Just notes

Hi everyone,

Thought I would stop by and drop off some notes. We found this wonderful book at the library called MaryJane's Ideabook, Cookbook, and Lifebook For the Farmgirl in all of us. ISBN # 1400080479, check it out if you get a chance!

This book has lots and lots of idea's and projects, but I only had so much time today so here is just a few things I came across while scanning the pages.

permapak.net/solarfooddryers.htm

dryit.com

lehmans.com

maryjanesfarm.org

I love this saying "It is not the man in my life that I love, it is the life in my man"

On Page 366: Learn how to make Fire-Roasted Sweet Corn.
Here is a simple list. Place unhusked ears in large pan of water to soak for about an hour. Get fire ready. Remove corn from water and place on grill. Do not set corn directly above the flames. Slowly steam the corn. Set a pan of butter by the fire and place a bouquet of rosemary stalks tied in twine with one end steeping in the butter and the other resting against the edge of the pan. Let the heat melt the butter as the corn cooks but do not let the butter burn. Rotate the corn every 5 - 10 minutes so they cook evenly. After about 30 minutes, check for doneness by pulling back the husk a bit, if it is done the kernels will be bright yellow and steaming. Brush on butter with the rosemary bouquet.

On page 368: Learn to make Hobo Dinners. Arrange individual portions of meat, potatoes, vegetables(carrots, spinach, zucchini), herbs (squeeze of lemon, slices of apples, and sprigs of thyme), and butter on squares of heavy duty tinfoil, twist to close and place directly in hot coals. Cooking time vary according to ingredients.

Also look for MaryJane Butters workbooks at a local store near you or over the internet. I already have my copy on order. What a great book to keep around!

L & D
The Vegetable Hatt

Companion Plants

We have started our seeds under our growing lights and they are growing strong. Soon it will be time to plant them outside, so once again we return to the ever-faithful library for a book on companion planting.

We are in luck! We come across Rodale's Successful Organic Gardening Companion Planting ISBN# 0875966152

Of course :( we are not planting everything listed in this book, so we are only listing what we have planned out for our garden. If you have a plant that is not on the list, let us know and I will find out the companion plant for you.

Apple's: Dill, Queen-Anne's Lace, Nasturtiums, White Clover, Fava Beans, Marigold
Avoid: Potatoes

Asparagus: Parsley, Tomatoes, Basil, Lettuce, Spinach, Grapes

Basil: Tomatoes
Avoid: Rue

Beans: Tomatoes, Corn, Celery, Cucumbers, Rosemary
Avoid: Leeks, Onions

Blackberries: Dill, Carrots, Grapes,

Broccoli: Dill, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Beans, Celery, Potatoes, Onions, Nasturtiums, Marigolds
Avoid: Tomatoes, Lettuce

Brussels Sprouts: Beans, Celery, Potatoes, Onions, Peppermint, Sage, Carrots, Dill
Avoid: Tomatoes

Cabbage: Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts
Avoid: Strawberries, Grapes

Carrots: Pea's, Sage, Onions, Leeks, Rosemary
Avoid: Dill

Cauliflower: Beans, Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts
Avoid: Grapes

Celery: Beans, Squash, Leeks, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Leeks

Chives: Carrots, Grapes, Tomatoes
Avoid: Beans, Peas, Apples

Collards: Tomatoes, Marigold
Avoid: Cabbage, Grapes

Corn: Beans, Squash, Pumpkins

Cucumbers: Corn, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower
Avoid: Potatoes

Dill: Cabbage, Lettuce, Onions, Cucumbers
Avoid: Carrots, Tomatoes

Garlic: Tomatoes, Cabbage
Avoid: Peas, Beans

Grapes: Peas, Beans, Blackberries
Avoid: Cabbage

Leeks: Carrots, Onions, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomatoes
Avoid: Sage, Pea's, Beans

Lemon Balm: Broccoli, Cauliflower

Lettuce: Strawberries, Carrots, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Beans, Peas, Tomatoes

Marjoram: Sage, Chives

Melons: Corn, Peas, Nasturtiums
Avoid: Cucumbers, Potatoes

Mint: Cabbage, Tomatoes

Nasturtium: Beans, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Squash

Okra: Peppers

Onions: Carrots, Potatoes
Avoid: Pea's, Bean's, Sage

Oregano: Beans, Peppers

Parsley: Asparagus, Tomatoes, Carrots

Pea's: Corn, Beans, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Carrots, Turnips, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach
Avoid: Leeks, Onions, Garlic

Peach: Garlic, Strawberries
Avoid: Potatoes, Tomatoes

Peanut: Corn, Squash

Peppers: Carrots, Onions, Basil, Marjoram, Oregano, Okra
Avoid: Fennel, Beans

Potatoes: Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Green Onions
Avoid: Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Squash, Cucumbers

Pumpkins: Lemon Balm, Corn, Beans, Peas, Clover
Avoid: Potatoes

Rosemary: Cabbage, Broccoli, Carrots, Onions

Sage: Cabbage, Carrots, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Marjoram
Avoid: Cucumbers Onions

