumption around this time. This year I have a few ideas for Eco-Friendly gifts, all of which are Made in the USA. Whether handmade, homemade, locally grown or locally produced, why not try something new this year.

DIY Lotions and Soap: There are literally hundreds of recipes available online to make your own cosmetics and toiletries. Most recipes don't require special equipment or fancy ingredients. I've experimented with both lotion and soap and have been pleased with the results. (Recipes to follow tomorrow)

Check out your local farmer's market or craft fairs. Ask the seller where the items came from and what they are made of to ensure a quality product.

Give the gift of life!
Give a small tree, homegrown potted herbs or veggies. Or, give a DIY "green" gift basket using a planer as a "basket" and fill it with garden seed (preferable organic), peat pots, small hand tools and garden gloves. It might be a good idea to include a guide for beginner gardeners.

Buy from a local business or small online business. November 26th was "Small Business Saturday." Why do we need a day? Why not make EVERY day an opportunity to support our community?

I read an interesting article this week about a company called "Eat More Kale". The owner, Bo Muller-Moore, silk-screens all of his organic shirt using several different logos. Speaking of small business owners, Pablo at Soul Grind Skate Shop (my dad) has a few great gift ideas for the skateboarder in your family.

I love Handmade items. One year I made scarves for a few family members. I don't have much use for a scarf in South Florida but it gets cold in other parts of the country. Ornaments, Apron, Quilts, Cookies or Candy, Candles, Cookbooks, Drink-Mixes, Spices and Sauces are all AMAZING gifts that can be made on just about any budget. Most importantly, they are gifts from the heart and made with love.

Growing from Seed in Containers

2011-11-28T19:15:00.004-05:00

I have talked about container gardening a few times in the past few months. At the moment I have plants growing both in the ground and in containers. I noticed recently that I have less of a pest problem in containers than in-ground.

Whether you live in an apartment (or tipi), a house or a farm, container gardening is a simple solution for low-cost, organic gardening.

Most herbs love containers. A window box or small tray can produce most of your herbs for cooking. A few easy starters include: Basil, Cilantro, Sage and Thyme.

My favorite veggies for containers include Peppers (all varieties so far), Lettuce and Spinach, Squash and Tomatoes.

It's not necessary to purchase fancy or expensive containers. I prefer to use recycled pots and containers. For seedlings, I have cleaned (sterilized) yogurt or cottage cheese containers and then poked holes in them for drainage. When I ran out of plastic I used recycled toilet paper rolls. When I ran out of TP rolls I bought peat pots.

Get it? Cheap!

One item I did splurge on was organic seed-starter mix. In the past I have mixed my own but this season I was behind schedule so I bought a bag. Gasp! It wasn't all that expensive and it saved me a bit of time. Drainage is very important for starting seeds.

For self-watering trays I re-use plastic or styrofoam trays. When seedlings are ready to be transplanted there are several low cost/no cost options available.
1. Clean kitty litter buckets
2. 5 gallon utility buckets
3. Thrift store or garage sales
Use your imagination! Decorate ugly buckets or pots. Just because it isn't stamp "planter" doesn't mean it wouldn't make a great plant container.

Happy Planting!

November has been a busy Month

2011-11-27T12:20:00.002-05:00

I'm back from San Diego! I had the best of intentions to post recipes but it was busy in San Diego. My nieces and nephew are getting so big and they are beautiful!

While I was away my hubby took such good care of the garden. I am so proud of him!

The Hungarian Heart tomatoes are doing wonderful.

My 2 Jalapeno Peppers and hanging in there. Each has a single pepper growing.

I'm shocked! My first attempt at Huckleberries and it seems to be a success.

First Huckleberry Harvest

I have 4 Eggplants but no fruit. I'm looking forward to beautiful purple fruit!

Last but certainly not least are my Beets and Swiss Chard. I planted these babies in a tuffbin and they seem to be doing quite well. I've never grown beets before and I'm so excited to make fresh beet salad.

Thanksgiving Recipe

2011-11-15T18:33:00.001-05:00

Less than 24 hours and I'll be in San Diego. While I'm away I'll be posting recipes in preparation of Thanksgiving. Yippie!

Dried Cranberry Chutney Appetizers

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger

3/4 cup mango chutney

soft cheese or cream cheese

apple, slices

toasted baguette, sliced or cracker

Combine dried cranberries, water, sugar, and ginger in a small saucepan.

Bring to boiling.

Cover and remove from heat.

Let stand for 15 minutes.

Snip any large pieces of mango chutney.

Stir chutney into cranberry mixture.

Cover and chill at least 2 hours (overnight recommended).

Serve cranberry chutney with soft cheese or cream cheese, apple slices, and crackers, or with toasted baguette slices.

Makes about 1-1/3 cups chutney (twenty-one 1-tablespoon servings).

Make-Ahead Tip: Refrigerate chutney, covered, up to 2 days.

This recipe is SO easy!

On My Mind...

2011-11-11T09:30:00.001-05:00

My mom and her husband

"Sister is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship." -Margaret Mead

Today my thoughts are with my family in San Diego. I am anxiously waiting, counting down the days until next Wednesday when I'll be able to see everyone again. So much has happened in the past year and I really miss the daily family interaction. My youngest niece turned 1 in October and I missed it!

"Family is the most important thing in the world." -Princess Diana

In the meantime I have carefully prepared meals for my hubby. They're stored safely in the freezer for when I'm gone. He is SO spoiled! No living on cereal and ham sandwiches while I'm away, although he'll still sneak in a few bowls of cereal that I've purchased just for the occasion.

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you're part of "On my mind". Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment below, with a link to your blog.

Seed Starting Basics (part 2)

2011-11-07T15:32:00.037-05:00

No, I didn't forget to include seeds in the first post. More important than clean containers, soil, water and sun are SEEDS. I am biased when it comes to garden seeds as I run an online seed company. However, I did years of research before I came to the decision to only grow plants from organic, heirloom, open-pollinated, non-gmo seeds.

Why?

I'll simplify here because my soapbox isn't big enough for me to be here all day. Heirlooms seed varieties are a seeds variety over 50 years old and have not been modified and are open-pollinated. GMO seeds are genetically modified organisms, also called "franken-seeds."

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are created using gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, GE) In 30 other countries around the world there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs, because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S. on the other hand, the FDA approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies who created them and profit from their sale.

For more information,
check out http://www.nongmoproject.org/industry/about-gmos/

Depending on the variety of vegetable or herb seed you choose, germination can take between 3-21 days.

Don't forget to label your seeds!!! Recently, I ran out of recycled containers so I bought Jiffy Pots. I placed several jiffy pots in recycled trays and then simply labeled the tray. Same with recycled toilet paper rolls in the plastic tray with only the tray labeled. The seeds I planted in plastic containers are individually labeled with painter's tape.

Starting plants from seed take patience and commitment. Seedlings (baby plants) should be ready to be transplanted between 4 to 6 weeks from germination. If seeds are started in a small container it might be necessary to transplant earlier into a larger container.

While seeds are germinating and seedlings are growing tall it's time to decide what to do with them once they're ready to transplant. (more on transplanting later this week)

Happy Planting!

Seed Starting Basics

2011-11-06T14:07:00.005-05:00

There are a few VERY important things to remember when starting plants from seed.

1. Containers. I use recycled containers from previous plant purchases, yogurt or cottage cheese containers and even empty toilet paper rolls.

2. Soil. It is possible to mix your own seed starting soil using potting soil, perlite and moss. Otherwise, your local garden center should carry a pre-mixed seed starter soil.

3. Water. It is important to moisten the soil before you plant seeds so you don't wash them away. While seeds are germinating keep the soil moist but not soggy.

4. Heat or sun. In Florida I am able to leave most of my seed pots in a covered patio area. In other parts of the country it might be necessary to start seeds indoors using a grow light or by placing pots on top of a fridge or a sunny windowsill.

Most of the seeds I planted last week are growing wonderfully. Several are just barely peaking out of the dirt.

If you are growing seedlings indoors it is important to "harden off" plants about 2 weeks before transplanting. To do this, set them outside and water less but don't forget about them. If a frost warning has been issued cover seedlings or bring them inside.

Crazy weekend

2011-11-01T20:57:00.001-04:00

What a wild weekend we had in South Florida! It rained and it rained and then it rained some more. I'm not quite sure if all of my plants lived through the deluge but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

All of the recently planted seeds are still on the nice comfy covered patio. Unfortunately the wind blew the rain so hard even a few of the seedlings were washed out.

Oh well, I can always plant more seeds.

"Earth laughs in flowers." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's not too late to start a Garden!

2011-10-29T14:49:00.008-04:00

On My Mind...

My sister Jen (right) and I (left) 2010 San Diego

An herb garden is an easy way to start and can be started indoors even in late October.

If you have a windowsill that gets several hours of sun (and if you can keep cats and/or dogs out of it) what are you waiting for?

