Gardens save you money!

Today I plugged all the numbers into an Excel sheet and guess what...

The value of vegetables I grew (so far!) minus the cost it took to grow them equals over $150!

In this photo from Oliver's birthday party you can almost kinda see the organic jungle that is my veggie garden. I think in the bottom right photo I may have caught Chris stealing a tomato. Or it could be a water balloon:

I encourage you to do the math on your garden, every year. It's so excited and that much more motivation to keep doing what you're doing and to encourage others to garden as well.

To find your profit just write down your yield of each veggie. Multiple it by the cost in a grocery store of that product (for example, 1 bulb of organic garlic x $1.99 at Loblaw's) add all of those numbers up, then subtract your expenses. Those might include buying a new hose, gloves, trowels, soil, and of course seeds. If you want your profit to increase you need to of course grow more, but also spend less. Here are some easy tips for making gardening cheap:

• Make your own compost by throwing veggie scraps, coffee grinds, tea bags & egg shells into a makeshift bin. After a year, dump it on top of your existing soil - no need to buy anything new!
• Take care of your hose and other equipment so you don't have to buy a new one
• Make a rain barrel out of any old barrel you can find, and you won't see an increase on your water bill
• Host a seed swap so you can give seeds away and get new ones for free -- combine this with seed saving and you won't need to spend a penny at all!

I find some veggies easier to seed save than others. For example, beans and peas can be left on the vine and once they dry out you just pick them off, open them up, and save the dried seeds for next year. I think I have an inventory of scarlet runner beans in my seed envelopes that will last for the next 3 years minimum, including sharing. Peppers are relatively simple as well, save them while you're chopping one up for dinner - it should yield like 10 seeds which is enough for 10 plants next spring. Squash is majorly easy - even if it's a pumpkin just eat most of them baked with cinnamon and sugar, and save a few raw to dry out for planting next year. Garlic's the easiest - plant a clove and it turns into a bulb before your eyes. Some, like chives and basil, likely go to seed and self-plant themselves for next year. Pretty much the hardest is tomatoes - I have never experimented with fermenting and saving the seeds, mostly because Oliver eats EVERY tomato as soon as its any shade of red, whole, right before my eyes. He easily eats 5 whole tomatoes - not including the cherry tomatoes he eats - per day, unless we spend most of the day away from our backyard. In this case, I just seed save the varieties I can, and I bring them to swap with my friends at my annual seed exchange party, hoping I can pick up some tomato seeds from someone else, in exchange for say, something easy like sunflower seeds. All else fails, I order from The Cottage Gardener.

Now tell me about your gardens and how they save you so much money!

Young Gardener Videoes #4 and 5 and Garden Update!

Oops. Did I not post THE YOUNG GARDENER #4: Rain barrels video?

Here it is!

And while I'm at it... here is #5: Planting!

As you can see, I have the garden in full force! I'll try to list what I'm growing this year but honestly, it's not easy to remember without standing out there.

I am growing:

• Tomatoes: 3 red varieties, 2 green varieties, 2 cherry
• Cucumber: straight eight and 2 pickling types
• Peppers: bell, cayenne, banana
• Herbs: stevia, mint, basil, dill, parsley, cilantro, marjoram (how do I use this?)
• Onions, chives, garlic, green onions
• Kale, spinach, lettuce mix
• 5 kinds of beans, 3 kinds of peas
• 2 kinds of sugar pumpkin
• 2 kinds of winter squash
• Zucchini 
• Broccoli
• Eggplant

My guess is I'm forgetting at least one thing but I'll update if I remember.

Also, I just realized I don't know where my corn seeds went! Shoot!

Do you have any gardening questions for me? 

Now that everything's planted it's harder to think of what topics to discuss for the YOUNG GARDENER videos. I was thinking: composting, watering, caging tomatoes/trellising trailing plants, maintaining healthy plants, and then harvesting. Maybe if people are still interested after harvest I could show how to seed save some crops, and how to preserve your harvest (like how to can tomatoes, etc.) Would you like that?

YOUNG GARDENER VIDEO 3: Hardening off

So you've successfully started your seeds inside, now watch this video on how to bring them outside without killing them!

Starting seeds video (YOUNG GARDENER YOUTUBE SERIES)

Gardening Tips That I Learned From Pinterest

Pinterest may be the time suck of the century, but it's taught me a few things. (It's taught me that most people love dieting and Oreo cupcakes, so I'm a little confused...)

