These days, finding both the energy and creativity for dinnertime meals is a bit of a challenge although I am sure I am not alone on this one. So, when a delicious, easy and quick meal springs forth from the deep recesses of a very tired and packed mind, it must be shared!
We will call this one Spicy Italian Chicken with Pasta - original, I know!
Ingredients:
2 good sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts - pounded thin
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg - beaten [with about 1 teaspoons of water]
4-5 tablespoons of freshly harvested and chopped oregano leaves
olive oil
1 small white onion
4-6 chopped garlic cloves
1 teaspoon of crushed red peppers
1 large [16 oz] can of diced plum tomatoes
1 oz red wine
packaged pasta [we used spaghetti noodles]
Cover the bottom of a saucepan with olive oil, adding the chopped garlic, onion, 2 teaspoons of oregano and crushed red peppers. Saute mixture over low heat for 15 min or so. Stir occasionally.
Meantime, pound the chicken breasts thin by placing between waxed paper and using rolling pin to take out daily frustrations - flatten the chicken to 1/2 in or thinner by pounding it [hey, who said you can't sneak in a little therapy time while cooking?]
Combine the bread crumbs and 2-4 teaspoons of freshly chopped oregano in shallow baking dish.
Dip the flattened chicken breasts in the egg wash and then into coat with oregano/bread crumb mixture.
In a skillet, cover the bottom with olive oil and when warmed, brown the oregano breaded chicken breasts about 5-7 minutes on each side.
Back to the saucepan, add your canned diced tomatoes, red wine and season with salt. Cook 5 min or so and when chicken has been browned on both sides, cover them with your tomato sauce.
Cover chicken with lid and simmer for 10 min or so.
Serve on a bed of cooked pasta. A bit of Parmesan cheese finishes it off right!
Truth be told, I can not believe how good dinner was! The best part was that it fed all five of us last night and made for three lunches, today! Not too bad for a just before payday, cupboards are a little bare, Mom is dead tired [grumpy & hungry] family dinner!
Were you looking for a picture? What can I say, did the dishes and went off to sleep. Maybe next time.
Enjoy the day and this delicious recipe!
Carrie-Anne
Rolling Hills Herbs & Annuals
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Edibles & Natives - Our Personal Story
You might think that because I am a grower by profession, my personal edible garden would be something straight out of Sunset Magazine or Better Homes and Gardens. Well, not quite.
Like most of us, setting aside the time to get into the garden can be a little challenging. Take last weekend for example. With my husband on board, we set out to plant our early Spring veggie garden. But instead, we found ourselves pulling weeds from other areas, transplanting plants that had been dwarfed by others, pruning, irrigating - all as we were trying to make our way to the garden patch to plant the "friends" we had personally grown and tended for months now!
As many of you know, we have a very large corner lot full of grass. When we moved in almost two years ago, we made the conscious decision to start eliminating lawn in favor of native and drought tolerant plants as well as plants that produce food. Hey, if you are going to pay for the water used to irrigate, you might as well get something tasty and be doing something good for the environment.
Immediately, we began our edible garden - in the front yard! [The back is for nursery growing]. We planted the orange, lemon, cherry, apple and two peach trees that we had containerized. We replaced lawn and ornamental with a mixed border of greens, herbs, edible annuals and perennials.
Connecting the edible side of our yard and the ornamental has been a process. We decided to utilize the sloped area that connects the two with a replica of a dry riverbed using a combination of lavender [which is edible and low water, once established] and native manzanita [which is great for slope stabilization]
Last fall, needing to get the manzanita and lavenders in this ground, we planted on this connecting slope while the grass was still in place. Although this is really not the best way to plant, I kind of like it. It allows something new go begin while the familiar stays in place - easing my eyes and our neighbors to what can quite often be a change that alters the landscape so severely, but in a good way!
Just last month, with the help of our friend Jorge, the grass surrounding our new plantings was finally removed. As I was trying to make my way past this area, on my way to plant our little gem lettuce, purple cauliflower, Calabrese broccoli and the first of our heirloom tomato plants, my husband got a little held up on the corner. I looked behind me and there he was laying down cardboard where the grass had been and covering it with fill dirt- a technique called lasagna layering - which I highly recommend for removing portions of lawn to create new beds. In short, the cardboard suffocates the grass, decomposes which encourages worm activity galore and you can have an instant new garden space in just a few hours!
