virtual gardening clinic: what's the plan, stan?

it's FRIDAY which means it is virtual gardening clinic day.  today, we are going to talk about the importance of having a plan (and sticking to it) before the planting begins.  winging it in the garden is not a good idea.   things will either not grow, maintenance will be a b*tch, or you will have way too much to harvest.  in short, taking the time to plan will set you up for success and allow you to reap the rewards of your garden.  and make you not want to kill.

1. decide what you want to grow based on your eating habits
we eat at home 5-6 nights a week and 40% our grocery budget is devoted to produce.  during the growing season, we eat very seasonally to cut down on our vegetable buying.  however, some folks are busier than others and only eat at home 3 nights a week. some folks hate all veggies except salad greens and home grown tomatoes.  only grow what you like, want to try, and/or are going to use.  if only like a couple of zucchinis a year, don't grow them...they are big producers and you're going to be veggie bombing your neighbors in the middle of the night. buy them at the market.  they are practically free.  on the other hand, if you love them and have freezer space...you can always shred or chop them up and freeze them.  always choose one variety that expands your horizons.  variety is the spice of life. 

2. what's your commitment style?
decide what kind of garden you want to commit to.  some neighborhoods have strict covenant agreements that do not allow their residents to just dig up a garden.  fencing can be pretty pricey and is necessary to keep critters out.  maybe your yard isn't huge.  or your dog is an asshole and will dig the garden up.  perhaps a lot of the veggies you have chosen to grow are root veggies and would do better in the ground.  whatever your situation is...do a bit of research, or ask us, to decide which type of garden will work best for you.  container gardens are nearly maintenance free and can grow almost anything.  if you would rather go with an "in the ground garden"...go with raised beds.  they allow you to amend your soil, till very deeply, and make maintenance much easier.  deciding now will allow you to work on gathering your garden materials and getting them prepared for planting.  also, knowing what and how much you are going to plant will help you know what type and size of garden you need.

3. timing
once you settle on what to plant, you will need to know when to plant them.  some vegs love cool weather and will fry in the sun. and some need to be planted early to have time to produce.  much like me.  others hate cool weather and will do nothing when it is cold.  much like mike. i kid. kinda.
so here is a basic guide:
cool weather: kale, chard, beets, carrots, radishes, most lettuces, spinach, potatoes, brassicas (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussels), peas, turnips, parsnips, asparagus, onions, garlic,  rosemary, thyme, parsley, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, lavender, arugula, kohlrabi
warm weather: beans, tomatoes, eggplant, cukes, pumpkins, squash, melons, corn, dill, basil, cilantro

4. vitals
all seed packets, seed dealer websites, or plant markers will tell you the vitals of the produce you are hoping to grow.  once you know what you want to grow, go to your favorite seed dealer website and read about the veggies.  they will tell you what kind of dirt you need, what type of "producer" it is, sun & water requirements, spacing needs, and how long you will have to wait to eat the goods.  these vitals are pretty dead on, so unless experience tells you differently, follow their directions.

5. location
you are going to need sun, soil, and water to grow your food.  whatever type of garden you have you are going to typically need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight.  you will need to be able to water it easily and efficiently at least 3 times a weeks and up to twice a day. your soil needs to be fertile.  we will talk more about soil at another time. but, in the meantime, you can pick your location now based on where you get the most sun.
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homework:

• take a moment this week to analyze your family's buying, cooking, and eating habits to help you decide what you would like to grow.
• think about how much time you really have or want to devote to growing food
• look around and choose a sunny place

this is an example of a ginormous garden and raised beds.  

next week:
we will talk more in depth about different produce varieties: where they grow best, how long they take to grow, weather they grow best from seed or plant, how much you can expect to harvest, preservation options, and when you can plant them.

giving up + going big

in the spirit of lent, i have given up sugar in the following forms: soda pop, cake, cupcakes, cookies, pies, bars, brownies, muffins, and coffee creamer.  which means i may or may not have cake on hendrix's birthday.  i make a mean chocolate birthday cake.  i also don't want diabetes by the time i am 35. soooooooo....the internal debate continues for the next 40 days.  please hold me accountable.  god knows i can't. ha!
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those of you who were at our wedding got to taste all the tasty food that my friend kadi helped prepare.  without her there would of been no food.  kadi's boyfriend, casey, is facing some serious medical issues right now.  and since the people she and he know are so wonderful...there have been sunday fun day fundraisers all over midtown for the past few sundays.  the next one is this sunday, feb. 26th from 1-8pm at tiger tom's near 72nd & military.  so weather you know casey or kadi, have had the pleasure of eating kadi's food (she is the head chef at tiger tom's, as well), or just really like tiger tom's...please think about having lunch or dinner at TT and going big for casey!!!

