A common issue for gardeners is not whether or not they can grow their own groceries, but what to do with all of the produce that is suddenly covering the kitchen counters. This is a massive headache for beginning gardeners. I, personally, have learned a few ways to keep the counters clean and the produce productive. God has given us many ways to keep ourselves physically healthy as well as spiritually and mentally healthy. I see my personal garden as a key ingredient to my own physical wellness. These are in no particular order, but one does stand out more than the others (it will be noted as such).
First, I have to say "Eat it now!" This is my favorite thing to do while I work in the garden. However, this wonderful privelege is only applicable to certain vegetables. Tomatoes, strawberries, and blueberries are great to munch on while tending to the garden. A certain unnamed gardener can be seen on occasion in my garden with a salt shaker in one hand and a half eaten tomato in the other. One would think this guy would take the tomato inside to the salt shaker, but it seems to be quite delicious in any location.
The short list of convenient vegetables to eat raw leads to my next use of produce. Second on my list is dish preparation using fresh vegetables. I may do a list of favorite recipes later, but, for now, we know cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. go very well in a large number of dishes. They make the flavors of an ordinary dish pop and sizzle with flavor when pulled straight out of the garden. The flavor and texture of a vine ripened tomato are a world apart (literally) from one that has ripened in a box while traveling a thousand miles.
Before the widespread grocery stores sold $0.79 cans of green beans in the middle of winter, it was important to preserve everything grown in the growing season. Everything! Canning was a way to eat all winter long, a means of survival. Now, we have the option of freezing as well. Preserving is not only a good way to eat great all year long, it is a great way to keep from wasting extra produce. Some canning recipes actually call for a mix of extra vegetables. Jams, jellies, and preserves are a great way to use fruit. Even if you have to go buy the fruit at a local farmer's market, these always taste great homemade!
As we make our way down the list, you can see the strategy unfold. From picking the vegetable off of the plant, to the table, then preparing for months in advance, you can see nothing is wasted. Everything is used for something. However, sometimes the birds eat half a strawberry off of every plant, or the unexpected occurs and the pickling cucumbers do not get pickled. You can always compost the waste. I do not like to admit it, but some things go to waste that should have been used. Composting is a way to recycle and make the most of garden waste. It does, after all, make for a better garden next year.
While God has blessed our house with a great little garden, some people do not have the means to put enough food, or the healthier, fresh food on the table. I intend to pay forward some of what God has blessed me with. GIVING is the final and most emphasized item on this list. Realistically, if we all had a positive plan for all of our produce, less would go to waste. If we all knew someone would be grateful and better fed because of our productive produce, our gardening hobby would have an overwhelming sense of purpose (aside from the obvious). With this, I am introducing the network of Giving Gardeners. This network will be a way to contribute to your own community. I encourage to offer your produce to any person you know will eat it. However, we can make arrangements for food to end up where it is needed most. Please make us aware of any households in need, so, as the surplus comes in, we can arrange for a family in need. Please let us know who has any surplus of food anywhere at any time. I encourage every gardener to feed themselves first. Then, with the excess, pass the fruits of your labor to someone who will appreciate it. It is, after all, a great way to show off God's blessings!
In conclusion, there are several exceptional and enjoyable ways to feed a family from a basic garden. Once our families are well nourished, we can all do a little to help enrich the lives of another family.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Five Summer Garden Privileges
These are my Top Five Garden Privileges for the summertime. Did I say "privileges?" I meant "chores!" If I had titled it "Five Summer Garden Chores," I would not have kept your attention this long. The word "chore" reminds us of the "Brady Bunch" which defined them as punishments that kept the kids from having the time of their life. But this is my hobby and passion. I love my gardens and I love summer!! Although it is incredibly hot and sticky, vegetation flourishes! That is, if it is properly cared for. Therefore, these chores become habit and my daily inspections become victory walks. Let's face it, these are easy and quick, but, just like everything in life that is worth your time, it requires CONSISTENCY. I believe these to be equally important, in order to maintain a solid, balanced garden. I have grown an interest in my wife's (our) flower garden as well, and I realize that most of the big picture principles are transferrable.
(Since I am not applying a degree of greatness to these, I will not be counting down in the usual format. Instead, a 1-5 list.)