We did make it to planting our garden that afternoon. We took out the beautiful mesclun, muzina and kale which we allowed to go to seed. We applied some of compost and pelleted chicken manure to the bed, digging it in about 2 inches. We added a few more lavender plants to the dry creek bed area, sweet lavender which looks like the English variety we all love but which actually does a bit better in our climate. We even added a gooseberry plant, tucked up near the top of the slope and then watered for a good long time using the "old fashioned" sprinkler we moved around several times.
I love to water this way, especially at the end of a good day in the garden. So, last weekend, I sat on the corner, under the giant sycamore on the portion of the lawn that is remaining and took in the view, my neighborhood and the garden itself.
Is our garden any closer to being one straight out of a magazine? I don't know, but it sure is working for us . The bonus, our neighbors don't seem to mind the missing grass and front yard full of vegetables.
This is good.
Enjoy the day!
Carrie-Anne
www.Rollinghillsherbs.com
Like most of us, setting aside the time to get into the garden can be a little challenging. Take last weekend for example. With my husband on board, we set out to plant our early Spring veggie garden. But instead, we found ourselves pulling weeds from other areas, transplanting plants that had been dwarfed by others, pruning, irrigating - all as we were trying to make our way to the garden patch to plant the "friends" we had personally grown and tended for months now!
As many of you know, we have a very large corner lot full of grass. When we moved in almost two years ago, we made the conscious decision to start eliminating lawn in favor of native and drought tolerant plants as well as plants that produce food. Hey, if you are going to pay for the water used to irrigate, you might as well get something tasty and be doing something good for the environment.
Immediately, we began our edible garden - in the front yard! [The back is for nursery growing]. We planted the orange, lemon, cherry, apple and two peach trees that we had containerized. We replaced lawn and ornamental with a mixed border of greens, herbs, edible annuals and perennials.
Connecting the edible side of our yard and the ornamental has been a process. We decided to utilize the sloped area that connects the two with a replica of a dry riverbed using a combination of lavender [which is edible and low water, once established] and native manzanita [which is great for slope stabilization]
Last fall, needing to get the manzanita and lavenders in this ground, we planted on this connecting slope while the grass was still in place. Although this is really not the best way to plant, I kind of like it. It allows something new go begin while the familiar stays in place - easing my eyes and our neighbors to what can quite often be a change that alters the landscape so severely, but in a good way!
Just last month, with the help of our friend Jorge, the grass surrounding our new plantings was finally removed. As I was trying to make my way past this area, on my way to plant our little gem lettuce, purple cauliflower, Calabrese broccoli and the first of our heirloom tomato plants, my husband got a little held up on the corner. I looked behind me and there he was laying down cardboard where the grass had been and covering it with fill dirt- a technique called lasagna layering - which I highly recommend for removing portions of lawn to create new beds. In short, the cardboard suffocates the grass, decomposes which encourages worm activity galore and you can have an instant new garden space in just a few hours!
We did make it to planting our garden that afternoon. We took out the beautiful mesclun, muzina and kale which we allowed to go to seed. We applied some of compost and pelleted chicken manure to the bed, digging it in about 2 inches. We added a few more lavender plants to the dry creek bed area, sweet lavender which looks like the English variety we all love but which actually does a bit better in our climate. We even added a gooseberry plant, tucked up near the top of the slope and then watered for a good long time using the "old fashioned" sprinkler we moved around several times.
I love to water this way, especially at the end of a good day in the garden. So, last weekend, I sat on the corner, under the giant sycamore on the portion of the lawn that is remaining and took in the view, my neighborhood and the garden itself.
Is our garden any closer to being one straight out of a magazine? I don't know, but it sure is working for us . The bonus, our neighbors don't seem to mind the missing grass and front yard full of vegetables.
This is good.
Enjoy the day!
Carrie-Anne
www.Rollinghillsherbs.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Your Raised Veggie Garden
Well friends, Mother Nature has given those of us in sunny California the best gift we could ever ask for - the sun and warmth is back!
Don't get me wrong, I like the winter season, some. I like rain a little more. But what everyone who lives here really loves, is the warmth and the cloudless sky. We love wearing white year round along with our flip flop sandals. We like starting up our barbecues a little earlier than Memorial Day and we love being able to start our veggie gardens just about the time we set our clocks ahead.
