Being A Green Mama

Garden Level Zero

2012-11-08T15:17:00.002-08:00

I apologize for my long absence from the blog! It hasn't been for lack of desire, simply from lack of time. Being a first-time homeowner is tougher than we had imagined. And there was so much to do, not just to move and unpack all of our stuff, but to clean, fix and repair everything in the house that needed it.

Then the heat hit. Weeks and then months of searing temps, making it too difficult to get started on the gardens and other projects here at Rainbow's Acre.

Now that it has cooled down to the 70s though, we're eager to get started on our gardening plans. So, this is garden level zero, because we have a lot of work to do!

Owning an acre of land is more overwhelming than I would have thought, so we're breaking the yard into zones and working on a zone at a time.

Our first zone of attack is behind the house, actually a small strip of land between the house and garage. There is a raised garden bed already there, but it is choked with weeds and blueflag. We are working on clearing out all the weeds and the thick blueflag rhizomes that look for all the world like giant fingers.

The original plan was the surround the bed with straw bales then put some old windows we found in the shed on top to turn it into a cold frame. Unfortunately, our state was plagued by massive wildfires this summer and thousands of acres of hay fields were burnt to a crisp, making hay bales prohibitively expensive ($12-15 each, rather than the usual $3). So we're exploring alternative materials to bank the sides so we'll have a cold frame just steps from the kitchen door.

What are you doing to get your garden ready for the next growing season?

W Is For Wow and Whoa and Wonderful

2012-04-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

"VETERANS, IF BUYING A FARM, HOME OR BUSINESS, LEARN ABOUT - NARA - 515967 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I apologize for my absence this week, friends. I think you deserve an apology so here goes - we've been quite a roller coaster this week as far as purchasing Rainbow's Acre.

Well, more than a bit, we've been trying to close on this property for about 6 months now, and have met up with every possible road-block along the way.

This past week was especially stressful - it looked like everything was a go - then something else came up - something that could only be explained and not fixed.

Luckily, we have a great mortgage guy. He fought long and hard to explain this particular situation on our behalf.

After quite a bit of resistance, the underwriters finally decided the explanation was acceptable.

Today we heard that our mortgage has been approved and that we'll close on Rainbow's Acre in a few days.

I can't tell you how excited we are. The weather has been beautiful here on the margin between the western plains and the Little Rockies and I, for one, am aching to dig my fingers into the warm brown plot of earth we're soon going to call our own.

Do you remember buying your first home? Was it stressful?

There's Nothing Nasty About Nasturtiums

2012-04-17T21:12:00.001-07:00

Tropaeolum majus (Tropaeolaceae) (Photo credit: Tim Waters)

Species: Tropaeolum minus Family: Tropaeolaceae Image No. 3 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


	The flower of the nasturtium plant, Tropaeolum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are not only beautiful and easy to grow, they are also edible. Edible flowers? Yes, and the leaves and seeds are edible as well.

Nasturtiums are grown as annuals, but no matter, they sprout and grow quite rapidly. Nasturtiums are great for tight spaces, especially the new compact varieties.

Many Nasturtiums have a vining habit and are either grown in hanging baskets or up a trellis or other support. I like the grow them up the metal poles at either end of my clothesline.

Don't worry if you plant nasturtiums in thin soil, they will actually produce more flowers that way. Dispense with the fertilizer as well, or you'll end up with huge leaves, robust vines, and hardly any flowers.

Nasturtiums grow quite quickly. Add the peppery leaves and flowers to salads or use them to flavor vinegars. If you like to experiment, the pickled seeds taste somewhat like capers, although honestly, I'd rather just buy the capers and grow the nasturtium seeds.

Have you ever grown nasturtiums? Have you ever eaten them?

M Is For Mulberry

2012-04-15T20:40:00.001-07:00

Morus alba L. (Photo credit: adaduitokla)

Morus nigra Deutsch: Weibliche blüten einer monözischen Art der Schwarze Maulbeere. English: Female flowers of a monoecious variety of the Black Mulberry. Français : Fleurs femelles d'une variété monoïque de Mûrier noir. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Morus nigra (II) (Photo credit: .Bambo.)

Have you ever been told that mulberries (Morus spp.) are poisonous? Well, guess what, that's just not true. Although the green parts of the plants and unripe berries contain a mild hallucinogen that shouldn't be consumed, the ripe berries are sweet and delicious.

Mulberries enjoy a long edible history and have popularly been used in pies, wines, cordials and jams. Mulberries are slowly coming back on the radar as they have been identified as a rich source of resveratrol, a compound believed to fight cancer, diabetes and the effects of aging.

It is now possible to buy extracts of mulberry leaves and fruits in many health food stores, however, I think it's more fun to grow your own.

