A Tummy full of Turmeric keeps the doctor away!

Sweet holiday season, where has the time gone?!

Pardon the slight delay in getting this post to you, I am busily crafting away in the name of holiday goodness, but apologies here mean excuses so on to plant-y goodness!

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I'm a big fan of grocery store gardening, where you take produce from the grocery store and grow your own.  I've done this with tomatoes, peppers, papaya, ginger and avocados, but not the ubiquitous pineapple yet.  For some reason I have not found the need/I hear it takes a very long time and I'm not a huge fan of pineapple foliage much anyway.

International grocery stores are my particular brand of candy store.  There's a great variety of foods and everything is so gosh darn fresh that growing produce from the produce is relatively simple.

Being a fan of Indian food I was intrigued when I came upon this:

TURMERIC!

I've only encountered turmeric in its dried bright orange-yellow powder form and so to find it fresh was exciting to me as we all know fresh vs. dried spices are different experiences.

As I had read somewhere that turmeric is in the same family as ginger and I definitely know ginger is an easy plant to grow/propagate, I decided I wanted to give this a try and see what the spice was like fresh.

Same when I choose pieces of ginger to propagate, look for only the fattest non-blemished pieces you can find with lots of "buds" (those sort of tumor-growth projectile looking things) and if you can find some looking a little green excellent!  I only got enough for planting a small pot I realized later (I'll go back and get more another time for cooking) but I broke off a little piece to take a taste of.

The outside of turmeric is a little more papery skinned than ginger; maybe mine was a little older but it reminded me a bit of an onion with the obvious less layers.  The inside was bright orange like a carrot/sweet potato but crisp, and more fragile than a carrot's texture to me.  The flavor, well, it was sort of like a just slightly bitter carroty icy-hot.  I know, that sounds palatable.  Not amazing, but still intriguing and it's not as though we go around chewing on cinnamon sticks either.  Well, I don't at least.

I left the little turmeric roots alone for a couple of days to allow the bud I broke off to nosh on heal up.  I've planted ginger in haste after having just cut or broken bits off and if you don't let it heal/"scar up" and dry, little nasty organisms or nematodes and other such things will just invade and cause your root to rot and die and all you'll find later is this sad husk of ginger root and you'll be equally sad too.

As I do with ginger, I planted them bud side up, about an inch to half an inch below the soil level of the pot I planned out, watered the roots thoroughly and now it's just a waiting game.

I may up the humidity and heat of the pot by getting a clear plastic bag, inflating it a bit with my breath and rubber-banding it around the top, but I think it's warm enough around here that they'll thrive well.

I'll update you on how things go.  It would be pretty spiffy if I can get it to flower!  From the pics I've seen (and you'll see in the links below) the foliage looks kind of canna-like and the flowers a weird mixture of bromeliad and bells of Ireland!?!

Links about turmeric, its benefits, propagation and recipes:
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Curc_lon.html
 http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/ingredients/turmeric.html http://homecooking.about.com/cs/spices/a/turmeric.htm
 http://inlovewithfood.blogspot.com/2009/01/homegrown-turmeric-and-healthy-burfi.html
 http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78
 http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/turmeric_grow_it.html
 http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/turmeric.php
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8328377.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/12/dining/fresh-turmeric-leaves-its-zesty-mark.html

Composting pet poo?

My not so brilliant dog, Cori, posing for this question: Would you compost my poo?

We try try try to compost/recycle whatever possible here and the knowledge that this is available/can be made:
http://www.bloomindesigns.com/product/Z-CAG000020/Pet_Poop_Composter.html
 http://www.cleanairgardening.com/petwastebin.html

is intriguing yet frightening at the same time.  (Also, a $100?! Seriously?!?!)

If you want to get real science fiction here's this version... for $400:
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/compost-your-pets-poop.html

 I feel guilty using little plastic newspaper baggies (I know, I know I get a newspaper... tree killer!) but the paper is helpful and I recycle/reuse it!) to pick up the dog's poo, but the idea of it being somewhat hermetically sealed in a knotted off baggie in the middle of a landfill does not make me feel great, but the idea of have that stinkiness still around the yard is plenty enough to send me running.

I know that techically it should stop smelling when it composts down and you can seal it well enough so that no "aromas" leak out, but still there's that ick factor.

As my dog won't do it in our yard, we'd still have to use something to transport the stuff for a good distance if I even if I really wanted to consider composting my dog's poo.


Most of the sites tend to mention not to use this stuff on/in your vegetable gardens because of the uncertainty that the e. coli will break down, so that might be problematic as well since I have very few things I grow that I don't eat.

Hmmm... oak tree want some doggy compost?  Bet the squirrels would love that.

This ironic question pops up of course: "why are we composting our dog's poo and not ours?"

Sadly we don't have a composting toilet or gray water system as sweet as a setup like that would be, and we're really iffy on doing that as we don't plan to be here for a real long time, so that cost thing is rough.  UNLESS, we build an outhouse.  Ok, no.  I already whimper when I have to enter our cold bathroom in the winter, let's not have frozen tears going on when I just want to tinkle.

(eek, too much info...I have a  bad tendency for that..)

Anyhow, interesting questions and I leave you with a tutorial on how to build one of your own, using an "in the ground method:"

 http://reducing-waste.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_build_your_own_pet_waste_composter

My Blog as my Confessional: I'm technically part of a city beautification board >_<

This post is inspired randomly because I received an email telling me that I needed to sign up again to be part of the city beautification board.

Yes, techinically I am part of the beautification board of my city.

I originally signed up for the environmental board, because, I dunno I feel like it's a bigger deal to me to teach sustainability and help people grow, reduce, reuse and recycle and whatnot more than making things pretty around here, because it's darn pretty for the most part already.  When you sign up you have to choose another board to potentially be on if they don't have room for you in the one you wanted, so I chose beautification... blah, mistake.

So as you might have surmise, I was rejected by the enviros and placed on the beautification board which I thought about doing, but really really really didn't want to do because, man, if you looked at my yard you won't see real pretty and orderly (which is what they do a lot of here) but you will  see lots of environmentally friendly practices!

Anyways, I missed the first meeting (I was busy!) and then the next one... and the ones thereafter and continued to keep getting these infernal emails about the beautification board meetings and one great one that involved some sort of odd political war between some members which was at least some fantastic drama to read.

I attempted to explain a few times to them that I really needed to be taken off this list but none of the email addresses I tried would work.

So I gave up and now I am just RELIEVED that this stuff is nearly over.

I kind of want to try signing up again for the environmental board and get all involved in my community but I'm feeling a little disenchanted.  Maybe I'm just grumpy, the holiday season gets me that way :)

Whew! Good to get that off my chest!  Hopefully no one is on a beautification board and is insulted by my comments! *ducks, hides!*

Most expensive spice in the world? Check! Got it.

I love a good surprise and it's beyond me how I forgot about these, but being so busy as of late I didn't notice the grassy green leaves of my bulbs until these popped out:

Oh yeah!  The gem of my flower/herb garden, saffron!  This is only  my second year growing it and I keep forgetting that these guys are autumn blooming crocuses, rather than the common spring type I am used to seeing.

This plant/herb/flower should have been part of my "You Grow Girl- 7 things Meme" entry but I guess my brain had taken a bit of a hiatus.  It's hard to remember the plants when they die so quickly!  Then again, it's sad to forget that you own a plant that produces such a costly spice...


Naturally I don't have saffron plantation here, but I do grow enough that fills this tiny jar that originally contained saffron in it, found at a TJ Maxx (gotta love that store).  I get enough saffron to make a couple to few dishes a year, and it's satisfying enough that way, though I really wish these guys would get around to making some babies! ;)

Minus a pinch, yep, that's my haul so far this year.

I experimented with planting by placing some in the south facing part of my house and another set in the herb garden more west(ish) facing.  They were planted straight in the ground with some rocks/pebbles surrounding them to deter moles and the like as well to improve drainage as this Mediterranean plant likes things relatively dry especially in the summer.

I had 2 pots which I planted a few bulbs in each only to have them rot on me.  I swear they had good drainage!  I blame... myself, I probably overwatered them somehow.  Either way, I just recall looking for them in the pot when the rest had bloomed only to find some sad papery husks.  Sort of spooky actually.

When the saffron blooms and these red stigmas used as the spice trail out, I have a slight giddy moment imagining all the delicious food in store with it, but also I'm a little peeved because there is very little time available for good harvesting.  You can't just wait around, you have to harvest right after they open or all your work is for naught because that highly aromatic scent will go away quickly or at least quicker than crocus flower begin to start looking very un-pretty, meaning very fast to a day.

Some great super easy and I personally think fantastic dishes to make with saffron (other than paella, which I still need to attempt)  are a Moroccan chicken with sweet potatoes and couscous; and some some reason I can't find the recipe but it's a combination of crush tomato sauce, sea salt, fresh ground pepper, olive oil, crusty dry stale bread, fresh garlic and saffron all mixed together until it's like a thick bolognese sauce, except vegetarian.  Serve that combo with pasta and you'll be in heaven especially if you are a fan of garlic!

Though saffron spice itself is relatively expensive, the bulbs are not too bad, about a dollar a bulb or little less. For the plant-i-tude, show of vibrant purple color, cute leaves and delicious food you can make from it, I think it's worth it!

