20 Feb 2012 No Comments

Woo-hoo–spring is practically here!

Already?  Great beats alive, pull your heads out of the sand and get busy!  There are seeds to buy, ground to prep, compost to turn—

Oops—did we forget to start the compost pile?  Can’t find it under all the snow?  Well, leave it be then, there are plenty of other things to keep us busy.  Like gather the tools, plan for location, check the water supply…  Now where did that sprinkler go? 

So many things to think about could scare a gal clear out of the garden, but hold on to your tool belt, because we’re going to make this easy!  As pie.  (Because we all have time to bake pie, right?)

No, we don’t, but we DO have time for a garden.  Whether you prefer flowers or vegetables, it all works the same.  First we peruse the glorious pages of our seed and bulb catalogs, indulging in visions of beautifully lined walkways and patios bursting with bloom.  Remember:  edible landscape is all the rage now.  Next we imagine the luxury of plucking fresh produce from our very own garden, our very own salad buffet just ouside our front door, organic and healthy, host to a fiesta of ladybugs and bees.

Perfect.  These babies love to mix and mingle with the butterflies and dragonflies hovering nearby.  Are you with me?  Can you feel the excitement, the powerful rejuvenation after a long and cold winter?  It’s true.  Springtime is the season of renewal. From the soft grass underfoot to the blossoms at our fingertips and the vegetables in our basket, spring is when we take heart in nature and plan for another harmonious year ahead. 

A wonderful outlook to be sure, so don’t ruin it with angst or reluctance.  And to keep your restless mind from wandering, here’s your short list for things to do:

1 – Figure out where you want (have space) to plant your flowers/vegetables.

2 – If this space is overgrown, cut everything back.  “Hey, a little room here?  We need room here!”

3 – Not enough seed catalogues?  Break out the search engines type the keywords of your heart’s desire!

4 – Educate yourself on companion planting, ie. who likes who, who can’t be in the same row as who.  (You know what I’m talking about.  Sometimes plants can be so difficult.)

5 – Sharpen your tools.  Or find them.  Whichever works best.  I suggest 3 to start:  weeder, cultivator and hoe – if you’re serious about this, that is. Otherwise, ditch the hoe. It’s a back-breaker.  Check my Prize Picks section for some of my favorites!

6 – Dirt check.  Not all dirt is created equally so a soil test would be a good start.  Give you an idea of how much work this garden thing will really entail.

7 – Gather your mulch.  Newspapers, pine bark, old dead leaves…  They’re all members of the organic mulch building blocks association and the make for the perfect weed prevention/fertilizer.

8 – Don’t forget to locate your hose.  Plants won’t grow if you don’t water them.  Genius!

9 – Buy a wind chime.  Some birds need scaring and you need relaxing.  Makes for nice ambiance, too.  We do want to visit our garden, don’t we?  Daily visits are one of the secrets to successful gardening.  (Just ask Jax from my novel, Jennifer’s Garden –  the man knows his business!)

10- Dream.  Wistfully daydream and contemplate about the wonder your garden will become.

Once spring ever gets here, that is.

by gardenfrisk in Garden skinny - my personal scoop on gardening Tags: , , , , , , , ,

16 Feb 2012 No Comments

Feeling a little Sassy, Saucy?

Me, too.  Or have been lately.  But I’m sure it’s just Valentine’s and all the excitement, hoopla and romance of the week.  Phew –  not sure I can take another minute of all this loving!  (You do know the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, don’t you?)  And good old-fashioned home cooking takes time.  It takes effort.  And we’ve haven’t even begun to tackle the dishes, yet.  But you know what?  When you try a recipe for the first time, and the result is a delicious meal…

It’s all worth it.  This week I made chimichurri sauce for the first time.  Originally from Miami, you may be surprised to hear I haven’t mastered this baby yet, but what can I say?  I’ve been preoccupied with paella and plantanos, picadillo, black beans and rice.  I went to restaurants for chimichurri—I didn’t make it at home.