Basil is a great place to start. Basil requires plenty of sunlight and water. Keep in mind Basil needs proper drainage and does not like standing water. If starting from seed, germination takes about 7 days and can be started in a small recycled plastic container with drainage or a Jiffy Pot.

Once the plant has grown several inches tall it can be transplanted into a larger container. As the Basil grows, clip flowers to ensure the plant devotes it's energy to growing more leaves.

It's that easy! Happy Planting!

*Today I joined an "On My Mind" discussion from Down to Earth.*
"This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you're part of "On my mind". Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment below, with a link to your blog."

Fall Planting

2011-10-27T14:28:00.002-04:00

Gardening in South Florida has been an amazing experience. At this moment it is 2:15pm and wunderground.com tells me it is 84 degrees outside and with the humidity it "feels like" 90! And it's late October!!!

This summer was very hard on my garden. It was HOT! For a few weeks we had NO rain and then it rained for an entire week.

The morning temperature has been wonderful with a slight breeze and even after being outside for an hour after lunch I didn't feel like I was going to pass out.

For some strange reason I have been more plant-motivated this month. Does that even make sense?

On Saturday I planted:

Table Queen Bush Squash

Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach

Detroit Dark Red Beets

5 Color Silverbeet Swiss Chard

And already I have little sprouting seeds!

I have run out of seedling pots (all recycled) so last night I had to purchase a few Jiffy Pots for the rest of my Fall planting.
This morning I planted:

Fine Verde Basil

Catnip

Dill Vierling

Echinacea Purpurea

Strawberries

But that's not all...Tomorrow I intend to plant more. Soaking in little shot glasses on my kitchen table are Habanero and Pimiento Peppers, Brussels Sprouts and Little Gem Lettuce seeds.

Have I lost my mind? Gone over the edge? I'm not sure but I'll be really happy when I don't have to keep going to the store for salad stuff. Even with the weekly trips to the farmer's market I find myself running to the grocery store for items I have run out of or forgot to pick up on Sunday.

Are you planning a Fall Garden? Have you already started?

I LOVE Beets!

2011-10-26T08:19:00.005-04:00

I planted beets about 2 weeks ago. The seeds have sprouted and are growing additional leaves.

Heirloom Beet Seedling

Unfortunately, Rita (my female cat) ate the tops off 3 of them. To remedy the situation, I planted about 20 seeds this weekend. I ran out of plastic containers so I used recycled toilet paper rolls.

I have been buying beets at the farmer's Market every Sunday. They are cheaper than buying canned beets from the store and I know there are no preservative when I cook them. I simply chop, add olive oil and bake at 375 until they are tender. I store them in the fridge until I am ready to eat them. Sometimes I add them to my salad and other times I just eat them right out of the container.

I LOVE BEETS!

Another gorgeous day in Florida!

2011-10-25T10:19:00.001-04:00

It has finally cooled down in South Florida. It's 79 degrees! The eggplants are finally blooming thanks to a tiny cold snap we had over the weekend. Woohoo!

Yesterday was a very busy day. It was a friend's birthday so I made brownies using applesauce instead of oil. Yum! And during my lunch break I made my version of Texas Caviar. The recipe is so easy and keeps in the fridge for several days. I use it to top eggs or brown rice or even eat it by itself.

Texas Caviar (My version)
While the recipe calls for canned items I actually use homemade items that I have either frozen or canned myself.

1 can Black Beans
1 can Whole Kernel Corn
1/2 a Red Onion, chopped
1 Red or Green Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Jalapeno, chopped
1 bunch Cilantro, chopped
2 Limes, squeezed. Add only the juice.

Speaking of changes...

2011-10-22T11:29:00.003-04:00

I planted these Little Gem Lettuce less than a month ago. After I took this picture I clipped off a few leaves and added it to my salad. It was yummy!

Below is a recently transplanted Cal Wonder Bell Pepper.

I don't think the Pak Choi does very well when transplanted.

Next time I'll sow directly into a medium container.

After several months of hard work in the yard I am making several BIG and unexpected changes. I have realized that at my current pace, the side-yard project, will continue to be very expensive. The purpose of this project is to not only save money but to produce healthier, more nutrient dense food while learning more about Urban Homesteading.
And yes, I did use the phrase.
(Not sure what I'm talking about? Just ask!)

Last month I had to pull out the Cucumber and the Pumpkin plants due to a nasty aphid infestation. However, I did find a useful recipe for pest control using olive oil, garlic and water which I have been using almost daily. This month I was horrified when I notice several of my tomato plants had had their leaves devoured by tomato hornworms. Never have I seen such humongous green worms!

SO, for the next few months I will be planting everything in containers. Planting in containers can save both time and money. I will be able to better regulate the amount of water used, soil quality and pests.

Today I planted a few more varieties of veggie seeds. I soaked the seeds overnight and this morning cleaned out as many containers as I could find.

Happy Friday!

2011-10-21T08:11:00.000-04:00

The times they are a changin!

Container Gardening

2011-10-19T13:56:00.003-04:00

I am currently reading an interesting book about gardening in containers. I checked it out of the library a few weeks ago. I have enjoyed it SO MUCH that I'm thinking about buying it from Amazon.

The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible by Edward C. Smith is very easy to read, easy direction to follow and includes many of the veggies I currently have in my own garden (and more). I have been in need of inspiration lately. Between the rain and gloomy weather, the uncertainty of the garden and a little extra work around the house I am taking a much needed break to sit down and plan a course of action.

I have had great success so far with lettuce and peppers growing in containers so it's about time I expanded my container garden. After a weekend of transplanting, I currently have Pak Choi, Bell Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Little Gem Lettuce, Pimento Peppers, Hungarian Heart Tomato, Huckleberry and Red Burgundy Onion growing in containers.

Next weekend I hope to plant Spinach, German Giant Radish, more Little Gem Lettuce, and 5 Color Silverbeet Swiss Chard.

Good Morning!

2011-10-19T07:55:00.000-04:00

ENJOY!

Garden Update!!

2011-10-17T13:46:00.001-04:00

I've been away from both the garden and blog lately. I'm still considering my option for the future of the side-yard project. AND, it rained most of the weekend and it's still drizzling today. I didn't let a little, (a lot) of rain get me down.

Since the ground had been completely saturated this weekend I figured it was time to add a bit of fertilizer. This morning I went out to inspect the garden and, to my horror, found SNAILS in the garden. Lots of snails! I had a solution! Epsom salt to the rescue. Not only is is a great source of phosphorus which the plants needed but it also gets rid of snails and will hopefully keep them away. Next on the list of soil amendments was Nitrogen. Several weeks ago I purchased organic blood meal which is a great source of Nitrogen and Tomatoes LOVE it!

As for the remaining seedlings, I've already transplanted most into larger pots while they await their final destination.

Happy Friday!

2011-10-14T09:15:00.000-04:00

True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shock of adversity, before it is entitled to appellation.

-George Washington

Made in America!

2011-10-12T13:55:00.001-04:00

Last night I watched a great clip about a house being built entirely from products Made in America. The man behind the idea, Anders Lewindal, states that if other builders simply used 5% more "Made in America" products on homes being built, it would create 220,000 jobs right now!

Check out the video clip.

I think this is an AMAZING idea and a great opportunity to support the people in your community as well as companies in America.

New Space in the Garden (Part 2)

2011-10-08T10:58:00.001-04:00

On Thursday I posted about the new spot in the garden. My timing on transplanting could not have been better if I had planned it! It rained off and on Friday and poured Friday night into Saturday morning.

Things are happening behind the scenes so I'm not sure about the future of my side-yard project. More on that later. For now, I have decided to go back to containers. I have quite a few left from last year as well as maturing compost and organic soil amendments. This afternoon I'll begin the transformation. {sigh} I was really looking forward to a complete and successful project.

La La La La Life goes on!

New additions: Hungarian Heart Tomato, Cal Wonder Bell, Tam Jalapeno, Pak Choi, Small Sugar Pumpkin and Marigolds.

Current Patio dwellers: Detroit Dark Red Beet, Little Gem Lettuce, Pimento Pepper, Huckleberry and Spinach.

A New Space in the Garden

2011-10-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

I've had to take a few plants out of the garden that were not producing. In fact, they didn't even look like they were going to make it much longer. I'm very disappointed and sad to see them go. However, I'm looking forward to adding a few seedlings that are ready to be transplanted.

I've started clearing away old mulch and pulling weeds. The area is about 2 and a half feet wide and about 6 feet long. It doesn't look like much now but I'll post pictures again once I complete this project.

While I was working in the garden this morning I found a hideous creature!! The dreaded tomato hornworm. The picture below doesn't even do this monster justice. It was almost 2 inches long and it was a fat little guy!!!!

The next seedling to go into the side-yard project are 2 more Cal Wonder Peppers, 2 Jalapeno Peppers and a Hungarian Heart Tomato.

These were almost cat food!