Due to it being such a costly spice, buying it from un-qualified sources, (ok, like open air markets), is a complete caveat emptor.  Adulterated saffron is common, with people using colored threads to other flower petals/stigmas as fillers.  Also, if you see something called "poor man's saffron," stay away and just go get yourself some marigolds and use the flower petals, because that's what "poor man's saffron" is.

Note too, other than the saffron crocuses, it is highly suggested that you don't nosh on any other varieties because it is well known that many crocuses are poisonous.  Saffron has been cultivated and breed into this current state for civilizations to produce these specific stigmas.  There's no real good substitution for the real thing and why not be certain you are getting the purest, freshest thing straight from your yard?

Here are a few links as to where you can purchase saffron crocus bulbs and nifty information especially on the wikipedia page about mini-wars that occurred over saffron!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron
 http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/910891-product.html
 http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/2001fa_crocus.html
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000T9O8Z0
 
Did I mention I will totally name my first born girl Saffron?  (For those Firefly fans out there, don't laugh)

Winner(s) of my 100+ post Giveaway! *wink*

Hi all!

I wanted to thank you all once again for your comments and readership and have decided (as crazy as this is) I will give EVERYONE (except one person) 3 homemade tags with the caveat that it may take a bit of time for me to get them to you (*cross fingers before Christmas*) because I am hella busy, but still want to show you all my appreciation!

The one person who's NOT getting the 3 tags is:

BECAUSE she was the one who I ended up actually drawing from the hat and will get her set of 8 tags as soon as she sends me her address and then I can send them out immediately.  Wohoo!

So, if you commented on the tag giveaway, send me the address of where you want your tags to go at your convenience and I'll be getting my little fingers in gear!

Thanks again and I'll be working on some good stuff now that most of my busy-ness is coming to a close!

Ciao,
Persephone

HAPPY HALLOWEEN/DIOS DE LOS MUERTOS!

Hello all! Sorry for the late post...I've been running around like a mad woman with the relatives here and I figure hey, getting this in now rather than later is still better than not at all!

 I did a pumpkin for myself that is a repeat of one I did in a past year (sadly was too busy to think originally at the time!)

(yeah... pic from last year, but it's the same idea)

...but I made a cat pumpkin and mouse thing for the place I volunteer at:

 (Sadly didn't take this pic, the place I volunteer at did... since I forgot to after I carved it.  It's a cat--- that had awesome spaghetti whiskers that broke off in some high winds :(  Maybe I'll go back and add them back on)

(Mouse to with the cat)

Also, I found these at the Dollar Store and while I'll plan to paint them up with fun Dios de los muertos designs in the future, it is plain now other than the festive flowers!

Have a great spooky season!

Pod People: specifically Green tea mania

I have a great attraction to all things pod-like.  Don't know what it is specifically but it's as though pods are sort of nature's boxes, inflatable organic gifts (ok, no big surprise what the gift is, seeds of course) but still the variety of shapes and sizes of pods that are available just dazzles me.

Here are a few that I enjoy before I get to the real rarity:

I was recently bopping around my potted green tea plants checking out this green fruit thing that feels like it's been hanging out there forever when I noticed it had split!


The lovely bright green seed pod exposed a creamy white center and brown seeds.  Pretty snazzy colors there Mother Nature!

Interestingly enough the pod itself was relatively soft and spongy (much less so a couple of days later)


Germinating green tea seeds to my understanding is somewhat tricky and needs to be done when they are ripe, therefore just dropped from the seed pod and not shriveled.  Many places simply take cuttings for tea propagation, but I suppose if I plan to live until I'm a 150 years old, I have time to make more green tea plants! (It doesn't take 150 years for a good tea plant to develop, it would just feel  like that to me mentally because I'm impatient!)


Here are some sources I found on germinating the seeds:
http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ozherb/msg0301175628958.html
http://narien.com/store/teaseeds

House guests and plants--- particularly relatives

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!   My mother is visiting from out of town today and she's going to see all my crazy plants!

(She's not into the plant thing as much as I am, as you might guess)

Here is where I wave the green leafy flag and hide behind it in shame:

I know, I know, I know, I don't need 5 pots of kohleria... but they are SO cool and easy to propagate!  The rhizomes just SPAWN like bunnies!

 (Last night I was moving them around to get to some dust, and did a stupid "Oooh!" because one bud bloomed!)

I know I don't need one of every kind of citrus (that have still yet to produce fruit for me and barely a bud last year--- despite receiving/purchasing them in bud/flower)...

I know I have an orchid fetish (they're my guilty pleasure... when they're in bloom.  Come on guys, you can do it!)

And while I try to keep mostly edible things (herbs and peppers) indoors, the random begonia with some AWESOME hairy foliage comes in (and thrives on me for once) so how can I say no?

