OneSeedChicago

Rick Bayless and One Seed Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:36:00 +0000

At One Seed Chicago we provide free garden seeds to Chicagoans to help promote gardening at home and joining community gardens. It is our way of helping making Chicago a greener city for all of us. We're blessed with a number of fantastic chefs in this city who appreciate food, and local growers and go out of their way to nurture a positive food culture.

Like many of you we have spent hours watching Chef Bayless on WTTW preparing meals in his kitchen right here in Chicago. His urban farm just outside of his home kitchen is a thing of beauty, and a testament to how much food you can grow at home with a little bit of effort.

We recently caught up with Chef Bayless and had the opportunity to give him a packets of our One Seed Chicago 2012 winner, and make him a One Seed Chicagoan. We also sent him back to Frontera Grill with some extra seed packs to give out to staff of the restaurant and hope they join us in the future by voting for their favorite seed every year.

Voting for One Seed Chicago is closed for the season. Our voting schedule is Jan 1st-April 1st every year, and then we distribute the winning seed to every Chicagoan that voted. Check back with us then if you'd like to participate.

In the meantime, we'd love to see pictures of your basil plants this year and how you're using your harvest in the kitchen. You can tweet us pictures at @OneSeedChicago or post them to our Facebook.com/OneSeedChicago wall.

Sowing Your One Seed Chicago Basil Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:21:00 +0000

While speaking with some One Seed Chicago participants on Twitter we learned that many of you hadn't sown your basil seeds. We understand that life can get in the way of gardening, but there is still time to sow the One Seed Chicago 2012 winner in your garden. Yes, it's summer, but it's a good time to sow a second season crop of basil seeds.

You thought you could only sow seeds in the spring?

Sowing basil seeds now will extend your basil harvest late into the fall. If you have kids, sowing your basil seeds with them will help keep them busy for a few moments and teach them about the life cycle of seeds.

Inside of your One Seed Chicago 2012 seed packet you'll find information on sowing your seeds, but we'll briefly explain it here.

Sowing Basil Seeds With Kids

Open the seed packet you got in the mail or an event this spring. Have your little gardener read the information to give him/her a mini-lesson on growing basil.

We used natural fiber pots with our garden helper, but you can sow your basil seeds in plastic cup, deli container or a newspaper seed starting pot. Moisten the soil a bit with a bottle sprater before adding the seeds.

After moistening the soil add a couple of seeds per container, and give it another good spray from the bottle sprayer. Set the seeds in a warm window. The seeds should germinate in about a week due to the warmer temperatures of summer versus spring.

Give your garden helper the job of checking the seeds daily for sprouting. Make sure your seeds don't dry out while they are germinating, but you don't want the soil to be soggy either. After the basil seeds have sprouted, plant them in the garden and remember to keep them nice and watered!

Sowing Basil Seeds Without Kids

You can sow your basil seeds directly in the garden following the instructions we provided in the One Seed Chicago seed packet. Sow the seeds in the garden bed, container, or raised bed you want them to grow. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and keep them moist until they germinate. After the seeds have sprouted water accordingly.

There's a wide variety of basil seeds available to home gardeners, and you can sow them all now in the garden for a late season harvest. If you're looking for more basil seeds check out the selection sold by Nature's Crossroad's, our One Seed Chicago seed sponsor for 2012. They generously provided us with the basil seeds sent out to every One Seed Chicago participant.

And the One Seed Chicago 2012 Winner Is

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:51:00 +0000

The winner of the One Seed Chicago 2012 election will be announced at the Green & Growing Urban Gardening Fair. The Green & Growing Fair will be held on Saturday, April 28 at the Garfield Park Conservatory. The fair take place throughout the conservatory and is fun for the whole family and a fantastic resource for community gardeners and gardeners of all kinds.

Stop by the One Seed Chicago table to pick up a packet of the One Seed Chicago 2012 winner. If you voted you'll get your seed packet in the mail, but you can also get a free packet on this day. We'll be trying something new this year at the One Seed Chicago table. Not only will you be able to get a seed pack of the winner, but we'll be hosting a mini-seed swap there. Bring seeds you've saved from your garden (packaged and labeled) and swap them with other One Seed Chicago participants.

Outside in the courtyard area you can create newspaper pots with conservatory staff and plant the seeds of the One Seed Chicago 2012 winner for free.

You'll also have the opportunity to buy seedlings of the winner at the Garfield Park Conservatory seedling table and help raise funds for the conservatory.

Can't get enough of seeds and seedlings? In the children's garden you can sow seeds for a pizza garden to take home with you.