As many of you know, Rolling Hills has returned to the local farmers market - the Thursday evening one here in our hometown of Redlands. Being back at the market is giving us a chance to visit with our community and learn of the triumphs and failures our neighbors have been experiencing in their home gardens. I am going to guess that no matter where you live, some of the stories are quite universal. Let's start with the raised beds.
For quite sometime, a big focus in vegetable gardening has been the use of a raised bed in place of the traditional "in the ground " garden. Let's face it, not all of us have the large open space our grandparents had for a vegetable garden. Swimming pools and water features have filled our backyards. Our landscapes have become polished ornamental features to accent our homes. Until quite recently, having a vegetable garden has not been all that fashionable in our mainstream culture. Even today, years into the greatest economic crisis of our time, the thought of planting strawberries in a front yard flower bed instead of using the cookie cutter annuals that can be found in any gasoline station landscape, still meets with some opposition.
Raised beds provide a unique opportunity for many. Gardening in this manner does not resemble our grandparent's gardens. It allows us to keep our gardens predominately ornamental, adding the raised bed as a functional accent to our existing landscape. Perhaps the greatest appeal is that the raised vegetable bed is a quintessential "weekend project" that families rally around. With some lumber, a few bags of potting soil and an arm full of herb and vegetable starters, by Sunday afternoon you can have a complete edible garden growing right before your eyes.
Well, kind of.
Sure, the gardens go in, they grow, flower and if lucky, there is some yield - just not the yield you are looking for. Guess what friends, it probably is not YOU! It is the soil you are using and the fertilizers you are not! So for everyone who has ever tried raised bed gardening or is thinking of it - here are our tips for growing your best garden - ever!
Location
Does the spot you are choosing get at least 6 hours of sunlight? Plants need sunlight to grow strong, resist pest and disease and to produce well. I recommend if possible to place your garden in a spot that is quite visible from inside the house - outside the kitchen window or even by the front door. Why? Because you see it. While they do grow for the most part on their own, when we can see our gardens, we notice when they need a little more [or less] water, when their color or size is not quite right. Seeing these early signs helps avoid the "oh my gosh, something is eating my plants" phase.
Soil
O.K. friends, "organic potting soil" is not soil. For small pots, it might be alright. But for growing in a raised bed container - we like the idea of building a bed about 2 feet high by 4 feet wide by 4-8 feet long [the length depends on your family size - family of 4+ use the larger size] using the existing dirt as the base from which you mix in enough compost [you can pick up a compost bin from most Cities and make your own] or use E.B. Stones Planting Compost and add some gentle, start-up fertilizer like E. B. Stone's Sure Start . You can find these awesome organic products at our own local nursery - Cherry Valley Nursery. Be sure to let them know we sent you [no, we do not get a commission but we also don't get to stop in and saw hello as often as we would like !] * a quick note, mark the calendar with the date you applied fertilizer so you will know exactly when to reapply.
Fertilize
Plants that give us a high yield, plants like tomato's and peppers for example need to be fed throughout their production cycle. We highly recommend E.B. Stone's organic tomato and vegetable food. Yes, other products help the plants grow nice and green and tall but at the cost of fruit production [too much nitrogen, not enough phosphorus]. Use this fertilizer when it is time to feed the garden following the initial application of sure start [the very gentle start up fertilizer] and reapply according to package directions [usually every 6 weeks during the growth season].
Water
This is where seeing your garden really comes in handy. Yes, you can drip irrigate at the base of your plants, which is a great way to conserve water and avoid leaf damage caused by spray - but we really encourage you to hand water. Why? Time spent in your garden is good for you and the plants! When you are watering, you can look for signs of despair. You can pick off bugs, pull weeds, pinch plants back to encourage growth. You can enjoy the colors, fragrance and feel of your plants. You can enjoy the taste of a warm, fresh strawberry or cherry tomato. Heck, the bed is pretty small so how long will it really take to water the garden? Besides, daily visits help decrease that Saturday morning spent only pulling weeds [hence why most of us do have some negative memory associated with the home vegetable garden - that and the darn tomato worms!]
So everybody, we hope you will enjoy the balmy weather we are having, along with the added evening sunlight and visit us this Thursday at market night. We have got the most beautiful heirloom lettuce, broccoli, kale and cauliflower starters along with an edible flower mix that will be as beautiful as it will be tasty when it blooms!
Enjoy the day!