Here are the top things I learned about gardening from Pinterest:

1. The most popular veggie that people grow in their gardens is tomatoes. Then cucumbers, then bell peppers.
2. If you grow the veggie for its leaves (spinach, lettuce, kale) you need partial shade. Everything else can use full sun.
3. Epsom bath salts are not only a code name for high schooler's favourite drug, they also give magnesium to your soil which yields better veggies.
4. Avocado pits aren't the only kitchen scrap that you can use to grow a house plant; also onions, garlic, ginger, celery to name a few!
5. You can put the garbage from your vacuum bag, and the hair you pull out of your comb/brush into your compost.
6. Carrots hate to grow near strawberries. Beets like to grow near anything. And more.
7. An easy way to practice crop rotation: for each area of your garden choose root, fruit, or leaf. Swap them each year. So the root section would grow onions, carrots, etc; fruit would grow broccoli, bell peppers, etc; and leaf would grow all greens.
8. You can easily make small starter pots out of wet newspaper. (False, tried it.)
9. There are tons of fun apps that you can download to plan what your garden will look like.
10. The cutest way to store seeds for next year is Tic Tac containers. Do you have some I can use?

My First Gardening Tutorial Video: Choosing Your Garden's Location

Strategies for Preventing Obesity in Children

Part of me is very sure that I've mentioned what I do for a living (outside of blogging and nutrition education) on here, but part of me isn't.

Have I told you my job title?

I work for the YMCA of Western Ontario, Child Care Division, as a Dietary Planner. It means I'm responsible for every single thing related to the nutrition of the children in my care. Sometimes that means corresponding with parents about allergies and aversions, sometimes it means balancing meal plans and budgeting groceries, but much of time it can be a very unglamourous job of cutting salmon sandwiches on whole wheat into triangles and secretly whisking carrot juice into a fruity popsicle recipe. I'm also not immune to dish washing, laundry doing, and even helping a crying, snot-nosed preschooler fall asleep even though they want mommy.

And I love my job.

About a week ago the C.E.O. of the organization challenged us to brainstorm strategies to ensure that all of our Y kids are on the path to a healthy weight and a healthy life. It got my wheels a turnin'. Because it's my passion (along with breast feeding, gardening, not using conventional shampoo... you get me).

So because a good chunk of you are mamas out there (or so I think? Or have I been sharing my creepy menstruation solutions with a group of dudes?) I want to share some great ways to promote healthy eating with young ones. I don't consider myself an expert in the field of physical activity so I won't be much help there, but I do recognize that activity is also a major component in health promotion. (As is emotional health, toxin exposure reduction, fresh air, and the list goes on.)

+ Gardening education. Start your child's learning at the natural start: where do vegetables come from? A small plot of dirt or even a large container, plus a handful of seeds, shouldn't cost you more than $20. The daily act of watering and pulling out weeds is a great activity for kids of any age. Oliver has been gardening since he was 2 days old. Because of this his favourite food is cherry tomatoes. Like FAVOURITE. Gardening gives children a natural ownership over what they've grown and it makes them more likely to try it, like it and want to tell others about it. Plus that $20 you spent will probably blossom into much, much more worth in food. Make your tomatoes and cucumber into Greek salad. Blend your strawberries into a yogurt smoothie. Make fresh kale chips. Suddenly the possibilities are endless.

+ Talk about healthy eating. I never miss an opportunity to turn a meal into a lesson. If you're proud of yourself for making a homemade soup, tell your child about how you made it. Tell them why you chose the ingredients you did. Before the soup is even at a simmer, explain and show the process to your little one and it'll make them excited to sample a bite. I like to ask probing questions like "What other veggies could we add to macaroni and cheese to make it really healthy?" (Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots...) "Can you think of another fruit that is green?" (Apples, kiwi, melon...) "What's a yummy thing you can eat if you feel hungry before bedtime?" (Blueberries, mixed nuts, cucumbers with hummus...)

+ Get them involved. Showing the cooking process is great but why not go one step further and have your child lend a helping hand? There are so many ways that kids even under 5 can assist in the kitchen. Many fruits and veggies can be cut with a plastic or dull knife, on a cutting board. Oliver loves helping Grandma bake up gluten free treats because she uses so many different flours that he can taste every one of them as she goes. (Hint: bean flour is gross-tasting, and almond meal is delicious. And don't worry, when she bakes for others she uses the utmost safe/clean food handling skills.)

