Category Archives: seeds and plants

New beginnings once again

Posted on 10 March 2016 by Debra

“For gardeners, this is the season of lists and callow hopefulness; hundreds of thousands of bewitched readers are poring over their catalogues, making lists for their seed and plant orders, dreaming their dreams.”  – Katharine White, Onward & Upward in … 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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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 →

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“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 Garden Fairs

Posted on 23 April 2013 by Debra

These are the garden fairs I always attend — and highly recommend — when in the market for vegetable seedlings and plants because I know I will find good, healthy, productive seedlings: 4 May, 11:00am – 4:00pm: Garfield Conservancy annual seedling … Continue reading →

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Heirloom

Posted on 30 March 2013 by Debra

Courtesy of my niece Priscilla. For more on heirloom seeds, click on the Resources page on the menu above. I order heirloom seeds from Seed Savers, Sand Hill Preservation Center, Peaceful Valley Farm, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds among others.

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Seeds: ceaseless wonders

Posted on 17 February 2013 by Debra

My dear friend Sam Guard sent me this excerpt from  . . . And Still Our Wonder by Victor R. Boswell from the USDA’s Yearbook of Agriculture, 1961. Seeds are vehicles for the spread of new life from place to … Continue reading →

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Spring sorrel

Posted on 29 April 2012 by Debra

Sorrel is nearly the first thing up in the a spring garden, and it’s lime green leaves make it a bright welcome. It’s sharp, citrus flavor lends real zest to spring salads or pesto. Although we tend to think of … Continue reading →

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What to grow to fill your plate

Posted on 22 March 2012 by Debra

I spoke on What to Grow to Fill Your Plate at the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice program this past January at KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation’s Soil to Plate weekend of speakers and symposia. There were many impressive speakers and … Continue reading →

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