Carrie-Anne
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Heidi
Today, I do not write of the garden. Instead, I write of Life and its predictable yet somber cycles.Yesterday, our family said goodbye to one of the dearest presences we have ever had in our life - our friend of over 6 years, Heidi.
Heidi came to live with us "temporarily" while her owners traveled to Japan for medical treatment. Heidi was 12 years young then. She drank coffee each morning and expected ice cream each evening. She was accustomed to long walks and laying on a blanket covered sofa. Heidi never knew she was a dog, that was until she came to live with us permanently.
We didn't choose her, she choose us. I guess she knew what she was doing. Joining a home of three children, 4 cats at the time and a home where we already had a dog could not have been easy given her age and life experience. She learned English, given her original families native tongue was Japanese. She was abruptly weaned off coffee, ice cream, sugar and grocery store dog food.
She was expected to go out side each day versus being an inside couch dog. She was expected to eat dinner each evening not from food passed under the table or off china but from actual dog food bowls. Despite her previous owners instructions, we did not always filter her water or walk her daily. We didn't brush her everyday either.
What we did do is love her with all of our heart. Despite faking being cold and not being able to hear us, we saw past all of this and we loved and accepted her. We realized that for her, living with us allowed her to genuinely have the life experience of being a dog. For us, she gave us love, protection, an opportunity to develop greater patience and compassion.
A few months ago, the signs of old age became undeniable. Heidi's hips hurt. Her sight diminished. Her hearing was even more selective. The most painful part was watching her mind slip further away. She acted erratic, circling or wandering sometimes for hours. Despite it all, she got up each day [although later and later] and spent them as close to us as she could.
Trying all we could to hold on and comfort her, we contacted Dr. Chauhan of East Valley Pet Hospital a couple of weeks ago. He and Jo came out and visited Heidi here at home. As you can imagine, the news was not unexpected but still no one ever wants to hear it. We decided on cortisone shots to help with the arthritis and while it was helpful, the Heidi we knew was fading.
Yesterday, I got Heidi ready for her follow up visit, prepared to continue with the cortisone treatment and perhaps have her nails clipped. I scheduled an appointment early enough in the day so that she could get in her full nap time. When we got to the Vet's office, I waited with her in the car, mindful that at her age the noise of the vet office might be just too much.
I left the appointment, alone.
Today, I am mindful of the gift Heidi was to me and our family. I am mindful of the loyalty and love we mutually shared. I am mindful of this journey called Life - how beautifully it begins and it must reach an end. I am reminded as I sit looking out over the nursery full of young annual plants that just a few weeks ago, were mere seeds - life is a series of cycles.
There is some comfort in that.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March and the Redlands Thursday Night Farmers Market
Hello friends, it has been awhile. I couldn't wait another day before sharing with you this beautiful sight. Amazingly enough, this is a picture of the flowers on our mesclun salad blend, now that it has gone to seed. Hints of spring are in the air which means many of the veggies in our fall and winter garden are ending their cycle. The muzina has put on brilliant yellow flowers and the bees could not be happier. Who knew late winter could be so beautiful in the garden?
Speaking of spring, the "garden fairy" has been working steady in the nursery sowing new seeds, thinning new sprouts, propagating, fertilizing and chasing off the bird kingdom who LOVE the young heirloom veggie plants. Yes, we have tried hanging old unused cd's about to chase off the birds - to no avail. So, this morning, we hung long strips of shinny, reflective "bird tape" in the mist of the growing racks. Already, the broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce are sighing in relief - we will keep you posted.
Here in the Inland Empire, our last chance of frost is just a couple of weeks away! YEAH! As growers, this signals easier times ahead, we hope. It signals the time when we swing into full gear - adding lots more tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, melons, eggplants and more to the nursery. Already, we have thessaloniki, beefsteak, red fig pear and cour di bue tomatoes growing strong. Purple beauty sweet peppers along with crenshaw, ananas and ogen melons are doing splendidly. Little gem and mesclun salad greens are fresh and happy not to mention all of the herbs - did I mention five varieties of basil are on the near horizon?
We are happy to announce that this Thursday will mark our springtime debut at the Redlands Farmers Market [State St 5:30-9pm]. Thanks to our dear friend and seamstress extraordinaire Debbie, we have newly made, custom sown table cloths for our display [we promise, no more plaid fabric - will stick to easier stuff next time]. We needed new table cloths because we have added two additional tables to our display in order to bring to market all of the new things we are growing.
