• Berry Compound Reduces Aging Effects: In a study of aged rats done by USDA researchers at the Agricultural Research Service it was found that a diet rich in the berry and grape compound pterostilbene “reversed measurable negative effects of aging on brain function and behavioral performance”. The report goes on to further state that “pterostilbene was effective in reversing cognitive decline, and that improved working memory was linked to pterostilbene levels in [Read more →]
'Pink Lemonade' blueberry
Briggs Nursery, a wholesale grower from Elma, Washington, has announced a new introduction for 2009, a true first in blueberries. The scientific name is Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’. Briggs is trying hard to get enough of these plants to the trade, but they inform me that gardeners will probably have to wait till the 2010 season before supply will be sufficient to meet demand. [Read more →]
Common European Earthworm - courtesy of Wikipedia
Earthworms in the garden are one of the best indicators of soil health and vitality. They are the original recyclers, turning garden waste, grass clippings and even sand into food for your plants. These little wrigglers ingest their own weight daily and expel nutrient and mineral rich castings which will keep everything from carrots to roses growing strongly. [Read more →]
One of the unsung predatory heroes of the garden which works diligently to keep the bad bug population down is the Tachinid fly. Out of more than 8,200 known species, nearly 1,300 reside in North America today. [Read more →]
Like other food gardeners, I enjoy eating sun-warmed tomatoes picked ripe off the vine and crisp greens harvested in the cool of the evening, but yesterday as I was preparing my favorite roast veggie dish, I thought about the lowly winter squash. The name says it all, this is not a vegetable to be enjoyed ripe from the garden, but rather dug out of storage in the dead of winter when we are longing for a taste of summer. [Read more →]
Here’s a new twist on eating locally grown food. Friends, neighbors and others in the same geographical area are banding together to grow as much of their food supply as possible. It’s a great idea, especially now during our economic downturn. [Read more →]
This season try growing vegetables and fruit in containers on the deck or patio. You can have the benefits of ornamental plants and the pleasure of delicious produce. Floranova, a creative plant breeding company located in the UK, has developed a line of food plants for containers that have been selected for their beauty and successful cropping in large pots. The plants are compact, naturally branching and of determinate habit. [Read more →]
Growing your own potatoes will pay big dividends in flavor and nutrition, especially if you grow them organically. Sure, you can buy a ten-pound bag of potatoes in the supermarket for a song, but have you ever put your nose to the mesh opening on that bag and sniffed? Chemicals, fungicide, heaven knows what! How much butter and salt do you have to put on them to make them taste like something edible? [Read more →]
(Scarborough, Maine) –100,000 people signed a petition asking the Obamas to replant a Victory Garden at the White House, and recent news reports indicate that they are about to reap what they sowed.
For advocates of sustainable and healthy foods, this harvest of good news was as welcome as the summer’s first red-ripe tomato. “I’m thrilled for the Obama family and for all who will be inspired by their example to grow gardens of their own this year,” said Roger Doiron, founder of the nonprofit Kitchen Gardeners International and leader of the successful petition campaign, “Eat the View.”
Here’s the number one rule for growing a successful garden - Feed the soil, not the plants. Take a look at the natural growth around you – trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers – all the nutrients they need for health and vigorous growth are in the soil. [Read more →]