The white mulberry (Morus alba) is the most cold-hardy, drought-and-pollution-tolerant. Unfortunately, the berries are somewhat blander than the sweet-tart red and black varieties, and there is some difficulty in knowing exactly when the berries are ripe.

Red mulberries (Morus rubra) are also drought tolerant, but they're only hardy to zone 5.

Black mulberries (Albus nigra) have the highest amount of resveratrol and anthocyanins (pigments with supposed medicinal value - they are also used as natural food coloring), but these can only grow in zones 7-9.

Mulberries are considered a "weed" tree in some places because they naturalize well and thrive with little care. Be sure to pick a deep soil in a sunny, well-drained site if you're planting mulberries and space the trees at least 15 feet apart.

The fruits can leave a mess on the ground if you just let them drop (or the birds that devour them may leave a mess of a different sort) so be sure to harvest the berries when they're ripe in late spring. The easiest way to do this is by putting a large white sheet under the tree and shaking the branches.

An alternative to growing your own mulberries is to wildcraft them. Mulberries are naturalized in many parts of the country (south of zone 5). The next time you're walking on public property, take a look around to see if you notice any mulberry plants that you can collect fruit from when ripe.

Are you willing to give mulberries a try?

Lilly Loves Lavender

2012-04-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Lavender (Photo credit: The Heartwood)

Lavender (Photo credit: Pete Reed)

Lavandula stoechas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Carrots love tomatoes, roses love garlic, and Lilly, this one anyway, loves lavender. As with many plants, one of the biggest keys to success in growing lavender is to choose the variety best suited to your environment.

If you live in a humid area, you'll have a tougher time growing lavender as most varieties prefer to grow where it is hot and dry.

You still may be able to grow some lavender varieties, just choose the site and variety carefully or you'll be disappointed.

In a humid habitat, try the non-English varieties such as Spanish (Lavandula stoechas) or sweet lavender and be sure to choose a high and dry site. Lavenders will not tolerate wet, soggy ground or water that pools around the roots.

If you live in an arid or semi-arid environment, you're in luck. Feel free to choose which lavenders to grow from any of the English, non-English and Lavandin varieties.

If you live north of zone 5 though, it's best to start lavender seed indoors about eight weeks prior to the last frost or your plants may not bloom.The seed can take up to two weeks to germinate.

The English (L. angustifolia) varieties are among the popularly grown lavenders and as such are often referred to as common lavenders. The most popular varieties are Lavender vera, Hidcote and Munstead.

Lavender vera will be my choice for Rainbow's Acre, our little home on the lee side of the Black Hills at 3300 feet above sea level. In central Europe, lavender vera is grown in the mountains at elevations above 2500 feet. This is the variety that is prized for medicinal and aromatherapeutic uses.

We may also give Munstead a try, as this is the most drought-happy lavender available.

I love the rich, dark flowers and short stature of the Hidcote varieties (perfect for a lavender lawn), but unfortunately Hidcotes are not quite as drought-tolerant as most lavender varieties.

The lavandins are fast-growing plants that can reach the size of a small bush.These lavender hybrids are the most popular varieties for lavender bouquets, potpourri and scented wands. The lavandins are the most popular varieties for use in scented oils and cosmetics as they are very prolific and long-blooming. Some of the most popular varieties are lavender grosso and Provence.

The non-English varieties can be a bit confusing. Lavender stoechas is referred to as both Spanish and French lavender. For the sake of consistency, I will call L. stoechas Spanish lavender. French lavender is properly L. dentata and its hybrids.

Whatever you call them, these varieties are generally grown for their beautiful flowers and are more for the gardener who wants a nice-looking plant than for those growing lavender for its products.

These varieties bloom in early to mid-spring and as such they need a warmer climate (zone 7 and south, unless you start seeds indoors further north).

After lavender plants flower, be sure to prune rather aggressively to keep them from getting rangy. All lavender varieties should be pruned after flowering, and don't worry after the flowers are done for the year - you'll still have a beautiful plant with fragrant foliage.

Lavender blooms should be harvested during cool, dry times in the early morning or early evening. If you harvest when it's hot out, you risk losing most of the fragrant oils that make lavenders so intoxicating.

The stems of varieties like grosso are long and sturdy enough to be woven into wands. Provence is great for potpourri as the flowers are easily removed from the stems. The English lavenders are useful for medicinal purposes, but they produce less oil than the larger Lavandins. Use the lavandins if you need a larger quantity of essential oil for cosmetics or other scented items.

Have you ever grown lavender? If so, which variety did you grow?

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K Is For Kiwi

2012-04-11T21:45:00.001-07:00

Actinidia arguta (Photo credit: Bahamutzero)

Hardy Kiwis (Photo credit: Hunda)

The fruit of the kiwi vine is actually a berry - that should make the berry monsters happy. Although it doesn't really matter, they love kiwi fruit too.

