Grow What You Like to Eat

As you peruse garden catalogs and search for seeds for the upcoming season, consider growing all the things you like to eat.

If you enjoy dumplings, garlic chives are a must-have for this delicious steamed or pan-fried Chinese staple.

Try Vietnamese coriander, an aromatic herb, that enlivens noodle bowls and stir fry.

Raw spearmint leaves that are tucked into Vietnamese summer rolls bring fragrance as well as a refreshing flavor. Chili peppers add mouth-watering heat to many dishes. 

Growing more herbs is not the only thing we have been recommending.  Adding flowers to your dishes for some spicy deliciousness.

I also have a saying “never eat the same salad twice.” Adding a pinch of this, a leaf of that can change your salad-eating experience. Flowers not only add color to salads; many blooms pack a flavorful punch.

Try this salad recipe:
1 baby zucchini, thinly shaved
Several stalks of fresh asparagus shaved
A pinch of baby beet greens, arugula, parsley, green fennel greens, mâche, baby lettuce
Herb of your choice
1 soft-boiled egg
Grana Padano (a hard cheese) shavings
Nasturtium flowers
Dress with a drizzle of your favorite vinegar, good oil, salt, and pepper.

 -Gia

Gardening in the Off Season

We have barely passed the winter solstice. With each passing day, the PNW gets 1-2 mins more of daylight.  By the time May 1st, our cultivation deadline, the sun will rise at approximately 5:50 a.m. and set at 8:22 p.m. BUT, May 1st is still 4 months away.  What is one to do before May 1st?

Option 1: Collect, read, study, seed catalogs.

Option 2: As spring approaches, early bulbs like snowdrops start rearing their little heads.  Local gardens start their garden tours, here are some local gardens to check out.

https://www.kruckeberg.org/

https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/

https://bellevuebotanical.org/

Option 3: Wish for a sunny, warm day to visit your garden plot and do a bit of work on it.

Option 4:  Take some garden classes

http://www.mgfkc.org/education/growinggroceries/gg-classes-on-the-eastside

http://www.mgfkc.org/education/growinggroceries/gg-classes-in-seattle

http://www.tilthalliance.org/learn/learn/adultclasses

Option 5: Visit a local nursery and dream about spring

https://www.molbaks.com/

https://wellsmedinanursery.com/


However you spend your winter, we look forward to seeing you at our first work party, usually in the second week of April.