(Via washingtonpost.com - A Cook's Garden by Barbara Damrosch)

Posted by admin to 'Little, Big, Defense, Squash', in, of on 2007-08-29, 20:00:00

If growing a giant pumpkin makes a gardener look like a hero, why does growing a giant zucchini make her look like an idiot?

(Via washingtonpost.com - A Cook's Garden by Barbara Damrosch)

Posted by admin to 'Little, Farmers', Helpers, Killdeer: on 2007-04-25, 20:00:00

Some birds are so much a part of farm life they're considered co-workers. A fortunate barn has barn owls to feast on grain-nibbling mice. Or barn swallows, patrolling for mosquitoes. In spring, killdeer, a type of plover, skitter across newly tilled fields and gardens in search of caterpillars, worms, grasshoppers and bugs. Strictly ground-feeders, they depend on wide-open spaces where insects are easy to find. Even mowed lawns attract them. They seem to profit from human company, which tends to deter foxes and other shy predators. The birds consume their share of garden pests in return.

(Via washingtonpost.com - A Cook's Garden by Barbara Damrosch)

Posted by admin to 'Little, A, Beets, Guilt, The, Winter, With on 2007-01-17, 21:00:00

My sister proudly served a dish on Christmas day that she called "Al Gore Quiche." That it contained leeks, broccoli, spinach and flat parsley was not remarkable, but the fact that all of these ingredients came fresh from her Vermont garden was a Christmas miracle. In a normal year her plot would be frozen ground, covered with snow. "I'm also harvesting carrots, kale, beets and Brussels sprouts," she crowed.