So, can you really grow kiwis in cold climates? Actually, yes. The fuzzy brown kiwis (Actinidia deliciosa) that most people know are only hardy to zone 7, but there are hardy kiwis out there such as Actinidia arguta and A. kolomitka.

These hardy kiwis look a bit different from the fuzzy brown supermarket variety in that they are smaller and have a tender, edible green skin. They are also sweeter and more tasty in my opinion.

If you're planning to grow kiwi vines, keep in mind that they need a strong support system (the vines can reach 60 feet) and you need to have at least one male and one female plant (although one male can fertilize up to eight females).

Plan your site carefully, then choose your support system, whether an arbor, T-trellis or fence. Kiwi needs the usual deep, well-drained soil that many plants enjoy, a decent amount of water (but never let the roots get waterlogged - they're prone to rot), and at least some protection from cold and wind.

One final thing to keep in mind when deciding to grow hardy kiwi - the male and female plants should be planted about 10-16 feet apart. Yes, you'll have to build two support systems and expect well over 100 feet of vine.

Oh yes, and only the female plant will bear fruit. Don't let that bother you though, the kiwi vine and the delicately flowers are a beautiful addition to the garden any way you look at it.

And the female plant, after about 5-7 years, will bear an enormous amount of fruit - upwards of 80 pounds. Luckily, the fruits will keep well in the refrigerator (up to 8 weeks). They also make delicious jams, jellies and preserves.

The front yard at Rainbow's Acre faces to the south and is sheltered from cold northwestern winds by the house. In other words, it's a perfect heat trap in which to grow kiwi vines. All we need to decide now is what type of support we want to use for the vines (I'm thinking arbor).

Have you ever tried to grow hardy kiwi?

Growing Jerusalem Artichokes

2012-04-11T19:39:00.003-07:00

Jerusalem artichokes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sunchokes Jerusulem Artichokes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus), sometimes called sunchokes, have enjoyed a revival in popularity for the past several years as more people look for alternatives to the potato.

Sunchoke tubers can be eaten in many of the same ways that potatoes can, with the exception that the carbohydrates in sunchokes are mostly in the form of inulin, a diabetic-friendly fiber without the dietary restrictions of the potato.

I don't know how the name Jerusalem artichoke got started, this lovely sunflower relative is native to North America and is no relation to the artichoke plant.

As a native North American plant, sunchokes are easily grown. They tolerate drought and a wide variety of soil conditions, just be sure to provide them with full sun and a moderate amount of water.

You can purchase tubers at most nurseries in the early spring. Provide a well-drained soil and be sure not to overwater. Sunchokes, like their sunflower cousins, originated on the Great Plains, and as such are used to an arid grassland habitat.

If you live in a place in which the ground doesn't freeze over during winter, you're in luck - leave your sunchoke tubers right where they are, and feel free to dig them up when you're ready to eat some.

The tubers can stay like this all winter, and any remaining tubers will start a new crop of sunchokes next spring.

If you live in a place where the ground does freeze over, dig out the tubers you plan to eat in advance and store them in a cool, dry place. The rule of thumb is that any tubers smaller than a kernel of popcorn should remain in the ground to produce next year's crop.

A word of caution - sunchokes are very prolific and can over take a garden if you don't keep them in check. So don't be afraid to eat plenty of those tubers, and enjoy!

Will you try growing sunchokes this year?

All Eyes On Indigo

2012-04-09T19:33:00.001-07:00

Extract of Indigo plant applied to paper (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Baptisia tinctoria 001 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Indigo dye has been prized by humans for thousands of years. During colonial times in America, small cubes of indigo could be used in place of currency.

There are a few plants referred to as indigo. Knowing the differences between these plants will help you to provide for their very different growing requirements.

Baptisia tinctoria is the false or wild indigo that grows throughout North America. While the rhizome can be soaked in water to produce a blue dye, it is not the famous indigo dye plant - the so-called true indigo (Indigofera tinctoria).

In most parts of North America, false indigo can be found in the wild or in flower gardens. Baptisia thrives in most temperatures (as far north as zone 3) and a wide variety of soil types. The flowers may be yellow, blue, pink or white, but the prepared rhizomes all produce a blue dye.

If you're interested in growing the true indigo, you'd do best to invest in a greenhouse as this plant is native to India and needs positively steamy temperatures to survive. It may grow well in Florida, but won't do well in the rest of the country unless grown under glass either in the home or the greenhouse.

Two alternatives for those interested in growing their own blue dye plant are European Woad (Isatis tinctoria) and Japanese indigo (Polygonum tinctorium), both of which also produce blue dye.

These plants are a happy medium between the super-fussy true indigo and the super-easy false indigo. They need warm temperatures, but it doesn't need to be steamy and the plants can be grown outdoors in much of Norther America, as long as you provide them with plenty of sun, water and fertilizer.

