Posts tagged: vegetables
How to Store Your Seeds for Next Season.
By ChrisjobKnow what's better than growing your own produce and herbs from your own seedlings? Growing them from seeds from your own harvest. It's even more ecologically responsible, eliminates more middle-people, and...well, passes the savings onto you.
The real trick is figuring out the optimum environment to let them lie dormant so they're prepped to germinate next season. TipNut has all the tricks laid out here.
Drive-Thru CSA Opens This Week.
By Chrisjob
Community Supported Agriculture - CSA - "consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production." (From Wikipedia)
They're kinda like instant grocery shopping...so, the Ramirez Farm in Riverside California has combined the system with another instant service, the dr » READ MORE
How To Ripen Tomatoes.
By Chrisjob
I can't speak for the rest of the States, but in my climate, the intense amount of rain and cool temperatures equals little sun, very few fireflies, and enormous homegrown tomatoes still a bright green on the vine. So, here's a few options from TipNut to encourage ripening on and off the vine.
10 Tips for Starting a Simple Garden.
By ChrisjobBriana Feola of Brainstorm Print & Design. is a full time artist with a huge passion for gardening. She's assembled ten great tips for Indie Fixx on getting started with your own food production garden.
1) START SMALL
2) START PLANTS INSIDE
3) COMPOST!
4) OBTAIN APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES
5) PICK SEEDS AND PLANTS NATIVE TO YOUR AREA
6) GET PROPER FENCING TO KEEP CRITTERS OUT
7) GET THE SOIL READY
8) DON’T PLANT TOO SOON
9) DON’T FORGET TO » READ MORE
Ginormous Vegetables
By DIY Maven
In some parts of the world, they grow 'em big. I mean REALLY big. Take, for instance, Lebanese farmer Khalil Semhat grew an astounding 24.9 pound sweet potato, which, frankly, looks very little like a sweet potato at that size.
We hear about gigantic pumpkins every Halloween, but they're usually not as big as this monster grown in Rhode Island, which clocked in at a hefty 1689 pounds.
Ten Ways to Use Herbs to Freshen Your Home.
By Chrisjob
In most areas of the country, it's almost time to go ahead and plant your produce-producing annuals. But unlike your fresh fruits and veggies, you can actually use your herb seedlings as soon as you get them in the ground. Here's ten ways from TipNut to use fresh herbs in your spring cleaning and home maitenance.
- Homemade Herbal Carpet Freshener Recipe
- Herbal Mattress Freshener
- Homemade Herbal Lavender Dryer Bags
- Bugs-Be-Gone Bags
- Homemade Her » READ MORE
How To Keep Fruits and Veggies Fresh With Proper Storage
By Chrisjob
So...apparently its not as simple as putting things you want to be crisp in the 'crisper'...no wonder my SoySnaps keep getting soggy.
Buying fresh produce is essential to not only a healthful, but tasty, lifestyle. But unlike their frozen, or (blech!) canned varieties, fresh fruits and vegetables can become spoiled if not used quickly enough. Divine Caroline offers this handy chart and other storage tips to protect your investment and the flav » READ MORE
What To Plant Now: Seeding for Late Season Success.
By Chrisjob
Hmmm...Who knew? It's not too late to plant new vegetables to enjoy this season, even from seeds! Beans, carrots, summer squash, cucumbers, herbs like parsley, basil, and cilantro are still fine for summer, and its actually time to start planting cold weather crops broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, and turnips. And you can wait until mid-August for greens such as lettuce, spinach, and argula. "Starting seeds in July can be tricky, though, because it’s so » READ MORE
Find Your Local Farmer's Markets.
By Chrisjob
The USDA has assembled a searchable database for finding markets that feature fresh, locally grown produce and other comestibles. Simply enter your city and state or zip code, and find markets in your area. How useful!
Via.
Recycle Your Onions Into an Endless Supply of Scallions.
By Chrisjob
I've been doing this ever since I've had a patch of dirt in which to grow 'em. Next time you grab a bunch of scallions/green onions at the supermarket, hold onto the root ends.
Then, simply plant them about one inch into the dirt (in the garden or a pot). Water well, and wait for the greens to return. The more you snip them, they faster they'll grow.
