Summer Newsletter - 2010

Summer Newsletter - 2010

Favorite Recipe:
Traditional Chimichurri


Ingredients:
• 1 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 Tbsp. fresh oregano
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 to 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Directions:

Note: Traditional Chimichurri must be made at least an hour before serving.

Put parsley, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and vinegar into a blender or food processor and process until it becomes a coarse paste. Use a rubber spatula to scrape mixture into a bowl or other container. Stir in olive oil; add salt and pepper. Let sit for at least 1 hour before serving.
Excellent with grilled meats. We especially like to serve it over flat iron steaks and grilled bread.


Seasonal Tasks


- Fertilize heavy feeders, like roses, only until late July.
- Monitor moisture and water plants as needed. The landscape need up to 2” of water each week depending on water conditions.

- Pinch perennials after flowering to encourage re-bloom, until July 15.
- Remove spent blooms and deadhead annuals and as needed.
- Avoid pruning woody plants unless absolutely necessary. Trim foundation plants lightly as needed.
- Continue to weed beds, being sure to remove weeds before they set seeds.
- Monitor plants for pest and disease. Mildew, aphids and black-spot are most common in summer.
- To avoid scalping the lawn, raise the mower deck during hot weather, growth slows during summer.
- Dig and divide perennials to avoid overcrowding. Plant extras where needed or share with friends.
- Stake and prune tomatoes to increase productivity. Fertilize with a slow release organic 5-10-5.
- Remove flower buds from basil to prolong lifespan.


Vegetable Gardens

Cost, health and variety – there are plenty of reasons to grow your own food. A garden can be a rewarding way to provide fresh, flavorful and unique ingredients personalized to your taste.

Good Looks, Great Taste
By Sharon A. Shaw

There are a number of foods that the home gardener can grow. Herbs can be incorporated into ornamental plantings areas or given their own dedicated space. Vegetables such as, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and eggplant are successful in easy to tend raised beds and for those with plenty of space, fruit trees and shrubs are a beautiful addition to the landscape. Even if you don't have space for a kitchen garden, beautiful small patio pots can yield a big harvest. Tomatoes, herbs and strawberries are all well suited to container gardens.

A vegetable or herb garden should be easy to access. A location close to a door near the kitchen is ideal. These gardens need full sun and plenty of water. Select a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight and is easy to reach with a hose for irrigation. Food production requires a nutrient rich soil. Fill the beds with a loose organic mix and supplement it annually with compost. It is easy to make you own by combining kitchen scraps and yard waste. Consider including an attractive bin for collection.

Some additional care is needed to produce a successful crop. Weeding is required but can be minimized by the use of straw mulch around the plants. Pests such as insects, disease and animals will all compete for your harvest. A fence 6’ above ground and 18” below will deter deer as well as burrowing animals such as rabbits and groundhogs. Consider draping fruit trees and shrubs with netting to discourage theft from birds. There are organic options available for most insects and disease. Avoid using chemical fertilizers or treatments on any plant you intend to eat.

Vegetable and herb gardens will work well in a formal design. Straight rows, geometric paths and raised beds allow easy access for care and harvest. These gardens can be both functional and beautiful with decorative pathways constructed of crushed gravel, bluestone or brick. The central axis of paths is an excellent location to feature a focal point such as a statue, sundial or fountain. Stone walls are a sturdy and attractive material for constructing the raised beds. These designs are equally well suited to traditional and contemporary landscapes. Details such as fence type, pathway pattern and bed arrangement can be designed to suit a variety of styles.

Fruit trees and shrubs can be planted in a formal orchard or incorporated into naturalized areas of the landscape. In addition to producing fruit, blueberries have vibrant fall foliage and the blossoms of apple and cherry are beautiful in the spring. Herbs and even edible flowers, like Nasturtiums, can be added to perennial beds for their color and texture. The foliage of herbs like Purple Basil, bronze Fennel and variegated Sage are beautiful variations of the traditional flavors.

Some vegetables are also known for their ornamental beauty. ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard has brilliantly colorful stems. Heirloom tomatoes such as "Green Zebra", "Black Krim" and "Yellow Pear" yield fruit that is as unusual as their names suggest. Pepper plants are available in the same rainbow of colors seen in the market, while the purple cauliflower "Graffiti" is rarely seen beyond home gardens.

Kids also enjoy participating in vegetable gardening. Quick growing seeds such as Sunflowers are a rewarding way to introduce kids to the garden. Pole beans grown on bamboo supports can create tee-pees to hide in and the pride of growing their own Halloween pumpkin may coax even the most reluctant kids to try eating the other vegetables they grew.

Including a table in the kitchen garden will allow space to sort and clean produce and create an inspiring spot to cook and dine. Locate a kitchen garden close to the grill and you will never be without the right ingredients for a delicious meal. A kitchen garden can be a beautiful way to add more fruits and vegetables to your life.

Taste is of course the ultimate reason for growing your own food. The flavor of a fresh tomato from your own garden is incomparable to anything found in the grocery aisle. Growing your own produce allows you increased access to the ingredients you use most and the freedom to select unusual varieties. Growing your own vegetables puts a world of flavors just outside your door.