Dye from the Japanese indigo is produced from the leaves, rather than the rhizome, which makes for easier harvesting that can be extended over several weeks if desired.

Have you ever tried growing any of the plants called indigo?

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Hops - It's Not Just What The Easter Bunny Does

2012-04-08T15:56:00.001-07:00

Hopys (Humulus lupulus) Hops The only place I know in the area where wild hops appear every year. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hops (Photo credit: Scout Seventeen)

I am excited to finally be able to grow a plant I have long admired but never had the room for - hops!

Husband is excited too as he wants to start brewing his own beer, with fresh (or freshly dried) hops from our own yard.

I don't drink beer, but I do like to take cheesecloth bags of dried hops and sew them into sleep pillows. The scent of the flowers is hypnotic.

Hops needs plenty of room - during the active growth season (from early May to mid-July) hops can grow as much as a foot per day. By the time the flowers are ready to harvest, you may have a 25 foot long vine.

When selecting a site, be sure that it has plenty of vertical space, direct sunlight for most of the day and easy access to water.

Hops likes a rich, neutral soil so be sure to fertilize the site with plenty of manure or compost.

Hops needs a strong framework on which to grow. You can tie and grow the vines along fences, build a framework or trellises, or use the side of a building strung with heavy-duty twine for support.

At Rainbow's Acre, we're planning to grow hops alongside the wall of the garage (which is oriented to the southwest).

Plant hops rhizomes as early in spring as possible after the last frost. Mulch deeply to retain moisture. When the vine reaches about a foot in length, choose 2-3 of the strongest shoots and start training them up your trellis or framework. Trim back any side shoots to keep the plant strong and healthy.

The flower cones are ready to harvest when they feel papery and light. You may want to wear gloves while harvesting as some people are sensitive to this plant. Cut cones from the stems to avoid damaging these fragile flowers.

Cones can be used fresh or dried. The drying process can take a few days, depending on the method you use. Be sure that the cones are thoroughly dry before storing them though, or you'll end up with a moldy mess.

Would you try growing hop vines?

Growing Goumi Berries

2012-04-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

Gumi1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fruits de Goumi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Goumi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever heard of a goumi bush? No, I'm not making that name up - that is the common name for Eleagnus multiflora - another little-known berry that is a nutritional power house.

Goumi berries are a great source of vitamins A and E, and have the highest lycopene content of any food - even higher than the widely touted tomato.

These plants are originally from the far East, but if you live in the northeastern US, you may have seen goumi bushes without realizing it as the plants have naturalized over much of that region.

If you're in need of a lovely yet edible hedge row, consider giving goumi bushes a try. Goumi is a fast-growing bush, reaching heights of 10 feet (for southern cultivars) or 4-6 feet for cultivars hardy as far north as zone 4.

Goumi bushes are particularly useful interplanted with other fruit bushes as goumi is a nitrogen-fixer.

That's right, instead of needing fertilizer, this bush fixes nitrogen in the soil, and any excess will be available to fertilize and potentially increase fruit production in nearby plants.

Plant goumi in most soils, provided that the site is well-drained and receives an adequate amount of sunlight (half-day or more).

Goumi will tolerate drought and even harsh seaside habitats and pollution, making them an excellent edible bush for urban environments. Even better, they are also relatively free of problems from diseases or pests.

Goumi bushes produce lightly fragrant flowers in April or May, followed by juicy, bright red berries in early summer, during the gap-time between strawberries and blackberries.

The berries can be eaten fresh, provided they are fully ripe. Before ripening, the berries taste more sour than sweet., although they can be used in pies, jams and preserves at that point, particularly in any recipe calling for gooseberries.

Goumi berries can also be dried or even pickled - an incredibly unique flavor combining sweet, sour and salt.

Expect up to 25 pounds of fruit from each goumi bush. They are self-fertile, meaning you don't have to plant them in pairs but can grow just one bush if you'd like.

I've never seen goumi berries available commercially. At Rainbow's Acre we plan to grow at least two bushes, not only for health and variety but also so that the berry monsters can get their fix during that gap between strawberry harvest and blackberry/raspberry harvest.

So, are you ready to give growing goumi bushes a try?

F Is For Fenugreek

2012-04-07T14:40:00.002-07:00

Fenugreek Leaves is known as Qasuri Methi in urdu, Qasure is a district in Punjab near Lahore. Qasuri Methi is known form its flavor. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)January 31 2008 day 112 - Sprouting fenugreek, and reducing insulin (Photo credit: DeathByBokeh)Fenugreek seeds. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a very versatile, healthful herb, and surely one that should be grown in every kitchen garden.

Traditionally used for weight loss and blood sugar control in the East, fenugreek has gained a lot of attention in the West in recent years by those wishing to use this herb medicinally.