Spinach: Celery, Cabbage, Peas, Onions, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Peppers, Celery

Squash: (Winter-Vine) Corn, Beans
Avoid: Potatoes

Strawberries: Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Peach
Avoid: Cabbage

Tarragon: Tomatoes, Potatoes

Thyme: Cabbage, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Tomatoes: Basil, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrots, Onions, Sage, Dill
Avoid: Potatoes, Fennel

Turnips: Peas, Brussels Sprouts
Avoid: Potatoes

Zucchini: (Summer-Bush) Corn, Beans
Avoid: Potatoes

Just Notes

Celery: use cardboard sleeves covered with black plastic and tied with string to exclude light from the stems.
Leeks: take 16-20 weeks from sowing to harvest. Plant seed out when 8in tall. Plant seed in hole do not refill with soil, but fill them with water.
Onions: allow the leaves to fall over and die back then carefully loosen the bulb from the soil. Leave in the sun a few days so skins ripen. Hang up so air can circulate between bulbs.

L&D
The Vegetable Hatt

New seeds

Hi everyone,

So we sent a SASE plus a $5 donation off to wintersown.org the other day and got some wonderful seeds in return. Here is a list of what we got...

Campari (OP): Yummy small red fruits, large vines, good cropper, IND, about 80 DTM

Mexico & Italian Tree Duo: Fun yum combo! Mexico crops large pink beefsteaks, Italian Tree crops red beefsteaks on larger plants, IND, 80+ DTM

Kentucky Beefsteak: Orange color IND, 80+ DTM

Pineapple: Delicious red and yellow fruits can weigh up to two pounds, IND, 80 DTM

Dr. Wyche's Yellow Tomato: Delicious golden-yellow beefsteaks, most weighing over a half-pound, large plants, IND, 80 DTM

Paul Robeson Tomato: Russian heirloom named for American actor, beautiful mahagony fruits are tangy and sweet, IND, 75+ DTM

Tigerella Tomato: Sunset red fruits are streaked with golden yellow, great cropper has loads of lovely salad-size tomatoes, IND, about 80 DTM

Fuzzy Peach Tomato: Golden-yellow fruits are blushed pink with soft fuzzy skin, yum fresh or cooked, about 2 oz, IND, 75+ DTM

Tiny Tim: Abundant, yum red cherries on dwarf plants, nice for containers and planters, DET, 58+ DTM

Plum Lemon Tomato: Russian variety has yellow, lemon-shaped fruits, delicious and so pretty, nice for salads, IND, 75+ DTM

White Wonder: Large creamy-white beefsteak, beautiful and delicious, large plants, IND, 85 DTM

Dixie Golden Giant: Gold color, IND, 85 DTM

We also got two bonus gifts:

Cilantro and Bk Seeded Simpson Lettuce (Heirloom)

This was a great surprise to get in the mail. This is a wonderful site and if you have time you should check it out.

L&D
The Vegetable Hatt

Just notes

Hi,

Sorry we have been away for a bit. Life has come at us full force. Anyways here is some notes we wrote down while scanning threw some books. Enjoy and tell us what you know!

From BH&G Step-By-Step Successful Gardening Vegetables ISBN: 0696025558

For a carefree crop of onions plant the sets in a wide row or block and cover immediately with a 3 inch layer of much. Onions will grow right up through a mulch, but most weeds will not.

Use string to divide the planting area into a grid of squares so that you can position plants the same distance apart in all directions.

Plants that are edible: pansies, borage blossoms, chrysanthemum, nasturtium, sunflowers.

IF you want to make a regular practice of saving your own seeds, its best to start with varieties marked heirloom or open pollinated. These varieties come true from year to year and often have out standing flavor.


L&D
The Vegetable Hatt

Easy plants to grow

One of our kids came home from school last week talking about how they planted a sweet potato in some water and it made "pretty" leaves. It got us to thinking about when we did that as a child and started wondering if there were any other easy plants. Here is a list with instructions and/or links on how to start some "pretty" plants.

Carob: This plant puts out oval leaves and the seed inside the pod taste like chocolate.

Peanuts: Peanuts grow up and then they turn and go back down into the soil. Very cool to watch!

Anise: This plant can be used in salads or cooked with meals. It taste like licorice.

Cherimoya: This plant produces a heart shaped fruit and has a flavor combination of strawberry, pineapple, banana, and yogurt.

Genip: This fruit has a favor cross between a grape and a mango. It is said to quench your thirst on hot days.

L&D
The Vegetable Hatt

Things we want to look into...

Here is a list of links that we found in Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach. We are planning to go greener lol. So have a look at these links and tell us how you go green!

energystar.gov
eere.energy.gov
eere.energy.gov/greenpower
findsolar.com
dsireusa.org
earth911.org
safelawns.org
compostguide.com
buildingreuse.org/directory
habitat.org
hud.gov/offices/hsg;
vegweb.com
goveg.com


L&D
The Vegetable Hatt