1.) Moisture. CONSISTENT MOISTURE. If there were one greater than the rest, it would be moisture. I'm just saying, if you slack on the rest, the plants may live. They will not be as productive, but they will live. Without water, they will definitely die. Watering at your convenience is not enough. Consistent moisture is crucial to peak production. The soil should be moist to the touch, but not wet or dry. The only time it will be wet is right after watering or after a good rain. If your veggies or tomatoes start rotting on the vine, it can be caused by fluctuating moisture levels. Bottom line, do not let them bake in the hot sun without watering in the morning and do not water them after it rains. Proper soil amendments and a layer of mulch on top can help balance the moisture level.
2.) Weed Control. This definitely has "chore" written all over it. The object is to get every nutrient and every drop of water to that tomato that you can. No matter what precautions you take, there will always be some kind of weed or the Superman of grass sprouting up in the middle of your perfect garden. You can line the raised bed with fabric or plastic, spray chemicals and kill everything, but that one little unidentifiable weed will sneak in and swipe a piece of the pie. You have to pull them out, CONSISTENTLY. If you do not, the garden's rich soil will grow blue ribbon weeds while your tomatoes strain for the bare necessities.
3.) Feed Your Food. Just as we grow stronger by eating solid "meat and potato" meals, your vegetables will grow stronger and have better flavor if they have a hearty meal every 2-4 weeks. To thoroughly explain fertilizer and the different types you can use, we will have to do a separate post. For beginners, I suggest an organic all-purpose fertilizer. Organic is safer, and it is hard to burn plants with it. Most organic fertilizers are made up of blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, greensand, etc. Follow the directions given on that specific fertilizer. As a failsafe, you can never go wrong with your own home made compost.
4.) Cut It Out! There will be dead foliage from time to time and deadheads after flowers wilt. As the plants grow larger and taller, some leaves get left behind. Cut them off. In the picture below, I am cutting the head off of a cucumber vine. It has reached the top of the trellis which is as far as I want it to go. This will allow the plant to focus energy and nutrients on the cucumbers already growing on the vine-rather than focus on growing the vine. I removed an entire squash plant because I placed it too close to another and it was not producing quality squash. I know better now, and the others began to thrive after its removal.
5.) Observe. Keep a CONSISTENT eye on your plants and you will probably notice pure success in your garden. When you see a mushroom growing, you will know you have a fungal issue to deal with and you can handle it before it becomes a major ordeal. You can not expect perfection from everything, so do not get down because of the little quirks your garden has. Enjoy the evidence of your labor and care. It is an achievement that few people get to experience.
In conclusion, CONSISTENCY and observation of your garden will bring the best results. Me knowing I have weeds to pick is 90% of the battle. Doing the work is easy, if I do a little every day. As for future topics, I touched on fertilizer briefly, but that is a can of worms we will open later. Also, I am collecting and experimenting with a sizable list of home remedies for fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, etc. I will list chemical free remedies, but feel free to give me ideas and feedback about how they work for you. You would be surprised what you can fix in your garden with items you have in your house right now!!
Remember, CONSISTENCY pays off!! And, yes, I did reference the Brady Bunch.
(Since I am not applying a degree of greatness to these, I will not be counting down in the usual format. Instead, a 1-5 list.)
1.) Moisture. CONSISTENT MOISTURE. If there were one greater than the rest, it would be moisture. I'm just saying, if you slack on the rest, the plants may live. They will not be as productive, but they will live. Without water, they will definitely die. Watering at your convenience is not enough. Consistent moisture is crucial to peak production. The soil should be moist to the touch, but not wet or dry. The only time it will be wet is right after watering or after a good rain. If your veggies or tomatoes start rotting on the vine, it can be caused by fluctuating moisture levels. Bottom line, do not let them bake in the hot sun without watering in the morning and do not water them after it rains. Proper soil amendments and a layer of mulch on top can help balance the moisture level.
2.) Weed Control. This definitely has "chore" written all over it. The object is to get every nutrient and every drop of water to that tomato that you can. No matter what precautions you take, there will always be some kind of weed or the Superman of grass sprouting up in the middle of your perfect garden. You can line the raised bed with fabric or plastic, spray chemicals and kill everything, but that one little unidentifiable weed will sneak in and swipe a piece of the pie. You have to pull them out, CONSISTENTLY. If you do not, the garden's rich soil will grow blue ribbon weeds while your tomatoes strain for the bare necessities.
