Planet Veggie Garden

Food - the shadow issue

Patti — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:20:48 +0000

Bill Moyers recently interviewed Michael Pollan. The conversation primarily focused on Governments role in how and what we eat as well as some suggestions for the Obama administration.

Pollan called food the “Shadow Issue” as it influences our health, climate change, energy security and environmental pollution.
We tend to only think of food in an isolated way.

You can watch the two-part interview here.

Lead and Eat by Example

Patti — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:15:53 +0000

Now that the US Presidential election is done, we have a President-elect who enjoys Arugula - or “Rocket” lettuce.

Sign the petition from Eat the View to replace part of the White Lawn with an organic veggie garden… really fresh Arugula and more.

Velvety and Green

Sandy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:55:14 +0000

Under normal (non gardening) circumstances, chances are those two words would evoke warm fuzzy feelings…not so when it comes to the Brassica family living in Planet Veggie Garden. What do those two words mean to our cauliflower, kale, broccoli and mustard?

Imported Cabbage Worm.

They are kind of cute - plump velvety and green…but wow do they have an appetite.

It began in late summer with lots of white ‘butterflies’ (really moths) flying around the garden. These innocent moths began to lay little yellowish oval eggs on the undersides of the brassica’s leaves. In no time at all, leaves began to have big chunks eaten out of them with lots of green pellet like ‘poops’ left behind.

I’ve been plucking them off infested plants ever since. Some tiny and some up to 1 inch long…eeewwww. I usually grab a nearby twig and stab the bugger resulting in a bright green ooze…double eeewwww!

There has got to be a better way…

So off to googling I go and what do you know? There are many better ways…

Prevention

Use row covers for your brassicas during the late summer so the moths can’t lay their eggs on the leaves.
Hot pepper spray! I guess this stuff irritates the little critters. Blend 1/2 cup of the spiciest peppers you can find with 1 pint of water. Strain and put into a spray bottle.

Kill Them

Hot pepper spray - repels and kills (see above). Spray every few days to burn up every last one of them.
Dilute soap solution - this acts by drying up the worms. I make my own using a tablespoon of dish soap in a quart spray bottle of water.
Poke them with a sharp stick (not for the squeamish)
Spray with the bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis aka BT. This is an organic method where the bacteria kill the worms but do no harm to you. You’ll need to spray every 7 days or so until all the worms are gone. I’d reserve this method for those that have lots and lots of infested brassicas

Well, that about sums up methods to dealing with cabbage worms. Now were is my stick…

Organic insecticides for home use

Patti — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:48:50 +0000

When it rains we get ants. Often MANY ants… inside and outside.

We’ve been using a citrus based spray and were fairly pleased with it. Recently I was contacted by the manufacturer of a new line of organic insecticides for home use: EcoSmart. They offer an Ant & Roach spray, a Flying Insect spray, a Wasp & Hornet spray and an Insect Repellent application.

Their products use natural oils like peppermint, wintergreen, cinnamon, and rosemary and are safe to use around kids and pets.

I tried the ant spray inside. It definitely worked… quickly. While the smell was pleasant rather then chemical, it was a bit strong.

They also have a blog with an extraordinary amount of insect information.

If you’re looking for a safe insecticide solution you may want to try out their products. The website will give you a list of retailers in/near your zip code.

Is it too expensive to be humane?

Patti — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:49:03 +0000

The US presidential elections happened on 4.November. Here in California we had proposition on the ballot titled “Standards for Confining Farm Animals”.

The proposition passed (63% in favor) enacting the “Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act”

What does the law prohibit?
Simply it prohibits confining farm animals in a way that does not allow them to freely turn around, lie down, stand up and fully extend their limbs. (My cats do most of that to me when I sleep… but then I’m not a farm animal )

Basically this outlaws “veal crates”, “battery cages” and “sow gestation crates”.

The law becomes effective on 1.January.2015 so farmers using these methods have 6 years to change.

The folks who put the proposition on the ballot want to end what they consider cruel practices. They also contend that these practices allow more disease and encourage greater use of anti-biotics.

The folks opposed to the proposition cite that it will dramatically increase the price of food.

Those in favor do not deny that it will increase the cost of certain food (eggs, veal, pork products). Tho, how much of an increase is debatable.

My sense was that most people understood voting yes would increase their food costs. And they still voted yes. It could be they were convinced by the couple of commercials that showed some of the conditions.

What about the rest of our “cheap” food. Those “efficient” farm practices that put cheap food on the grocery store shelves require heavy doses of pesticides and insecticides… not good for the person eating it, or for the environment being polluted by it, or for the workers on the front line with it.

So the question is: are we willing to spend more for more “humanely” farmed food?

It’s doubtful you could create an advertising campaign featuring an in-humanely treated bunch or broccoli to “gross us out” into to voting against the current factory farming practices. So what kind of campaign would it take to convince us to adapt more humane crop farming practices?

What other states and countries have done

There were bills in 2004 and 2007 to curb some of the cruel animal farming methods that never got through the California Senate.

In 2002 Florida passed a state Constitutional Amendment (Amendment 10) banning pig gestation crates.

In 2006 Arizona passed Proposition 2004 banning veal crates and pig gestation crates.

In 2007 Oregon Governor Kulongoski signed a measure prohibiting pig gestation crates.

In 2008 Colorado Governor Ritter signed a State law phasing out veal crates and pig gestation crates.

Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria have all banned battery cages for egg-laying hens.

The entire European Union is phasing out battery cages by 2012.

More orange orbes

Sandy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:14:37 +0000

We’ve got a little vitamin C grove under our front window. Two years ago we planted 3 citrus trees - a Fremont tangerine, a Satsuma Tangerine and a Blood Orange.

Oranges are one of the most popular citrus varieties. A lush glossy leafed evergreen - oranges have been cultivated for over 4000 years for their fruit as well as oil derived from the leaves and intensely perfumy small white flowers.

Originally from Asia, oranges spread slowly throughout the world. When demand increased, they spread rapidly during the seventeenth century as European and later American trade developed. In the United States today, oranges have become an important crop for California, Florida and Texas.

Orange varieties can be categorized into two different types; bitter and sweet.

Seville oranges are the most well known of the bitter varieties and best used for marmalades and preserves.

Of the sweet varieties there are three types: juice, navel and blood oranges.

Valencia is the premiere juice orange because of its sweet tart flavor and juiciness. Valencias are usually thin skinned, very juicy and have few seeds.

Hamlins are another juicing variety that is much sweeter than Valencias but lack the tartness.

Another sweet variety is the navel orange, characterized by its thick easy to peel skin and has no seeds. Navels are a favorite for eating out of hand but can be used for juice too.

Lastly, blood oranges are known for their red flesh and intense berry like flavor. Blood oranges are much more common these days as many citrus growers have added them trees to their orchards. You can easily find blood orange trees in your local nursery.

It’s been two years and we’re still waiting for our blood orange tree to start producing so patience is a virtue when it comes to starting your own citrus grove.

Care for citrus trees is pretty minimal. Citrus do not like to have constant moist roots so only water when the soil is starting to dry and then water deep. Our very mature lemon tree in the back yard rarely needs water between the rainy season. If you do water too much your citrus tree will tell you…it’s leaves will start to curl or yikes, fall off. I know as I almost killed our lime tree which we have planted in an oak barrel in the back yard.

As far as fertilizing, here is a handy chart that tells you when and how much.

Bringing Veterans and farms together

Patti — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:05:30 +0000

It’s Veterens Day in the United States - a day to honor veterans.

I’d like to mention a few small-scale farm programs that are working with veterans.

Nadia McCaffrey is the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq. She recognized that many folks returning from Iraq and Afganistan were struggling. In 2007 she created Veterans’ Village. An organization that acquires farmland where veterans can work, rehabilitate and learn new skills.

The first location is in Sonoma County California with plans with additional locations in upstate New York and North Carolina.

Farms Not Arms is an organization that helps connect vets with seasonal jobs and internships on farms.

Farmer-Veteran Coalition is helping to match up vets and farmers.

Veteran Homestead built “Victory Farm” - a housing work program for vets on an 80-acre New Hampshire organic farm.

