Walking into the markets here in Barcelona, Spain, I am welcomed to find an array of seasonal fruit, from three kinds of watermelon to cantaloupe and late-harvest cherries. Strawberries were on the shelves in late June, but as August rolls into September the last of the summer stone fruits make their appearance, getting ready for autumn’s harvest.
Sustainable gardening is a green-gardening practice that is quickly increasing in modern popularity. The whole concept wrapped around the idea of sustainable gardening is eco-harmony. Sustainable gardening means working with nature and the environment, and not against it. By being conscious of how you impact the environment and preserve our earth’s resources when gardening, you are greatly contributing to the harmony and balance of this planet.
Organic garlic and organic onion are valuable herbs that benefit the body, add flavor to foods and are well known for their healing qualities. They are both members of the allium family, among chives, shallots, and leeks. They are one of the oldest and easiest plants to grow and have been cultivated for millennia. It is said that both garlic and onions originated in Asia but onions and garlic grew wild in the Americas and were popular long before Europeans arrived. Onions were regarded as a god in ancient Egypt – because of an onion’s many layers, it symbolized life.
Quinoa, pronounced “keen-wah”, originated in the area of Chile and Peru and flourishes in altitudes from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. It is a fruit of the family Chenopodium and is an annual herb with seeds growing in clusters at the top of the stalk, much like millet. The native peoples used the seeds for cereal, in cakes and brewed into a beer; the leaves were eaten much like spinach. It was the second most cultivated crop in the native cultures and highly valued for its protein and high nutritional content.
If you’ve ever grown your own food, you understand the hard work that goes into it. One of the things you never want to see is your harvest go to waste. Believe me, I know the sorrow of not being able to figure out what to do with my harvest fast enough before it is no longer fresh. On the flip side, this circumstance has really encouraged me to learn and try out different ideas for preserving whatever I grew. And now I am here to share them with you! Here are five ideas to preserve your garden harvest.
A native of India, organic sesame seed is rich in vitamins and minerals and has been used as a healing herb for millennia. The plant is a tall annual of the Pedaliaceae family growing up to five feet and bearing pink-white foxglove-like flowers. The pods contain white, brown or black seeds arranged in vertical rows. The plant flourishes in well-drained sandy soil in a tropical climate and can be found throughout Asia and Africa. Though not used as extensively in Europe, the plant found its way to America with the slave traders and has been cultivated in the Carolinas.
The avocado tree is a member of the laurel family and was first cultivated somewhere in Central America 7,000 years ago, making its way to Mexico some 2,000 years later. By the late 15th century it could be found as far south as Peru where it is known as “palta.” The English term avocado was derived from the Spanish translation of the Aztec name “ahuacatl” -- their nomenclature was “aguacate.” The original fruit was round in shape but as it was cultivated it became pear shaped. It is said to have arrived in the West Indies after the arrival of the Europeans in the Americas.
Basil, for you and your garden
From salads to herbal uses to home remedies – basil is one plant brimming with all the goodness of nature. Here’s why it should be in your garden…
The pomegranate is native to Iran and grows wild there today. It was first cultivated approximately 6,000 years ago. Because it is a hearty fruit that is easily transported, it soon became known in regions where it could not be grown. It was recorded in the Bible and Greek writings, was popular in ancient Egypt and has been prized in India since the 1st century. The fruit was used medicinally in ancient times and early practitioners divided the fruit into three juice types: sweet, winey and acid.
Coconuts are a rich source of nutrients that have a myriad of applications. There are just as many ways they can be prepared. The nomenclature coconut is confusing because it is not a nut at all, but instead a drupe or fruit that has three layers: an outer layer that is smooth and green, a fleshy middle layer that is fibrous and a hard, and a woody layer that surrounds the seed. This third layer is what we find at the market. The origin of the coconut is somewhat mysterious. One theory is that it was first found growing in India.