+ Have great things on hand. Our afternoon snacks are the best on days that we've just gone to the Farmers Market. If your fridge is hurting you're either going to offer something subpar (Ritz cracker sandwiches, no thanks) or something healthy but boring (plain old apple slices - come on mom!). If you have a bounty of healthy ingredients at your fingertips you'll come up with some pretty cool and nutritious options. Oliver is just as excited about veggie kabobs as any other kid would be about a pogo hot dog. Or a plate of colourful raspberries with kamut puffs, edamame beans from the freezer and "green eggies" (a frittata-finger snack I make by baking eggs with spinach and then cutting it into rectangles.) The more likely you are to want to photograph it for Instagram, the more likely your child will be excited to eat it up.

What tips do  you have for helping children to eat healthy from a young age?

How to Use Your Tax Refund to Go Green

 

Isn't it fun when by some magical calculation the government decides to give you a big cheque every spring? (On the flip side, my condolences to the folks who actually owe money this year. Yuck!)

For those of us whose amount was in the black this year, I encourage you not to waste the instant sum on something silly. (Silly by definition: any electronics that will end up keeping you indoors more often.)

Here are my suggestions for things that will better your life and the planet, that you can buy with your tax refund:

• A rain barrel! This glorified garbage can is often pricier than you'd expect, but it's worth every penny. I got one last year for my first official Mother's Day and I love it like a second child. You can hook it up to an existing trough spout, or just let the rain fall in naturally, and it will collect everything up for gardening use. Most have a hose hook up at the bottom so you'll be saving water in no time. This also cuts your water bill every month.
• Mini-appliances! Things like a 2-person crock pot or an apartment-sized toaster oven can get the job done with less energy than a hefty stove doing all the work. And you don't have to pay top dollar - you can often pick up cool finds at a thrift shop. Just test it in an outlet before you leave to make sure it's still in working order. Less energy = great choice.
• A bicycle! If you don't own one, it's time. A bike is quick and easy and gets you from A to B without the heavy traffic, the pollution, or the gas expense. When the weather allows, I like to bike for any trip that will take under half an hour each way. On special days, I'll load Oliver up in the front-facer seat and go for a really long ride. If the bike fits, is in good shape and has full tires, you should be able to bike for quite a while without getting tired.

Sure, it's a big bunch of money that you sort of weren't expecting, and that you sort of want to spend on make up or a leather jacket, but Mother Earth likes you a lot and I think you should like her back.. with your tax refund!

What would you like to hear about next?

I am totally, and regretfully, aware of what a bummer my post-infrequency has been lately.

Florida Sunscreen PROBLEMS

I don't think my life has been too busy (well, I am moving tomorrow) or that I've exhausted the list of topics I can write on (although I have almost 250 posts currently).

Maybe I'm just waiting to have the perfect idea for a blog post... Wanna help?

I'll start you off with a list of ideas. If you like one, comment below or email me. Or, feel free to suggest an idea of your own.

As for a quick update on my life, before the list to follow: we are in fact moving homes. From a 3+1 to a 3+1, detached to detached, small-ish backyard but really nice kitchen to medium-ish backyard with pretty nice kitchen. Not an up, not a down, just something new. It's the nomad in us - always moving. I was also major - like zombie - sick for a few days. Working around children has made my illness days per year rate fly through the roof - not pretty. Unsweetened applesauce kept me going. Oh yeah - and that's going to affect my Rockin' Wellness Challenge because I had to pause it for like 4 days. Have I even written about our Florida trip? Wow, blog shame. Well, we went and it was wonderful. Oliver turned 18 months and our marriage turned 3! Okay, on to the list!

So, do you like these ideas?