I have no idea why I have the stupid fern or tiny parlor palm... but... they were cheap?  (*smacks self* WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I BOUGHT THOSE?!?!?)

But yes, houseguests.  Particularly relatives.  Specifically, moms.

The nagging, can you feel it?  Can you feel its power all the way from where you are at???

Bring 'em in! (and the every fall/winter this happens post)

We had a mini-bit of frost here earlier, that worried me a little enough to cover the vegetable beds with a sheet and bring in some of the other more tender plants, but when it said 39 degrees F for the low with another week of nice weather before consistent lows at night in the 40s, I said, "Not worth it," and decided I might as begin the process of isolating them in the sunroom for a while where they could acclimate themselves to the horrors of less light.

I know you're supposed to acclimate them my bringing them in and out of the house for some hours each day, but with this:

I don't even bother.

After a week in there, with the sunroom window panels being opened and closed here and there depending on temperature and light conditions and for air flow, I figure they'll be fine mostly with the changes in the house and survive.

There's almost always whining and crying on their part in the form of some leaf drop and other issues, but in my house, only the mighty are allowed to survive!

(I find it funny when people comment I have a "green thumb."  No... I just grow easy things to make it look easy ;)

When I first bring the plants into the sunroom, I tend to do it in the early evening so that the temperature and light isn't a big change.  Then I douse the plants with neem oil solution to get rid of any pests that might have been brought and also drench soil with neem oil solution as well because many things probably made it their home their over the summer.

The day before I haul them in slowly, I give them another neem spray for good measure and after it's all dry I inspect them and haul 'em in!

I have REALLY limited sunshine and room, so I always need to make executive decisions as to what deserves the most light/room/etc. and most of the plants end up in the dining room and on the china cabinet.

Every so often through the winter I need to move the plants around from one room to the other so another plant can get some much deserved light.  It's tough work!

I am very excited though about a new addition to the house this winter which I have big plans for:

(ignore the messy house background...)

My jasmine I hope will grow very well and eventual give me a lot of perfumed flowers this winter/spring.  I'm having it climb all over the place (maybe even the chandelier to my husband's chagrin!)

Buried Treasure!

(Before I plunge into this mini-post I want to explain that I am taking a mini-blog vacation as I prepare for visitors!  Posts will still go up, they're just be a little abbreviated and juicy truly informative posts will be on their way next week.)

AND, back to regularly scheduled programming:

I have an admission:  I am a lazy gardener!

Earlier this summer I prepared a nice large half barrel to grow sweet potatoes in but was worried worried worried about making the soil "just right" for these babies because they were the first time I was growing sweet potatoes and I didn't want to mess this up.

Using some potting soil I had around mixed with the nasty clay stuff naturally here in Tennessee I also added some sand for drainage because I hear soggy sweet potaters are a definite non-desireable.  The pot was filled mid-way high because I figured as the vines grew I would just keep adding more soil mix to bury the vines in until the pot was filled at the top and then the leaves could ramble around merrily.

Sort of wish I could have had this sort of setup or this one with the tires, but alas, no tires nor extra scrap wood here at the time.

I planted 2 plants of the 6 that came in the pack because I figured all 6 would be a mite bit crowded in a half whiskey barrel and resolved to get back to it after the vines grew a bit more.

Then it rained.  And I got busy. Time marched on... and the other 4 sweet potatoes still in their plastic planter plugs on top of whiskey barrel full of soil where I had left them decided, "This gardener sucks.  Let's just root up here!"

...which I discovered later in the summer and subsequently yanked them out (sorry guys!) (and as my husband would say sarcastically, "They can TOTALLY hear you say that!") and I figured it was too late to get sweet potatoes from them still, but planted them around my garden to make some great ground cover and eat their leaves, in the process, so score there!
(Also, I never ended up filling the barrel devoted to sweet potatoes with more luscious dirt because I got busy >_<)

But getting to the point...
The leaves were starting to get nasty and yellow from the cold and I decided it was about time to yank up the foliage because I wasn't interested in eating it at that point.    Half way through yanking in the garden I noticed a stone-like thing, and realized I had a SURPRISE sweet potato!

I ran to get my husband to show him and he and I then began scrambling around on our hands and knees like delighted squirrels digging around for roots!

Here's the result of our efforts (including after the checking the barrel):

It was definitely a nice surprise though we just bought sweet potatoes from the store (silly us).  I'll have to cure them though to get the starches to convert to sugar, so the store ones will last us well until then.

My point is:  sweet potatoes: darn easy, literally no work!

I still think they make a great groundcover and while it might be a pain to some to go searching around for them, use it to your advantage and make it into a game or something with your family and/or significant other.  It really was like Christmas!

(N.B. Don't forget to comment here if you are interested in winning some plant label/tags by the end of the week!)