Ah…but I do now! It was easy and yummy and healthy. If you ask me, these are the keys to success.  Now I’ll warn any vegetarians right now:  I served this in traditional fashion with flank steak and rice.  Yes, I had black beans and plantanos, but this sauce served over medium rare meat is amazing.  But if you don’t eat meat, don’t despair.  Try it over salad, over veggies.  It’s that good.

The main ingredients are parsley, oregano and garlic—all of which I grow in my home garden.  And remember those olive trees Mandy planted?  Well hurry up and get your “grow” on girls—I need some olives to…to…  What exactly do you do to olives to make oil?  Press them?  Puree them?

Sheesh, I still have a lot to learn.  Okay.  So I’ll barter for the olive oil.  I do want to maintain my “self-sustaining” status when I cook, but honestly, it can be a challenge.  Especially when it comes to the white wine vinegar needed for this recipe, though my husband assures me we can grow our own grapes and make our own wine.  Hmph.  This, coming from “tractor” man.  What the heck does he know about “growing” anything?  He’s a grinder (of soil).  I’m the grower around here.

Anyhoo, here’s what I did:  finely chopped the parsley and oregano, minced the garlic and mixed it with white wine vinegar and olive oil.  I’m no fan of salt, but you can add this and black pepper to your liking.  I used a mezzaluna knife—one of my favorites for chopping herbs—but you can also do this in a food processor.  And that’s it.  Pretty easy, right?  Now I snagged the original recipe from Williams-Sonoma, but after checking out a slew of others, changed it to suit my taste.  For full details, check the recipe section of my website.

Whether you’re a fan of Latin inspired dishes or not, this one is worth a try.  I think of it as the Latin version of tabouli–only oregano instead of mint.  Alright, alright—and none of the tomato, cucumber and bulgur.  Call it a wacky comparison at the dinner table, but that’s how it struck me. :)   (Some things there’s no explainin’!)

It was good.  “Hey Mikey!  Try it, you’ll like it!”

by gardenfrisk in Garden skinny - my personal scoop on gardening Tags: , , , , , ,

14 Feb 2012 No Comments

Relationship Fun in the Garden

Have you ever wondered about the similarities between plants and men?  Probably not!  Most sane people don’t.  But me, when I’m not writing, I spend a lot of time in my garden—maybe too much—and my thoughts?  Well, they naturally veer in that direction and I realized men and plants have much in common!

Ever wonder, if your man were a plant, which would he be?  Just for fun, I’ve listed a few.

Corn – Tall and slender with silken hair, this man provides well and yields a harvest of golden treasure.  While pleasing to look at, beware:  he also tends to be needy; easily blown over by the slightest of breezes—not the man for you hardier types!

Peanut - This good ole boy is made of solid stuff, on the inside and the outside, not to mention he’s filled with sweet old-fashioned appeal.  For most ladies, it’s a tough combination to resist.  Add the fact the kids love him and you’ve got yourself a marrying man!

Watermelon – This well-rounded fun-loving guy is always welcome at a summer barbecue and usually proves a big hit with the kids.  Prone to balding, his colorful personality distracts one from notice.  However, take heed.  If left to his own device, this one can grow wild and get quite out of hand!

Garlic – This fellow is somewhat distant, as he spends long periods of time out of sight, only to emerge when conditions improve.  Strong and distinct, he’s not for everyone, but given the right environment, he can show great depth, even mellow his pungent tone with time.  A worthy peer, indeed.

Okra – Strong, of firm build, this one likes it hot and enjoys it spicy—very at home in the Big Easy, too.  Generally speaking, he blends well with others, can plant himself anywhere, but caution:  he can be seedy, even a bit slimy at times.

Potatoes – These fellas are generous producers, enjoyed by most everyone as they appeal to a variety of tastes.  They can get easily crowded, though, so give them plenty of space.  If you do, you’ll have yourself a real winner with this one.  Note:  be patient with the sweeter types—they need a little more time before they’re ready to hit the dinner-date table.  But if you can wait, go for it.  You’ll reap the gold with this gem!