• The best natural makeup brands that you can find in a drugstore or Sephora
  
• Exactly how to make and store homemade baby food
  
• How to pack toddler lunches/snacks
  
• Menu planning for a family
  
• Why some people give up toilet paper (and how gross is that)
  
• How to get internet, phone & tv on the cheap! -- This probably only applies to Canada
  
• Amy's Insanely Awesome Egg & Cheese Popover Recipe
  
• Amy's Cuckoo Delicious Lemon Poppyseed Loaf with Ginger Glaze
  
• Amy's Blow Your Socks Off Tasterific Tuna Cakes, as stolen from Sprout Right
  
• Amy's attempt at "The Life Changing Loaf" by My New Roots
  
• My Garden 2013
  
• How to grow from seed, step by step
  
• What vegetables/herbs should I grow
  
• Daycare vs Stay at Home Mom
  
• Best Restaurants in London
  
• Best Restaurants in London if You Eat Gluten-Free
  
• Why I love the Fire Roasted Coffee Company (finally)

Okay, I spent a good 90 seconds on that list. Enjoy and give me your comments. And now I will go... you guessed it, put more things in boxes. Ack, pray for good weather in the morning.

Canning for Cheaters and the Truth About Squirrels

Here is another guest blog from my very own Aunt Betty.

I feel another blog post coming on. For those of you who are skilled in the ways of canning and the like, you may want to stop reading. For the rest of us....there is hope.

Before I go any further, I will admit that I have canned many times. I have canned tomatoes, salsa, peaches,  grape juice, tomato juice and pickles. The secret is that I do it under my mother-in-law's supervision, so I'm not sure it really counts. I don't own all the canning utensils or any other items of cannery, though I will proudly admit that I do indeed own a canning funnel.
That counts.... right ??

In any case, if the idea of canning intimidates you, there are ways that you can make provisions for winter, while simultaneously earning points in the domestic goddess department. I'm not saying you need those, because if you follow Amy's blog, you're likely close to goddess status already.

But at this point you're probably wondering how you can be a squirrel. Admit it; I know you are.
So here's the way I see it. A squirrel spends much of his summer gathering nuts. He does this while the pickings are plentiful and the weather is warm enough to go looking. He collects way too much to eat, but not because he is selfish. He does this because he is smart and knows how to save for later. Okay, either that or he's just using his instincts. But for the sake of argument, let's go with the former.

If you are a vegetable gardener, you currently have zucchinis the size of baseball bats growing in your back yard. You likely have so many tomatoes that you sneak a few into everything you cook. You may even have more peppers than you know what to do with.

Even if you`re not a vegetable gardener, though, there is hope. 

I have been going to the local farmer`s market for the past few summers, and buying a bushel of red peppers. I do this when they are inexpensive. We all know that buying a red pepper in the winter will cost approximately $300 a pound. I am currently a Stay-at-Home Mom/ Domestic-Goddess-Hopeful, so this is not quite in the budget.

So here's what you do:  you bring home a bushel of peppers, and maybe some tomatoes or zucchini if you don`t have them...which for me has actually never happened.
This also works for onions, rhubarb, and peaches, and any number of  unnamed produce.

Sit down with a few huge bowls, a glass measuring cup, a cutting board and a shredder.

Oh, and a huge mug (barrel) of coffee. Because everything works better with coffee.
Chop until your hands are red or green, or you are out of peppers, whichever comes first.
Then pull out some large size Ziploc bags, and measure out, in cups, to fill the bags.

For instance, find your favorite zucchini bread recipe. If it calls for 3 cups zucchini, measure out 3 cups into your Ziploc. Label with a permanent marker, flatten it out, and freeze. Voila ! (*this is the only instance in which it is okay to say voila.) All winter long you have chopped red and green pepper or tomatoes for chili, soups and casseroles. Freezing it flat doesn't take a lot of space in your freezer, and you can stack the bags on top of each other.
As for the zucchini, you can throw it right into your recipe frozen; just account for a bit of extra moisture. Or feel free to thaw it out and drain it for a minute before using. 

Shopping for summer produce is extremely cost-effective and just generally very clever.

If you're hardcore and you prefer to be a bit more like the squirrel, you can try burying your produce. I've never tried it however, so I can't really recommend it. 

Either way, find out what they are currently selling at your local market, and buy it in bulk. Produce is so inexpensive at this time of year.  Sure, it may take you a few hours, and your hands may never return to their natural colour, but you won't have to chop onions or peppers all winter.  Just toss a frozen handful into your pot.

You are now a homesteading genius.

As for me... I'm going to spend that extra ten minutes a day drinking coffee.

Planting Phenology

I might be a huge gardening geek for reading a planting book in December but I've just learned a really cool science and it's worth sharing. Phenology. It's the study of indicator plants, used to determine weather conditions that guide your planting time line.