Other "Stop and Grow" Stations at Green & Growing Fair

How to keep bees and make compost in the city, presented by volunteers from the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
How to conserve water and other helpful tips for community gardeners, presented by NeighborSpace’s Growing Station garden
How to build a mini raised garden bed with staff from Openlands
How to get involved with your local advisory council with information provided by Friends of the Park
How to make ladybug habitats and bee fountains for your garden from Growing Home staff, as well as receive important information on plants to include and pesticides to avoid in your garden.
How to, using a specially designed deck of cards, design your community garden space with fellow community gardeners at Archeworks “Grow It Yourself” station.
How donate garden harvest to local food pantries, presented by folks from the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Don't Miss

Miniature Worm Compost bins, just the right size for composting in your kitchen. These bins have been constructed by the Garfield Park Conservatory Green Teens, an 'After School Matters' program.
The KOCHTERRII™ pepper, on sale for the first time, is hotter than a jalapeño but tamer than a cayenne. This new pepper, bred by Garfield Park Conservatory horticulturists Koch Unni and Terri Reardon, is brand spanking new variety, created right here in Sweet Home Chicago.
Get your tools sharp and ready for their future garden ground breaking at Chicago Botanic Garden’s Green Youth Farm’s Tool Sharpening table.

Landscape in the City at Public Presentation Sessions

Presented by: The Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Streetscape and Sustainable Design Program
Location: Community Room
Sessions: 11:30- 12:30, 1:15- 2:15, 3:00- 4:00
Come to one or all of these free presentation and question and answer sessions, to learn more about maintaining public urban landscapes in a sustainable and community-oriented way. No registration required, but space limited. Arrive early.

11:30am- 12:30pm- Going Wild or Going Native: Knowing Your Weeds and Your Perennials
Having a difficult time separating out the weeds from the perennials? Come ask questions and find out more information about basic plant care, recommended low maintenance/native plants and weed identification for public urban spaces. Presenters include Kevin Carroll from CDOT and Trish Beckjord from Midwest Groundcovers.

1:15pm- 2:15pm-Composting and Rain Harvesting: Living Green and Sustainable
From composting to rain harvesting, there are many ways to utilize sustainable practices at home and in the garden. Find out more about methods to collect storm water, composting, and other sustainable options. Presenters include Sarah Abu-Absi from the Chicago Sustainable Backyards Program, Emily Shelton from the Chicago Botanic Garden, and Amber Gribben from Urban Worm Girl.

3:00pm- 4:00pm-Sustaining Community Spaces
Community gardens and landscape improvements in the public way have to start somewhere. Find out how community members have gotten involved to improve and maintain their neighborhoods and the City services that give support. Presenters include John Chikow, President and CEO of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and Ty Tabing, Executive Director of the Chicago Loop Alliance.

Marketplace

Shop the Silent Auction for Gardening Tools and Treasures and help raise money for GreenNet, and also peruse our used gardening book and magazine sale.
Food and live music.
Lots of great plants and products to help you start and grow your garden.

Directions

Think Green! Take the CTA Green Line to the new Conservatory-Central Park Drive Station. The station is just steps away from the Garfield Park Conservatory.

View Larger Map

Please note: the Conservatory is located at the “Conservatory-Central Park” stop of the Green line on the West Side of Chicago, not the “Garfield” stop on the South Side at 55th St.

DROP-OFF-For bus, taxi and automobile drop-off of passengers there is a designated drop-off area directly in front of the Conservatory's main entrance on Central Park Ave.

FREE PARKING is just south of the Conservatory's main entrance.

DRIVING-Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290). Exit at Independence Boulevard (Exit 26A) and travel north. Turn right (east) onto Washington Boulevard. Turn left (north) onto Central Park Avenue.(3600W) Travel two blocks north past the Garfield Park Golden Dome field house and the Lake Street public transit line. The Conservatory is on the west side of the street at 300 N. Central Park Ave.

We hope to see you there, and don't forget to pick up a free seed packet of the winner and swap seeds at the One Seed Chicago table. Follow @OneSeedChicago on Twitter or Facebook.com/OneSeedChicago to get updates and reminders on the Green & Growing Fair.

One Seed Chicago 2012-Vote Today.

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

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Basil and Cilantro picture used by permission of Renee's Garden. Chamomile picture original to One Seed Chicago.

Chamomile: One Seed Chicago 2012 Candidate

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Photo credit One seed Chicago

Sprays of petite daisy-like flowers are the most impressive characteristic of chamomile plants. This 'noble' herb's reputation as a medicinal plant has made it a favorite of cultures for thousands of years. The plant is in the family Asteraceae which include plants like marigolds, dahlias and zinnias.

Facts
Chamomile comes from the Greek "Chamomaela," meaning "earth/ground apple." The common name of chamomile is applied to a number of species, but that doesn't mean they can be used as an herbal tea.

History
Chamomile's history dates back at least as far as to the Ancient Egyptians, but it was probably used by people even earlier. In Spain is it known as manzanilla, another common name associated to the apple-like scent of the blooms. The Romans used it for incense and in beverages. In the Middle Ages it was used by Anglo Saxons in making beer. The Ancient Egyptians dedicated it to their gods because of purported healing properties, which is probably where it got it's reputation for treating various disorders and lower fever.

Where to Grow
Thinly sow seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Seeds sound be planted about 1/8 inch deep and provide a strong light source until plants are 2-3 inches tall. Seeds germinate in about 10-14 days. After acclimating plants to outdoor growing conditions transplant your plants into the ground or container about 4 inches apart. Outdoors, seeds should sown after all dangers of frost have passed and kept evenly moist until they germinate in a full sun location.

More Infohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthemis_nobilis

We're unveiling each of the candidates, one at a time, beginning at 7AM on January 1, 2012. At 10AM on 1/01/12 the voting ballot will be live on http://www.oneseedchicago.com and you can be among the first to cast your vote. Click the "One Seed Chicago 2012" label below this sentence to see all of the candidates on one page.

Basil: One Seed Chicago 2012 Candidate

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Renee'sGarden

Basil is the common name for the culinary herb Ocimum basilicum, a member of the mint family. There are many types of basil available offering a variety of scents and leaf shapes. The most common one, and the one found in Italian cuisine is sweet basil.

Facts

Basil, while a famous ingredient in Italian food is originally from India. It is believed to have been cultivated in Asia for more than 5,000 years.

History
While it's origins are traced to Asia Europeans have long revered this herb. The word basil originates from the Greek word basileus, meaning "king," and is is considered the "king of herbs." In France is it sometimes referred to as "l'herbe royale." The Portuguese gifted a potted basil plant to a sweetheart on the religious holidays of Saint John and Saint Anthony. There are now many varieties of Ocimum basilicum, named cultivars, related species or species hybrids that also go by the name of "basil." You can find over 160 named cultivars and it seems more are added every year.

Where to Grow
Sow seeds early indoors in late winter 4 to 6 weeks before last frost. Outdoors sow seeds in full sun in the ground or container. Sow seeds 1 inch apart and 1/4 inch deep. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days. Transplant plants started indoors outside by acclimating the plants to outdoor conditions. Space transplanted plants about 8 inches apart.

More Info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil

We're unveiling each of the candidates, one at a time, beginning at 7AM on January 1, 2012. At 10AM on 1/01/12 the voting ballot will be live on http://www.oneseedchicago.com and you can be among the first to cast your vote. Click the "One Seed Chicago 2012" label below this sentence to see all of the candidates on one page.

Cilantro: One Seed Chicago 2012 Candidate

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Renee's Garden.

The leaves of the coriander plant are popularly known as cilantro. These leaves are common ingredients in cuisine ranging from South Asia to Scandinavia. In America it's popularity can be attributed to it's use in Latin American dishes.

Facts

In the English-speaking world outside of the U.S it is known as coriander. In America we refer to it's Spanish name, cilantro. Both the leaves and seeds of the plant contain antioxidants, but the leaves are said to have the stronger effect.

History

The plant grows wild in the Near East and southern Europe. Parts of the plant were discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen and it is even mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 16:31. Coriander was brought to the British colonies in North America in 1670.

Where to Grow

Plant the seeds in full sun about 1/2 inch deep in soil and 1-2 inches apart. Seeds germinate in 10-20 days. The plant doesn't like to be transplanted so sow your seeds directly into the ground or pot where you'll grow yours. Cilantro flowers and sets seeds quickly so sow more seeds every 2-3 weeks for a steady supply of fresh leaves.

More info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander

We're unveiling each of the candidates, one at a time, beginning at 7AM on January 1, 2012. At 10AM on 1/01/12 the voting ballot will be live on http://www.oneseedchicago.com and you can be among the first to cast your vote. Click the "One Seed Chicago 2012" label below this sentence to see all of the candidates on one page.

One Seed Chicago Herb Debate Podcast Available.

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:18:00 +0000

In case you missed it, this past Sunday morning The Mike Nowak Show on WCPT hosted the first of what we hope will be many debates during One Seed Chicago elections. Chamomile was represented by Linda, cilantro by Jessica and basil by Anthony. You can listen or download the segment on Mike's website.

One Seed Chicago Debate on The Mike Nowak Show This Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

On Sunday Feb 5th 2012 Mike Nowak will host the first One Seed Chicago debate. Each of the candidates this year (cilantro, basil, chamomile) will have a representative on the air to make the case for the herb they hope to be the One Seed Chicago in 2012. You can listen to The Mike Nowak Show on Sunday, February 5th from 9 to 11am WCPT 820AM and 92.5FM, 92.7FM, and 99.9FM. The debate will be also be streamed on the Internet. You can also participate via social media. On Twitter we'll be using the #HerbDebate hashtag to cheer on our candidates and their surrogates.

Hope you can join us for what should be a fun segment of seed politics soil slinging. You can learn about chamomile, basil and cilantro. Once you've made your pick you can vote for your favorite seed here. The winning seed will be mailed out to every Chicagoan who voted.

Your Votes As A Wordle 1/16/12

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:25:00 +0000

One of our favorite parts about working on One Seed Chicago, besides that we motivate people to start gardens, is reading the reasons why each year's candidate is your favorite. When you fill out the online ballot for 2012 we ask you to tell us why the seed you're voting for is your favorite. Below is a visualization of the reasons you've given when casting your vote as of 1/16/12. Below that we'll share a few of the entire messages. One in particular really touched that we wanted to share with you all.

#TeamBasil

"My wife Emily died this past July. She was an avid gardener. At the time, she had a bumper crop of wonderfully fragrant basil. Therefore I'm voting for Basil in memory of Emily."
Andy.

"I absolutely love the smell of basil and I love the greenness of it and that you don't have to do anything to make basil taste good, you just have to buy fresh, basil from a farmer or grow your own. One of my all time favorite plates, basil, tomatos and mozzarella, or putting basil on a salad. Just love basil!!!"
Jeannie.

"Cilantro and Chamomile are strong options, but everything's just better with basil, and Chicago would be better for having more of it."
Nicholas.

#TeamCilantro

"I run a community garden at Eugene Field Park and work hard to reflect the diversity of the community in the garden. We also donate lots of extra produce to our local food pantry. Cilantro is always in high demand!"
Shylo.

"We love Asian food at our house and cilantro is a necessity. From Thai salads to Vietnamese soups, we use a lot of cilantro. And the best part is, it's simple to grow in containers. Anybody in Chicago could keep a little pot growing, no matter where they live."
Brad.

"YUM YUM tacos and tabouli and cous cous salad!"
Allison.

#TeamChamomile

"I picked Chamomile because it makes good tea, I have a homebrew beer recipe for it, and it's a nice little flower. Plus, the alternatives aren't that exciting. Everybody already does basil, and cilantro is short and not that visible."
Paul.

"Its usefulness as a herb and its beauty as a flower. Plus it's relaxing and soothing properties when ingested in teas are much needed in these times of high social stress."
Carolyn.

"Flowers and tea. Plus, it does not go to seed as easily as cilantro or basil."
Sarah.

Cilantro Pepita Pesto by Melissa Graham

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Part of One Seed Chicago's mission is to encourage healthy eating habits among our participants. We want you to grow what you eat, and to achieve that goal we're partnering with chefs and foodies who share our values and appreciation of homegrown food. Chefs will be providing original recipes featuring the 2012 One Seed Chicago candidates. We hope these recipes will inspire you and show you how easy it is to take One Seed Chicago from your garden to your table.

Tomato, Avocado and Red Onion Salad with Cilantro Pesto
Serves 2-4

1 large heirloom tomato, sliced 1/3-inch thick
1 avocado, sliced 1/4-inch
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 small bunch cilantro
1 large garlic clove
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
kosher salt

Puree the last five ingredients together in a food processor until smooth. Intersperse the tomato, avocado and red onion on a platter. Dab the salad with gobs of cilantro pesto (you'll have extra of this, you can either save it for remaining tomato salads or freeze it for the dark winter months).

About Melissa Graham

Melissa Graham, a former attorney, is the founding Executive Director of Purple Asparagus, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to educating families about all things associated with good eating, eating that's good for the body and the planet. Though its Delicious Nutritious Adventures program, Purple Asparagus has taught thousands of parents and children about healthful, sustainable eating in schools, community centers, and farmers' markets throughout Chicago and the suburbs.

Melissa speaks and writes regularly on child nutrition and sustainability both in the Chicago community and online, blogging at Little Locavores, as The Sustainable Cook on The Local Beet, and as a regularcontributor to Kiwi Magazine’s KiwiLog and Williams-Sonoma’s Blender blog. In recognition of her contributions to the Chicago community, the Chicago Tribune awarded her a 2011 Good Eating Award, an honor previously bestowed to Rick Bayless, Alinea chef Grant Achatz, and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Melissa resides in Chicago with her husband and 7-year old son in a rowhouse built in 1896.

County Fair September 17th

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:47:00 +0000

The 11th Annual County Fair will be held on Saturday, September 17 from 11 am to 4pm on the Garfield Park Conservatory's grounds.

Yes, you read correctly, a county fair right in the middle of Chicago! Fun for the whole family will be had. See below for details.

"Celebrate the harvest and healthy communities at one of the Conservatory’s most popular events. This is a family-oriented day with programs and activities for all ages. Discover agricultural traditions, see the best in urban gardening, and enjoy horticultural exhibits and demonstrations. Children’s activities, petting zoo and garden displays highlight the connections between plants, food and American heritage.

Children will also love the kid’s bounce and slide area, live music, as well as pony rides for $1 each. Adults will enjoy the farmer’s market, recipe swap (bring a favorite recipe to share!), a garden harvest showcase, and garden tool sharpening for a small fee (bring your garden tools in need of sharpening!). Hope to see you at Chicago’s original urban hoedown!

If you are interested in volunteering at County Fair, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Mattie Wilson, by emailing volunteer@garfieldpark.org.

Harvest Showcase at County Fair

Why not enter your biggest, most beautiful crop of Swiss Chard, our 2011 One Seed Chicago, by entering into this year's Harvest Showcase at the County Fair? Submissions are accepted from both individuals and group gardens, and may include such items as a veggie specimen, flower arrangement, harvest basket, set of photographs, etc. Participation in the Harvest Showcase is free. Go on, show off your One Seed Chicago Swiss Chard Pride. Please click here to register.

The Wicker Park Garden Club will be holding a TOOL SHARPENING FUNDRAISER at the fair. You Get Sharpened Tools - Funds Go to Window Replacements! Bring Your Pruners and/or Loppers ONLY(No other Tools will be Sharpened at the County Fair) $5 for Each Tool Drop off TOOLS at Our Table When you Arrive Please Put YOUR Name on Tools Walk Around-Enjoy the Fair - Pick Your Tools Up Before You Leave.

Swiss Chard and Salmon Quiche

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:37:00 +0000

Swiss Chard and Salmon Quiche

serves 4

2 salmon fillets, cooked and flaked
4 eggs
2/3 c milk
1 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cups Swiss chard, chopped
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1 pre-made frozen deep dish pie shell

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook salmon in your preferred way - oven bake, pan fry, poach, etc. Use a fork to flake the salmon into bite sized pieces. Beat eggs with milk in mixing bowl. Mix in salmon.

Sautee onions and chard in olive oil until onion is translucent. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir into mixing bowl with the egg and salmon mixture. Pour into pie shell. Place quiche on a cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until eggs are cooked in center. Enjoy!

Continuing the One Seed Chicago recipe exchange; today's recipe comes from Tina Koral who blogs at Suddenly I Seed. Tina is a landscape designer who is eating Swiss Chard for the first time this year. If you'd like to help celebrate Swiss Chard's victory as the One Seed Chicago of 2011 by sharing a recipe please email us your recipe and picture of your dish. We'll be accepting and posting recipes for Swiss Chard until first frost.

Help Repair The Garfield Park Conservatory

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 17:20:00 +0000

Garfield Park Conservatory during better times.

The Garfield Park Conservatory could be described as the home of One Seed Chicago. The conservatory acts as a polling location during the One Seed Chicago elections. Visitors at events like Sweet Saturdays stop by our booth to vote, we unveil the winner at the Green & Growing Fair and One Seed Chicagoans show off their harvest at the County Fair. The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of our partners that helps bring you the One Seed Chicago project. Like many others we awoke on Friday and were devastated to see the damage the hail storm caused.

Garfield Park Conservatory Closed Due to Hailstorm Damage: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Our local FOX affiliate captured the damage from above the morning after the storm. The damage looks even worse from inside.

Garfield Park Conservatory severely damaged by hail from WBEZ on Vimeo.

The Garfield Park Conservatory will be closed indefinitely. It could be months before visitors are allowed to walk through this collection of amazing plants. At this time only Chicago Park District staff are allowed indoors for the cleanup process, but you can contact Mattie Wilson if you'd like to sign up to help with plant recovery once it is safe to to enter.

Right now what the conservatory really needs are cash donations to help pay for the cleanup and repairs. If you can swing a donation you can make one their the Garfield Park Conservatory's website right here. Please pass this information on to your friends and family, every cent will help.

California Stuffed Swiss Chard

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:11:00 +0000

We hope you've been enjoying the One Seed Chicago winner in the your garden thus far. As promised, we'll be sharing recipes with you to help you go from seed to table with your harvest of Swiss Chard this year. The following recipe for California Stuffed Chard comes to us from Renee Shepherd, the owner of Renee's Garden, an online seed company that specializes in heirloom and gourmet seeds. She describes the recipes as follows:

Bright chard leaves make perfect wrappers for this handsome entrée, which is halfway between stuffed grape leaves and stuffed cabbage but lighter than either dish. One of my all-time favorite recipes.

Ingredients:
Meat Filling:
1 ¼ pounds ground veal or turkey
¼ pound lean ground pork
1 large clove garlic, chopped
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup parsley
1 teaspoon each chopped fresh (or ½ teaspoon
dried) oregano and thyme
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 egg, beaten
¼ cup milk

15 chard leaves, stems removed and reserved
2 tablespoons butter
2 medium onions, chopped
2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 to 2 tablespoons good, fruity olive oil

Garnish:
Lemon slices
Fresh yogurt or sour cream

Mix the meat filling ingredients together until well combined and set aside.

Immerse the chard leaves, 4 or 5 at a time, in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes or until limp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well. Repeat with all the leaves and drain. Discard the water.

Lay chard leaves out flat. Mound several rounded tablespoons of the reserved meat filling on the center of each leaf. Fold sides of leaf over center, then fold top and bottom down. Roll each leaf into a compact bundle. (Can be made ahead until this point.)

Finely chop reserved chard stems. In a large heavy pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onions and chard stems for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft. Lay chard bundles on top of the sautéed vegetables, add chicken stock and sprinkle with lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil over the bundles. Simmer over low heat until filling is done - about 35 minutes. Garnish savory chard bundles with fresh yogurt or sour cream to top the bundles. Serves 6 to 8.

For more great garden-inspired recipes, see Renee's books,
Recipes from a Kitchen Garden
More Recipes from a Kitchen Garden

To purchase Renee's Garden Seeds, visit ReneesGarden.com.