The Little Gem Lettuce and the Pak Choi are doing marvelous! I have them in containers on the front porch.

Happy planting!!!

More Soap for October!

2011-10-05T07:06:00.007-04:00

I didn't forget to post pictures of the Organic Star Anise soap but I've had my hands full lately. Between the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign at the office and the aphids in the garden I've been a very girl.

The soap turned out an amazing shade of PINK! If you've never smelled Star Anise it is delicious. It kinda smells like black licorice.

For information about Breast Cancer and prevention check out Susan G. Komen.

Aphids!

2011-10-04T07:40:00.002-04:00

The cucumbers have been defeated! I didn't do a very good job of preventing an aphid infestation and they came by the thousands. They set up camp and went to work on the Cucumbers. Bummer! I was really looking forward to more pickles!

Over the weekend I made a stronger batch of garlic spray. Once it was ready I went to work fight off the little devils. I'll check out the garden this morning, maybe spray one last time and then wait. The garlic spray consists of oil, garlic cloves and water and it takes 24 hours per batch. I add the liquid to a spray bottle and go to work. I didn't want to use this method because it can harm other soft bodied insects such as lady bugs but I had no choice.

The upside to removing the cucumbers is that I have a few other plants waiting to be planted. I'll be adding compost, manure and a bit of organic fertilizer to the bare side of the garden and in they go.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-01T07:50:00.013-04:00

I'm getting fired up for October! Below is a copy of the flier I use for my office. I've also included the PINK soap I made.

Breast Cancer

Awareness Month

Recent estimates from the ACS in the United States alone for 2009

are as follows:

About 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women

About 62,280 new cases of situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer)

About 40,170 women will die from breast cancer.

Find out how to reduce your risk for cancer

Free Health Workshop: Thursday at 6pm

Space is limited. Please call to reserve your spot.

Speaker: Dr. Robert Hart

2110 Tyler St, Hollywood, FL 33020

(954) 364-8841

http://www.dochartchiro.com

Complimentary

Nutrition and Spinal Evaluation

($95 Value) Expires: October 31, 2011

Farmageddon

2011-09-30T07:11:00.002-04:00

WOW!!! Now I'm pissed! Yesterday I was following up with some of my favorite blogs and one of them got me FUMING! It wasn't the blog that pissed me off but the subject matter of the video clip they post.

The folks over at Dog Island Farm are awesome and I'm sharing with you what I watched yesterday. Unlike some of the other videos I have emailed before, the content in the video is suitable for just about anyone. It is the CAUSE that pisses me off, not the actual video!

What's on my reading list?

2011-09-29T07:43:00.006-04:00

I made another trip to the library this week AND my books from Amazon.com arrived. I picked up The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible, You Grow Girl by Gayla Trail, The Glamour of Grammar, 2 John Sanford books, 2 Janet Evanovich books and for the hubby, Lucifer's Hammer and The Passage.
This should last me a few weeks.

I have 2 of my own reference books in the pile, The Encyclopedia of Country Living and Growing 101 Herbs That Heal. Almost forgot!!! Also on my reading list is an awesome cookbook that my mom sent me If It Makes You Healthy by Sheryl Crow and Chuck White. I'm thinking about trying the Watermelon Margarita.

Making Soap for October!

2011-09-27T13:03:00.002-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! My office always puts together a handout or flier for our patients during October. This year I'm going one step further. I made PINK goat's milk soap ribbons for patients and friends.

Cut.

Melt.

Pour.

The first batch I made was organic Grapefruit Goat Milk.

The second batch is Organic Lavender Goat Milk.

Tomorrow I'm going to make Organic Star Anise soap which will be pink with a clear base. Noticing a trend? PINK! It's been quite a while since I made soap and I almost forgot how much fun it is. I only ever make ribbon soap for October.
It looks YUMMY!!!

To purchase soap or for questions, please send an email to mary@marysheirloomseeds.com

California Dreamin

2011-09-27T07:59:00.001-04:00

ENJOY!

WHAT is GMO?

2011-09-26T10:30:00.006-04:00

The definition of GMO according to wikipedia is "an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms which have inserted DNA that originated in a different species."

Want an easier explanation? Check out The Non-GMO Project, "GMOs (or “genetically modified organisms”) are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods."

Also at The Non-GMO Project,
Are GMOs safe?
In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs, because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S. on the other hand, the FDA approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies who created them and profit from their sale. Many health-conscious shoppers find the lack of rigorous, independent, scientific examination on the impact of consuming GM foods to be cause for concern.

According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, and 86% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. It is estimated that over 90% of canola grown is GMO, and there are also commercially produced GM varieties of sugar beets, squash and Hawaiian Papaya. As a result, it is estimated that GMOs are now present in more than 80% of packaged products in the average U.S. or Canadian grocery store.

According to the Institute for Responsible Technology, a consumer safety organization, “Genetic engineers continually encounter unintended side effects – GM plants create toxins, react to weather differently, contain too much or too little nutrients, become diseased or malfunction and die. When foreign genes are inserted, dormant genes may be activated or the functioning of genes altered, creating new or unknown proteins, or increasing or decreasing the output of existing proteins inside the plant. The effects of consuming these new combinations of proteins are unknown.”

The information provided above is only just the beggining. Several years ago I began researching food and nutrition. It's simple and easy with website like google, using words such as gmo, gmo food and gmo side effects. It is AMAZING the information available and it's down right disturbing! I've learned about rGBH and unsavory charactors within the business of GMO agriculture. Several studies that really caught my attention were about the increase of instances of cancer and the link to pesticides and gmo production and consumption. You can find the article here.

In my garden I plant ONLY non-gmo, open-pollinated, organic seeds to ensure my families health and well-being. I'm not taking any chances with franken-seeds!

Peach Jam and Orange Marmalade!

2011-09-24T14:40:00.006-04:00

Do I have your attention now? My water bath canner and supplies arrived yesterday and I am itching to get started.

I purchased my supplies for a very reasonable price. I bought a large pot with a lid and canning rack, stainless steel jar funnel, jar lifter, 12 1-quart Ball jars AND the Ball Blue Book canning guide.

I've spent quite a bit of time perusing articles and recipes on Food in Jars and I found a few that I really want to try. I already made Refrigerator Pickles which were a HUGE success in my house. Next on the list is Peach Jam and Orange Marmalade.

Toads in my garden!

2011-09-22T13:56:00.001-04:00

About 2 weeks ago I planted Little Gem Lettuce and it looks oh so cute reaching for the sun growing bigger every day. At the same time, I transplanted huckleberry into pots also on the patio. This morning I went out onto to check on my little greens and there are big divots in the dirt and a little toad jumped out! One of the huckleberries is laying on it's side. UGH!

Toad's horny butt

I'm not sure what I'll have to do to keep the toads out but for now I gathering dead leaves to mulch the containers. I love Mother Nature but she can be a nuisance on occasion.

Acorn Squash...MM MM Good!

2011-09-20T18:35:00.027-04:00

Acorn Squash for dinner...Happy birthday to me!!!

Today a received a package from my sister with a beautiful wind chime and a homegrown acorn squash. It must be my birthday! I was so excited about trying another recipe that I cut it in half (no, the hubby cut it in half because I don't need an ER visit on our budget) and added proper seasoning and in the oven it went.

I found a great recipe online, of course and I've included it below.

SWEET and SPICY!
Acorn on the right : Sweet. Acorn on the left: Spicy.

Sweet recipe:
1 tablespoon butter spread over acorn half
1 tablespoon brown sugar sprinkled over acorn half

Spicy recipe:
1 tablespoon butter spread over half acorn
1 pinch of sea salt sprinkled over acorn half
1 pinch of pepper sprinkled over acorn half
Paprika sprinkled over acorn half

Preheat the over to 375 degrees. Add 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan so the skin doesn't burn. Cook for 50 minutes or until flesh is soft.

Is it Fall yet?

2011-09-19T15:15:00.003-04:00

Well technically the official first day of Fall is September 23rd. However, the weather in sunny south Florida is predicted to be 90 degrees (without the heat index). I won't let a little hot weather keep my from beginning my Fall prep starting with canning. With cucumbers starting to ripen on the vine I'm salivating for homemade pickles.

Last night I made refrigerator pickles with a recipe from
food in jars.

Notice I didn't use Ball or Mason jars. These pickles won't be canned. As it is I'm having trouble staying out of them after 1 day and I still have 2 days to go. I've been gathering canning recipes in anticipation of my water bath canner and supplies which (fingers crossed) is in the mail. More on canning later!!

My fall greens have been planted and are already enjoying the warmth of the Florida sun. Grow babies grow!

Farmer's Market Sunday

2011-09-18T11:52:00.002-04:00

Another quick trip to the farmer's market and I'm still waiting to harvest from my own garden. First veggies to harvest are bell peppers and cucumbers. The rest of the day I'll be cleaning! Not my favorite activity but it must be done.