Here are some tips:

• Plant chard, spinach, beets and onions when daffodils bloom
• Plant peas when maple trees flower
• Plant potatoes when white oak's leaves are the size of a cat's eat
• Plant beans and cucumbers when apple trees drop their petals
• Plant tomatoes and eggplants when black locust trees flower

And, most interesting - plant anything just before it rains because it will be well watered. How do you know when it'll rain?

• Swallows will swoop low to the ground because the insects they eat fly closer to the ground (difference in air pressure)

Just a little early December gardening tip from your local geek!

31 Days: Day 10 and 11

Left to right: Mom, Angela, Dad, Sarah with Oliver, Calvin, me

Monday we had a Thanksgiving meal with my side of the family - 100% gluten free. After that the boys (Dad, Calvin, Oliver) wanted to nap but us girls were excited to go on a fall walk, so we suited up and hit the forest. A much longer walk than expected (mainly because the kids of this generation have not kept the good forest paths clear so we had to trail blaze the whole time) found us on Pond Mills Rd at a community garden. The plots were entirely abandoned (understandably as it's October). Nothing had been watered in weeks, there were knee-high weeds and just scattered junk everywhere. We were 100% no one had been there in a while. So we gleaned it. I managed to harvest 3 different varieties of squash, eggplant, peppers (including hot chilis) and some dried out beans for planting next year. It made me want to look up all of London's community gardens and see which ones need gleaning.

For dinner we used leftover turkey to make curried turkey and apple sandwiches (on Udi's gluten-free bread) and spicy turkey and butternut squash soup. Then we dove head first into a Chopped marathon on Food Network.

Yesterday I got to hang out with Calvin all morning and some of the afternoon because he worked the late shift. Once he left I packed Oliver up for a walk and we didn't get back home until dinner time. I made stuffed squash and garlic noodles and I had a huge helping of apple crisp for dessert. Then Cal's friend came over so I ran a hot bath and let the boys hang out by themselves.

It's Creating Time!

The last days of summer are absolutely made for my favourite things: gardening, canning and crocheting (because you'll need some new scarves, mitts and hats soon!) I could probably include coffee brewin' in there too when the mornings are chilly. Just out of curiosity, does it offend anyone that I drink a mug of coffee every day despite breastfeeding? I would love to know how people feel.

So in honour of this glorious time of year, I have a challenge for my readers. Read through this list of creative ventures and do at least one of them before the autumn equinox on Sept 23rd. Heck, do more than one. I plan to do all of them if my little Ollie Wolfe's sleeping habits will allow.

1. Do some end of summer maintenance to your garden. If you're really ambitious this could include attempting seed saving.
2. Make something DIY instead of buying it. Like these wood coasters (see photo) that my coffee table desperately needs.
3. Learn a new song on your instrument of choice. I suggest Iron & Wine.
4. Crochet a fall scarf. Charcoal grey is particularly satisfying.
5. Host a pickling party. Have friends bring their own jars and pay a buck or two for your supplies (pickling cucumbers, vinegar, salt, maybe sugar and other spices). Or let everyone bring a unque veg to pickle (think asparagus, carrots, pearl onions..)
6. Donate your rarely worn summer clothes. Commit to going new-clothes free all autumn. If you really need something get it second hand.
7. Write a thank you card. Lately I've realized gratitude is one of life's sweetest virtues. Recognize the people in your life that bless you.
8. Brew some joe (or tea!) in a french press. If you're near a specialty coffee shop, a thrift store or an Italian family home, try using a Moka stove top pot.
9. Go on a library binge. It's free!
10. Read myideaofhappiness regularly ;)

Updates

Oh my garden is being so good to me. Yesterday I went out there for a check up and came back with patty pan squash, cucumbers and one lunar carrot. They all tasted stupidly delicious. The tomatoes are really taking their time but they taste good green so if I get antsy I just eat them anyways. I have a cute idea for bringing my herbs in when it gets cold, but it involves a ton of mason jars and I worry I should save them for canning.

I am reading so many good books. Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin is the best read I've found in a while. My friend Debbie lent it to me and now I don't know if my life will be complete without owning it. I also read the Baby Food Bible, every issue of Canadian Family & Today's Parent that I could find. I read Dr. Bradley's Husband-Coached Childbirth and BirthCentre's Baby's First Year and.. well, to be honest just about every book in the Pregnancy, Birthing, Parenting, Eco-friendly, Recipe Book & Craft sections of both Landon & Stoney Creek library. I've had so much time on my hands with being off work but being too pregnant to do anything useful. Which brings me to my next point.