Onion – Sometimes sharp, sometimes sweet, this notable companion enhances every dish he meets.  But don’t be fooled.  You have to watch yourself around this double-edged treat.  He tends to “age” those around him quicker than most, and will often make you cry.  But if you like a challenge, give him a try.  He will infuse your life with flavor!

Raspberry – Sweet at first sight, this guy may follow up with a tart bite.  He generally likes to be left alone—literally thrives out in the wild of nature.  Ah…an adventurous type yourself, you’ll feel drawn to this bright and colorful character, but be forewarned:  he’s got thorns and lots of them.

Squash – Talk about diversity, this one has it!  From sunny yellow summers to cold and cozy winters, this man will keep you well supplied no matter the season.  The cutest of pumpkins, he’s always welcome during the holidays, and his cousin plays a mean racquet ball—for you sportier types.  But keep him moving; stagnation easily leads to illness with this one.  Rest assured, if variety is your thing, take heart.  This dazzling character can fulfill your desires, tenfold.

Carrots – Bred from firm and solid fiber, these men are steady and strong and always there for you.  Given proper attention, they can also become quite sweet in nature; a true hidden treasure, if ever there was one.  They do need some elbow room, exhibit a bit of thinning at times, but if you’re willing to work for it, this one’s a keeper!

Beets – Down to earth is putting it mildly with this guy—he’s knee deep in it!   Quiet, mellow, well-rounded…  It’s a wonder he doesn’t rank top of the list for every woman in town.  Perhaps he can come on a bit strong, in an easy-going sort of way.  But if you have thick skin and like to keep it real?   This one’s for you.

Lettuce - This boy likes everybody and everybody likes him.  Similar to the granola-type male, this fella stays healthy and fit, slim and trim.  How could he be anything else?  He has a knack for blending well with any crowd and blend well, though be careful—once he mingles, it’s hard to separate him from the mix!

Tomatoes – This popular guy is an all around favorite with the ladies, most drawn to his bright and cheery appearance and radiant personality.  A real reliable kind of guy, sweet with a hint of tang, meaty and quite robust—he comes in all sizes.  Yes, this one is tempting.  Be sure you’re in for the commitment—he’s going to need it if you expect him to produce.

My husband?  He’s definitely a raspberry with garlic tendencies, yet aging like a carrot.

Me?  He claims I’m a Venus flytrap.  Yes, I gave him the evil eye—at first.  But then, I got to thinking.  Imagine the unique and stunning plant for a moment, with her beautiful red, heart-shaped petiole, her pair of symmetrical lobes hinged near the midriff—I mean, midrib.

Lovely so far, isn’t it?  Catches insects and spiders with a bat of her eyelashes.  Tolerates fiery tempers—er, fire well.  Tolerates fire well.   Actually uses the flames to suppress the competition around the neighborhood.  (Sounds like a feisty gal to me!)  Sure, she can be difficult to grow, but what plant doesn’t have its difficult days?  You know, the more I think about it, the more I heard compliment.

And if you like romance, check out my Valentine’s giveaway — including books and chocolate!

by gardenfrisk in Savory vignettes - tidbits of life discovered along the way Tags: , , , , ,

04 Feb 2012 No Comments

Cucumbers and Beans are IN

This week the kids planted their cucumbers and black beans—black beans harvested from their fall crop!  Can you say self-sustaining?  These gardeners are definitely on their way to food independence. :)

We chose the fence line for our cucumbers for two reasons:  they like to climb and they adore sunflowers.  (Refer to our layout plan for details:  School garden layout) Perfect!

Our beans are neighbors with potatoes and corn—both very good friends.  And next season?  Corn will follow beans, because beans fix nitrogen in the soil and corn loves nitrogen!

Next week we will be working on constructing our new bean fort, as well as planting our sunflowers and tomato seeds.  And remember:  tomato seeds love a mix of Epsom salts and eggshells!

by gardenfrisk in School Garden - follow the kids as they grow! Tags: , , , ,

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »