FoodPeer - Gardening

Organic Gardening

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:24:57 -0400

Try Your Hand At Organic Gardening
by Hallidae Thomason In today's world, we are constantly confronted with the many reasons why we need to eat healthier and exercise more in order to live longer and better lives. That being said, I see not enough information getting out about how we can actually put those principles into affect. I read that I need to exercise more, but would someone please give me a solid plan that actually works to improve my level of fitness? I am tired of not reading any good advice for making health progress, so I've decided to write some advice of my own. I have been a dietician for many years, but I am just now breaking into writing. My first health tip for anyone trying to see changes in their health is to try organic gardening.

How To Grow Sprouts

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 01:38:38 -0500

by Nicky Pilkington Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a great source of vitamins, fiber, protein, anti-oxidants, and enzymes. A sprout is produced when a seed starts growing into a vegetable. Sprouts can grow from the seeds of vegetables, from grains such as buckwheat, and from beans. While Mung beans are perhaps the most common source of sprouts, you can also obtain good results from lentils, soybeans and chickpeas just to name a few.

Three Stumbling Blocks to Growing Grapes in the Backyard

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:38:19 -0400

by Jim Bruce Are you one of those home gardeners that don't know the three stumbling blocks to successfully growing grapes in your backyard? Don't worry, you're not alone. I have grown grapes successfully under the worst of conditions since 1975 and I can tell you that most of the problems gardeners encounter are because they don't understand the nature of the beast that they are growing. So let's look at the problems that I see when people, like you, have me come and analyze what problems they are having growing the backyard grapevine.

How to Grow Cooking Herbs

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:35:40 -0400

by Linda Paquette Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and flavor to your menus year-round! Is It a Cooking Herb or a Spice? The first thing to know in selecting which herbs to grow is the difference between cooking (culinary) herbs and spices. The cinnamon stick you put in your hot chocolate or apple cider is a spice while the parsley on the edge of your plate is an herb.

Secrets of Growing Killer Tomatoes

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 23:32:07 -0400

by K.D. Wiseman Tomatoes have always been my favorite garden vegetable to grow and to eat. I have had success with the other standard garden vegetables, such as cucumbers, bell peppers, cauliflower etc. but tomatoes became my specialty over the years.

How to Grow a Pineapple

Sun, 26 Jun 2005 18:25:44 -0400

by Linda Paquette The first thing you need to grow a pineapple is a pineapple. The pineapple (ananas comosus) is a bromeliad; in fact, one of the few in its family that is edible. However, the fruit of an unripe pineapple is poisonous and will irritate both your mouth and throat. Even the ripe fruit of the houseplant pineapple is not nearly as luscious and sweet as that grown in the sands of the tropics; still, the pineapple is a striking, interesting, and unusual plant to add to your collection.

Basil for Everything

Sun, 26 Jun 2005 18:24:32 -0400

by Judi Singleton I planted three kinds of basil today. I love basil it is one of those herbs that just is is truly indispensible in the kitchen. Ocimum basilicum, Sweet Basil, is the most common. Two or three plants will keep you in fresh Basil all summer, and give you plenty to dry for winter. The flavor is great, but deteriorates some after the plant flowers. Let a stalk or two go to seed for next years crop. Purple basils: have dark purple serrated leaves, pink flowering; good for cooking. 'Purple ruffles' is an example that is good for salad vinegars. East Indian: has a spicy clove-like aroma and flavor; good with tomatoes and curries.Thai basil: is anise flavored and used in Indian and Thai cooking. I also planted some seeds of a globe variety of basil Bush basils: are compact rounded plants, have tiny leaves, good flavor. Examples are 'spicy globe', 'bush' and 'tiny leaf purple'.

Garden Composters and Composting Basics

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 22:52:38 -0400

by Mark Falco Why Compost? Recent studies show that an average family throws away approximately 200 pounds of organic kitchen waste every year. Combine this with all the leaves, grass clippings and other organic garden waste accumulated over time and that's a lot of household waste being added to the already mountainous waste disposal problem. Some local authorities are refusing to take away green waste from gardening and others charge for the service in an effort to curb mounting costs and then when you add in the environmental costs of adding new landfill sites, road transport emissions from ferrying all this waste around and potentially incineration and the fumes that releases the environmental advantages of composting are clear.

How to Grow Snow Peas

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 18:57:41 -0400

by Linda Jenkinson Snow peas may have been named because in bright sunlight their light green pods look as if they might be tinged with frost. One of the oldest vegetables, the earliest recorded pea was grown in 9750 BC on the Thai-Burma border. Since snow peas are a favorite addition to Asian dishes, this pea might very well have been a snow pea ancestor.

Biocontrol Agents for Organic Farming� the terminology

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 18:56:26 -0400

by A.O. Kime If you haven�t been keeping up on the latest developments in biocontrols� wait a minute, what are biocontrols? Oh, shoot, you know, �environmental friendly� products which aren�t agricultural chemicals that are used for controlling crop pests. If you haven�t, then this article may surprise you. During the past 15 years, the latest in biotechnology, along with ancient pest-control methods, now provide a respectable arsenal of weapons in, well, you know, �biocontrols�.

The Container Vegetable Garden

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 18:51:09 -0400

by Vince Apps If you live in an apartment or town home, you probably think you don�t have enough space to grow vegetables. Lack of space is no longer an excuse since many modern vegetable varieties are perfect for growing in containers on a sunny window ledge or patio.

How to Use Herbs in Your Meals

Wed, 25 May 2005 21:12:54 -0400

by Martin Enevoldsen It�s no wonder that herbs are so widely valued as culinary additions. Their pungent fragrances and often beautiful appearance adds both orally and visually to any meal. Moreover, the flavor of each herb is very unique, adding a particular character to each dish you cook up. Whether dried or fresh, herbs add a wonderful dimension to cooking.

How to Grow Sweet Corn

Fri, 20 May 2005 00:16:19 -0400

by Linda Paquette Purchased corn, whether on the cob or in a can can�t compare for taste! Sweet corn is easy to grow in the home garden with just a little know how and a few corn facts. 1.Corn needs warm soil temperatures (50� - 65� Fahrenheit) to germinate.

Organic Gardening In The Backyard � Fun, Healthy, and Easier Than You May Think

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 19:05:18 -0500

by C.J. Gustafson Organic gardening, which is sometimes thought of as something out of the 60s hippie culture, has been steadily growing in popularity over the years. Not only can you find entire aisles of organics at the local supermarket, the number of specialty stores dedicated to organically grown foods has increased dramatically. Part of this popularity is due to an increasing understanding of the dangers associated with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Growing organically generally means gardening without these potentially dangerous chemicals. Many backyard gardeners are turning to organic methods as they realize how easy and effective organic growing can be.

Growing Vegetables in Containers - The compact solution

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 19:02:59 -0500

by Judy Williams Container vegetable gardens are a great alternative for those that don't have access to backyards. There can be a range of reasons to grow your vegetables in containers...easy access to the kitchen, safer environments for children and the handicapped or just lack of a yard to use for gardening.