I spent 2 days in Toronto with Calvin and various members of my family trying to find my little sister, Sarah, an apartment. It was really fun and a good way to get out of the house. We found a great restaurant called Just Thai, so next time you're there check it out. I think it's on Jarvis, somewhere near King if I remember.

My blog turns 1 year old on the 7th. I'd like to write a celebratory post and give away all sorts of prizes and make it miraculous but that's a day away from my Estimated Due Date and I seriously doubt I'll be thinking about blogging. Well, maybe I will :) Would anyone like if I share my birth story on here? I plan to if anyone would enjoy.

Calvin got a great hair cut from my talented friend Bethany last night. He's still asleep but I can admire it none the less. And he finally has a long weekend which is very exciting!

If I don't post much in the coming days I hope you understand but I look forward to writing up a storm once things settle down & I already having canning plans so we can be sure that I will document the heck out of that! Thanks for reading my friends.

Updates!

I start so many things and don't remember to let my blog readers know the progress or outcome. Very bad!

I am now almost seven months pregnant. I feel the baby kick, move and do daily P90X exercises probably 400 times a day. We don't know the sex - this has proven to be very exciting! I'm really happy that Calvin made that call and encouraged me not to find out because had I, we would have only the joy of a nicely coloured room and wardrobe and none of the joy of the excitement of not knowing. It seems like a small thing, and dull in comparison to the rush of seeing your baby for the first time, knowing they are healthy, etc. but I promise that the "it's a boy" or "it's a girl" moment is right up there is anticipation for both of us. We have some baby showers lined up which is great and we're putting together lists of what we want and need. We know for sure we'll be breast feeding, if all goes well. For that I'll be taking New Roots Mama Milk tincture and probably a daily tea of various herbs. (I'll also be taking red raspberry tea starting soon to help with uterine muscle toning.) We are still so undecided about vaccination because new pros and cons come up every day. Minor ones like chicken pox are a no brainer - my child doesn't need a needle to protect it from a few itchy bumps. But ones that impact the ability to attend school, and travel, are trickier.

My garden is growing and wonderful. I have a planter box attached to my deck of beautiful herbs, and another planter box that I call the salad box, which has various edible microgreens including spinach. Then there's a ground planter of mint (can be invasive, not going to put it in the ground for fear it'll take over) and a planter of cherry tomatoes so that I can grab them nice and quick right outside the sliding glass door. The main plot has a flower section (lilac and sunflowers), the berry forest (strawberries, raspberries and a cedar) and the veggie plot which has tomatoes, onions, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, corn, beans, squash, pumpkin, kale, broccoli, peppers and eggplant. I might be forgetting something but I think I have it all, short of an orchid in my front entrance.

I am exactly half way through my school courses. Two down, two to go. It is very interesting and definitely preparing me for wherever natural nutrition will take me, career-wise.

I will finish off with a "recipe" for a nice warm-weather drink, one that I am enjoying right now. You typically see recipes for whole pitchers of beverages but when you just want a cup for you here's an easy way to do it.

Mint Lemonade

In a heat proof glass or mug, mix 6 fresh mint leaves with 1/2 cup boiling water. Let sit for 2 minutes.
Add 10 drops stevia extract.
Add 2 T lemon juice.
Fill the glass or mug to the top with ice and drink, making sure not to swallow any mint.

Getting Started Gardening

 I'm only now realizing that not everyone in the world was blessed enough to grow up with a mom who taught them about gardening. From a young age we harvested chives if we were eating baked potatoes and we watered our own cherry tomatoes in hopes that it would yield a few miniature fruits to snack on while we played. Our mom was a trained florist and a botanist by nature. So for everyone who doesn't have that background, and would like to start gardening, here's an easy guide!

1. Find your space. It could be a huge plot in the backyard, it could be pots on your balcony. As long as there's enough room to grow what you're growin' then it works! To make room you can look into trellising (that's when you install criss-crossed wood or plastic pieces that vegetables that grow up rather than out). You could also pay into a community garden space.

