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By eliza_cross, on May 10th, 2012%
 Photo by Jeremy Bronson If you never got around to starting any seedlings this spring and now you’re fretting about the expense of buying vegetable plants at the garden center, fear not! Many vegetable seeds can be sown directly in the dirt, where they’ll happy germinate and provide you with a nice harvest. Here’s a list of easy-to-grow vegetables (most of which prefer full sun) that you can plant from seed now:
- Beans – pole beans and bush beans are easy to grow, and if you harvest them regularly they’ll keep producing.
- Beets – grow in loose, moist soil.
- Corn – easy to grow if you have a large garden plot; corn needs lots of space.
- Cucumbers – bush or vining varieties are both easy to grow, and give them plenty of water so they don’t get bitter.
- Lettuce – plant now! Lettuce prefers cooler temps. If you sow some seeds every week or two, you’ll have a constant supply of fresh lettuce.
- Melons – grow well in hot, dry weather but like lots of water. To avoid crossbreeding, plant melons away from pumpkins, cucumbers and squash.
- Onions – less expensive than buying onion sets, be sure to buy onion seeds suited for your climate and amount of sun. Onions store well, making them and especially economical crop.
- Peas – plant now! Peas prefer cooler temps. If it’s already hot in your area, try planting peas in the fall.
- Radishes – like to be grown in moister soil.
- Spinach – especially easy to grow. Plant in full sun or part shade.
- Squash – zucchini is an easy, prolific plant for beginners to grow, especially if you have lots of friends who like zucchini!
If the danger of frost has passed in your area, prepare your garden bed and amend the soil if needed. Plant the seeds on a calm day at the depth specified by the grower and top gently with a layer of fine soil.
Need a great source for your seeds? These are some of my favorite companies, and they all offer non-hybrid, heirloom varieties:
Happy planting, and I’d love to hear what you’ve got growing in your gardens right now!
By eliza_cross, on April 8th, 2012%
 Photo by Karen Roe American honeybees are disappearing at an alarming rate, and some think the EPA knows why. A growing body of evidence shows that widespread use of nicotine-based insecticides called neonicotinoids is linked to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Several countries, including Germany and France, have already banned clothianidin. And – Halleluia! – after the bans, bee populations began to rise again.
But in the U.S., clothianidin is still used on millions of acres of crops of corn, soy, wheat, cotton, sorghum, peanuts and more. American beekeepers report losses of up to 90% of their bees, and many worry that their hives won’t survive another season.
Here’s how to help:
1. Sign Change.org’s petition to urge the EPA to end the harmful pesticide’s use. As of today, the organization has gathered nearly 125,000 of the 150,000 signatures it seeks to present to the EPA. The form is quick and easy, and Change.org won’t share your personal info.
2. Post a link to your Facebook or Twitter page urging others to do the same. Here’s a ready-made tweet:
Save the bees! Sign your name to support urging the EPA to ban harmful pesticides now http://chn.ge/Hoh9Yr via @change
That’s all there is to it. Change.org has provided the impetus for numerous citizen-led causes, and every signature helps send the message that we care about our planet.
P.S. If you want to welcome bees to your garden this summer check out Urban Bee Gardens for tons of ideas, from bee-attracting plants to creating bee-friendly habitats.
By eliza_cross, on January 25th, 2012%
 Glass canning jars can be used again and again - photo by GoodNCrazy “In a recession, people are inclined to keep things, but I feel the opposite. The less I have, the richer I feel. Stuff weighs you down.” ~Béa Johnson
Last year I read the most inspiring article in Sunset Magazine, about the Johnson family in Mill Valley, California. The Johnsons have pared down their possessions and live a wonderfully simple life. The family members are so careful about not consuming wasteful packaging, they generate almost zero garbage.
The Johnsons are big on composting, and this is one way we love to reduce waste. I just love the idea of reusing the kitchen scraps in a way that benefits the garden and keeps stuff out of landfill.
What about recycling? Homeowner Béa Johnson says, “So much recycling really goes to waste, so you need to try to reduce that, too.” They are diligent about taking reusable containers to the store for food and eliminating junk mail, and their tidy pantry and closets would inspire anyone to minimize and simplify!
How much trash does your family generate in an average week? If you got everyone in the household on board, could you reduce it by 50 or 75 per cent? Or 80 or 90 per cent? We’re down to about half a can per week, but the recycling bin is full every two weeks when it gets picked up — so we have a long way to go. The Johnsons have motivated me to try harder to reduce our recycling and trash. If they can do it, why can’t we?
For more inspiration, you might enjoy the Johnson family’s blog, The Zero Waste Home.
P.S. In case you’ve just joined us, the January Money Diet is a challenge to take a 31-day break from nonessential spending. You can learn more about the money diet here — and jump right in!
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Win a Deluxe Happy Simple Living Gift Basket
In honor of the January Money Diet, I’ll be giving away a gift basket chock-full of home and garden goodies plus several books at the end of the month. On January 31, 2012, I’ll draw one random name from everyone who commented during the month and that lucky person will win the gift basket. I hope you’ll stop by often this month and share your own ideas, thoughts and experiences about taking a 31-day break from nonessential spending.
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By eliza_cross, on January 20th, 2012%
 Photo by Cuyahoga jco Don’t you love daydreaming about planting the spring garden when it’s January? Now is the perfect time to begin making plans and sketch out some ideas for your ideal garden. Even if you have a small yard, you can grow a surprising amount of food if you choose seeds and plants that grow well in your climate. If you want to tour the ultimate urban homestead, check out the Dervaes family’s website ‘Path to Freedom.’ You won’t believe what they grow in their 1/10 acre yard in Pasadena.