Garden Update for Mid-September

2011-09-17T16:33:00.003-04:00

While some areas of the US are starting to cool down and preparing for fall planting, South Florida is still hot and steamy. We've had a few rainy days to cools us down (into the 80s) but for now it's 99 degrees with the heat index!!!

A few of the individual pictures were blurry so below is the side yard. (At least what I could fit in one picture) Total plants include 2 Cucumbers, 3 Zucchinis, 4 Eggplants, 5 Tomatoes,
2 Bell Peppers and 3 Pumpkins.

I have continued to stay busy in the garden, fighting aphids and worms and I'm almost ready to harvest my first cucumbers...

National Pickling Cucumber

Jalapeno seedlings complete with kitty bite marks.

Black Beauty Eggplant

Cherokee Purple Tomato. No fruit yet

Pumpkins

Pak Choi seedlings

That's all for now. Happy Planting! Happy Harvesting!

Growing Summer Squash

2011-09-15T09:06:00.004-04:00

Summer squash is a vegetable gardening favorite, and it’s easy to grow. Think of yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, or pattypan and scallop squash.

These squash grows well in containers, too. Try these squash varieties for squash container gardening: Butter Bush, Bush Table Queen, Bush Crookneck, Bush Acorn, and Black Magic Zucchini.

Preferred Growing Conditions

Vegetables tend to all like the same growing conditions: full sun, and well drained soil full of organic matter. Organic matter, organic matter, organic matter… Are you sick of hearing about it yet? Organic matter contributes to the health of the soil: gives soil nutrients, aerates soil for better root growth, helps soil retain moisture, while at the same times allows soil to drain better.

So, for the health of your plants, make sure your soil has organic matter. I wouldn’t keep saying it if it weren’t important.

The easiest way to add organic matter is to just work a little compost into your soil. Get a composter and make your own by recycling kitchen and yard waste. Or, buy compost or a soil amendment will do the same thing. But, it’s cheaper just to go ahead and buy a compost bin (or recycle a large bin) and make your own.

How to Plant Summer Squash

Rethink how many summer squash plants you need. It just takes a few plants to feed a family. Plant summer squash in a container, or a garden. Here’s how:

For planting summer squash in containers, make sure your pot is at least 12 inches wide, that’s about a 5 gallon pot. Pots will dry out fast. That will be your biggest container gardening obstacle. Consider using a fabric pot or a self watering planter, so help control the soil moisture level.

Soil temperature should be about 70 degrees Fahrenheit before you plant your summer squash. Plant seeds ½ inches deep and six inches apart. Thin out after seedlings after they emerge, but will need at least two leaves to keep growing. Mature bush summer squash plants should be 20 inches apart in rows that are spaced 2 feet apart. If growing a vine variety, planting in hills works well. Plant about 5 seeds per hill. After seedlings emerge and are established, thin to three plants. Stake or provide a trellis for vining varieties.

Transplanting is a good idea with summer squash, too. You can purchase starter plants or start seeds indoors about four weeks prior to the last frost date. Don’t forget to harden off your seedlings, meaning slowly adjust them to the outdoor climate and sun.

Consider staggering you plantings of summer squash too. Planting two weeks apart can keep you harvesting summer squash a little longer. And, don’t forget you get a lot of summer squash from one plant. I think that is why sometimes squash gets a bad wrap. It’s a great tasting vegetable, and easy to grow.

Companion Plants for Summer Squash

Growing these companion plants around summer squash will be helpful: Buckwheat, catnip, tansy, and radishes.

Maintaining Your Summer Squash Plants

Consistent watering is key with summer squash. Mulch helps a lot with maintaining soil moisture. So, put a good layer of mulch down around summer squash plants. Provide a trellis for support for vining summer squashes to grow.

You might need to assist with pollination. If you are growing just a few plants, you might have to help. Here’s how to do it, and no, you probably didn’t learn this in school. The first flowers that bloom are males. These appear about 40-50 days after planting. A week later the female flowers develop, which will produce the fruit after fertilized by the male flowers. So, to help: pick the first male blooms and brush them against the female bloom. This will help increase the output of summer squash.

When to Use Organic Fertilizer

Use an organic fertilizer on summer squash at the time of transplanting. Fertilize again, in about a month. Organic fertilizer is important. We need safe, healthy foods. But also, you don’t want to endanger any beneficial insect helping you with your pollination duties.

Harvesting Summer Squash

Harvest summer squash early. They will taste better when tender, and you’ll want to keep the fruit off the plant so it keeps producing. So, pick when the summer squash is about 2 inches in diameter, or 6-8 inches long. Pattypan squash is best when it reaches 3 inches in diameter, and is still a little pale. If your Pattypan squash gets a little larger, those are great to stuff.

Summer Squash Pests and Diseases

Don’t forget to check summer squash plants for pests often. Squash bugs will set in pretty quickly. They will be your biggest pest problems. Ok, cucumber beetles like summer squash plants, too. Neem oil is a great organic choice to get rid of these bugs.

Keep an eye out, too, for these pests and diseases: bacteria wilt, squash vine borers, mosaic virus, and mildew.

I'm not ready to harvest my first zucchini but I'm getting ready by putting together a few recipes I've used before and LOVE.

Tomato and Zucchini Melange

Ingredients

2 plum tomatoes, halved and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 large zucchini, sliced
3 tablespoons salsa
3 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a small saucepan, mix together tomatoes, zucchini, salsa, water, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix in bell peppers if desired. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently.

***I use Homemade Salsa***
I really enjoy this recipe as a side dish or even just for lunch.

Growing Winter Squash

2011-09-13T13:54:00.004-04:00

All winter squash varieties are easy to grow, and butternuts, buttercups and other types with dense flesh can stand in for carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes in any recipe.

Butternut squash combine rich flavor and smooth texture with natural resistance to squash vine borers. These bottle-shaped fruits have buff-brown rinds and will store for six months or longer.

In spring, sow seeds in prepared beds or hills after your last frost has passed, or sow them indoors under bright fluorescent lights. Set out seedlings when they are about three weeks old. In Zone 6 and warmer, you can plant more winter squash in early summer, using space vacated by fall-planted garlic or early spring lettuce. Stop planting winter squash 14 weeks before your expected first fall frost.

How to Plant Winter Squash

Winter squash grows best in warm conditions, in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Choose a sunny site and prepare 3-foot-wide planting hills within wide rows, or position them along your garden’s edge. Leave 5 to 6 feet between hills. Loosen the soil in the planting sites to at least 12 inches deep. Thoroughly mix in a 2-inch layer of mature compost and a light application of balanced, organic fertilizer. Water well. Plant six seeds per hill, poking them into the soil 1 inch deep. After seeds germinate (about 10 days after sowing), thin seedlings to three per hill. Set up protective row covers as soon as you’re done planting.

Harvesting and Storage

Fruits are ripe if you cannot easily pierce the rind with your fingernail. Never rush to harvest winter squash, though, because immature fruits won’t store well. Unless pests or freezing weather threaten them, allow fruits to ripen until the vines begin to die back. Expect to harvest three to five squash per plant. Use pruning shears to cut fruits from the vine, leaving 1 inch of stem attached. Clean away dirt with a soft, damp cloth, and allow fruits to cure for two weeks in a spot that’s 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Store cured squash in a cool, dry place, such as your basement, a cool closet or even under your bed. Check every two weeks for signs of spoilage.

Winter squash face challenges from squash bugs, squash vine borers and cucumber beetles. To defend your plants from all three insects, shield them with row covers held aloft with stakes or hoops until the plants begin to bloom. Big, healthy plants will produce well despite pest pressure. Among diseases, powdery mildew is a common problem best prevented by growing resistant varieties, which often have “PMR” (for “powdery mildew resistance”) after their variety names. In addition, a spray made of 1 part milk and 6 parts water can suppress powdery mildew if applied every two weeks during the second half of summer.

Winter Squash Growing Tips and Ideas

Grow open-pollinated varieties so you can save your own seeds for eating and replanting. Only choose hybrids if you need a space-saving bush habit or a special form of disease resistance.

Try growing winter squash in an old compost pile located along the edge of your garden. Small-fruited varieties do well if allowed to scramble up a fence.

A Birthday and a Book Review

2011-09-12T14:32:00.002-04:00

I had an awesome birthday weekend filled with friends, cocktails, dirt and books (not necessarily in that order). I can't forget about the chocolate cake, mainly because the leftovers in the fridge are calling me and because I'll have to get my butt to the gym an extra day this week.

As for the dirt, I managed to do a bit of gardening. Well, mainly bug detail with a bit of digging. Next year I'm going to limit the pumpkins to a section of the yard. Twice I have had to remove them from the tomato cages and drag them back to the pumpkin patch.

