History of Sweet Corn and Recipes By Engrid Winslow “The first ear of corn, eaten like a typewriter, means summer to me—intense, but fleeting.” ― Michael Anthony There are two flavors of summer that I will unapologetically eat until bursting with absolutely no apologies because they haunt my food memories in the dead of winter. […]
Heirloom Vegetable Seeds By Engrid Winslow “If you can mock a leek, you can eat a leek!” ― William Shakespeare, Henry V Since you planted leeks in the spring, now is the time to pat yourself on the back and enjoy the harvest. One of the simplest ways to enjoy leeks is to sauté them […]
Less Toxic Pests Remedies By Engrid Winslow What’s bugging your garden? Mysterious holes in the leaves of your favorite rose? Earwigs buried deep in the leaves of your lettuce? Flea beetles mangling your perennials and vegetables? Most people are averse to creepy crawlies in their gardens but, please, BEFORE you reach for the chemicals to […]
Watching Bees at Work By Engrid Winslow This is the time of year when sources of honey and pollen are abundant and you can see the bees busily working in your flowerbeds. It’s fun just to stand to the side and watch a beehive at this time of year as the bees fly in with […]
History of Green Peas and Recipes By Engrid Winslow “How luscious lies the pea within the pod” – Emily Dickson wrote. I think most of us would agree that fresh peas are a hallmark of early summer produce and have us saying “please pass the peas”. The origin of peas is shrouded in mystery as […]
Find Your Favorite Fragrant Flowers By Engrid Winslow Do gardeners love fragrance because they are gardeners or are they gardening because they enjoy fragrance? It’s sort of a “chicken and the egg” concept, but no gardener can deny that growing plants is a sensory experience. Whether it’s brushing against basil or tomatoes while harvesting or […]
The Morning Glory By Engrid Winslow Morning Glories are one of the easiest annuals to start from seed. In some areas, they will re-seed from last year’s dropped seed and some varieties may even be perennial in mild climates. After an overnight soak in water, plant the seeds about 1/2 inch deep and then stand […]
Tips for Purchasing Honey By Engrid Winslow In order to produce 1 pound of honey, bees will visit approximately 2 million flowers. An average hive of bees must fly 55,000 miles to produce a pound of honey. One bee colony can produce 40 to 100 pounds of honey per year. The average foraging bee makes […]
Different Types of Lettuce and How to Use Them By Engrid Winslow There are many different types of lettuce and perhaps you were wondering how to use these various types. Here’s a general description of some different lettuce varieties which will take you beyond the traditional iceberg lettuce followed by a quick tutorial on growing […]
Mardi Gras Bean Blend by Engrid Winslow Have you ever wondered about the history of the official Mardi Gras colors? Well, we have answers for you. According to mardigrasneworleans.com, the Krewe of Rex selected the official Mardi Gras colors in 1872. In 1892 the Krewe of Rex Parade theme “Symbolism of Colors” gave meaning to […]