2. Choose your veg. It wouldn't hurt to talk with seasoned gardeners in your area about what they think works well. Many gardeners have told me that corn is near impossible and that broccoli can be annoying too (hasn't stopped me yet!) Once you know what your options are, pick things that you'd normally buy at the grocery store, that way you know it'll get eaten. I'd suggest tomatoes, some greens and something high-yielding like zucchini or kale, for your self-esteem. Also, don't forget herbs. There's nothing better than fresh basil on your morning scrambled eggs.

3. Figure out when to plant. Some things you need to start indoors. This means place the seeds in soil, in pots, and leave them inside either in a sunny window or under a grow light, for a few weeks until the risk of frost is over (the frost-free date in London is May 9th this year I think). Other seeds you can plant right away, they're hardy to cold. Lastly, there are seeds that you should sow directly into the soil outside, but you have to wait until the frost-free date. Check out the list here:

Seeds to start indoors and to plant as seedlings

• eggplant
• peppers
• tomatoes
• broccoli
• brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• onions
• potatoes

To be seeded directly in early spring

• beets
• chard
• cilantro
• kohlrabi
• lettuce
• mustard greens
• green peas
• radishes
• spinach
• snap peas
• asian vegetables (i.e, bok choy, napa cabbage, etc..)
• carrots

To be seeded directly after the frost-free date (typically after May 24)

• beans
• cantaloupes
• cucumber
• honeydew
• melons
• okra
• squash
• corn
• watermelons
• pumpkins

Keep in mind, when you start something indoors chances are the container it's in isn't big enough to keep it for long. If your plant has overgrown its container, replant in a larger container! You can tell if it's growing really high really fast and not producing shoots or leaves horizontally. That means it's using all its energy to build above ground because there's no room for root growth, which is the most important thing.

4. Take good care. I water my plants whenever they seem dry, it works for me. I leave them under the grow light for 14 hours a day and turn it off for 10 hours at night. I also give them a powdered kelp supplement for added nutrition. When I bring them outside I harden off (slowing acclimatize them to the outdoors by leaving them outside for increasing amounts of time, but keeping them inside overnight, until they're ready) and by adding compost regularly. (Would you like a blog about composting?) If pests are a problem, I spray a diluted mixture of neem oil around the area.

5. Enjoy! And don't hesitate to ask for help. I don't consider myself an expert gardener but right now I have a future nursery room full of healthy seedlings that are excited to be outdoor-planted and to produce food for my family and I, so advice has gotten me far.

The Very Best Gardening Books...

... or, the very best gardening books that my library has to offer, would be a more suitable name.

Fresh Food from Small Spaces - RJ Ruppenthal

 This book goes way beyond growing vegetables in the city. It was my first in depth look at urban beekeeping and chicken raising. Yes, it did convince me to adopt a duck but don't tell Calvin. The book is a great guide to gardening in small areas like apartment building balconies, cozy backyards, fire escapes and even abandoned areas that you don't own (guerilla gardening). I found some of the information only pertained to southern, warm climates so keep in mind if you're from Ontario like me you'll have to adjust.

Carrots Love Tomatoes - Louise Riotte

I'm actually still waiting to read this book but just about every one who's anyone recommends it. It goes into the relationships (beneficial and harmful) between various garden crops. This year I'll be growing the classic companion planting combination: the Three Sisters. The theory goes that if you grow corn, winter squash and pole beans together they will each benefit the others in some way. Corn provides a pole for the beans to grow up. Beans bind nitrogen into the soil. Squash provide pest control and insulation through ground cover. 

Four-Season Harvest - Eliot Coleman

Finally, a Zone-5 specific book to teach me gardening techniques specific to my cold climate. This man believes (and has easily persuaded me) that you shouldn't just plant seeds once a year and harvest them when they're ready. Rather, you should practice succession planting. This is where you plant new seed every two weeks or so and enjoy multiple harvests. Using cold frames (built up boxes with glass on top) he eats fresh produce all year round.

You Grow Girl - Gayla Trail

Probably the most visually appealing book that this subject has to offer, Gayla does a great job at plainly, and interestingly, explaining a wide range of gardening topics with no risk of losing your attention. From planning a garden, to starting one, to caring for it, reaping the benefits and then winterizing, she has it all. She also throws in a lot of her creative flair with instruction how to paint your pots, make fancy seed posts, brew up herbal tea and use old garage sale junk to make your backyard look great.