I had a chance to relax and enjoy a good book this weekend. I am almost through the third book in the "Dragon Tattoo" series by Stieg Larsson. I absolutely enjoy the first book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and promptly checked out the next book in the series from the library The Girl Who Played with Fire. Now that I'm almost through the third book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, I'm savoring each word as there is no fourth book (yet). If you like action with a bit of mystery the Stieg Larsson books are great!

Growing Hot Peppers

2011-09-10T09:17:00.003-04:00

When to Plant Peppers

If you live outside of Florida: Start seeds indoors under bright fluorescent lights in early spring, eight to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date. If possible, provide bottom heat to keep the plants’ containers near 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the seeds stay slightly moist. Seeds should sprout within three weeks. Transfer seedlings to larger containers when they are about six weeks old. Don’t set peppers outside until at least two weeks after your average last frost date, during a period of warm weather. Always harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor weather a few hours each day for at least a week before transplanting them outdoors.
I have a screened-in patio and plant seedlings in small containers. I leave them on a shelf on the patio. It get's plenty hot in Florida so water regularly but DO NOT over-water. I've had success with most of my seedlings (all except the radishes because it was too hot when I attempted to grow them). I prefer not to coddle my plants because they'll be out in the garden soon and I won't be able to protect them every minute of every day.

How to Plant Peppers

All peppers grow best under warm conditions, but gardeners in cool climates can keep peppers happy by using row covers. Choose a sunny site that has fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Loosen the planting bed to 12 inches deep, and thoroughly mix in a 1-inch layer of mature compost. Dig planting holes 12 inches deep and at least 18 inches apart, and enrich each with a spadeful of additional compost. Partially refill the holes, and situate plants so they are planted slightly deeper than they were in their containers. Water well.

Harvesting and Storing Peppers

You can eat peppers when they are mature yet still green (green peppers), although the flavor and the vitamin content of peppers improve as they ripen to red, yellow or orange. Use pruning shears to snip ripe peppers from the plant, leaving a small stub of stem attached. Bumper crops can be briefly steam-blanched or roasted and then frozen, either whole (for stuffing) or chopped. Peppers are also easy to dry. Dried peppers quickly plump if soaked in hot water, or you can grind them into powders for your spice shelf.

Pepper Pest and Disease Prevention Tips

Tobacco etch virus (TEV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and potato virus Y (PVY) can infect peppers grown in warm climates. Transmitted by thrips and aphids, these viruses cause leaves to become thick and crinkled or narrow and stringy. The best defense is to grow resistant varieties, such as ‘Tam Jalapeño.’

Margined blister beetles may suddenly appear in large numbers in midsummer, especially in warm climates. These large beetles are black with gray stripes, and they devour pepper foliage. Handpick beetles, making sure to wear gloves to prevent skin irritation. Use a spinosad-based insecticide to control severe outbreaks.

Pepper weevils can also be a serious problem in warm climates. Clean up fallen fruit daily to interrupt the life cycle of this pest, and trap adult pepper weevils with sticky traps.

Pepper Growing Tips

Be careful with nitrogen when preparing your planting holes, as overfed peppers produce lush foliage but few fruits. Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer only if you’re growing peppers in poor soil.

In cool climates, use black plastic mulch in addition to row covers to create warm conditions for peppers. In warm climates, use shade covers during summer to reduce sunscald damage to ripening peppers.

Provide stakes or other supports to keep plants upright as they become heavy with fruits. Cover surrounding soil with a mulch of clean straw or grass clippings so ripening peppers don’t come in contact with soil, which can cause them to rot.

Always wear gloves if handling hot peppers, and avoid touching your eyes or nose. If you do handle hot peppers bare-handed, immediately scrub hands with soap and warm water, rub them vigorously with vegetable oil, then wash them again.

Growing Sweet Peppers

2011-09-09T08:15:00.003-04:00

Peppers take up very little space in the garden, less than a tomato plant, in fact. You can always squeeze in a sweet pepper plant or two, no matter how small your garden space. Peppers even grow really well in containers or planters!

Green, red, orange, and yellow: these are the colors of sweet peppers! Right? No, there are tons of varieties of sweet peppers. Almost any color imaginable: purple to black, blue, white and even chocolate brown sweet peppers!

Preferred Growing Conditions

You’re probably seeing the similarities in the best growing conditions for vegetable plants: full sunlight and the soil should be well drained, fertile, and rich in organic matter. Sweet pepper plants are no different. Except, in really hot climates they could use a little late afternoon shade.

Compost is your best bet to work into the soil, whether you’re planting in a raised bed, row garden, or container gardening. Compost is rich in organic matter, and makes your soil a different ball game. No joke. Try it. Compost is an easy way to prepare your soil for successful vegetable growing. Peppers, also, like greensand added to soil to help with drainage.

How to Plant Sweet Peppers

Sweet peppers are a warm season crop, needing a lot of warmth to ripen on the plant. Make sure if you start seeds indoors, you will need to do so 8-10 weeks before they are ready for transplant.

Reality check, folks! You have to be on your gardening game to remember to get these started this early.

Usually, this is when you’re starting to think about planting the garden.

Spacing these plants will depend greatly on the variety. Generally, pepper plants need 18-24 inches between plants, and 24 inches between rows. Here’s a great tip with bell peppers: plant a little closer together for more successful plants. Reducing the spacing between plants helps prevent sunscald on the fruit and prevents weeds.

Companion Plants for Sweet Peppers

Growing these companion plants around sweet peppers will be helpful: tomatoes, geraniums, and, petunias.

Some plants actually are bad to the health of sweet pepper plants.

Avoid these plants around sweet peppers: beans, kale, cabbage, and brussels sprouts.

Maintaining Your Sweet Pepper Plants

Water your sweet pepper plants regularly. Blossom end rot can be caused by inconsistent watering. Mulching around sweet pepper plants will help control moisture loss, too.

When to Use Organic Fertilizer

Fertilize sweet pepper plants when transplanting, and then again after the first fruit is produced. Be careful not to over fertilize. Over fertilizing sweet pepper plants can cause blossom end rot.

Focus on overall plant health and fruit production with fertilizers. Stick with something low in nitrogen. Try something with seaweed or fish emulsion: these are low in nitrogen.

Harvesting Sweet Peppers

Your best bet is to let them ripen on the vine. That’s how to get most flavor out of your pepper. But, if you wish you can pick them and let them ripen off the vine to sweeten. Who knows, maybe you like sweet peppers not so sweet? They’re still good this way, just maybe a tad bitter like the green peppers.

Sweet Pepper Pests and Diseases

Insect pests, typically, aren’t too big of a problem for sweet pepper plants. But keep an eye out for aphids, pepper maggots, and pepper weevils. Aphids will be the most common. Begin to look for them at the popular aphid hangouts: under leaves and along juicy stems.

Make sure to use organic pest control around food sources. Pepper plants are more likely to have trouble with sunscald, blossom end rot, and blossoms dropping off than garden pests. Prevent those pepper problems by adding compost to the soil, consistent watering, mulching, and planting slightly closer together to protect fruit from the sun.

Garden Update. Back to work!

2011-09-07T11:16:00.025-04:00

I really enjoyed my weekend of no real labor! I have so much fun in the garden that I don't really consider it work. Today back in the office, now that is work and I enjoy every minute of it! { smile }

On Monday I managed to untangle the pumpkin from the tomato cages. I didn't listen when the pumpkin queen told me that the pumpkin vines would take over the garden. One plant can stretch 100 feet if you let it. WOW! For now my pumpkin is trying to take over 10 feet and I'm not sure what to do. I think it's time I made another tomato cage only this time I'll give it to my pumpkins.

As for the cucumbers, I'm salivating for homemade pickles. I almost want to plant a few more but I'm exercising self control. I hear stories of gardeners planting too many cucumbers and really getting sick of pickles as cucumber plants are HEAVY producers. For now I'll just wait and be patient. Grrr!

What did you do during the Labor Day weekend?

Going Organic

2011-09-07T08:45:00.003-04:00

In case you are new to the blog or you've been lurking for a while and haven't signed up...WELCOME! September is all about GROWING! I've added a few posts so far with growing tips and soil information. I practice ONLY organic growing methods. If any of the recommendations say "fertilize" I am referring to an organic method (preferably homemade).

Store-bought fertilizers, especially organic, can be very expensive and can be harmful to the environment for many reasons. As far as the side-yard project goes, I have used homemade aged compost, dead leaves and freshly collected seaweed. *Disclaimer* The seaweed is not organic but it is natural and no animals where harmed in the process. For more information on seaweed application check out the blog archives.

While I may not specify in every post, I highly recommend using recycled material as often as possible. I'm on a budget, but more importantly I hate to waste anything!

I don't claim to be an expert on anything. I am constantly learning new things in the garden and the kitchen...oh, and at work too! While some have said I have way too much time on my hands to juggle the house, garden, work, the gym and the blog I smile and go back to my research. I may have a bit more time on my hands than most because I don't waste hours in front of the TV. In fact, I cancelled my cable months ago and I feel great!

