Growing the Garden

Growing the Garden http://www.growingthegarden.com/ A blog about gardening, focusing on urban gardening en Copyright 2010 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:14:38 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss March - Month of the Spring Stir Fry How to make a Spring Stir Fry First heat up a small amount of Olive Oil in a large wide pan and add some chopped garlic. Throw in any stems, turnips, carrots or other tough customers and let cook for a few minutes with the top on. Meanwhile, chop up the kale and turnip greens and throw them on top after turning the heat down. Throw in a 1/4 cup of water and some balsamic vinegar (about a tablespoon). I had some left over soy beans I added into the mix and chopped up a little block of cooked soy. Voila - Spring Stir Fry. Delicious. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2010/03/march_month_of_the_spring_stir.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2010/03/march_month_of_the_spring_stir.html Recipes Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:14:38 -0800 Does Corn Syrup Cause Obesity? You can't blame everyone who is getting fat if everyone is getting fat at the same time. Many have suspected that corn syrup has something to do with it, and the timing certainly makes it look that way. The corn problem is huge: The big ag corps get these huge subsidies to grow corn. So they pump corn products into everything. They use some of the subsidies to bribe legislators to give them more subsidies, further corrupting our government. Animals are fed corn, which makes them sick, which makes them need antibiotics, which eventually makes the antibiotics useless. The Gulf of Mexico has a huge dead zone coming out of the mouth of the Mississippi because all the fertilizer from growing corn runs down the river and pollutes the Gulf. Poor farmers in Mexico can't make a living growing corn because American corn is so heavily subsidized, so they give up and migrate north. So take a look at this: High Fructose Corn Syrup Proven to Cause Human Obesity. Stop the corn subsidies. Just stop them. Cut them off. This will lower "government spending" - especially when you add in the amounts spent on the resulting health care needs - and save our health, Mexican incomes, reduce government corruption, reduce pollution in the ocean, help stop animal suffering and even help us have antibiotics that are effective. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2010/01/does_corn_syrup_cause_obesity.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2010/01/does_corn_syrup_cause_obesity.html Govt. Policy Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:48:41 -0800 Happy Holidays From The Johnsons The back of the card reads: Published by Sudeep Johnson Doggie Paw Cards Inc. www.dancimals.com Many thanks to Toby, Paddington, Cooper, Fergie and Popcorn, without whom there would be no card. Here is last year's card, and you can trace back through all the cards over the years.]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/12/happy_holidays_from_the_johnso.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/12/happy_holidays_from_the_johnso.html Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:13:14 -0800 Colonial Gardens Make Good Sense I was struck not only by the good sense of the garden lay out but also by the neat orderliness of the situation. Back then, the woman of the household was the one who tended the veggies, and the only way she could water the garden was by pulling up buckets of water from the well house. I 'm glad we have improved upon that particular situation. Each house was allotted half and acre which was split into 3 main areas; the area around the house with the well and a small orchard of fruit trees; the garden area for veggies herbs and flowers; and the furthest area from the house which was used as a paddock for any livestock held by the family. This was the model for the average, poor - not quite so poor household and gave the family enough room to chop wood, grow some fruit and supplement their diet with healthy vegetables which they may not otherwise have been able to afford. The garden also produced herbs which were used in the kitchen as well as medicinally. The whole layout made perfect sense to me as a model that addressed the needs of the population. Just think how it would be if each modern household had this much land around their house to be used in this same fashion. By products would be less crowding, better air and fewer cars parked in the road.

Above shows the foreground house 'yard', the garden beyond and furthest is the paddock for livestock. This is where the whole idyllic picture went sour for me as I learned that the richer folks, who also had the same allotment of space, did not grow vegetables but had ornamental gardens, often laid out like English formal gardens with small hedges and flower beds, and did this to flaunt the fact that they could afford to buy veggies and could hire slaves to tend the flowers! It occurs to me that people in the US seem to be living as if they are all rich - like the folks back in Williamsburgh. In my neighborhood, it is the norm to have no veggie garden but the front yard laid out to create 'curb appeal' or some such other real estate jargon. Most new houses these days are built with a huge house taking up all the available yard area except for a small border of flowers or shrubs. And what about the folks who inhabit apartments? No room any where for any kind of self sufficiency there at all. When did we get away from the sensible way of having a small building to live in and a large yard to grow food in? How can we all live like the wealthy? Is this a sustainable model? I think not, but it has become the model of the American dream. No wonder we are in such dire straights. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/12/colonial_gardens_make_good_sen.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/12/colonial_gardens_make_good_sen.html Blogging Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:52:42 -0800 Never Too Much Basil? Ingredients 2 cups of fresh picked basil leaves 1 cup of virgin olive oil (I always use California olive oil to save on carbon miles) 3/4 cup grated Romano cheese 3 or 4 cloves of garlic 1/4 cup of grated walnuts or pine nuts Put the basil leaves in a blender and give them an initial chop, making sure all the leaves get chopped a little, not just the ones on the bottom. Add olive oil and blend. Add garlic and blend. Add nuts (finely chopped before adding) and blend. Add cheese and make a final blend. Voila - perfect delicious pesto. Simple ways of using pesto are: Chop up some tomatoes and mix with pesto and use for a side dish or apetizer. Add a teaspoon of pesto and mix thoroughly to a Greek salad for two people. Add to plain whole wheat spaghetti and serve with a side of veggies. Use as a sandwich spread. Use on Bruschetta along with brie cheese. Add to your favorite pizza topping. More recipes with pesto Below, a healthy basil plant - the promise of delicious things to come.

