The warmer temperatures the past week or so has certainly hastened the harvest in my garden! This week we are eating spinach, radishes, chives and parsley out of the garden. Look for the recipes below using them all! We've got lots of other warm-season veggies planted (many that I grew from seed) and are eagerly awaiting peas, lettuce and cabbage for our spring menu. I could probably filch a few lettuce leaves now but we'll give them a bit more time. I've got 9 different heirloom lettuces are beginning to grow well after the cold April we had this year. I direct-sow the lettuces in the … [Read more...]
Edible Gardening: Harvest Update, Parsley Profile & Recipes: Week 9
May 17, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Maintenance Matters: Reclaiming a Neglected Landscape, Round 2
May 15, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Okay, okay. So I had planned to post to the "Reclaiming a Neglected Landscape" series weekly but I have not done so. It's not because I haven't been working but rather because progress is slow. When things get this bad, it's not a simple weekend fix-up! Even so, lots of progress has been made and I'm eating this elephant a bit at a time even though I'm a working Mom with limited time and a yard-avoidant spouse (who is willing to clean inside so it's all good). DISCLAIMER 1: I'm about to talk yard chemicals which is taboo for some and perhaps too closely embraced for others. Like … [Read more...]
DIY Projects: Vertical Kitchen Herb Garden
May 12, 2013 by · 1 Comment
I am SO excited to share this post today! You've probably read garden books or seen episodes of home improvement or gardening shows where they create a "ktichen garden" filled with glorious herbs right outside the back door so that you can clip a sprig of Rosemary for the chicken or mint to add to the lemonade. It's that perfect garden that lives, primarily, in our imaginations. I doubt there is a gardener, cook or everyday homeowner who doesn't dream of having a full contingent of fresh herbs growing right near the back door for use in the kitchen. There are, however, PLENTY of those … [Read more...]
Edible Gardening: Week 8: Growing and Cooking with Cilantro
May 10, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
I had hoped to talk this week about using some of our produce in the Garden, like lettuce, but due to some of the colder temperatures the last little bit- it's not ready! I do have a few things ready-to-eat from my cold-season crop offerings but not as much as I'd hoped, such is the life of a gardener! Last week we talked about 20 great medicinal herbs for the garden, this week, we'll hit on one of the tastier varieties! CILANTRO! I love cilantro! Especially mixed with fresh salsa topping fish tacos! It also has some amazing health benefits too! This is a picture of my cilantro I planted … [Read more...]
Kid-Friendly Gardening: “Grow Globes”
May 9, 2013 by · 2 Comments
One of the best things about having young children in your life is the opportunity to introduce them to the many wonders of the world around them. The planting and subsequent growing of a simple seed is one of nature's greatest miracles. Sharing that process with the little people you love makes it even better! Today we'll look at a very simple way to do just that- all while putting the project into a context that kids can relate to. The "Grow Globe" is a simple living snow globe (no shaking please!) that uses kid-friendly recycled materials to demonstrate the sprouting and … [Read more...]
How To Shop Home Depot For Plant Bargains
May 6, 2013 by · 2 Comments
I need to say this upfront- my Husband will NOT go through the plant section at a store with me. He finds it embarrassing. I can't seem to stop myself from offering unsolicited advice. I TRY to just be quiet but when I see a young couple ogling a beautifully blooming Rhodedendron that will be dead in a week in our climate, I can't not say "You know that won't survive here, right?". Generally, they didn't know and they follow that comment with "Then why do they sell it here?" THAT is the golden question that actually has a fairly simple answer- they stock all of the stores pretty much … [Read more...]
Edible Gardening: Week 7: Top 20 Medicinal Herbs for Landscaping
May 3, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
We've been talking about vegetable gardening for a few weeks now. If you started Week 1 with us, you should be enjoying some lettuce, radishes or other cool season crops by now! Yay! We'll cover "how to harvest" cool season crops next week so stay tuned for that next Friday. This Friday I wanted to cover a topic that I think a lot of gardeners overlook- HERBS! The edible herbs like Basil, Thyme, Cilantro, Chives and Rosemary are grown by lots of gardeners. However, there's a whole field of lesser-known and used herbs that nonetheless deserve some real estate in your landscape. Most … [Read more...]
Class Summary: Growing and USING Your Harvest
April 29, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Last night I had the opportunity to teach a class for 85 on growing a successful garden and then taking what we grow and using it! I was also able to plan a menu for the class to try certain foods that can be taken from garden to table! The food was great and the discussion was fantastic! For those of you just starting out with growing your own veggies, who may not feel comfortable or have the space to grow a lot of varieties, grow what you know you will use first and then add something new every year. That way you will slowly work your way into the gardening process and have the … [Read more...]
DIY Projects: File Cabinet Vegetable Garden
April 26, 2013 by · 1 Comment
I've had a bad case of upcycling fever lately so when I saw a file-cabinet-turned-vegetable-garden on Pinterest, I knew I had to try the project for myself- with some modifications, of course. This project is surprisingly simple once you round up all the supplies. My 12 year old daughter, Bethany, and I put it together in an evening with ZERO help from the menfolk! Booyah! SUPPLIES: Vintage Metal File Cabinet 4 Sturdy Wheels with the flat, bolt on plate rather than the shaft (mine are 5" diameter with rubber wheels) 16- 1 1/2 inch carriage bolts, 1/4 inch … [Read more...]
Living Arrangements: How to Plant in Vintage Containers
April 25, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
The "perfect storm" is created when two unrelated but synergistic forces collide. For me, it's the combination of my love for all things green and growing and my newer addiction to vintage goods- and when they collide, it's magic! Vintage goods are experiencing a huge resurgence nationwide but something about the thriftiness of it appeals to our inner cheapness and thus it's especially strong in Utah. I'm lucky to have a number of friends who own thrifting/picking businesses and I've been picking through their stash to create some lovely vintage pieces. While I'd love to claim all the … [Read more...]