For more recipes click on the label below. To provide your own original recipe for Swiss Chard to share with your fellow One Seed Chicagoans please email us. You can also share pictures of your harvest with our group on Facebook.

Let's Grow Together in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sat, 07 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Volunteers help distribute One Seed Chicago seeds at Green & Growing Fair 2011.

Lat weekend we announced Swiss chard as the winner of One Seed Chicago 2011 with a seed giveaway to attendees of the Green & Growing Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory and a special radio announcement on The Mike Nowak Show. Everyone who voted will receive a free seed packet in the mail soon, but we wanted to announce a couple of different ways that you can get into the growing together spirit.

The plant sales at the Garfield Park Conservatory this month will feature not only the winner of One Seed Chicago 2011, but the two runners-up; radish & eggplant. Sales of seedlings of all three were doing brisk business at the Green & Growing Fair and we hope you shop these sales to support one of our One Seed Chicago partners. The seedling and plant sale at the Garfield Park Conservatory is a great opportunity to buy heirloom vegetables and herbs for your edible garden this year. Make sure to stop by on May 7, 14th & the 21st. 9:30am-3:30pm. See this post for more plant sales in Chicago this month.

Do you get your fresh picks from Irv & Shelly's? We've delivered 1,500 Swiss chard seed packets to Irv & Shelly who will be distributing them inside each of the boxes of farm fresh produce they deliver throughout Chicago.

One Seed Chicago will be at Butler Field on May 14th for the concert leading up to the inauguration of Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel. We'll be handing out seeds of the winner next to the kids area. You can also request a seed packet here. If you're a foodie, chef or restaurant who would like to contribute a recipe to help teach Chicagoans how to prepare Swiss chard send us an Email. To request a seed packet while supplies last fill out this form.

One Seed Chicago 2011 Ballot- Vote Today

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:26:00 +0000

One Seed Chicago 2011 Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:22:00 +0000

Will radish run away with the election? Did Swiss chard's colorful disposition sway voters? Perhaps eggplant's dark horse status appealed to Chicago voters looking for something different.

The votes for One Seed Chicago 2011 are currently being tabulated and the winner will be announced at the Green & Growing Urban Gardening Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory on April 30th. The fair runs from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Garden activities for kids, demos, green & sustainable vendors, plant seedlings for sale, food, music and garden fun for the whole family! We'll have packaged seeds of this year's winning seed to distribute after the announcement. Soon after the winning seed will be mailed out to every Chicagoan who voted.

Follow us on Twitter & Facebook for reminders leading up to the fair.

Radish- One Seed Chicago 2011

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:25:00 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenmaiser/

Radishes are root vegetables, members of the Brassicaceae family. They're Round, oval and elongated shapes. Their sizes range from less than an inch to two feet long. Radishes are used in recipes around the world. In China and Japan radish crops are most popularly prepared by pickling in brine.

Facts

Radish comes from the Latin radix, meaning "root." While radish skins come in a variety of colors the inside is usually white. A German botanist reported coming across a radish that weighed more than 100 pound.

History

Radishes were cultivated thousands of years ago in China, then the Middle East and Europe. The ease with which radishes are cultivated made them ideal candidates for the settlers to bring to the New World. Radishes were under cultivation in Mexico in 1500 and in Haiti in 1565. By 1848 the D. Landreth Seed Company, America's oldest seed house, listed 8 different varieties in their catalog

Where to Grow

Seeds are quick to germinate indoors and outdoors can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked. Short varieties can be planted in containers, while longer varieties need cultivated soil to allow for the development of the root. Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 deep and thin seedlings about 1 inch apart.

Types

"Burpee White"

"Cherry Belle"

"Crimson Crunch"

"French Breakfast"

"California Mammorth White"

More info

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/radish.cfm

Voting for One Seed Chicago 2011 opens at 7am on 1/01/11. We're unveiling each of the candidates one at a time until 7am when the voting ballot will be live on http://www.oneseedchicago.com. Click the "One Seed Chicago 2011" label below this sentence to see all of the candidates on one page.

Swiss Chard-One Seed Chicago 2011

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:24:00 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunaspin/

Chard is a leafy green that produces white, yellow or red leaf stalks. While vegetable gardeners grow them as a food crop high in vitamins and minerals, gardeners around Chicago have long used it as an ornamental plant that adds color to the vegetable and container garden.

Facts

Chard is actually a beet that has been selected for leaf production. The flowers are hermaphrodite, both have male and female organs. There's nothing "Swiss" about its origins, it seems seeds merchants called it Swiss Chard to differentiate it from French Spinach.

History

Grown in China in the 7th century and has been traced to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Where to Grow

Plant seeds 1/2 to 3/4 inches deep in fertile soil after danger of last frost. Chard seedlings should be thinned to 4-6 inches apart for "greens" and final spacing of 12-18 inches for mature plants.