cooking with heart

2 hours.  5 recipes. 4 women. all mothers. yesterday, i met with three women from the pathway program and talked about grocery budgeting, meal planning, and cooking technique.  i also demoed five recipes for them.  we made minestrone, berry oatmeal, chicken "nuggets" & apples, shrimp with white beans, spinach, and feta, and spaghetti with spinach & egg.  it was a really great afternoon.  they all really wanted to be there and wanted learn.  some had more experience than others in the kitchen.  some did quite a bit from scratch cooking already.  some had lots of picky eaters at home.   we were all mothers, though.  so it took no time for us to compare notes on toddlers, picky eaters, and the struggles of feeding all those mouths.  in the end, i do think they enjoyed the class and took something away from it.  they tried all the dishes and even liked the spaghetti with spinach & egg (which i thought was the weirdest dish and would get some "no thank yous").  they agreed that breading the chicken cutlets WAS  totally simple and fast.  they asked how to alter some dishes for picky eaters.  they started to tailor the minestrone soup to their family's taste.  talking with each other about what they were going to add to it when they made it at home.  they were happy for some new ideas to add to their regular shopping and cooking routine.  i was happy to cook and serve food to women making life better for themselves. hell, i was happy to cook and serve food. 
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spaghetti with spinach & eggs (adapted from time for dinner)
spaghetti, prepared according to package directions
eggs, one for each eater
spinach or chard
olive oil
garlic, minced
salt
pepper
parmesan
hot sauce
prepare pasta, meanwhile fry an egg for each eater.  toss hot pasta with spinach, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.  cook on low until spinach is wilted.  place in bowls and make a well with pasta.  place an egg in each "well", top with parmesan and hot sauce.

case of the mondays + fat tuesday

the rain is making me sleepy and totally unmotivated.  however, i have managed to stick to hendrix's new routine and it is only 8 am on monday morning.  that may be the only thing i accomplish today...and i am okay with that.  hendrix is going to be three soon and with that he has been going through a rough stage of absolute disobediance.  sometimes it is funny (in retrospect)...like when he says "i was being rude" after smearing non water soluble diaper cream all over himself and his belongings.  other times, not so much...like when he drops to the floor in the store and screams "NO" like a pyscho.  so, yeah, we are trying more routine and reward for good behavior.  immediate, tangible consequences for the naughtiness.  hendrix is a good kid 95% of the time.  but, man oh man, does that other 5% really wear me out. i dowloaded this chore chart.  i like it because it is simple enough for him to look at and understand.  also, it highlights the basics that i wanted him and i to work on.
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tomorrow is fat tuesday, so i thought i would share one of my favorite, slow cooker recipes. get some confetti and celebrate with these yummy recipes.
Jambalaya
3 pounds Whole Chicken, Cut Up
1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Diced Tomatoes
1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Chicken Broth
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
2 cups French Fried Onions
¼ cups Hot Sauce
2 cloves Garlic Chopped
2 teaspoons Old Bay Seafood Seasoning
1-½ teaspoon Dried Oregano Leaves
¾ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
1 cup Uncooked Regular Rice
1 pound Shrimp, Peeled And Deveined
Combine chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, green pepper, 1 cup of French Fried Onions, hot sauce, garlic, seafood seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours.
Remove the chicken bones. Stir, if you’d like (shredding the chicken in the process). Stir in the rice and cook on low for about 1 1/2 hours or until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked.
Turn slow cooker to high and add the shrimp. Cook for 1/2 hour or until shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup French Fried Onions when all done. Enjoy!
*You can just thrown in thawed, pre-cooked frozen shrimp, too.
*If you are making this when your gardens are thriving feel free to use fresh tomatoes, just add some extras all smushed up for their juice.

and for dessert, try this wonderfully easy & delicious recipe inspired from here.
Chocolate Pie
1 chocolate cookie crust, premade (found in baking section)
1 (12 oz) bag of semisweet chocolate chips
1 can of coconut milk, light works great
melt bag of chocolate chips, careful not to scorch the chocolate.  once melted, immediately pour into blender with coconut milk.  blend for a few muntues until completey smooth and blended.  pour into pie crust and let cool & set in fridge for at least four hours or overnight,  serve with whip cream, if you like

i am off to come to terms with my lenten sacrifice...sweets.  i got a sugar problem.  the problem is that i love baking and eating the deliciousness.  i got to stop before i get the diabetes at age 35.
enjoy your monday and i'll see you on wednesday with a full report on tomorrow's cooking class at the heart ministry center.