Fenugreek has also traditionally been used for chest complaints, arthritis and to increase milk supply in nursing mothers.

Fenugreek seeds can be used as a spice, particularly in East Indian dishes. The seeds can also be used as a medicinal tea or sprouted on your countertop and grown a couple days for use as a tasty microgreen.

These microgreens can be eaten as is or cooked with meals as an interesting substitute for cilantro or parsley.The leaves of the fully-grown fenugreek plant can be used in the same way.

Fenugreek is incredibly easy to grow. You can buy seed packets at a nursery and get about 50 seeds for a couple bucks. Better still, head to an Indian or Asian grocery and pick up a sack of 500 or more fenugreek seeds for a couple bucks.

Soak the seeds in water overnight, then plant in pots or plots the next morning. Be sure to add some compost as fenugreek likes a more fertile soil than most herbs.

Within days you should see sprouts peeking their heads up and by month's end you'll be snipping off leaves to add to the evening meal or salad.

If you plan to grow the fenugreek for the seeds, stop clipping off any leaves when seed pods start developing as this is when the leaves start tasting bitter. Harvest the long yellow seed pods in mid-Autumn. After drying the pods out, store in a dry, dark space for use throughout the year.

Fenugreek does not take kindly to transplanting, so while I would recommend moving many herbs from the summer garden to a pot on a windowsill for winter, I would not recommend doing that with fenugreek. If you want to grow it on a windowsill indoors, sprout some fresh seed and plant directly in the pot in which it will grow.

At Rainbow's Acre, we're lucky to have a raised-bed kitchen garden plot right outside the kitchen door. This is where we'll be growing our fenugreek and some other herbs and greens that are best used fresh from the garden.

Are you going to give growing fenugreek a try?

Growing Eggplant Is (Almost) Easy

2012-04-06T21:23:00.001-07:00

Three varieties of Eggplant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Italian Eggplants; Melanzane italiane; Italienische Auberginen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thai eggplants at a market in Guam (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aubergines from http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/98c0468.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eggplant, aubergine, when I was little I knew them by their Hindi name - baigan. Whatever name you call them by, they're delicious.

Eggplants come in a wide array of sizes, shapes and colors from creamy white to shiny black, purple, red and even pink. It would be easy to grow a rainbow garden using nothing but different varieties of eggplant.

But to tell the truth, eggplants are not that easy to grow. Honestly, they can be downright difficult.

If you happen to live in a warm, humid area with long summers, you'll grow eggplant with ease.

For those that live elsewhere, let's just say you'll have to make some accomodations if you want to be successful.

South Dakota has the blazing summer temperatures that eggplants thrive in, but we lack the humidity. I used to stubbornly try to grow eggplant every summer, only to end up with spindly, weak fruits on plants that bolted.

I realized I had to give in and admit I couldn't meet the high water requirements needed to grow eggplant.

I did not give up though. After doing some research, I found that there are miniature varieties available that do not need nearly as much water as do the full-size fruits.

Mini eggplants only reach about three feet in height, making them perfect for small space, urban or container gardening.

Children love mini-eggplants too, not only because of their kid-friendly size but also because they are nearly seedless and have a skin so tender you don't need to peel them prior to cooking.

One of the most important things to successfully growing eggplants is site selection. Choose a site that gets a lot of sun during the day, is sheltered from winds, and has deep, fertile, well-drained soil.

Raised beds in sunny, sheltered locations are excellent for growing eggplant, provided that you mulch the bed deeply to retain moisture around the roots.

If you live in a less than ideal climate, you have a few options. Either grow eggplant in a greenhouse, in raised beds under floating row covers for the first month, or in black pots (which hold heat better and will raise the temperature of the soil by as much as 10 degrees).

No matter which of these methods you choose, you'll want to start eggplant seeds indoors or buy starts from a nursery. Plant the starts or seedlings outdoors well after the last frost.

As an alternative (especially if you're growing in pots) set the plants outdoors during the day and bring the pots indoors during cooler nights. Eggplants need evenly warm soil in order to thrive.

If you've survived all of this and find yourself with a plant full of baby eggplants, the next difficulty is figuring out when to harvest. Take note of the "days to harvest" listed on your seed packets, count the days out on a calendar and make a notation to start checking the fruits about a week prior.

Harvest too early or too late and the fruit will taste bitter. Generally speaking,the fruits are ready when they reach 4-5 inches in length. If your fruits start looking dull, they're overripe and will taste bitter and be full of seeds.

Eggplants are best eaten fresh, although they can be pickled. If you want to move past eggplant parmesan, try baba ganoush (a delicious eggplant dip), grilled eggplant, or eggplant lightly sauteed with extra virgin olive oil and basil clipped fresh from your garden.

And enjoy! You've earned it.

Have you ever tried growing eggplant?

