Why are Bees so Important?

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

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...

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!!!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!