Last year, when we made our market debut, we were certified growers of 25 different herbs and annuals. This year, we have added over 150 new plants to our certified inventory , including offering freshly cut herbs at the market along with our premium potted plants. We are very excited about this and we hope you will be, too! Look for us to reach our full swing about May/June although we will be bringing new items to market every single week. Some items will be in short supply and when they are gone - you may not see them until next year.
Well friends, I must get back to the nursery while the rains are just off in the horizon.
Enjoy the day and do think of stopping into the Farmers Market tomorrow evening to say hello.
Carrie-Anne
Friday, February 5, 2010
Do What You Love, Love What you Do
I am sure most of us have heard this phrase once or twice in our lifetime! Around our house, the dinner conversation has been taken over lately with talk of what our oldest, Isaac should consider studying as he enters college next year - and decides what " he wants to be" when he grows up.
I keep reminding Isaac to think of the things he has shown an interest in over the years - from the fascination he had from age 2 - 6 of catching and dismembering bugs. About 7, he started drawing detailed pencil sketches of the bugs [while they were still in tact] and lately, it has been a fascination with the art of legal arguing [I mean Mock Trial] in high school. I also remind him of the classes that have come easy to him - the stuff that you can just do without even really thinking about it. Come on, an A in AP Biology. That has to come from some natural talent!
I believe, with everything in me, if we really are interested in the stuff we do, we will not only stick with it, it will be a good thing for us! Take my professional life for example. In my early years, 18-27, I worked solely for the paycheck. Didn't really give much mind to what I did, as long as money was coming in. About age 28, that norm just didn't work for me - no matter how I tried. So, after an unsuccessful attempt at being a postal worker [my hats are off to all women who do well in this institution], I went to school and licensed in massage therapy.
I know, there is a bit jump from the postal worker to massage therapist. The string that tied it together was that in order for me to survive the stress of being in a job environment that was so out of my nature, I started using aromatherapy. My interest in aromatherapy lead me to license in touch therapy [massage] which lead me to study therapeutic nutrition and herbal medicine. For the next several years, I have studied various methods to help improve health and reduce stress including; yoga, breath work, and horticulture as therapy. Along the way, I founded an educational non-profit organization , the Redlands Aromatherapy Foundation, with a goal of empowering individuals to connect with green spaces, therapeutic gardens, holistic living in order to help improve their health and well-being.
Yes, this all looked good. And it was for awhile. But the funny thing was, along the way, I was no longer having fun. I was not loving what I was doing. Even though I was staying in the same ballpark career wise, I had misidentified what it really was about this journey I really loved. For years, I thought I loved helping people feel better and take charge of their own well-being using natural methods. The truth was, it was nature itself that I loved most.
For me, there is no better thing in life than the peace and well being I feel when I directly connect with nature! I love getting my hands in the dirt, spending the entire day outdoors in the sunlight and working in my garden. I love going outside to pick fresh herbs for my red pasta sauce and fresh sorrel and chard for the rosemary chicken soup! I love taking clippings from my "mother plants" to come back weeks later and see to see how many new plants I have. ,
I realize now, that every step I have been taking over the past 20 years has been leading me to what is now called Rolling Hills Herbs & Annuals. And while I no longer provide people with the service of a lavender, clary sage and chamomile based reflexology or massage therapy session, I am still honoring my passion of helping others feel better - now the experience comes through the plants our nursery provides.
I know that when you plant these plants, you will smell their transporting fragrance. I know you will be outside getting fresh air, exercise and sunlight [some of the most important tools we have in experiencing greater health and well-being]. I know that like me, your mind will quiet for a bit as you listen to the sounds of nature as you send time in your garden. I know that you will feel the amazing sense that all is well as you soak in a hot bath, full of the fresh, fragrant, heavenly herbs and flowers you have grown.
I know that when you plant a vegetable garden rich in variety, you will eat more nutritiously. I know that when you grow your own food, you will be more inclined to eat more fresh fruits and veggies. I know that instead of trying to get your nutrition in a pill, you will be taking it in the way nature intended. I also know that when we grown ups embrace a healthy lifestyle, we teach our children [and even their friends] a healthy alternative to the lifestyle so common these days! Life is really better in so many ways!
