Take a walk with me around our early summer garden as the traditional starts to die and the tropical plants take hold!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Ugh its Hot Out There!
Florida summers~ where the days are in the upper 90's and the nights are in the lower 90's. The time when you would have to pay someone to walk outside let alone do any work outside.
Unfortunately there is no rest for the gardeners or farmers, always seeds to start, soil to build, food to harvest, plants to water, gardens to be built... always something
Its not really a bad thing it keeps us going but man you need to plan your days, you do not want to be out watering those plants between noon and 4.. first its not good for the plants to be sprayed with water then have the hot sun beat down on them, AND its not good for you either, those times are the hottest hours of the day so go for a swim, read a book, or lounge around in the AC.
This summer got hot quick.. well really the whole year has been unseasonably hot, I got no peach blooms (that means no peaches) this year due to a mild winter (not enough chill hours) then the couple we did get were killed by a late freeze.
We did however get a bumper crop of squash!!
Now the summer sun beats down upon my precious plants and they are already wilted by noon, the heat and humidity have brought a large wave of pests to the gardens which have killed many plants but mostly my wonderful squashes, but as the more traditional plants die back to the ground the unusual types start growing well, meaning the roselle, tropical spinach's, sweet potatoes, cowpeas, chaya, cassava, bananas, tropical fruit trees, and other goodies are taking the place of those traditional plants.
My eventual goal is to have no part of the garden without something growing ALL the time, this keeps the sun from beating down on bare soil, erosion, and many others problems that occur when leaving open ground.
Summer is about daydreaming of the cooler months where long days in the garden dont cause you to break into heat rashes or cause dehydration.. its also about planning new changes to the gardens.. some you can start during the hot months to get yourself a head start!
My Summer Goals:
~Re-Do the front yard, this means first creating a simple walkway throughout the yard and building gardens in all the space around the walkway, the front yard will contain edibles, flowers, moringa, and banana trees
~ Diggin' Swales, this means digging a glorified trench in a area that would easily catch water (in my case along the house for roof runoff and along the sidewalk for street floods) to help the water soak right into the soil, plant a garden right along the swales and walla a self watering garden.... kinda ;)
~ Replace a garden in the back, this means i will tear out a current garden that i placed in the wrong area (my very first garden bed that gets 99% shade and things WONT grow), I will move the garden out towards the center yard by just 4 feet and instead of creating a rectangle like it is now i will build it into a circle
~ Learn to grow flowers, this means buying a wildflower box of seeds creating a nice garden bed and teaching myself to grow the damn things, i dont know why but i can grow a veggie or fruit but i kill just about every flower that i get, UGH
~ Harvest seed, this means when all my wonderful cold leafy greens are finished flowering and produce seed i will harvest it for next season
~ Look back through my garden journal to see what i want to plant again, what i might want to plant again, and what i DO NOT want to plant again
Happy gardening and planning all!!!
Unfortunately there is no rest for the gardeners or farmers, always seeds to start, soil to build, food to harvest, plants to water, gardens to be built... always something
Its not really a bad thing it keeps us going but man you need to plan your days, you do not want to be out watering those plants between noon and 4.. first its not good for the plants to be sprayed with water then have the hot sun beat down on them, AND its not good for you either, those times are the hottest hours of the day so go for a swim, read a book, or lounge around in the AC.
This summer got hot quick.. well really the whole year has been unseasonably hot, I got no peach blooms (that means no peaches) this year due to a mild winter (not enough chill hours) then the couple we did get were killed by a late freeze.
We did however get a bumper crop of squash!!
Now the summer sun beats down upon my precious plants and they are already wilted by noon, the heat and humidity have brought a large wave of pests to the gardens which have killed many plants but mostly my wonderful squashes, but as the more traditional plants die back to the ground the unusual types start growing well, meaning the roselle, tropical spinach's, sweet potatoes, cowpeas, chaya, cassava, bananas, tropical fruit trees, and other goodies are taking the place of those traditional plants.
My eventual goal is to have no part of the garden without something growing ALL the time, this keeps the sun from beating down on bare soil, erosion, and many others problems that occur when leaving open ground.
Summer is about daydreaming of the cooler months where long days in the garden dont cause you to break into heat rashes or cause dehydration.. its also about planning new changes to the gardens.. some you can start during the hot months to get yourself a head start!