]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/10/never_too_much_basil.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/10/never_too_much_basil.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:40:26 -0800 September in the Garden - or The Promise of Things to Come Below are teeny leek starts popping up out of the soil. It took a while before I could recognize them as something I had planted and not weeds. They take a long time to come to harvest - 120 days.

The peas I planted did not germinate well - or so I thought, so I planted some more to fill in the gaps, when I discovered the problem. I was happily planting seed peas, and squirrels were happily digging holes to bury their winter supply of nuts and seeds. They dug up more than a few of the peas that I had planted. I found a pea lying on the top of the soil and little holes dug everywhere, which gave me the clue.

I am thankful for the cool weather of the fall because there is nothing like fresh spinach straight from the garden! The baby spinach plants have a strange look when they first emerge.

Waiting to be planted are; cauliflower, broccoli, kale, nasturtiums and calendula. I have been chasing a cabbabge white butterfly around the yard trying to shoo it away from my brassicas!

Tip of the season: if you are thinning out your starts or transplanys, don't throw them in the compost but add them to your salad. They are full of taste and healthy vitamins. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/09/september_in_the_garden_or_the.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/09/september_in_the_garden_or_the.html Gardening Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:26:45 -0800 The Little Squash Plant That Could New, green leaf growth looking like a small fountain of green and yellow at the end of a snake. This little squash plant reminded me of why I garden. Not just for the wonderful healthy vegetables, but for all the many rewards that come after a little time in the yard. There is exercise from digging, walking, pulling etc that adds to the daily exercise quota; the energy from inspiration, when you have an idea about a new bed or discover a new plant; the spiritual feeling of oneness with nature; the observation of living creatures that have homes out there in the 'outside' of your house; and the meditation of silence. The garden keeps on giving in every season - just like the "Little Squash That Could". ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/09/the_little_squash_plant_that_c.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/09/the_little_squash_plant_that_c.html Blogging Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:21:22 -0800 Tef's Taziki - or what to do with all the excess cukes! Ingredients Small carton of natural yogurt. Goat or sheep yogurt is best, or a mixture of the two. (No flavored yogurt.) One fresh, crisp cucumber Sea Salt – a good pinch Dried Mint – one teaspoon Sprig Fresh mint – for decoration Extra Virgin Olive Oil – to drizzle over before serving White wine vinegar - one teaspoon Garlic (optional) half a clove, or one very small clove This dish should have a slightly salty taste, just adjust the amount to suite you. Method Empty the yogurt into a bowl and add the vinegar. Add the salt, crushing between your fingers as you add it. Add the dried mint, lightly crushing between fingers as you add it. *If you want to add garlic, crush the garlic and add now. (Not chopped, must be crushed fully almost to a paste). Gently mix together until smooth and refridgerate while you prep the cucumber. Gently peel the skin from the cucumber being careful not to remove too much skin or flesh, then slice the cucumber in half length ways, and scoop out all the seeds and central watery part. Either grate the cucumber (messy), or finely slice length ways. You should end up with a pile of 3 inch slivers of cucumber. Add the cucumber now to the yogurt and gently but thoroughly mix. Just before serving, drizzle just a little oil on the surface, and add a little sprig of fresh mint as a decoration. Serve immediately (and always cold). Serve Enjoy with hot pita bread and olives as a dip, or as a side dish to go with almost anything. Variations Aficionados of this dish sometimes add a few drops of Ouzo (Greek aniseed spirit) Vary the amount of salt to suite your taste. Vary the amount of cucumber to add. Leave out the garlic. from the kitchen of Tef Tewfik from the UK.]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/09/tefs_taziki_or_what_to_do_with.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/09/tefs_taziki_or_what_to_do_with.html Recipes Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:12:19 -0800 Planting for Fall in California Fall veggies article. This week I went through the garden like the goddess Kali. Did I really want all these cucumber plants? If I really looked hard at the trellis covered in cukes it was mostly dying leaves and a few hanging fruits, so I pulled it apart, dug the bed and added lots of rotted compost and planted a whole bed of peas. I like to plant different varieties. This year I have planted Little Marvel for the actual peas, and Oregons for the pods. What else can I destroy? I notice a row of corn that did not grow properly because the original plants were root bound, so out they go and in goes a nice row of leeks. By Late July, early August we had eaten our way through most of the corn, so I had already pulled out the corn stalks and thrown them into compost, and after adding soil amendments and planting seeds, I now have chard, beet and salad mix seedlings. Next to come is a new bed that I will dedicate to salad mix. Below is a photo of the weird little corn plants that grew out of plants left too long in small pots, becoming root bound. To the right are the normal sized corn stalks.