Types

"Fordhook Giant"

"Ruby Chard"

"Rhubarb Chard"

"Bright Lights"

More info

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/chard.cfm

Eggplant-One Seed Chicago 2011

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:23:00 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/letouj/

Botanically speaking, this vegetable is a fruit and the fruit the plant produces is a berry. While grown as an annual in gardens in Chicago, eggplant is a tender perennial. This staple of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisean can be stuffed, baked, stewed and stir-fried.

Facts

Eggplant was once called mala insane (the mad apple or bad egg) and thought to be dangerous because it belongs to the nightshade family. It was introduced to the United States in the early 1800’s by third president, Thomas Jefferson who was an avid gardener.

History

The plant is native to India and has a long history of cultivation in southern and eastern Asia. Studying the numerous common names for eggplant gives you a glimpse of its introduction to different countries. The word eggplant is said to date to the British occupation of India, where the white egg-shaped fruits were commonly grown.

Where to Grow

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks prior to the last frost. Transplant into the garden after danger of frost has passed. Eggplants are rather large plants and plants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart in rows. Rows should be spaced 30 to 36 inches apart. Choose smaller varieties for container gardens and plant one plant per container.

Types

“Black Beauty”

“Rosa Bianca”

“Japanese White Egg”

“Little Prince”

“Black Magic”

More info

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/eggplant.cfm

Baked Eggs with Red Peppers, Swiss Chard & Goat Cheese by @SustainableCook

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Baked Eggs with Red Peppers, Swiss Chard & Goat Cheese

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to grease the baking pan
1 red pepper, ribs and seeds removed
1 bunch Swiss chard, ribs removed
10 eggs
½ cup heavy cream
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 scallions, trimmed and finely chopped
2 ounces fresh goat cheese

EQUIPMENT SUGGESTED: A large non-stick sauté pan and a 9 by 13-inch baking pan.

METHODS: Grease the baking pan. Slice the red peppers ¼-inch thick and coarsely chop the Swiss chard. In the sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking. Add the red pepper and sauté, stirring often until it's softened and colored, but not blackened. Remove the pepper slices from the pan. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the sauté pan, heat until hot, add Swiss chard and cook until wilted. Continue to cook until any water that the chard has released has evaporated. Add the chard to the peppers and let cool. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and the cream. Add the scallions, peppers, and Swiss chard. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Pour into the prepared baking pan. Coarsely crumble the fresh goat cheese and sprinkle over the egg mixture. Turn oven on to 350ºF. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the center is almost completely set and the eggs are golden. Cut into squares.

DO-AHEAD NOTES: The eggs can be baked the day before and refrigerated. Serve at
room temperature or reheat in a 400º F oven for 7-10 minutes.

Melissa Graham, a former attorney, is the founding Executive Director of Purple Asparagus, a non-profit dedicated to bringing families back to the table by promoting and enjoying all the things associated with good eating, eating that's good for the body and the planet. Purple Asparagus teaches families and children about healthful, sustainable eating in schools, community centers, and farmers' markets in Chicago's neediest communities. She speaks and writes regularly on sustainability both as The Sustainable Cook for the The Local Beet.com and for Little Locavores. When she’s not in the kitchen or the classroom, you can often find Melissa shopping at the Green City Market where she serves as the membership chair. You can follow her on Twitter @SustainableCook.

Fire-roasted Eggplant Dip by @PleasantHouse

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0000

One Seed Chicago's project this year will demonstrate how easy it is to go from seed to table and share a healthy meal from produce that's locally sourced and grown in your own garden. We'll be posting recipes for each of the candidates provided by local chefs, foodies and gardeners. If you'd like to participate see here for contact information.

This is a great garden-fresh recipe in every sense of the word. The eggplant can go from plant to fire to table without ever leaving your garden. Tasty food doesn't have to be complicated. This recipe is based on the Middle Eastern appetizer baba ganoush. Even if this preparation is familiar to you, the end result will be unique because the main component came from your garden and potentially, never left your garden! Use this recipe as an excuse to have a garden or patio party this summer.

Fire-roasted Eggplant Dip

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant or a few small variety eggplants
1/4 cup tahini
Roasted garlic, to taste
Fresh lemon juice to taste
Ground cumin
Salt, to taste
2 T extra virgin olive oil
Chopped fresh parsley or chopped fresh mint
Crostini, crackers or pita

Method:

Prepare a natural charcoal fire and let it burn until the coals are glowing white.

Place a head of garlic on a square of aluminum foil and drizzle it with olive oil and salt and pepper. Wrap the garlic completely in the foil and place next to the hot coals at the bottom of the grill. Rotate the garlic every now and then for about a half-hour. This step can be done ahead of time in your oven if you want. When the foil packet yields when squeezed, take the packet away from the fire and let sit on the table. When you unwrap the garlic, it will be roasted and can be squeezed out and used in the quantity that you desire.

Place the eggplant directly on the coals, letting it char while continuously rotating it with tongs. When the eggplant is completely black and charred and feels "mushy" remove it from the coals and let it cool to ambient temperature on a plate.

Peel the skin away from the eggplant and slice the eggplant flesh open to reveal the seeds. If you want, you can spoon the seeds out and discard them. otherwise, chop the eggplant on a cutting board as finely as possible.