My Summer Goals:
~Re-Do the front yard, this means first creating a simple walkway throughout the yard and building gardens in all the space around the walkway, the front yard will contain edibles, flowers, moringa, and banana trees
~ Diggin' Swales, this means digging a glorified trench in a area that would easily catch water (in my case along the house for roof runoff and along the sidewalk for street floods) to help the water soak right into the soil, plant a garden right along the swales and walla a self watering garden.... kinda ;)
~ Replace a garden in the back, this means i will tear out a current garden that i placed in the wrong area (my very first garden bed that gets 99% shade and things WONT grow), I will move the garden out towards the center yard by just 4 feet and instead of creating a rectangle like it is now i will build it into a circle
~ Learn to grow flowers, this means buying a wildflower box of seeds creating a nice garden bed and teaching myself to grow the damn things, i dont know why but i can grow a veggie or fruit but i kill just about every flower that i get, UGH
~ Harvest seed, this means when all my wonderful cold leafy greens are finished flowering and produce seed i will harvest it for next season
~ Look back through my garden journal to see what i want to plant again, what i might want to plant again, and what i DO NOT want to plant again
Happy gardening and planning all!!!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Plant of the Week: Cassava
Cassava:
Aka: yuca, mogo, manioc, mandioca and kamoting kahoy
This is not the similarly-spelled yucca, an unrelated fruit-bearing shrub in the Asparagaceae family.
Cassava is a major food in the developing world.
Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing in poor soil!
The cassava root is long and tapered, with a firm flesh encased in a rough and brown rind on the outside. A woody core runs along the root's axis.
The flesh can be chalk-white or yellowish.
Cassava roots are very rich in starch, and contain significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. However, they are poor in protein and other nutrients. In contrast, cassava leaves are a good source of protein (rich in lysine)!!!
Recipes:
Ingredients
Batter:
4 cups grated cassava (about 2 lbs total weight)
1 can coconut milk
½ can evaporated milk
2 eggs
¼ cup butter, melted
6 tbsp cheddar cheese, grated
½ cup condensed milk
14 tbsp sugar
Topping:
1 can coconut milk
2 tbsp sugar
½ cup condensed milk
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg white
Cooking:
Combine the grated cassava, butter, condensed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, sugar, and eggs in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly
Add the coconut milk in the mixing bowl where the mixed ingredients are. Mix again.
Grease the baking tray then pour-in the batter (ingredients that has just been mixed)
Pre -heat oven for 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes then put-in the baking tray with batter and bake for 1 hour.Remove from the oven and set aside.
Meanwhile prepare the batter by combining the sugar and flour and put-in the heated saucepan.
Pour-in the condensed milk then mix thouroughly.
Add the cheese while stirring constantly.
Pour the coconut milk and stir constantly for 10 minutes
Pour the topping over the Cassava Cake (baked batter) and spread evenly.
Separate the yolk from the egg white of the remaining egg (we’ll be needing the egg white)
Glaze the topping with the egg white (you may use a basting brush for this step)
Broil the Cassava cake until color turns light brown.
Garnish with grated cheese and serve. Share and enjoy!
Cassava Chips:
~ Peel cassava roots
~ Using a mandolin slice the roots into thin pieces
~ Put slices into a large bowl of ice cold water for 45 minutes
~ Drain and Dry
~ Fry until light brown and crisp
~ Drain on paper towels
~ Sprinkle with garlic powder and salt
~ Enjoy!
Aka: yuca, mogo, manioc, mandioca and kamoting kahoy
This is not the similarly-spelled yucca, an unrelated fruit-bearing shrub in the Asparagaceae family.
Cassava is a major food in the developing world.
Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing in poor soil!
The cassava root is long and tapered, with a firm flesh encased in a rough and brown rind on the outside. A woody core runs along the root's axis.
The flesh can be chalk-white or yellowish.
Cassava roots are very rich in starch, and contain significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. However, they are poor in protein and other nutrients. In contrast, cassava leaves are a good source of protein (rich in lysine)!!!
Recipes:
Ingredients
Batter:
4 cups grated cassava (about 2 lbs total weight)
1 can coconut milk
½ can evaporated milk
2 eggs
¼ cup butter, melted
6 tbsp cheddar cheese, grated
½ cup condensed milk
14 tbsp sugar
Topping:
1 can coconut milk
2 tbsp sugar
½ cup condensed milk
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg white
Cooking:
Combine the grated cassava, butter, condensed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, sugar, and eggs in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly
Add the coconut milk in the mixing bowl where the mixed ingredients are. Mix again.
Grease the baking tray then pour-in the batter (ingredients that has just been mixed)
Pre -heat oven for 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes then put-in the baking tray with batter and bake for 1 hour.Remove from the oven and set aside.
Meanwhile prepare the batter by combining the sugar and flour and put-in the heated saucepan.
Pour-in the condensed milk then mix thouroughly.
Add the cheese while stirring constantly.
Pour the coconut milk and stir constantly for 10 minutes
Pour the topping over the Cassava Cake (baked batter) and spread evenly.
Separate the yolk from the egg white of the remaining egg (we’ll be needing the egg white)
Glaze the topping with the egg white (you may use a basting brush for this step)
Broil the Cassava cake until color turns light brown.
Garnish with grated cheese and serve. Share and enjoy!