The moral of this story? Thanks for stopping by...Come back soon and let me know what you think!

Happy Planting! -Mary

Growing Tomatoes

2011-09-05T09:29:00.001-04:00

HAPPY LABOR DAY! I've been in the garden this morning. The Pumpkin is truly taking over. I had to unhook it's tentacles from a Cherokee Purple. I'm really looking forward to cucumbers!
Today is another installment of "Growing." ENJOY!

There are two basic kinds of tomatoes: Determinate and Indeterminate.

Determinate tomatoes produce the fruit all at once. These are typically bush tomatoes, and make the best tomatoes for container gardening. Since all the tomatoes are ripe within a short period of time, these are great plant choices if you plan to can or have a short tomato growing season.

Indeterminate tomatoes grow on a vine. They will produce all season until the first frost.

Preferred Growing Conditions

Tomatoes love sun, and lots of it. Determinate or bush tomato plants work best for tomato container gardening. Soil should be rich in organic matter. Compost works best mixed in with the soil, and is a great organic fertilizer. Tomatoes tend to do well in soil that is a little acidic. Get a soil pH tester if you are unsure of your soil’s pH level.

Mulch will be important around tomato plants. Since tomato plants prefer full sun, the soil will dry out. Mulch will help retain moisture in the soil.

How to Plant Tomatoes

Space out tomato plants 13 – 17 inches apart. Really just follow the planting instructions with the variety you choose. It will all depend on the variety of tomato you grow. You just want to make sure they will have enough room to grow and the roots not compete with each other. You can plant tomato seedlings after the last frost. Seeds can be started just before the last frost.

Keep in mind tomatoes do well in raised beds. If you are not planting in a raised bed, raise your tomato rows about six inches in the garden. Rows should be 4-5 feet apart. But, don’t forget that determinate tomato varieties grow well in containers, too!

Companion Plants for Tomatoes

Growing these companion plants around tomatoes will be helpful: basil, chives, oregano, parsley, onions, carrots, asparagus, marigolds, celery, and geraniums.

Some plants actually are bad to the health of tomato plants.

Avoid these plants around tomotoes: black walnut, corn, cabbage, potatoes, kale, and rosemary.

Maintaining Your Tomato Plants

Not sure what to do in the meantime? You will most likely need to stake your tomatoes. Again, depends on the variety. Bush tomatoes may need to be staked or caged for support. But, indeterminate tomatoes, or vine tomatoes, will definitely need support since they continue to grow all season. A trellis works nicely with vine tomatoes or a tomato cage.

Should you prune tomatoes? Depends on who you ask! Suckers, or side shoots, grow in the “v” of the stem and branch. You can pinch them off or leave them. Leaving the suckers on produces more tomatoes. But these will be smaller tomatoes. If you have a large tomato plant, like the indeterminates, you might want to prune the side shoots here and there. But don’t go hog wild, you want these plants to produce.

When to Use Organic Fertilizer

It’s a good idea to use organic fertilizer in your garden, and avoid the chemicals around your food. Typically, tomatoes are fertilized every 3-4 weeks, with the first fertilization at planting. The next time you’re ready to fertilize should be about the time the plant is bearing small tomatoes. Some determinate varieties will only be fertilized two times, since they produce tomatoes all at once.

You can also find products at nurseries, like Tomato Thrive, a microbial growth promoter, that help tomato plants absorb nutrients from the soil. This makes your fertilizer absorb better, too.

When to Harvest Tomatoes

Tomatoes take 50-80 days to harvest. Just pick them when they have turned their full color. You can pick them early and let them ripen in the windowsill. But, the best tomato flavor is one that has ripened on the vine.

Tomato Pests and Diseases

Keep an eye out for tomato hornworms. They are the large, beautiful green worms that blend nicely with the stems.

Growing Beets

2011-09-04T08:06:00.002-04:00

Beets can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 50 degrees, making them ideal for the early spring and fall vegetable gardens. Beets don’t care for overly acidic soil, so gardeners should perform a soil test before planting to ensure that the pH is between 6.2 and 6.8. If the soil is too acidic, add lime until the pH is properly adjusted.

Table beet (also known as garden beet, blood turnip or red beet) is a popular garden vegetable throughout the United States. Beet tops are an excellent source of vitamin A and the roots are a good source of vitamin C. The tops are cooked or served fresh as greens and the roots may be pickled for salads or cooked whole, then sliced or diced. Beet juice is a basic ingredient of Russian borscht. The garden beet is closely related to Swiss chard, sugar beet and mangel.

When To Plant

Beets are fairly frost hardy and can be planted in the garden 30 days before the frost-free date for your area. Although beets grow well during warm weather, the seedlings are established more easily under cool, moist conditions. Start successive plantings at 3 to 4 week intervals until midsummer for a continuous supply of fresh, tender, young beets. Irrigation assures germination and establishment of the later plantings.

Spacing & Depth

The beet "seed" is actually a cluster of seeds in a dried fruit. Several seedlings may grow from each fruit. Plant seeds about 1/2 inch deep and one inch apart.

Allow 12 to 18 inches between rows. Poor stands are often the result of planting too deeply or the soil's crusting after a heavy rain. The seedlings may emerge over a relatively long period of time, making a stand of different sizes and ages of seedlings. Some gardeners find that placing a board over the row after planting preserves the soil moisture and eliminates crusting from hard rains. The board must be removed as soon as the first seedling starts to emerge.

Hand thinning is almost always necessary. The seedlings should be thinned to 1 to 3 inches apart. If thinning is delayed until the plants are 3 inches tall, those removed may be cooked greens, similar to spinach. Some cooks leave the small root (usually about the size of a marble) attached to the greens.

Though it is seldom done, beets actually may be transplanted. Some care must be taken to get the roots oriented vertically so that the beets can develop properly.

Care

Frequent shallow cultivation is important because beets compete poorly with weeds, especially when small. Because beets have extremely shallow roots, hand weeding and early, frequent and shallow cultivation are the most effective methods of controlling weeds in the rows. Deep cultivation after the weeds are large damages the beet roots. Like most root crops, beets need a fertile soil (especially high in potassium) for vigorous growth. Keep your beet plants uniformly supplied with moisture for best performance.

Harvesting

Beets can be harvested whenever they grow to the desired size. About 60 days are required for beets to reach 1 1/2 inches in diameter, the size often used for cooking, pickling or canning as whole beets. Beets enlarge rapidly to 3 inches with adequate moisture and space. With most varieties, beets larger than 3 inches may become tough and fibrous. Beets may be stored in a polyethylene bag in a refrigerator for several weeks. Beets also may be stored in outdoor pits if the beets are dug before the ground freezes in the fall. Cut off the tops of the beets one inch above the roots. Beets store best at 32°F and 95 percent humidity. Do not allow them to freeze.

Selection & Storage

Beets can be harvested at any stage of development, from the thinning to the fully mature stage at about 2 inches in diameter. The "thinnings" are beets that have been pulled from the ground prematurely to make room for others when rows are overcrowded. Thinnings can be eaten raw, tops included, in salads or roasted. Beets are high in natural sugar and roasting brings out the natural sweetness.

Beets vary in color and shape based on variety. The most common is the deep maroon globe-shaped beet. There is an Italian variety which has pink and white rings upon slicing. The golden globe is globe-shaped and orange in color then it turns golden yellow when cooked. Another variety is white and still another is pink.

When harvesting beets, separate the green tops from the roots leaving an inch of stem on the beet. Beets larger than 3 inches in diameter are often fibrous and woody. Beet greens are packed with nutritional value but must be prepared separately. Upon storage the greens will quickly draw the moisture from the root greatly reducing flavor and the beets will become shriveled. Leave one inch stem and the taproot intact to retain moisture and nutrients. After separating, beets store well for about a week in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator. Use beets while they are still firm and fresh.

Growing Carrots

2011-09-03T10:09:00.005-04:00

There are two main types of carrot - early and maincrop, which also come in long and short root varieties. As their name suggests, early varieties are planted earlier on in the year and take 12 weeks to mature, whilst maincrop varieties are planted a few months later.

Soil conditions for growing carrots

The ideal soil conditions to cultivate your carrots would be a light, sandy, well-drained earth with a slightly acidic pH balance of 6.5. Planting should start once the soil reaches a temperature of 65°F (18°C).

Climate conditions for growing carrots

To get the best results carrots should be cultivated in a sunny spot that receives plenty of direct sunlight. The seedlings will be able to cope with some shade and even a small amount of light frost, yet lots of sunshine is always the best for this crop.

Soil preparation

The soil should be prepared approximately 2 weeks before you are due to plant the seeds. Dig an area of about 1ft (12 inches) deep and work the soil so that its texture is even, fine and crumbly. Remove all debris, particularly any stones, which can cause deformation of the carrot's shape, and work in some fully rotted organic matter, which will keep the soil loose and moist, perfect growing conditions for the carrot.

For early varieties planting will take place in mid-February and therefore you should prepare the soil at the beginning of the month, whilst maincrop varieties can be grown from late April.

One week before planting you can add a general fertilizer, one that does not contain high levels of nitrogen, as this could cause the seeds to grow multiple roots. In most cases, plenty of compost or peat moss is enough for carrots to grow well.

Planting the carrot seeds

Thinly plant the tiny carrot seeds in drills that are about ½ inch deep. Drop a few seeds into the soil at every inch. The rows should be approximately 8 inches (20cm) apart. Cover the seeds with fine soil and apply a very thin layer of straw or shredded bark. Germination takes place within 15 - 20 days.

Thinning the seedlings

The seedlings should be carefully thinned out when they have sprouted and reached a height of approximately 1 inch (2.5cm). Space them out so that they are first 2 inches (5cm) and then 5 inches (12cm) apart. Thin the seedlings at night, as this is when the carrot fly are absent, and destroy all trimmings by either burning, burying or binning them.

Ensure that the roots of the seedlings do not suffer too much disturbance, as this can affect their growth. Pat down the soil after thinning, as carrot fly like to lay their eggs in loose soil.

Apply a layer of mulch about ¾ inch thick once the plants have been established.

Watering the carrot seedlings

The soil should be kept moist at all times but carrot seedlings do not need to be deluged in water. Water when the soil is dry and keep the soil moist and the plants will be happy!

Fertilizing the carrot seedlings

Do not over-fertilize the carrot plants. Carrots do not need high levels of nitrogen to grow well and so use fertilizers that contain nitrogen sparingly. In most cases, the use of plenty well rotted organic material is enough.

Harvesting the carrots

Early crop varieties will be ready to harvest some time in June, whilst maincrop varieties can be harvested in August.

The carrots should be removed from the ground as soon as the foliage begins to shrivel up and wilt and when the carrot has turned a deep orange.

Gently loosen the roots with a fork and then remove the vegetable by hand.

Harvesting should be carried out at night, for the same reasons that thinning of the seedlings is done at this time of day.

Store the newly dug carrots in a box that has a layer of sand on the bottom and place in a cool, dark and dry location.

Carrot pests

The carrot fly is the main insect that can cause problems when cultivating this crop. It lays its eggs in any soil surrounding the base of the plant that is loose. The eggs turn into maggots, which then attack the plant and destroy it. Ensure that trimmings are disposed of and that soil around the plants is firm.

Carrot disease

The carrot plant may be prone to a number of fungal diseases. Look out for signs of wilted or spotted leaves and any type of irregular markings. Too much water, sun or nitrogen will also affect the plants negatively.

Growing Pumpkins

2011-09-02T09:39:00.003-04:00

Pumpkins are a warm-season vegetable that can be grown throughout much of the United States. They require a fairly long period (3 - 4 months) of hot weather and can not tolerate any frost. Besides being used as Halloween jack-o'-lanterns, pumpkins are used to make pumpkin pies, soup, bread, butter, custard, and even cookies.

What do you need?

3 to 4 months of sunny weather, with day time temperatures of at least 70 F, preferably hotter.

A very sunny location. The won't grow under trees and in the shade.

Rich soil, that doesn't sit under water. Pumpkins like lots of organic matter: manure, grass clippings, leaves, compost should be worked into the soil ahead of planting.

Water! They do need to be watered, a good soaking, at least once a week.

When to Plant

Pumpkin is a very tender vegetable. The seeds will germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Do not plant until all danger of frost has passed, and the soil has thoroughly warmed. Basically, plant seeds late April through July in the deep South; and from late May to mid June in the north.

Spacing and Depth

Pumpkins grow as a vine, which means they take up a LOT of space. Pumpkins require a minimum of 50 to 100 square feet per "hill". Plant four or five seeds per spaced an inch or two apart in one hole (called a "hill"). Leave 5 to 6 feet between each hill. When the young plants are well-established, thin each hill to the best two or three plants.

There are newer "semi-bush" varieties that do not vine quite so much (of course the yield is also smaller). Plant semi-bush varieties one inch deep (four or five seeds per hill) and thin to the best two plants per hill. Allow 4 feet between hills and 8 feet between rows.

Plant miniature varieties one inch deep, with two or three seeds every 2 feet in the row. Rows should be 6 to 8 feet apart, with seedlings thinned to the best plant every 2 feet when they have their first true leaves.

Plant bush varieties one inch deep (1 or 2 seeds per foot of row) and thin to a single plant every 3 feet. Allow 4 to 6 feet between rows.

Care

Pumpkin plants should be kept free from weeds by hoeing and shallow cultivation. Irrigate if an extended dry period occurs in early summer. Pumpkins tolerate short periods of hot, dry weather pretty well.

Bees, that are necessary for pollinating squash and pumpkins, may be killed by insecticides. Organic gardening and pest control methods should be employed (of course!).

Harvesting

Pumpkins can be harvested whenever they are a deep, solid color (orange for most varieties) and the rind is hard. If vines remain healthy, harvest in late September or early October, before heavy frosts. If vines die prematurely from disease or other causes, harvest the mature fruit and store them in a moderately warm, dry place until Halloween. Cut pumpkins from the vines carefully, using pruning shears or a sharp knife and leave 3 to 4 inches of stem attached. Snapping the stems from the vines results in many broken or missing "handles." Pumpkins without stems usually do not keep well. Wear gloves when harvesting fruit because many varieties have sharp prickles on their stems.

Avoid cutting and bruising the pumpkins when handling them. Fruits that are not fully mature or that have been injured or subjected to heavy frost do not keep. Store in a dry building where the temperature is between 50 and 55°F.

Common Problems

Powdery mildew causes a white, powdery mold growth on the upper surfaces of the leaves. The growth can kill the leaves prematurely and interfere with proper ripening.

Cucumber beetles and squash bugs attack seedlings, vines and both immature and mature fruits. Be alert for an infestation of cucumber beetles and squash bugs, as populations build in late summer, because these insects can damage the mature fruits, marring their appearance and making them less likely to keep properly.

Growing Cucumbers

2011-09-01T08:25:00.003-04:00

Today is the first post in the "Growing" series. September is all about Growing! (It's also my birthday month so I might take a day off... or 2)

Please feel free to make comments during this series. I love feedback!

Preferred Growing Conditions
Of course, cucumbers need lots of sun—full sun, in fact. Vegetable gardens should have 6-8 hours a full sunlight a day. Cucumbers, also, like warm weather. If you have a limited growing season, start cucumber seedlings indoors early, so you’ll be ready to plant when the warm weather arrives. But wait till soil temperatures have reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Even light frosts will kill these plants.
Cucumbers like soil rich in organic matter, well drained, and around a neutral pH (around 6.5). These all really go hand in hand, anyway. Just add some compost to your soil or your planter, and it should take care of the three soil preferences of cucumbers.
Cucumber plants are flexible with the pH level. So, they’ll do great as long as the pH level is around 6.5. Cucumbers are hearty plants and easy to grow. Just make sure they have full sunlight and soil is rich in organic matter.
Remember, mulch helps soil retain moisture. When vegetables like full sun, soil tends to dry out quickly. Mulch will also keep the cucumbers off the soil away from pests and clean.

How to Plant Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be planted in containers, rows, hills, or raised beds. Be warned: one plant produces a lot of cucumbers. And, some plants can produce all summer long. So, think about spacing out plantings to harvest all season.

Containers
Cucumbers grow as bushes or vines. Bush varieties grow well in containers. Refer to the variety list above for types of cucumbers suitable for containers and planters. Vine cucumbers will need a trellis, and there’s more space for those in a garden out in the yard.

Rows
You can plant rows of cucumbers once soil temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Space rows 6 ½ feet apart, and plants should have about 2 ½ feet between them. But check your variety, if growing a smaller cucumber plant, you may be able to add more plants in a smaller space. There are some varieties that only need 8-10 inches between the plants.
Since cucumbers are a warm season crop, seeds do pretty well sowing directly into your garden. For row gardening, plant cucumber seeds about 6 inches apart. When the seedlings become established (have their second set of leaves- not just seedling leaves), you can thin seedlings to suggested planting space. By planting seeds 6 inches apart, you can count on getting enough cucumber plants.

Hills
A hill of cucumbers. Know what this it? Because, I thought I had it down pat, and I was wrong. I thought it was about mounding the dirt for water retention around the roots. Well, sort of, but there’s more to it than just that.
Vine crops are often grown this way, like cucumbers, squash, and melons. The idea of hill planting is to start the root system in the center. From there they grow outwards, not competing with each other for water or soil nutrients.
Again, hill planting is for your vine cucumbers. Hills need to be about 3 feet apart. Plant about 5 or so seeds in the hill. Once seedlings have established, reduce to only three plants. Instead of pulling up the seedling, just cut it off. This will prevent any disruption to the root system.
Remember, vine cucumber plants are better trellised. These plants have healthier vines, and harvesting is easier since you can see the fruit.

