Author Archives: Debra

How much water?

Posted on 20 May 2015 by Debra

Since I hail originally from Los Angeles and grew up there during another drought not quite so severe, I was intrigued to read about how much water it takes to grow the common foods we eat. Vegetables and fruits, not … Continue reading →

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Spinach: Popeye and the prince

Posted on 19 May 2015 by Debra

Beautiful, fresh spinach is ready for harvesting now in your kitchen gardens on Chicago’s South Side. Spinach picked and eaten — raw or cooked — has a delicacy unfound in store-bought varieties. Now is the time to pinch off the first broad, … Continue reading →

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Microgreens with mega impact

Posted on 14 May 2015 by Debra

Microgreens are ready for harvesting. These are the young seedlings of vegetables and herbs that are powerfully nutritious. When harvested while petite, right after germination, they have a tremendous concentration of phytochemicals, nutrients we need in a healthy diet. In fact, … Continue reading →

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Rhubarb, part two

Posted on 13 May 2015 by Debra

So as promised in my earlier rhubarb post, I’m writing about a rhubarb meat stew, a traditional Middle Eastern use for rhubarb. I found a Persian version which was delicate, delicious and very special. The tart rhubarb lends a wonderful and … Continue reading →

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Local garden fair

Posted on 9 May 2015 by Debra

Chicago’s oldest community garden fair in Hyde Park has always been a delightful time to wander and pick up herbs and vegetable seedlings. It’s also important to support local community endeavors. This year the fair will be held in the … Continue reading →

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What’s up, part two

Posted on 8 May 2015 by Debra

With the rain and warm sunshine, seedlings and seeds are growing strong. Each day you can see huge growth as asparagus quadruple size, carpets of greens spring forth, soil blocks put out new leaves and fruit trees flower.     … Continue reading →

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Rhubarb for early spring eating

Posted on 7 May 2015 by Debra

Rhubarb is always one of the first things up in any edible garden. It’s a hearty, cold weather perennial plant. Only the stalks, called petioles, are edible. The leaves are toxic because of a concentration of oxalic acid (which also … Continue reading →

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What’s up

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Debra

Edible gardens too have perennials, plants that have a life span of more than two years. They go dormant each fall and return in the spring. The perennials are always the first up. Here’s some of what’s appearing in my … Continue reading →

Posted in asparagus, garlic, herbs, onion, raspberries, rhubarb, seasonality, seeds and plants, sorrel | Comments Off on What’s up

“It’s May, it’s May, the lusty month of May . . .”

Posted on 3 May 2015 by Debra

Lyrics from Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot, of course. But apropos edible gardens too. All the tiny seeds planted and watered these past weeks are beginning to poke out of the soil and grow. The fruit trees are in blossom. Bees are … Continue reading →

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Spring vegetables

Posted on 2 May 2015 by Debra

I chanced upon a great spring vegetable soup recipe. It’s easy to make, absolutely delicious and even better reheated. The soup is composed of a puree of parsnips and leeks with ginger. (Recipe shared below.) The parsnips and leeks came … Continue reading →

Posted in leek, parnip | 1 Comment