Place the chopped eggplant into a serving bowl, add the remaining ingredients and stir well. You can also use a food processor to blend all of the ingredients except for the chopped mint and/or parsley. The parsley and mint can be stirred in by hand or sprinkled on top. The longer the dip rests, the longer the flavors have a chance to meld and the better the dip will be.

Art Jackson is a professional chef and the owner of Pleasant House Bakery, a small restaurant, opening soon, in the Bridgeport neighborhood that will be serving savory pies, daily specials and fresh, seasonal produce, much of it coming from their own urban farm. Art writes about food and gardening at his blog Pleasant House. You can follow Art and his wife Chelsea's progress on the Bakery on Twitter @phbakery and on the Facebook page for Pleasant House Bakery

Steve Martin's Endorsement And Media Mentions

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 01:13:00 +0000

One of the best parts of working on One Seed Chicago is watching gardeners get behind their favorite candidate in every election. This year's candidates are no exception. The three seed candidates vying for One Seed Chicago 2011 each have their own die-hard fans and they've taken to Twitter and Facebook to get out the vote in 2011. There's the official #OneSeedChicago hashtag, the #TeamChard, #TeamEggplant, #TeamRadish hashtags on Twitter. If you're a member of Twitter use the tags to connect with and communicate with local gardeners who are enthusiastic about greening our city by starting gardens.

Eight days after voting for One Seed Chicago launched Steve Martin tweeted the above. Is Steve Martin #TeamEggplant ? This may be the first time one of our candidates has been endorsed by a celebrity outside of Chicago. Well, maybe he was just being silly.

Just as important this year have been the endorsement of the crop of garden bloggers in and around Chicago. This, um, crop of gardeners do great work and help educate our neighbors on local gardening events and provide local gardening information. Check out the endorsements and make sure to subscribe to their blogs to get first-hand Chicago gardening information.

Apartment Farm: One Seed Chicago 2011
The Garden of Live Flowers: One Seed Chicago: Radish Love
Wee Windy City: One Seed Chicago 2011: Who Will Get Your Vote?
Mahlzeit: One Seed Chicago: Eggplant
Chicago Garden: From Seed To Table With One Seed Chicago 2011
Growing in Chicago: Vote for Radishes!
Mike Nowak: See Graphic on Mike's Webpage and endorsement
Gardening Nude: Vote for One Seed Chicago and Feed Your Family For Cheap
My Skinny Garden: Grow Swiss Chard for Beauty and Versatility
Newlywed Gardening: Making the Case For Chard
Ramble on Rose: Vote for Chard
Wicker Park Rooftop: Vote now to win free seeds, Chicago!

Gardening Groups/Green Websites/Neighborhood Portals
Uptown Update: Urban Gardeners, Time to Vote
Root-Riot: Vote for One Seed Chicago 2011
Fresh Taste: Good Food For All
Chicago Conservation Corps: One Seed Chicago Announces The 2011 Nominees

Media
GapersBlock: Eggplant, Radish or Swiss Chard?
TreeHugger: Chicago Combats Food Deserts and Childhood Obesity One Seed at a Time
Planet Green: One Seed Chicago - And How You Can Encourage Gardening in Your Community
City Farmer: Chicago program has given away more than one million seeds since 2008
Chicago Examiner: "One Seed Chicago" Planting Vegetables, Building Community - Vote Now!
HalogenTV: Haiti in Pictures, Urban Gardening & A Fair Trade Cup of Tea

If you plan to write about One Seed Chicago 2011 the press release is here and if you email us we can provide you with graphics and images. If we've missed your mention of One Seed Chicago please let us know so we can send participants to your website/blog or to pick up a print copy of your publication.

Help Protect Community Gardens in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (OneSeedChicago) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:44:00 +0000

Help NeighborSpace win $25,000 in Whole Foods "Chicago Green Giveaway"

If you're heading to a Whole Foods in Chicago make sure to vote for NeighborSpace, the organization that brings you One Seed Chicago, in the "Chicago Green Giveaway" contest. The winning organization will receive as much as $25,000! There's no purchase necessary, just stop by the customer service desk at any Whole Foods in Chicago and cast a vote for NeighborSpace before March 23rd.

As Chicago's only non-profit land trust for community gardens NeighborSpace protects 76 vegetable, flower and prairie gardens across the city. With your vote you can help NeighborSpace expand the One Seed Chicago program and protect more gardens on behalf of community groups.

One Seed Chicago Voting Ends April 1st.

There's only two weeks left to vote for One Seed Chicago 2011 candidates, radish, eggplant and Swiss chard. Vote for your favorite today and you'll receive a free packet of the winning seed in the mail. Teachers can request a classroom size packet along with an educator guide. If you've already voted, thank you for participating and please tell your friends to vote. Voting closes on April 1^st and the winner will be announced at the annual Green and Growing Fair, April 30^th at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Follow us on Twitter or "Like" us on Facebook for updates, gardening tips and green news and events around Chicago in 2011.