You can also do this with whole garlic bulbs and use the green sprouts in pastas, stirfry » READ MORE
How to Make Organic Produce Wash
By DIY Maven
Instead of buying those expensive spray produce washes, you might want to try this CHEAP and EASY organic alternative.
The props:
- 1 T lemon juice from 1 organic lemon (lemon juice is a natural disinfectant)
- 2 T organic vinegar (the acid in vinegar will neutralize most pesticides)
- 1 cup water
- A clean spray bottle
The procedure:
- Squeeze the lemon and measure 1 tablespoon into your spray bottle.
- Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 cup » READ MORE
How To Start Seedlings in Egg Cartons.
By ChrisjobPaper egg cups make the perfect container for starting seeds and growing transplants.
Simply cut off the top half/the lid of the cartons, and fill each cup with potting soil. Place them on a sheet pan filled with water, and the set the pan in the sunshine or under grow lights. When the seedlings are ready for the garden, just cut the cartons into indiividual cups, and place the whole things in the soil. The cartons will dissolve, just like tho » READ MORE
How Does Your Garden Grow: Seeds and Transplants.
By ChrisjobRead Part I: Assessing Your Soil.
Part II. Seeds and Transplants.
If you planned on starting your own transplants from seeds, you’re a bit behind for this year. However, the schedule below details the best dates for starting transplants; use it in subsequent years, or to determine whether you should purchase seedlings or try it from scratch.
Early March: onions, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, morning glory, cypress vin » READ MORE
17 Alternative Uses for Potatoes and Onions.
By ChrisjobRoot veggies just ain't for eating anymore! Bust open your pantry or old school root cellar and clean, soothe, and remove with these ideas.
1. Mosquito Repellent
2. Athlete's Foot Soother
3. Natural Dye
4. Faint Preventer
5. Sting Soother
6. Wart Remover
7. Brass Polish
1. Treat Warts
2. Soothe Burns
3. Remove Berry Stains
4. Remove Salt from Soups
5. Compost for Potted Plants
6. Clean Silverware
7. Grow Geraniums
8. Cold or Hot Compress
9. » READ MORE
Garden Oddity (Warning: Images may be inapporopriate to some, hilarious to others.)
By DIY Maven
Gardening season is just around the corner, which can only mean more weirdly shaped vegetables. (Who says Mother Nature doesn't have a sense of humor?)
Curbly Video Podcast: Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs.
By Chrisjob
This Easter season, head to the produce aisle and dye your eggs with nature.
Materials
• Free-range eggs
• Alum powder (available at the supermarket in the spice aisle)
• White Vinegar
• Vegetables and spices, see step one
• Cooktop
• Saucepan
• Measuring spoons
• Wooden spoon and slotted spoon
• Vegetable oil, wax, electrical tape, leaves, stickers, etc (optional)
1). Choose which colors you’d like to dye your eggs.
• » READ MORE
DIY Solar Food Dehydrator
By intouchoz
This is simple to make.
Made from two cardboard boxes (or even timber), some clear plastic wrap, and a little tape and you can build an inexpensive solar dehydrator.
A functional food preservation machine that can be created for little work and little money.
For full details on this great concept, go to http://ecobites.com/diy/diy-solar-food-dehydrator.html
How To Plant a Winter Garden.
By ChrisjobSuper-cool gardening magazine Mother Earth Living maintains, "With a few seed packets and a little planning, you can enjoy fresh salads, cooking greens and other garden treats year-round." They offer a series of tips for planting and growing hearty greens, lettuces, and root vegetables.
- Plant in mid-August to mid-September. (Right now!)
- Use leaves to keep soil warm.
- Keep out bugs and critters.
- All sorts of nutrional benefits.
How To Make Your Own Preserves
By ChrisjobMy favorite foodie blog Chow provides a how-to to the mysterious, meticulous, and precarious process of canning produce. The article outlines the two safe, USDA-approved approaches, and even includes a video by canning authority June Taylor.
How does your garden grow?
By badbadivySo, what are you planting in your gardens this spring? It's nearly planting time here in Tennessee, and I'm getting excited. The soil in my yard is very poor, and I have been unable to keep a garden alive, so this year I am going to be container gardening!
I'm going to grow some herbs- most likely cilantro, basil, and mint. I'm not really sure what else- does anyone have any suggestions? I'm also going to grow tomatoes, since my youngest son ab » READ MORE