Raised Beds
You can plant any type of cucumber in a raised bed. The benefit of using raised beds with cucumbers is soil drainage. Raised beds, in general, will provide well drained soil.
I keep saying raised beds are my preferred gardening method. There’s a reason I say this: it makes gardening easier! It’s easier to reach the vegetables, control soil health, and control pests and weeds.

Companion Plants for Cucumbers
Growing these companion plants around cucumbers will be helpful: nasturtiums, radishes, marigolds, sunflowers, peas, beets, carrots, and dill.
Some plants actually are bad to the health of cucumber plants. Avoid these plants around cucumbers: tomatoes, sage, and other aromatic herbs.

Maintaining Your Cucumber Plants
Cucumber plants are easy vegetables to grow. There’s not a whole lot of work to do while you’re waiting to harvest: trellis vine cucumbers and water. Watering is key, and you need to water deep to reach all the roots. Cucumbers absorb and need a lot of water!

When to Use Organic Fertilizer
If you are ever going to use an organic fertilizer, the vegetable garden would be the place to do so. Cucumber plants really absorb water, soil nutrients, and fertilizers around them. Chemicals are the last thing you want in your homegrown food.
Fertilize cucumber plants about a week after they produce blossoms. You can fertilize about every 3-4 weeks. Make sure you don’t over fertilize. It can lead to misshapen cucumbers.

When to Harvest Cucumbers
Cucumbers are ready to harvest about 55-70 days after planting. It’s better to pick them early than late. Don’t wait to see how big the cucumbers get! Cucumbers get bitter as they grow bigger, and the seeds can harden, too. Get them before they turn yellow.
To harvest, you can cut the vine about 3/8 inches above the cucumber. Or catch them at the right time, and they just pop off the vine. Cucumbers last longer stored in the refrigerator.

Cucumber Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for pests, like aphids, pickle worms, mites, and cucumbers beetles chomping on your cucumber plants. Common cucumber diseases are anthracnose, powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt, and angular leaf spot.

I'm almost ready to harvest Cucumbers. Before I bring the girls in I'll share my favorite Cucumber/Tomato recipe.

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Ingredients

2 tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Combine tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions in a salad bowl. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Chill.

This recipe is SO easy and VERY yummy!

Last garden update for August

2011-08-31T18:01:00.014-04:00

It's been a busy month so here are a few pics of the new garden spot in the side yard. This year I got a head-start in planting. In September I'll have a few more Peppers, Tomatoes and new Greens to add the the side-yard project.

Cucumber

Pumpkin

Tomatoes, Peppers and Zucchini

I don't have pictures of the herbs or the greens I recently planted. It's been a bit rainy here and the pictures just aren't doing the new growth any justice. I might have to ask for a new camera for my birthday!

What is Sustainable Living?

2011-08-30T09:08:00.003-04:00

Sustainable living means different things for different people.

The wikipedia definition states: "Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources." Also, "Proponents of sustainable living aim to conduct their lives in ways that are consistent with sustainability, in natural balance and respectful of humanity's symbiotic relationship with the Earth's natural ecology and cycles. The practice and general philosophy of ecological living is highly interrelated with the overall principles of sustainable development."

There are so many online resource to get started living a sustainable lifestyle, such as Mother Earth News, Lighter Footstep, Sustainable Living Magazine and Homegrown.org.

You don't have to live on a farm or become completely "off-grid." It can be as simple as recycling at home and work or BYOB (bring your own bag) when you head off to the grocery store.

My Florida garden started out small and only in containers. I have since graduated to a small area in the side yard with a few pots still remaining. My goal for the current garden is to let nothing go to waste and become less dependent on store-bought produce.

Some people refer to Urban Sustainable living. Not everyone can live in the country and raise chickens. There are many simple ways to reduce waste, live a sustainable lifestyle and even save money in the process.

~Skip bottled water. Buy a filter such as AquaSauna or britta and filter your own water. Use reusable bpa-free bottles or containers.
~Turn off lights and plugged in items when not in use.
~BYOB to the grocery store or farmer's market.
~Put leftover food in reusable containers. Reduce or discontinue use of plastic bags.
~Plant a tree. It seems so simple but it will offset tons of carbon, provide shade and benefit local wildlife.
~Buy used products when possible. Check out your local thrift store or browse craigslist.
~DIY beauty products such as facial cleansers and body soap. Not only will you save money by avoiding pricey items, there is little or no waste in production and storage.
~Start a veggie or herb garden. It's that simple!

City Farming: September Preview

2011-08-29T07:07:00.008-04:00

September is right around the corner. I'll be posting every day in September with "How To" growing instructions for my favorite veggies...Not to be confused with Mary's Top 5!

No matter how big or small your space you can have a garden just about anywhere.

Apartment dwellers might find satisfaction in a simple herb garden or a more elaborate patio container garden. I've done it. It's possible. My friend Bridigit has had a brilliant start on her apartment garden and has given me permission to share.

Patio containers

Basil

Having a yard, large or small, may increase your yeild or at least provide space for more options. My sister Jennifer shared a few pictures of her recent success in the garden.

Tomatoes

Armenian Cucumber

Stay tuned for germination tips and more vegetable gardening!

Adding to the Ever-Growing Garden

2011-08-28T07:47:00.003-04:00

With the new seed arrivals at Mary's Heirloom Seeds I've decided to try my hand at Little Gem Lettuce, Spinach and Pak Choi. These greens will help me attain my goal of no longer relying on addiction to store-bought produce.

The greens are planted in a container because it is SO HOT here in Florida and I want to have more control over watering. Greens do best when planted in fall or early spring (in the south). I might get a little crazy and plant Swiss Chard while I'm at it.

I soak most of the seeds overnight in small glasses for better germination and a great head-start. Labeling is important so I know which seeds are planted and the success rate for each variety.

Happy Friday!

2011-08-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
~Thomas Jefferson

Vertical Gardening

2011-08-25T08:10:00.002-04:00

No matter how much space is available, a vertical garden adds pizzazz to any space. While browsing the web I found a amazing pictures I just have to share. It's always important to recycle, reduce and reuse whenever possible and this vertical garden certainly does just that.

Using an old over-the-door shoe rack they have managed to plant a few types of lettuce and herbs. The rack is sturdy and will require much less water than if planted in a medium to large pot. I might have to try this.

Below are several other options for Vertical Gardening.

My trip to the farmer's market

2011-08-24T08:05:00.013-04:00

I went to a local farmer's market on Sunday. I'm waiting no-so-patiently to harvest my veggie. I've already seen a few mini cucumbers and maybe a new pumpkin.

In the mean time I made another trip the the market and scored a bag of produce to tide me over for another week. I purchased radishes, zucchinis, bell peppers, onions, cilantro and my hubbies favorite...jalapenos.

I've been away from the garden since Sunday but I'll be back tonight or Thursday. I'm pretty certain Hurricane Irene will stay out at sea and bring south Florida a bit of cooler weather.

On Sunday I made Tomato Cages

2011-08-23T08:04:00.023-04:00

Sunday was an adventurous day! It's amazing what you can accomplish when you turn off the tv and resist the laptop ( as much as I resisted I was still drawn in once or twice).

I started with a 50 foot roll of fencing material then cut 5 foot long pieces to make cages 18 inches in diameter. Instead of bending the ends to make hooks to hold them together I used electrical ties. When I am done using the cages I can simply cut the electrical ties (I call them zip ties) and store the cages easier.

Materials


I snipped the ends off when I was finished.

Thanks to my amazing hubby, no one was seriously injured during this process.

I have not installed the cages in the garden yet but I have a very good reason. Florida may be hit by a hurricane this week but we won't know for sure for a few days. I'm not all that worried but I'll be cautious for now.

On Sunday I made bread

2011-08-22T07:45:00.001-04:00

Supplies

I love the smell of baking bread. There really is nothing like it.

Rising Dough

The recipe I used said it made 36 dinner rolls but I actually finished with 48. I made half of them large and half small.

Rolls Rising

Most of the rolls will go in the freezer for another day but I just couldn't resist buttering one to taste right out of the oven. MMM-MMM Good!

Finished Product

Here's the recipe I used from allrecipes.com HOWEVER, I ommited the melted butter which the directions say to drizzle over the rolls.

Angie's Perfect Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm milk
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons salt
7 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

Pour milk into a large mixing bowl, and sprinkle yeast over the surface. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Beat in the sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup butter, and salt; blend thoroughly. Gradually stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl, and set in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Punch down the dough, cover the bowl, and allow to rise again. Repeat this step two more times.
Break off 2 to 3 inch size pieces of dough, roll lightly into round shape, and place in prepared baking dish, edges touching. Repeat to make 36 dough balls. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake rolls in preheated oven until tops turn golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. When rolls are finished baking, drizzle melted butter over the top, and serve warm.