Green Chips Anyone???

 I am referring to Kale chips  and boy are they addicting!  I know most people turn up their nose at Kale, I was one of them until I learned how amazing it is for you.
Here are some kale facts you may not know:

1. It is not just for garnishing!
2. One cup of cooked kale is  only 36 calories
3. The sulfur compounds in kale increases the liver's ability to  neutralize toxic substances.
4. Excellent sources of Vitamin A, C and manganese.
5. Contains powerful phytonutrient antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids which help protect the lens of your eyes.
6. When growing kale wait until after the first frost, the kale will develop a sweeter flavor and crisp texture.
7. Best way to cook kale is by a quick 5 minute steam.

Below is one of my favorite way to enjoy kale plus you get that crunch which makes it very satisfying.

           Kale Chips


Simply start with one bunch of kale, olive oil and your favorite seasonings!

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Wash and dry kale. In  a large bowl tear of small bite size pieces of kale and rub with a small amount of  olive oil.

  Next, spread your kale out on a sheet pan in a single layer, if not, it will steam the kale. Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings. I used some Himalayan  Seasoning salt on one batch, garlic powder on the next and the last batch got some granulated dulse.
Cook for about 10-12 minutes. Check to make sure it's not browning too much. Once baked, remove to  a plate and start the next batch. Once cooled store in a ziploc bag or container for up to 1 month although once you try them they won't last more then a day! Enjoy!

Ready to eat!

Happy Earth Day!!!

In honor of Earth Day I thought I would give you all some fun and  some not so fun facts about the Earth we live on. Hopefully some of these facts will  impact you enough to make some changes whether it's reducing the amount of  plastic water bottles you use or drying your clothes outside to save energy. Every little bit helps!!
 We ALL need to do our part!

http://www.planetpals.com/fastfacts.html

Plastic bottles and Aluminum cans take 500 yrs to breakdown!!!!
How many years did this man save from the landfill??

What is your favorite garden fresh ingredient?

It's getting to be that time that we are starting to plant up our garden seeds here still in wintery Belmont, Vermont. Some seedlings are popping up for some, while others are just getting started.
The feeling of connecting to the Earth is incredibly therapeutic and grounding for us all. To watch your seeds sprout up through the soil is such a rewarding experience and really doesn't  take a lot of effort.

We made our first raised bed last year next to our greenhouse and found I had over planted. Usually I have found  half of my plants survive but this time they ALL took off.
Some of  my  favorites are celery, sugar snap peas, lots of lettuce and garlic, kale. zucchinis, cukes and of course tomatoes and basil. Nothing like a  garden fresh Caprese salad in July!!!

I want to know what are your favorite veggies to grow and what do you use to fertilize etc? Also, what zone are you? This will be fun to see!

Vermont Compost Company - my new addition

I am very excited  to try  Vermont Compost Company from Middlebury, VT for the first time. I have used many others and yesterday came across them and decided to give them a try in my garden this year.
They are strictly organic and their compost contains:  cow, hen, horse, mule, donkey, clean leaves, bark, straw and crop foliage. No seeds or sewer sludge!! Visit them  at http://www.vermontcompost.com/about.html
I will keep you posted to how it "grows"!

Need help with garden ideas? Check out my website

http://www.thetravelinghoe.com/   email is steph@thetravelinghoe.com or thru this site.

 I am happy to offer  my garden services if you live in the Okemo region in Vermont. Please feel free to ask me any questions and I will answer  as soon I as can! Happy Spring!

Building a Salad Table

I first received information about Jon Traunfeld through a Master Gardeners email. His unique approach to building this salad table is ingenious. I will be creating one myself and will post photos of it’s process.

In the mean time check out this link and build your own. It’s so easy! This is great way to keep any rabbits or other critters from having a snack or meal for that matter.

Now is the time to get started on it since lettuce, kale and Swiss Chard are all cool weather crops and will keep going into the fall if you keep reseeding every 2-3 weeks.

There is nothing better then picking your own veggies and bringing them right to your table.

CLICK HERE to watch a video for complete instructions.

Differences Between Annuals, Biennial and a Perennial

A lot of folks aren’t sure of the difference of these types of plants and wonder why some of their plants don’t come back every year. Hopefully this will help clear it up.

Zinnia

Annual – Plants the perform their entire life cycle from seed to flower to seed within a single growing season. All roots, stems and leaves of the plant die annually. Depending the climate, some plants can be perennials like tomatoes, if grown in South America. An example of an annual would be a zinnia.

Foxglove

Biennial – Plants that require 2 years to complete their life cycle. The first year you will have the leaf cluster and the second year you will have a flowering plant with seeds that will form and the plant then dies. An example of a biennial would be a foxglove.

Coneflower

Perennial – Plants that persist for many growing seasons. Generally the top part of the plant dies back in winter and re-grows again the spring or summer. Some plants will keep their leaves. Seeds dropped from a perennial will not flower until the next the next year. An example of a perennial would be a  Coneflower.

CLICK HERE to see some great flowers and helpful info in creating your next flower garden.

Planting for Honeybees

We should really “bee”  more mindful when we are planting our flowers.  Ask yourself, ” Is this a flower that a honey bee would like?”  Sounds a bit silly, but with Colony Collapse Disorder ( see site for more info http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp ) it’s more important then ever to help these ” little guys” out. A very large portion of our agriculture relies on these bees. They pollinate 80% of green growing plants and are vital to  plant  propagation and pollinate 1/3 of our natural foods.

It terms of plants, it’s important to think of each plant in every season and how it will benefit the honeybee. Bee-friendly flowers provide food ( nectar ) that keeps them alive and pollen that helps fruits and vegetables to grow.

Here are the key things to look at when planting:

1. NOT using pesticides
2. Pick flowers of purple, blue, orange and yellow – these colors  are most attractive to the honey bee.
3. Plant plants that will successfully bloom into each season so there is a continual food source.
4. Plant flowers in patches close together – this helps them use less energy, since already fly so many miles a day.
5. Flowers to consider that produce both nectar and pollen are:  Cosmos, Zinnias, Sunflowers, Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Foxglove, Asters, Geraniums,Daisies and Marigolds.

Happy Planting!

N-P-K Understanding Your Fertilizer

N-P-K: The elemental shorthand for the three major nutrients in fertilizers. “N” stands for Nitrogen, “P” stands for Phosphate (P2O2) and “K” stands for Potash (K2O). These are the chemical forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that are present in fertilizers. The three numbers on a fertilizer label directly correspond to these nutrients.

Trying to determine what fertilizer to use can be an overwhelming task. Which mix do you need for your plants? The numbers represent the percentage (by weight) of the three major nutrients required for healthy plant growth, always in the same order: nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K). Each of these nutrients affects plant growth differently, and the formulation you select should depend on your specific gardening needs.

The first number is the amount of  nitrogen in the bag. So a bag of 16-8-4 has 16 percent total nitrogen. Nitrogen provides plants with the ability to produce more chlorophyll, which in turn allows plants to grow quickly. With each additional nitrogen application, plants will grow taller and develop a darker green color. So if you want a dark green lawn, use a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen – but then expect to mow more often. If your plant starts to look yellow that is typically a sign of a nitrogen deficiency.

The second number is the amount of phosphorus in the mix. For example, a bag of 16-8-4 would contain 8 percent phosphorus. Phosphorous aids in root development and increases flowering ability and bloom size. The fertilizer industry markets high phosphorus fertilizer as “Bloom Booster.” Purple foliage, on an otherwise green foliage plant, is  a sign of a phosphorus deficiency.

The Dirty Dozen vs. The Clean 15

 Hopefully by now you have all heard that eating cleaner is better for your health. Pesticides that are added to our fruits and veggies can cause serious health risks and have been linked to cancer, birth defects and even nerve damage. With this in mind is this something you are willing to risk? Not to mention these pesticides end up in water run off that flows into our lakes and streams and the contaminate the fish we eat. I could keep going....  Here is a helpful list for reference:

The Dirty Dozen: Buy these organic
1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries ( known to have over 60 different pesticides found on them )
4. Apples
5. Bluberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Cherries
10. Kale/Collard Greens
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes ( imported)

The Clean 15: Best to buy


1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangos
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honey Dew Melon

As a general rule the more water a fruit/veggie has the more  chance it is contaminated. If you need to peel the outer shell off it is usually safe to buy non organic. Check out www.foodnews.org for more information.

 Meat and dairy may not be  something you would normally think about needing to be organic but did you know that pesticides from the food they eat and other chemicals get stored in their fat which we then ingest? Choose grass fed meat whenever possible  and raw milk to get all the health  benefits it offers.

Hope this information is helpful :)