So, while you are enjoying your days filled with all the gifts of nature, know that I will be enjoying my bliss filled work days spent sowing more heirloom seeds, rooting more cuttings, soaking up the sun and listening to the sounds of the birds! I am deeply thankful to be at a place in my life where I am truly doing what I love and loving what I do!
Last but not least - thank you to our very 1st blog follower - you have made this day so more beautiful!
Enjoy the day!
Carrie-Anne
Grower, Rolling Hills Herbs & Annuals
http://www.rollinghillsherbs.com/
I keep reminding Isaac to think of the things he has shown an interest in over the years - from the fascination he had from age 2 - 6 of catching and dismembering bugs. About 7, he started drawing detailed pencil sketches of the bugs [while they were still in tact] and lately, it has been a fascination with the art of legal arguing [I mean Mock Trial] in high school. I also remind him of the classes that have come easy to him - the stuff that you can just do without even really thinking about it. Come on, an A in AP Biology. That has to come from some natural talent!
I believe, with everything in me, if we really are interested in the stuff we do, we will not only stick with it, it will be a good thing for us! Take my professional life for example. In my early years, 18-27, I worked solely for the paycheck. Didn't really give much mind to what I did, as long as money was coming in. About age 28, that norm just didn't work for me - no matter how I tried. So, after an unsuccessful attempt at being a postal worker [my hats are off to all women who do well in this institution], I went to school and licensed in massage therapy.
I know, there is a bit jump from the postal worker to massage therapist. The string that tied it together was that in order for me to survive the stress of being in a job environment that was so out of my nature, I started using aromatherapy. My interest in aromatherapy lead me to license in touch therapy [massage] which lead me to study therapeutic nutrition and herbal medicine. For the next several years, I have studied various methods to help improve health and reduce stress including; yoga, breath work, and horticulture as therapy. Along the way, I founded an educational non-profit organization , the Redlands Aromatherapy Foundation, with a goal of empowering individuals to connect with green spaces, therapeutic gardens, holistic living in order to help improve their health and well-being.
Yes, this all looked good. And it was for awhile. But the funny thing was, along the way, I was no longer having fun. I was not loving what I was doing. Even though I was staying in the same ballpark career wise, I had misidentified what it really was about this journey I really loved. For years, I thought I loved helping people feel better and take charge of their own well-being using natural methods. The truth was, it was nature itself that I loved most.
For me, there is no better thing in life than the peace and well being I feel when I directly connect with nature! I love getting my hands in the dirt, spending the entire day outdoors in the sunlight and working in my garden. I love going outside to pick fresh herbs for my red pasta sauce and fresh sorrel and chard for the rosemary chicken soup! I love taking clippings from my "mother plants" to come back weeks later and see to see how many new plants I have. ,
I realize now, that every step I have been taking over the past 20 years has been leading me to what is now called Rolling Hills Herbs & Annuals. And while I no longer provide people with the service of a lavender, clary sage and chamomile based reflexology or massage therapy session, I am still honoring my passion of helping others feel better - now the experience comes through the plants our nursery provides.
I know that when you plant these plants, you will smell their transporting fragrance. I know you will be outside getting fresh air, exercise and sunlight [some of the most important tools we have in experiencing greater health and well-being]. I know that like me, your mind will quiet for a bit as you listen to the sounds of nature as you send time in your garden. I know that you will feel the amazing sense that all is well as you soak in a hot bath, full of the fresh, fragrant, heavenly herbs and flowers you have grown.
I know that when you plant a vegetable garden rich in variety, you will eat more nutritiously. I know that when you grow your own food, you will be more inclined to eat more fresh fruits and veggies. I know that instead of trying to get your nutrition in a pill, you will be taking it in the way nature intended. I also know that when we grown ups embrace a healthy lifestyle, we teach our children [and even their friends] a healthy alternative to the lifestyle so common these days! Life is really better in so many ways!
So, while you are enjoying your days filled with all the gifts of nature, know that I will be enjoying my bliss filled work days spent sowing more heirloom seeds, rooting more cuttings, soaking up the sun and listening to the sounds of the birds! I am deeply thankful to be at a place in my life where I am truly doing what I love and loving what I do!
Last but not least - thank you to our very 1st blog follower - you have made this day so more beautiful!
Enjoy the day!