3.) Feed Your Food. Just as we grow stronger by eating solid "meat and potato" meals, your vegetables will grow stronger and have better flavor if they have a hearty meal every 2-4 weeks. To thoroughly explain fertilizer and the different types you can use, we will have to do a separate post. For beginners, I suggest an organic all-purpose fertilizer. Organic is safer, and it is hard to burn plants with it. Most organic fertilizers are made up of blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, greensand, etc. Follow the directions given on that specific fertilizer. As a failsafe, you can never go wrong with your own home made compost.
4.) Cut It Out! There will be dead foliage from time to time and deadheads after flowers wilt. As the plants grow larger and taller, some leaves get left behind. Cut them off. In the picture below, I am cutting the head off of a cucumber vine. It has reached the top of the trellis which is as far as I want it to go. This will allow the plant to focus energy and nutrients on the cucumbers already growing on the vine-rather than focus on growing the vine. I removed an entire squash plant because I placed it too close to another and it was not producing quality squash. I know better now, and the others began to thrive after its removal.
5.) Observe. Keep a CONSISTENT eye on your plants and you will probably notice pure success in your garden. When you see a mushroom growing, you will know you have a fungal issue to deal with and you can handle it before it becomes a major ordeal. You can not expect perfection from everything, so do not get down because of the little quirks your garden has. Enjoy the evidence of your labor and care. It is an achievement that few people get to experience.
In conclusion, CONSISTENCY and observation of your garden will bring the best results. Me knowing I have weeds to pick is 90% of the battle. Doing the work is easy, if I do a little every day. As for future topics, I touched on fertilizer briefly, but that is a can of worms we will open later. Also, I am collecting and experimenting with a sizable list of home remedies for fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, etc. I will list chemical free remedies, but feel free to give me ideas and feedback about how they work for you. You would be surprised what you can fix in your garden with items you have in your house right now!!
Remember, CONSISTENCY pays off!! And, yes, I did reference the Brady Bunch.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Top Five Veggies
I suppose it is only right that I start with a Top Five List of veggies since my gardening hobby is the root of all this. Now, for formality sake, the pre-post waiver: The list from 1-5 uses the typical 1 is greatest and 5 is least format. I do, at any time, reserve the right to change the order of arrangement or remove items as I see fit. For example, if my blueberries all get eaten by birds, I will certainly have less appreciation for them. Not really, I love my blueberry bushes! How do I talk my wife into letting me create an entire hedge of blueberry bushes? Back to business:
5.) Corn, Sweet Corn. I love corn! Who doesn’t?! The only reason it is number 5 instead of 1 is because I have raised beds and it takes up a whole lot of room in there. We had enough corn to feed almost 20 people last July 4th!
4.) Banana Pepper. I love the flavor! Homegrown ones are hotter and more flavorful as well.
3.) Bell Pepper. There is nothing better than going outside to get the freshest peppers to make chili for a football game. I wish they grew faster though. They always test my patience.
2.) Squash (Summer and Zucchini). These are major producers and easy to grow. They also have versatility in the kitchen.
1.) Cucumbers. These take it all because they are not only major producers, they can be grown up a trellis which saves me space. Truth be told, the only thing that puts them above squash is the space issue. They both are heavy producers, grow easily, and have great versatility in the kitchen.
There you have it! These are all great tasting vegetables that are also easy to grow. Tomatoes and potatoes did not make the list because I have less experience with them. It would not be fair to judge them until next year.
5.) Corn, Sweet Corn. I love corn! Who doesn’t?! The only reason it is number 5 instead of 1 is because I have raised beds and it takes up a whole lot of room in there. We had enough corn to feed almost 20 people last July 4th!
4.) Banana Pepper. I love the flavor! Homegrown ones are hotter and more flavorful as well.
3.) Bell Pepper. There is nothing better than going outside to get the freshest peppers to make chili for a football game. I wish they grew faster though. They always test my patience.
2.) Squash (Summer and Zucchini). These are major producers and easy to grow. They also have versatility in the kitchen.
1.) Cucumbers. These take it all because they are not only major producers, they can be grown up a trellis which saves me space. Truth be told, the only thing that puts them above squash is the space issue. They both are heavy producers, grow easily, and have great versatility in the kitchen.
There you have it! These are all great tasting vegetables that are also easy to grow. Tomatoes and potatoes did not make the list because I have less experience with them. It would not be fair to judge them until next year.
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