Daikon At Your Doorstep

2012-04-04T21:17:00.000-07:00

Picture of a pile of Daikon (giant white radish) in a supermarket in Japan. Deutsch: Daikon japanischer Typ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)The first time I met a daikon radish was at a macrobiotic cooking class many years ago.

It was love at first bite - rather than the sharp taste of the salad radishes I was used to, the daikon had a more earthy, tempered and pleasant taste. I was hooked.

I have grown daikon many times since that long ago day, despite having given up my feeble attempts at the macrobiotic lifestyle years ago.

Daikon may not be too widely known in the U.S., but they are one of the most widely grown crops in Japan and other parts of Asia. And with good cause; every part of this delicious vegetable can be used.

The tops can be substituted in recipes calling for greens, steamed, or chopped and added to soup stock. The root can be eaten raw (grated with carrots is particularly tasty), steamed, stir-fried or baked.

Daikon is very easy to grow, and only takes 40-60 days to reach maturity. The roots can grow quite large - up to 18 inches - so be sure to give seedlings more room than you would for salad radishes.

Daikon grow best during the cooler months. For most parts of North America, daikon can be sown twice - one in early spring for a summer harvest and again after the summer heat has cooled for a late fall harvest.

Be sure to harvest daikon roots before the plants set flowers or you'll end up with a nearly-wooden tasting root. Take care when harvesting and go slowly; the roots can be somewhat delicate and brittle.

Daikon is hard to freeze but easy and delicious to pickle. It also dries well. The dried and powdered root can be reconstituted with water to make a tasty winter broth.

You can also preserve daikon with proper root cellaring (best in moist sawdust) or leave the roots in the ground (but you'll need to remove them before the ground freezes over).

The easiest way to preserve the roots is by removing the tops (use them to make soup stock) and putting the roots in the refrigerator, where they will keep for 1-2 months if stored properly.

Have you ever grown daikon? If not, do you plan to give it a try?

Currants In The Home Garden

2012-04-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Closeup of Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) berries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)I've decided to stick with berries for another day - in honor of my berry monsters. Today I'm going to share about a berry that we love to find growing in the wild - currants!

As hot and dry as the Dakota prairies can be during summer, the adjacent Black Hills are cool and surprisingly moist. Many of our family hikes take us along creeks in the Hills, which also happens to be the habitat in which currants grow best.

Currants are next to impossible to find fresh commercially, and for many years they were outlawed from home gardens due to their role in the spread of white pine blister rust. The ban on growing currants was lifted in 1966, but it's still pretty rare to find home gardeners cultivating this delicious berry.

Currant bushes are fairly tolerant in terms of cultivation, but they must have moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil or they won't thrive and certainly won't set fruit. They prefer full sun, but will tolerate some shade provided that they're not grown in a chilly depression of land.

Black currants, like other dark berries, are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. Red, white and even pink currant bushes are also available but these tend to be more decorative. Don't get me wrong, these bushes also produce healthy berries, but if you want the biggest health benefits, grow black currants.

In the past, currants enjoyed widespread use in jams, jellies, wines and cordials. Our family's favorite way to eat currants (other than right off the bush during a hike) is dried and added to warm or cold cereals. Dried currants can also be added to baked goods or boiled with apples and other berries for a delicious winter fruit compote.

We're not sure yet if we're going to try to grow currants at Rainbow's Acre. The property is pretty dry and lacking in moist places (unless we create some with swales) plus we are able to gather what our family needs from the wild. It may be something that we consider in the future though.

What about you? Are you interested in growing currant bushes?

B Is For Baby

2012-04-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Plant (Photo credit: cagrimmett)B is for baby, and mine is sick. I had planned to write a well-researched post today about broccoli, or maybe bush beans or blueberries. Instead, I've devoted my day to taking care of my youngest, who is down sick with a bad cold.

You see, the best part of being a green mama is well, being a mama.

My baby is my third, and last child. I love them all to bits, but, being the last one, I'm watching this one grow with a bittersweet joy, knowing I'll never have another baby to take care of.

So please forgive my absence, tomorrow I hope to be back to tell you all about carrots, or maybe cardoon. But today, my baby needs me.

Aronia: The Superfood You May Not Know About

2012-04-01T21:50:00.005-07:00

Aronia Berries (Photo credit: outdoorPDK)

One of the main goals of Rainbow’s Acre is to grow foods that are yummy enough to appeal to the kids and also provide our family with the greatest health benefits.

Another goal is to grow fruits and vegetables from every color of the rainbow, in keeping with the recommendation by nutritionists that we eat foods in a variety of colors for optimal health.

This month, I’m participating in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. I’m going to spend April blogging about some of the plants we’re planning to grow at Rainbow’s Acre, from Aronia to Zucchini.