A person can find a lot of peace and fulfilment working the land.

Will food policy change?

Patti — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:48:24 +0000

We’re now poised for new leadership… and a new dog at the White House.

Will the nation’s food policy change?

Most of the campaign talk circled around the economy, health care and homeland security. In reality, our relationship with the food we eat is intertwined with all three of those areas.

With the commoditization of much of our food, we do spend less as a percentage of household income. Even with less expensive food, the rising costs this year has forced more people into a position where they can’t afford the weekly grocery bill.

A few generations ago before agri-biz was big biz and food was commoditized, we were closer to our food source and we valued the nutrition it provided. What we now eat - on average - is not as nutritious. The cost of that: poorer health, higher health care costs.

The food supply chain controlled by fewer and larger corporations. Food travels farther. Food security is more vulnerable.

Commodity or source of life

Obama has spoken out against the dominance of agribusiness. He has recognized that we need to develop and train a new generation of farmers. And he has also promised to boost support for organic farming.
But will he dig up part of the White House lawn and plant a garden?

Michael Pollan laid out some food policy suggestion in an open letter to the Farmer in Chief published in the New York Times.

Oregano in your Garden

Sandy — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:57:01 +0000

Oregano is a super culinary herb - a must have for many cuisines - notably Italian, Greek and Mexican.

In temperate zones, oregano can be grown year round. In zones with harsher climates, oregano is considered an annual. No worries, as oregano is easily grown from seeds and can be propagated from cuttings.

To grown oregano, choose a sunny spot with well draining soil. No need to ammend too heavily as the plant will develop more of the volatile oils (those responsible for it’s pungent flavor and it’s medicinal properties) in more challenging conditions.

If you are growing from seed just lightly cover the seeds with a dusting of soil as the seeds like a bit of light in order to germinate.

To harvest, pick sprigs when the plant is at least 5 to 6″ tall. For the best flavor pick young leaves in the morning when the oils are at their highest levels. Be aware that as the plant flowers the flavor begins to diminish and with some varieties even becoming bitter. You can delay blooming by pinching off the flowers as they begin to form.

When using the fresh leaves to flavor cooked dishes, add the oregano towards the end of the cook time for maximum flavor as the volatile oils tend to cook off with long cook times.

Oregano can also be easily dried - pluck the leaves from the stems, spread in a single layer on a tray in a cool well ventilated place until totally dried. Store in an airtight jar for up to 6 to 8 months.

Oregano…Spice Rack or Medicine Cabinet

Sandy — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:34:13 +0000

Herbs are a great addition to any garden large or small. Oregano is a must have…if not just for it’s culinary use but it’s use as a natural remedy.

Oregano finds it’s roots in the Mediterranean and in parts of Asia. Today, we find it growing in all parts of the world and widely used in Italian, Greek and Mexican cuisines. Coincidentally, these are the 3 main varieties grown AND the 3 types with the most antioxidant activity.

Oregano has a long history of medicinal use dating back to Hippocrates who used oregano as an antiseptic as well as for digestive and respiratory disorders. Modern science (with research from the USDA) has backed up the health benefits of oregano showing oregano to be a super concentrated source of powerful phytochemicals and antioxidants including thymol and carvacrol. These compounds and many others are responsible for oregano’s many healing properties*:

anti-microbial: used as an antiseptic; particularly effective against certain bacteria responsible for food borne illnesses
anti-parasitic: found by Mexican researchers to be effective against giardia
anti-fungal: used often by herbalist to fight yeast infections such as candida
anti-spasmotic
calmative / sedative

Generally, when used for it’s medicinal properties, oregano is taken as a concentrated oil in gel capsules by mouth or when used as an antiseptic - the oil is used topically.

Many of these “anti” properties lends itself to using oregano as a food preservative (use in dry rubs) or to extend the shelf-life of foods.

Tomorrow, tips on growing this must have herb.

*Be advised that any nutrition information suggested is not intended as a treatment for any disease. The intent of any nutritional recommendation is to support the physiological and biochemical processes of the human body, and not to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent any disease or condition. Always work with a qualified medical professional before making changes to your diet, prescription medication, lifestyle or exercise activities.