put it in a......

pinterest is like porn for a gardener right now.  everyone is pinning garden ideas, tips, and pictures of beautiful containers growing beautiful food.  my experience tells me some of these ideas will actually grow food.  some won't.  my experience also tells me that it is february...and my don't we have big plans in february.  we still have big plans in april, may, and june when we are planting.  then july and august come with their oppressive heat, giant mosquitoes, and vacation plans.  and the garden of our dreams is in the weeds. literally.  so let us take a tour of some these beautiful pinterest ideas and see what works, shall we?
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theme gardens...i am a big fan.  especially for the kiddos.  who doesn't like a pizza garden with eggplant,basil, tomatoes, oregano, and peppers.  but this. THIS is genius. i present to you: the BLOODY MARY GARDEN.  container theme gardens are great and totally doable. just be sure to plant in containers large enough and if growing tomatoes...try sticking with "bush varieties" they usually stop at about 3 feet or cherry tomatoes that vine. also a bigger container will require less watering.

found on sunset via pinterest

gutter gardens!! i absolutely love the idea and the design of these gardens.  they would be wonderful for greens, green onions, and smaller type veggies.  my concern is how they are attached to the side of the house.  i believe they are attached by screwing into the house.  since, you are going to have to water your veggies and a lot because of the small size...i am afraid you are going to cause water damage to your house.  unless, there is a way to water seal your house...i would not recommend this type of container gardening, sadly.

found on lifehacker via pinterest


hanging baskets are beautiful, but have you considered growing your daily salad in one?   greens, cherry tomatoes, herbs, sweet peas, mini cucumbers, and strawberries are all wonderful options. wire baskets with moss liners or the moist, loose moss are your best options and you want to take into account the weight of your container once all the soil, water, and plants are in it when deciding where to hang it.  also, hanging containers are going to require daily (sometimes 2x a day) watering. they are great and  it is easy to bring them inside if frost is imminent.  as in any type of gardening, planning out your hanging basket before planting will ensure a beautiful and bountiful basket.

found at myhangingbaskets via pinterest



it was bound to happen...the pallet garden.  pallets are also everywhere on pinterest.  i happen to have about 14 pallets waiting for a home.  perhaps, i will put some to use doing this cute container garden.  pallets will really only work for herbs and flowers.  just cover three sides with landscape fabric (using a staple gun), fill with potting soil, and plant.  be sure to allow your pallet to lay flat for a couple of days to ensure the plants get settled and don't fall out.  again, daily watering will be neccessary.  i think this is super cute and doable.  you could even paint ot decorate it.  perfect for someone who really just wants herbs.

found on greenupgrader via pinterest

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as i mentioned last week, i believe that anyone can grow food. and i believe that is where the real food movement should be.  over the next few weeks, until the planting & growing season begin, i am going to hold a virtual gardening clinic here every friday.  after i share what i know...i will then feature your questions and your gardens on here.  let's help each other become better growers and better eaters.
so every week you can check here on friday for tips, how to, recipes, ways to preserve your bounty, and innovative ideas for your garden.  i will be your guide in getting you set up with first garden or helping hone your skills.  you can be your own grower.  and, yes, we will talk A LOT about container gardening. so if you want to grow food and you live an house or an apartment with a sunny spot...check here on fridays for gardening clinic.

cheap chick

it took me a long time to figure this out...

and i am still learning.  prior to the best surprise of my life (aka hendrix) i was an overindulgent party girl idiot...then hello, wake up call!!  now i love to save and score things on the cheap.  part of the fun of planning our wedding was seeing how cheap i could do it.  and if i do say so myself, i did pretty darn good.  in fact, most of things i enjoy stemmed from trying to save money...cooking, gardening, crafting, decorating our house.
when mike and i first got together we ate out quite a bit, but then i started to experiment more in the kitchen.  cooking is always more fun when you are cooking for someone else.  then came pregnancy and baby...so did grocery budgeting and with it, the wonderful discovery of aldi.  god, i love that store.  we eat pretty good around here for about $80/week thanks to that store and my meal planning.
i started gardening when i planted some herbs in containers on my apartment balcony.  my cooking was getting more sophisticated (i.e. going from warming ragu up to making pantry marinara in bulk) so herbs were just what i needed, but they are so expensive at the grocery store.  so one day i saw some herb plants on sale and i was gardening in no time.  meeting mike really brought my gardening to the next level.  our old house had the best dirt.  i loved that garden.  thankfully, it is now our rental property so i still get to visit. 
with the wedding came a lot of diy projects...really bringing out the inner crafter.  i have always liked creating and building.  it is one of the reasons i chose to study architecture in college, but man did that wedding light a fire in me.  i am hooked on making free shit look good. 
actually, i love anything free.  for instance, i painted the whole inside of our house for free. most of our stuff is thrifted, free, or from a garage sale and you know what? i like it that way. 
i simply cannot imagine walking into nebraska furniture mart and getting a matching bedroom set.  first, i would feel like a poser.  second, i don't like matchy matchy. third, the sticker shock would just be too much.  oh, and a pet or kid would promptly scratch it the moment we brought it home.
how the hell did this happen to me?  how the hell did this former boutique worker get hooked on FREE? a surprise baby and a bad economy, i suppose.
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here are some of my favorite spots to score a deal:
aldi (groceries)
new life thrift (everything)
restore (hardware/lighting)
under the sink (free paint/household cleaners)
hobby lobby (craft supplies)
menards (hardware)
super saver (bulk beans + grains)
target (diapers)
joe's collectibles
big wheels to butterflies (check out the last chance store, too)
dollar general (cleaning supplies/kitchen toiletries/party supplies/art & craft supplies)
ace hardware (hardware/plants)
qc supply (gardening supplies)
cirians (plants)
garage sales

what about you, do you like scoring a deal? what are your secrets?

2325 sack lunches to Omaha youth, 1100 people helped with clothing assistance

those numbers are just a few of the things the heart ministry center pulled off in january.  yes, in one month HMC helped that many people.  now you know why i won't shut up about how awesome they are!!  i was lucky enough to spend some time there last week. it was wonderfully eye opening.  i met some awesome people and am going back to teach a cooking class (finally!) to their women in the pathway program.  ericka, the pathway coordinator, asked me to focus on freezer meals, once a month cooking, meal planning, and budgeting.   these are especially important for the women to learn since most are on food assistance.  the pathway program's main goal is to help the women become self sufficient. so when these women find jobs/get better jobs, the hope is this class, will arm them with the knowledge and ability to budget and meal plan and it won't be so hard to acclimate to losing some of their food assistance.  i want the recipes to be easy, fast, and all the ingredients to be relatively inexpensive, that can be found at any grocery store.  it should also be noted that these women have voluntarily joined the pathway program and chose to attend these classes.  this goes back to what i was saying about people really wanting to learn how to cook and garden. the women are making the choice to make life better for themselves and for their children.  sometimes without the support of  their families. 

i have come up with some freezer friendly meals for breakfast & dinner.  they are:
apricot french toast served with cottage cheese
whole wheat berry pancakes
egg "cups" (those egg meals in a muffin tin all over pinterest)
quiches
lasagnas
minestrone
chili
enchiladas

then for lunches i was going to recommend making big batches of the following, once a week.  inspired from this post. they can also be served as a side at dinner:
lentils
black beans, rice, and spinach
ravolis (the frozen kind, prepared)
hard boiled eggs
black eyed peas (see recipe below)

for some cheap, quick, & easy meals i was going to talk about...
roasting
tacos
grilled cheeses and all the variations
soups + stews

for kid -friendly, but not totally gross meals....
homemade mac + cheese with veggies
mexican "pizza"
homemade whoppers (with ground turkey, whole wheat buns) and sweet potato fries)
spaghetti and eggs (linguine + spinach with fried egg, hot sauce, and parmesan on top)
runza casserole
appetizers for dinner (cheese, fruit, hummus, veggies)
pizza

what do you all think? anything i am totally missing? please share any recipes, tips, or ideas that you have with me. i want to really set the women up for success in the kitchen, for it to be fun, and for the kids to get into it, too.
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black eyed peas with leeks (+ variations) inspired by 101 cookbooks 
-- total cost: less than $6, enough for several lunches or as a side to one dinner and as the main dish for a couple lunches
1/2 lb. dried black eyed peas, prepared
3 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
olive oil
butter
juice from 1/2 lemon
salt & pepper
small handful, fresh or dried herbs (parsley, tarragon, marjoram are good choices)
heat olive oil + butter in skillet, add leeks and cook until almost caramelized.  add leeks to warmed blackeyed peas.  season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and herbs.  add more olive oil if too dry looking. serve warm and enjoy.
*great with beef kielbasa or apple chicken sausages stirred in
*make a light soup by adding to veg or chicken broth
*put a poached egg on it
*beautiful with a roasted chicken
*easy protein for a kids lunchbox
* berries are tasty alongside