This week I also planted seeds of broccoli, kale, cauliflower, calendula and nasturtiums in small pots. When planting cool weather crop seeds in Northern California at this time of year, always be sure that they are in a cool, shady area to germinate and on no account let them dry out. Once the little seedlings emerge, allow them some light but be very careful not to bake them. The sun can be very strong this time time of year. Happy planting! ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/08/planting_for_fall_in_californi.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/08/planting_for_fall_in_californi.html Gardening Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:53:16 -0800 Armenian Yard Long Cucumber Taste Test In mid July it seemed the growth had slowed up, so unable to resist any longer, and seeing the beginnings of other huge fruits, I harvested and brought it to the cutting board. You can see how big this baby was.

The first cut. Let's see what the inside is like.

Hmmm... lots of seeds.

I'm not too keen on eating lots of seeds, so I decided to scoop them out.

Then I cut the flesh into chunks as slices were no longer an option. Even after taking the seeds out there is still more cucumber to eat than you would ever think possible.

The flavor is milder than some of my other varieties of cukes, which in itself is not a bad thing. However I'm not keen on the feel of the flesh which I would compare to that of a melon. So, would I grow this variety again? Actually, after living with the cut cukes in my refrigerator, I realize I am not too attracted to them after all. I think they have novelty value and could get kids interested in growing vegetables because they are so much fun, but when it comes to eating, give me good old burpless or victory any day. I guess size isn't everything. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/armenian_yard_long_cucumber_ta.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/armenian_yard_long_cucumber_ta.html Blogging Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:27:59 -0800 Sunday Backyard Harvest Blogging Sunday Rooftop Harvest Blogging so I figured I would post a Sunday Backyard Harvest Blogging post. This is what we picked this morning:

And this is what we picked Friday:

]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/sunday_backyard_harvest_bloggi.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/sunday_backyard_harvest_bloggi.html Gardening Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:06:02 -0800 One Loss for the Environment And now two photos of the yard soon before we left.

I know that not everyone is a gardener - although secretly I can't imagine why - so I was prepared to imagine this little paradise becoming over grown with some weeds and maybe the vegetable patch not being used. But nothing prepared me for the ultimate downer that I was faced with when I learned that the entire piece of land, all that was on it including the peach trees and the ornamental plants growing in the front yard, have all been bulldozed. They are gone. And what is now in their place? A very large truck! Of course I am kicking myself for not digging up every single plant, but beyond what I see as my loss, is the overall loss for the green movement. Gardens being bulldozed and shopping malls put in their place and housing subdivisions being erected on farm land are all losses for the environment and the little creatures living there. I sure hope all my little bird friends that lived in that garden have a safe place to go. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/one_loss_for_the_environment.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/one_loss_for_the_environment.html Blogging Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:14:43 -0800 Tomatoes: Heritage vs Hybrid And the one month newer Early Girl also about to produce a juicy delicious ripe tomato.

While I was spending all my energy making raised beds and adding soil amendments and not taking fun trips out of town, a good friend came back from a trip to an organic nursery and gave me a couple of heritage tomato plants. These I planted within a week of the newest Early Girl. The pictures speak for themselves. Here is the Kentucky Beafsteak. A nice healthy plant, many flowers, good foliage - one green tomato.

And here is the one green tomato in case you missed it.

And last but not least the Church tomato. One tiny little green tomato near the top of the plant. Can't see it? Took me a while!

Maybe these heritage tomatoes are not suited to this particular Californian mini climate? Maybe they will suddenly come in to their own in September? The jury is still out, but right now I must admit that I am glad I lowered my standards, because I am enjoying lovely ripe home grown tomatoes. Yum! I will let you know later in the season what I have decided about Heritage vs Hybrid. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/tomatoes_heritage_vs_hybrid.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/tomatoes_heritage_vs_hybrid.html Gardening Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:30:02 -0800 2 Books to Read About Backyard Farming Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, a Short History of Herding and the Art of Making Cheese, by Brad Kessler. Brad writes " The longer I lived with goats the more connections I saw to a collective human past we've since forgotten, here in North America at least. I saw how so many aspects of our everyday culture arose from a lifestyle of herding hoofed animals". Based out of Vermont, read how Kessler and his wife started off with two goats and changed their lives. Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, by Novella Carpenter. Very interesting account of an Oakland backyard farmer. ]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/2_books_to_read_about_backyard_1.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/2_books_to_read_about_backyard_1.html Handy Information Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:04:24 -0800 The Connection Between What We Eat and How We Feel and How Healthy We Are The Obamas' first harvest,

Working with a few professional supervisors under the eye of their host, they pulled up a big bounty: 73 pounds of lettuce, 12 pounds of peas and one cucumber (which had originally been white but was yellow by the time the kids got to it). And then they all went inside to cook, before returning to the garden to eat.

First Lady Michelle Obama said,

"My hope is that [through] this garden, we can continue to make the connection between what we eat and how we feel and how healthy we are," she told the kids...

]]> http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/the_connection_between_what_we.html http://www.growingthegarden.com/2009/07/the_connection_between_what_we.html Urban Gardening Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:13:01 -0800