Today’s post is about a superfood you’ve probably never heard of – aronia berries. Everyone who is eating blueberries for the health benefits take note – aronia berries score higher on many counts such as ORAC value and flavonoid content, making these fruits one of the best antioxidants on the planet.

Aronia berries contain more quinic acid (the compound that fights UTIs) than cranberries. This little pea-sized berry packs a punch, combining the best of blueberries, cranberries and blackberries in one fruit.

So why aren’t aronia berries more popular? For those who are used to a high sugar diet, this deep purple fruit can taste somewhat tart. If tartness is an issue for you when eating the berries raw, try mixing them with sweeter fruits such as raspberries, blackberries or blueberries.

Or try freezing – this process reduces tannins which in turn naturally sweetens the berries. And speaking of those natural tannins – it is just this property that makes aronia berries a popular additive in juices and wines, particularly grape and apple. The high tannin content improves the color and flavor of the resulting product.

Aronia berries are small and easy to dry - just protect them from birds if you dry the fruits outdoors. The dried berries can be added to hot or cold cereal and enjoyed throughout the year. Or try adding the dried fruits to black or herbal teas.

Aronia (Aronia melancarpa) is an easily grown, low-maintenance, fast growing bush that reaches about six feet in height. The bush tolerates a wide range of conditions and soils, and is very insect and disease resistant. Aronia is native to North America and can be grown in most temperate climates.

The bush produces dainty white flowers in May. Berries mature in the fall.

Each mature bush can produce between 36-38 pounds of fruit per year. To put that into perspective, the average American only eats about eight pounds of berries (of all types) each year.

If you plan to add aronia berries to your diet, one bush might suffice for a family of five. At Rainbow’s Acre we’re going to plant three bushes for our family of five though as we’re all berry monsters.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to give aronia berries a try?

Green Mama Is Going Country!

2012-03-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

Working in the Garden (Photo credit: Chiot's Run)Well friends, it looks like our days of urban farming in a rental house are coming to an end. No, wait, this is a good thing - we're in the process of buying a house! A house on an acre of land just outside city limits, where the Green Mama and her family can garden in a much bigger way than we have been.

We call the house Rainbow's Acre, a name inspired by our six-year old daughter whose favorite color is rainbow. She is a rainbow! I'll post some pictures of the rainbow girl so you can see what I mean.

We think the name fits well because we plan to squeeze as much diversity out of our acre as we can - no monoculture here, we plan to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and nuts in every hue. Oh yes, and chickens too. With bread baked in an adobe oven.

I'm excited and happy to share our plans with you as they unfold. We close on the house in two weeks, after which you can expect to see us going to work. It's spring in South Dakota, the perfect time to start making our growing dreams a reality.

Now that spring is here, what are your gardening plans? I'd love to hear about them!

Small Turbines Bring Wind Power Home

2011-11-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaWind speed varies by and from season to season. Wind is strongest in cold-weather months when electricity demand is also at its peak, so variability tends to mirror demand.

Fortunately for the small or hobby farmer, many of the best wind sites are in remote locations. Good sites for wind farms are the tops of hills, open plains, shorelines, and mountain gaps that cause wind to be funneled through a ravine.

The states with the most wind production are Texas, California, Iowa, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. The states with the most wind energy potential are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Kansas.

North Dakota alone has the potential to produce enough wind-generated power to meet more than one-fourth of U.S. demand.

Wind farms produce no pollution, greenhouse gases or toxic wastes. Wind is renewable, reliable and efficient and now affordable. It is compatible with other land uses and can boost rural economic development for farmers who lease their land.

Wind energy offsets emissions from other energy sources. In 2006, US wind turbines offset 30 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, 76,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 36,000 tons of nitrogen oxides by generating clean electricity.

Even if turbine production is included in assessing wind energy's "footprint", it still has 99% less CO2 emissions than coal and 98% than natural gas.

Ready to learn more? Read the rest here

Recipes Using Vegetables From the Garden

2011-11-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaAre you reluctant to start a vegetable garden? Does the idea of finding ways to use up all of those vegetables leave you cold? Or even worse, are you convinced that you don't like vegetables?

Well, never fear. If you've eaten supermarket produce your whole life, then you most likely don't know what what vegetables truly taste like. Trust me, the two don't even compare.

If you're feeling hesitant because you don't know what to do with veggies that come from the garden and not from a can, never fear. This lens will show you what to do with what you grow.

And if you have too much produce to use, you might consider bartering with your neighbors or selling at your local farmer's market.

What to learn more? Read on here

Improving Your Soil Naturally

2011-11-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaManufacturers of chemical fertilizers would have you believe that you can't grow plants successfully without the use of their products. So what exactly are chemical fertilizers? Mostly waste products from the petroleum industry.

Chemical fertilizers contain different ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Unfortunately, this disregards all of the micronutrients present in healthy soil. Some chemical fertilizers have been found to have a negative impact on the microorganisms that thrive in a healthy soil.