Carrie-Anne
Grower, Rolling Hills Herbs & Annuals
http://www.rollinghillsherbs.com/
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Growing Lettuce
This one is for Amy. A little birdie told me you are interested in growing lots of yummy lettuce for your family and wanted a few pointers.
First off, let me say that growing lettuce is one of my favorite things to grow. Why? Because almost everyone eats lettuce! Sure, some may only eat it shredded on a taco or leafed on a turkey-burger, but hey, they do eat eat it. And when you are growing something, don't you want everyone to actually eat what you grow! Try that with red veined sorrel. I'll let you know when my family eats it by choice [right now it is part of their "salad" and in winter soups as "spinach"]. I have faith. Actually, I have a lot of determination!
So, back to lettuce. Lettuce is an annual which means it grows fast. Most can be eaten in as little as 28 days - the baby leaves. The average maturity for lettuce is about 55 days, so a little less than two months. The great thing about lettuce is that when you take a knife and cut about two inches above the soil and crown of the plant many varieties will regrow to give you not one, not two but sometimes three full harvests!
Sure, once you have harvested the big, round beautiful head of romaine what grows back is seldom as splendid, but who cares. It is lettuce that we grew - lettuce just waiting for us to use whenever and however we choose! Now that is a real mothers helper - especially at 5:00 pm and there's some school/pta/church function at 6:00!
As for growing lettuce, you need at least 6 hours of sun, regular water, good amended soil and to plant varieties that are suitable for our climate and the season. Most lettuce can be grown successfully in our area in the spring , when temperatures are cooler and weather is more mild. This spring, we are offering the European Mesclun Salad Mix, Little Gem Romaine & May Queen Butterhead heirloom varieties. And since many varieties of lettuce really don't like our summer heat and "bolt" very quickly, we are growing the Mignonette Bronze, Mervielle des Quatre Saisans & Little Gem varieties . On that note, a shade cloth can be your gardens very best friend in the summer, to help protect the leaf/tips of your lettuce no matter the variety.
About soil. Many of you know I can write you a term paper all about the composition of soil, but I don't think that topic is as much fun for you as it is for me. But sorry to say folks, if you want to have the biggest, best tasting, most nutrient dense crops, you are gonna need to know something about soil. You just can't avoid it although many people do try!
To be as brief and concise as I can - COMPOST! For those of you who already have and do compost - not too much needs to be said [although I would keep my eyes open for something to be said at a later date in a upcoming blog!]. For everyone else - may I suggest a road trip to Cherry Valley Nursery in Beaumont to pick up bagged organic compost by E.B. Stone. Add enough to give your veggie bed a good two inches of compost, being sure to dig in in lightly to the existing soil [a couple of inches will do!]
Why add compost? When you are growing veggies, especially lettuce which can be placed tightly in a bed, you must pay extra attention to making sure the soil is very fertile since you are feeding your plants directly from this soil! A soil rich in nutrients [and air pockets, now that you have dug down a bit] allows for roots to grow strongly which leads to healthy, happy, tasty plants for you! It can also mean less pesky bugs since healthy plants [which come from happy soil] don't seem to attract harmful pests like the unhealthy ones do].
In my garden, I like to combine my lettuces from the romaine-types to the oak leaf varieties. I adore the texture, color and form a mixed border has. I do insist though that the placement of the lettuces be in the front of the bed. Chances are, I will be wandering out to pick lettuce in the dark at some point and access is key! [not to mention why night crawlers are called that! - yuck!] . I try to give each lettuce starter a circumference of about 6-7 inches so they can stretch out a bit.
To keep the family stocked in lettuce, it's a good idea to successively plant through out the season. Simply put, start some new lettuce weekly so you can rotate harvesting from the oldest to the youngest. Don't forget to change it up a bit with harvesting a little from here and a little from there. Baby leaves are yummy, too!
Be sure to water your veggies thoroughly! I still love to stand there with a hose and water my garden. I get out of the house and loose myself in the garden. Best part is, no one really comes to look for me there!
So, here's to your best lettuce ever, Amy! By the way, I was thinking. Maybe one day this spring you all would like to swing by and we could plant some veggies together. Sometimes hands on is best! Let me know what you think Cparker@rollinghillsherbs.com .
Enjoy the day!
Carrie-Anne
Carrie-Anne Parker
Grower, Rolling Hills Herbs & Annuals
plants available now at Olive Avenue Market, Redlands. Ca
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