Cassava Chips:
~ Peel cassava roots
~ Using a mandolin slice the roots into thin pieces
~ Put slices into a large bowl of ice cold water for 45 minutes
~ Drain and Dry
~ Fry until light brown and crisp
~ Drain on paper towels
~ Sprinkle with garlic powder and salt
~ Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
More Pictures from International Permaculture Day~ Tampa
I love being sent pictures people took around the yard during this wonderful event! Keep them coming friends!
Food Forest Story: The first few months (pictures)
Creating the area, and scattering seeds:
The same area 3 weeks later:
After 6 weeks:
The same area after 9 weeks:
I cannot wait to see what they next few months holds, the chopping of nitrogen fixing flax, watching oats bloom, then harvested/ chopped/ and dropped, and hopefully that big melon (or squash) producing along with so many other wonderful goodies! As the annuals die back and add themselves back to the land more permie plants will fill in their spots, along with allowing any plants that wish to to reseed! :)
The same area 3 weeks later:
After 6 weeks:
The same area after 9 weeks:
I cannot wait to see what they next few months holds, the chopping of nitrogen fixing flax, watching oats bloom, then harvested/ chopped/ and dropped, and hopefully that big melon (or squash) producing along with so many other wonderful goodies! As the annuals die back and add themselves back to the land more permie plants will fill in their spots, along with allowing any plants that wish to to reseed! :)
Monday, May 21, 2012
A Food Forest?
Do you remember a couple months ago I started transforming part of my backyard into a future food forest. Now this is not a overnight process especially when you do not have the funds to buy a bunch of fruit trees and bushes all at once.
What is a food forest?
Its mimicking nature to recreate its natural beauty and self care in a edible environment. So you would start with tall trees (fruit or nut), then shorter trees (more fruit), then fruit bushes, regular plants, groundcover... creating layers like nature does, each plant has a different root reach, water needs, soil needs, so when you combine them all together they work perfectly, unlike if you plant all the same in one area!!
What plants I do have is...
5 banana trees
1 papaya tree
1 barbados cherry tree
1 Surnaim cherry bush
3 blackberry bushes
1 Pineapple
1 Moringa Tree
Cassava
Chaya
Rhubarb (if I can get it to last through the summer)
and a couple other permie plants
I will plant banana trees and morina along the west side of the house to create a shade block, and dig swales along the house to catch the roof runoff.
I plan to add 2 more large fruit trees and many more bananas and papayas and other fruit bushes and perennial vegetables.
It will be mostly these wonderful perennials with some annuals scattered around in half of the yard, the other half will remain my raised veggie beds holding many wonderful annuals but with a couple perennials mixed in, like bananas, papayas, chaya, and other goodies that provide a light dappled shade but still the sun that many annuals love! My house will become a wonderful assortment of rare and traditional fruits, veggies, herbs, and flowers. The focus will not be the house but the many wonderful plants out front and back, the way the birds fly in and out, the ponds with fish and plants, the bees buzzing in and out of the flowers, chickens pecking happily in the area eating any bugs that wander to close to where they stand, ducks swimming happily in their pond, and the happy couple with their young daughter tending to it.
I just love planning and experimenting in the garden, there is nothing more rewarding then watching all your hard work blossom into wonderful food and a paradise in which my family, animals, and nature live harmoniously together!
What is a food forest?
Its mimicking nature to recreate its natural beauty and self care in a edible environment. So you would start with tall trees (fruit or nut), then shorter trees (more fruit), then fruit bushes, regular plants, groundcover... creating layers like nature does, each plant has a different root reach, water needs, soil needs, so when you combine them all together they work perfectly, unlike if you plant all the same in one area!!
What plants I do have is...
5 banana trees
1 papaya tree
1 barbados cherry tree
1 Surnaim cherry bush
3 blackberry bushes
1 Pineapple
1 Moringa Tree
Cassava
Chaya
Rhubarb (if I can get it to last through the summer)
and a couple other permie plants
I will plant banana trees and morina along the west side of the house to create a shade block, and dig swales along the house to catch the roof runoff.
I plan to add 2 more large fruit trees and many more bananas and papayas and other fruit bushes and perennial vegetables.
It will be mostly these wonderful perennials with some annuals scattered around in half of the yard, the other half will remain my raised veggie beds holding many wonderful annuals but with a couple perennials mixed in, like bananas, papayas, chaya, and other goodies that provide a light dappled shade but still the sun that many annuals love! My house will become a wonderful assortment of rare and traditional fruits, veggies, herbs, and flowers. The focus will not be the house but the many wonderful plants out front and back, the way the birds fly in and out, the ponds with fish and plants, the bees buzzing in and out of the flowers, chickens pecking happily in the area eating any bugs that wander to close to where they stand, ducks swimming happily in their pond, and the happy couple with their young daughter tending to it.
I just love planning and experimenting in the garden, there is nothing more rewarding then watching all your hard work blossom into wonderful food and a paradise in which my family, animals, and nature live harmoniously together!
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