Putting Food By - Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, Beatrice Vaugman

My reaction to this book is equally 'inspired' as it is 'entertained'. The book was probably written before my parents were born and uses some hilarious language. It is the ultimate guide to preserving food. I don't plan on using the guide to canning wild game or collard greens, I will remember the tips on sauerkraut and stewed tomatoes.



Lastly, if you would like heirloom, organic seeds for this growing season I am doing group orders through Quarter Master. The packets are $3 each and I prefer pre-payment but depends how well I know you. Varieties can be found at www.cottagegardener.com and will be sent/ready for pick up in May.

Grow Your Own: Stevia

When I think of the good qualities of a sweetener what comes to mind is: cheap, delicious, natural, low calorie, non-cavity-promoting and, well, sweet. Stevia is all of these things and more. It's a bushy green plant you can grow yourself and when the leaves are dried they are incredibly sweet like sugar. They make a great addition to tea, lemonade, even baking. Everyone should grow it. Here's how.

Obtain stevia seeds - I've seen them at most hardware/camping stores.

Start them indoors if you plan to start your season before frost. If it's already, say, mid-May then you can direct sow. Keep your seeds a good 10 inches apart because it spreads. It can also grow high, over a foot at least, so consider trellising.

Water, but don't over water. Stevia's roots grow shallow so they'll need a shower often but too much water will be worse than not enough. It also doesn't need much nitrogen in the soil so don't grow it around beans or peas, and don't throw old coffee grounds near them, but do add compost to the soil. Compost is a gardener's best friend.

When tiny leaves have formed, hand pick them and keep them in a metal tin to dry. They can then be ground further into a powder and used to sweeten just about anything.

For sweetening 2 Tbsp of ground stevia = 1 cup of sugar but of course if you're baking your wet/dry ingredient ratio will have to be played with a little, as with your oven's temperature.

In an old family-sized pickle jar add 2 teabags, a few lemons, sliced, and a dash of stevia leaves. Fill with water to the top and leave in the sun. Nothing is better.

Recipe Request: Roasted Garlic Soup

This soup is funny for timing so I'll show you how I did it:

This is just a stock photo. I didn't think to
take one as I was eating dinner last night.

7:00pm: Arrive home from work and preheat the oven to 400F. Chop up one sweet potato, three white potatoes, two onions and just a small slice off the top of a garlic head. (The full bulb, not just one clove).
7:05pm: Place the sweet potato and garlic head on a cookie sheet with some oil and sea salt and begin baking. In a large saucepan, begin caramelizing the onion on the lowest heat.
7:20pm: Give the oven things a stir, check the onion. If the onion is ready, fill the saucepan halfway (4 cups?) with chicken or veggie stock. Add the cubed white potato. Boil, then leave on a simmer.
7:30 - 7:45pm: Check periodically if your potatoes and garlic are soft. When the sweet potato and garlic are ready, turn off the oven, and throw the veg in with the rest in the stock. Remember to push the roasted garlic out of the paper layer, don't just throw the whole thing in there. Continue simmering. Check for salt and pepper.
8:00pm: Calvin will be home soon. I frantically turn off the Taylor Swift Speak Now special on NBC and use the immersion blender to smooth all the chunky vegetables out. You'll be left with a yummy puree. Check salt and pepper again. Then, on very low heat, whisk in half a package of plain cream cheese.

We enjoyed this with Frank's XTra Hot Sauce but you could eat it as is, or topped with shredded cheddar. Enjoy with a most hated vampire.

DIY Salsa

I am quickly becoming a preserviphile. Anything in a jar brings a smile to my face. So it won't surprise you that:

We made salsa!

May I share how?



We began by chopping 6 medium onions, 5 cloves of garlic, 3 green bell peppers and 5 jalapenos.

Then we easily removed the skins of 40 roma tomatoes by freezing them for a day then dipping them in hot water. The skins come right off. We quartered the tomatoes.

To a saute pan we added everything but the tomatoes. We sweated the vegetables, then added the tomatoes.

In a separate pan we boiled 2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of sugar and 3 Tbsp pickling spice. Then added this to the vegetables, simmering for 2 hours. Then we removed from the heat and added 2 cans of tomato paste.



We added to sanitized jars leaving 1/4" head room, wiping down the rims, and processing with new lids and rings for 15 minutes.

Please note: if you, hilariously, add ten raw jalapenos, including seeds, to one jar as a prank for your husband's band practice, the boys will in fact think this is awesome.