I love perusing the new seed catalogs each year to see what new varieties have been introduced, and these are some of my favorite companies:
For additional ideas, MicroEcoFarming.com has tons of information and articles about growing your own food. WinterSown.org is a site dedicated to an easy, inexpensive method of direct-sowing seeds. There are some great, wacky pictures on this site of people sprouting plants in pop bottles and all manner of recycled containers.
If you have favorite gardening sites and sources, we’d all love to know about them and invite you to share them in the comments section below.
P.S. In case you’ve just joined us, the January Money Diet is a challenge to take a 31-day break from nonessential spending. You can learn more about the money diet here — and jump right in!
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Win a Deluxe Happy Simple Living Gift Basket
In honor of the January Money Diet, I’ll be giving away a gift basket chock-full of home and garden goodies plus a signed copy of my latest book 101 Things To Do With Bacon. On January 31, 2012, I’ll draw one random name from everyone who commented during the month and that lucky person will win the gift basket. I hope you’ll stop by often this month and share your own ideas, thoughts and experiences about taking a 31-day break from nonessential spending.
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By eliza_cross, on October 23rd, 2011%
 Photo by Jacki During these final weeks of the farmers’ market, we’re seeing a good harvest of chile peppers here in Colorado. Some vendors cook them in a hand-cranked roaster right on the spot, and one of the best smells of autumn is the aroma of fresh-roasted chiles wafting through an outdoor market or parking lot.
Along with our locally-grown chile varieties, we also love the renowned Hatch chiles from Hatch, New Mexico. These chiles have a short harvest season in late summer, but you can often find them in the frozen section at the grocery store. Just remember, the longer you keep them in the freezer the hotter they get!
If you get the opportunity to buy some fresh roasted peppers at the farmers’ market, peel off the blackened skins and use the chiles for a great pot of green chile. Or freeze them for a treat later this winter.
 Photo by Scott Moore Here’s our favorite green chile recipe, which you can easily multiply for larger quantities. It’s a simple preparation that really highlights the flavor of the chiles, and it’s naturally thick without the addition of flour (which I think can make green chile beige and pasty). It’s great served as is with tortillas on the side, or you can smother burritos, enchiladas or your favorite Mexican dish with it.
You can make the vegetarian version of this chile by omitting the pork and substituting vegetable broth for the chicken stock. The easiest way to control the heat is to begin by choosing your preferred level of spiciness with the peppers – mild, medium, spicy or extra-spicy. You can always also add fresh chopped jalapenos or habaneros to this recipe if you really like a kick!
HOMEMADE GREEN CHILE
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean pork, cut into 1″ cubes
- 1 medium onion, chopped fine
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/4 pounds fresh long green chiles, roasted, peeled, seeds removed and coarsely chopped — or 16 ounces frozen, thawed, chopped green chiles like Hatch chiles
- juice of half a fresh lime
- 1-1/2 cups chicken stock
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Sauté the pork until evenly browned and remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel to drain. Return the pan to the heat and add the onion, garlic, cumin and oregano. Cook, stirring often, until the onion just begins to brown. Add the green chiles and lime juice and cook, stirring often, for five minutes.
Return the browned pork cubes to the pan, add the chicken stock and stir well. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, cook for a few minutes more and serve. 6 servings.
Enjoy!
By eliza_cross, on September 6th, 2011%
Got mint? Summer may be winding down, but if mint grows in your garden I’m guessing it’s going nuts. You may feel like you’ve got enough mint to feed the entire state of Rhode Island, but fear not — here are some fresh ideas to help you make the most of the harvest.
1. Whip up some mint whipped cream and put a dollop (such a great word, and there aren’t nearly enough opportunities to use it) on strawberry mousse, chocolate cake, cookies and cream ice cream, brownies, hot chocolate, etc.
2. Add a handful of fresh mint to your next batch of pesto — like this.
3. Roll up some of these colorful, mouth-watering Vegetable and Mint Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce from The Kitchen.
4. Bake a batch of milk chocolate cupcakes with fresh mint frosting – from our friends at the aptly-named blog How Sweet It Is.
5. Take off your shoes and make a batch of Natural Lemony Mint Foot Scrub.
6. Now that your tootsies are happy, make the Barefoot Contessa’s Tabbouleh salad.
 7. Make a mojito. We love this recipe from Jo Lynne at Musings of a Housewife with a mint-infused syrup that adds an extra punch of flavor. Plus, how often do you get to “muddle” something? Not nearly often enough, if you ask us.
8. Put up some homemade mint jelly. We like this recipe from the cleverly-named site Simply Recipes, which uses Granny Smith apples for natural pectin. Plus it’s a beautiful amber color instead of the typical artificial green. Enjoy a jar at home and give the rest as holiday gifts.
9. Make a batch of Fresh Mint Chocolate Truffles. Oh, yes yes yes. If you have extras, I can easily provide you with my shipping address.
10. Make minted iced tea — like this.
11. Who needs a still in the back yard when you can make homemade hooch in your kitchen? Brew some homemade Creme de Menthe and you’ll be able to make the Pioneer Woman’s Grasshopper Pie whenever a craving hits. It’s good to be prepared, I always say.
Do you have a mass o’ mint this year? If so, what are you doing with it? I’d love to hear your ideas.
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