In 1997, the Seattle Times newspaper began a series of investigative articles that found hazardous and radioactive wastes being added to chemical fertilizers. This waste, when added to the soil, can be taken up by plants and enter the bodies of people or animals who eat these plants.

Organic fertilizers may take a little bit of effort and a little bit of time, but in the long run by using natural fertilizers you'll be doing yourself and the environment a favor.

Want to learn more? Read more here

Wildcrafting On The Homestead

2011-11-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaWildcrafting is gathering or gleaning plants found in the wild for food, medicine crafts or other purposes. Humans have practiced wildcrafting since time immemorial, but you may be surprised to find out that there are many people who wildcraft even today, including a growing segment of the population who wildcraft in urban areas.

How is this possible? Familiarize yourself with common edible species that grow in your area then take a look around. You may be surprised to find that even in a major city you may be surrounded by edible plants growing right under your nose. If you do plan to wildcraft in an urban area, be sure that you have permission to glean - particularly on private property.

The easiest way to get started with wildcrafting is to pick up a book that identifies plants that grow in your area or to take a class in wildflower, tree or mushroom identification from a local college or extension office.

Want to learn more? Read the rest here

How To Build and Use A Solar Oven

2011-11-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

Image by BreadnBadger via FlickrSolar ovens are cheap and easy to make and operate. I have been using solar ovens for two decades now, constructed from not much more than cardboard boxes and aluminum foil.

Cardboard ovens don't last forever, but they're so easy to make that I don't mind have to replace my old one every couple years.

I have even made a solar oven from an old pizza box, aluminum foil and saran wrap in a pinch. These are definitely not durable, but great to use in the short-term such as during a picnic or when you're camping. Just think, no stinky charcoal or lighter fluid to lug along!

For those who are looking for something that will last a long time (or if you simply don't have the time or temperment to make your own solar cooker, there are many commercial models available for purchase.

Want to learn more? Read the rest here

Growing Vegetables on the Homestead

2011-11-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaAre you interested in growing your own vegetables? Welcome to the club! There is a growing movement of people who are growing their own produce.

There are many reasons for this, including the desire for affordable organic foods, to step away from the "factory farming" model which gives us few choices and has an enormous (negative) impact on the environment, to bring food dollars home, or simply to be able to savor fresh, chemical-free, homegrown vegetables again.

Across the country, people are growing their own food in pots on the patio, in raised beds in the back yard, in plots at their local community garden or on the windowsills of their apartment.

Young and old, urban and rural, people are flocking back to edible gardening. Ready to join the movement? Read on here

Helping Hands: Dogs and Cats on the Homestead

2011-11-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaDogs can be of great help to any homesteader. Besides companionship, there are certain breeds of dog that are suitable to guard your property or livestock animals.

Certain breeds are great at hunting. Others are natural shepherds, mustering cattle, goats, sheep and even poultry!

Dogs known for the excellent shepherding skills include the Australian Cattle Dog, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Border Collie, Australian Kelpie, Australian Koolie, Australian Shepherd, English Shepherd, Welsh Sheepdog, New Zealand Huntaway, German Shepherd and Briards.

It's easy to confuse a herding dog with a livestock guardian dog. A livestock guardian's job is to protect other animals from predators, especialy at night. LGDs are sometimes referred to as "sheep dogs", while herding dogs are referred to as "sheepdogs", hence the confusion.

They don't do the same job though. LGDs guard livestock without any herding behaviors. They tend to blend in with their charges, keeping a watchful eye out for predators, particularly while the group is grazing in open spaces. LGDs can even be trained to guard poultry, without predatorial behavior towards the birds.

Some well known LGD breeds include the Pyrenean, Spanish and Tibetan Mastiff, Anatolian, Carpathian, and Greek Shepherd Dogs, the Maremma Sheepdog and the Great Pyrenees.

The first human-dog interactions most likely consisted of mutual hunting and there are many breeds suitable for hunting including hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, retriever, setter, pointer and spaniel.

Want to learn more? Read on here

Growing Sunflowers On The Great Plains

2011-11-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Sunflowers are easy to grow in any sunny spot and so beautiful they're a favorite even with children. Their sunny faces attract butterflies, bees, and birds. In my area, sunflowers are a favorite home for ladybugs, for whom I like to lay out the welcome mat.

Ladybugs love to eat certain pest bugs and help me to grow an abundant garden without any costly or dangerous chemicals, so I am happy to offer them the food, shade and shelter of a sunflower forest.

I usually plant an entire bed of sunflowers, Jerusalem artichoke and Mexican sunflower. In the shady areas at the front of the bed, I sow a succession of lettuces and other fast-growing greens that appreciate the cool, shady ground beneath the towering flowers.

Want to learn more? Read on here