But I know it's funny, or at least offensive. And maybe even about gardening a little.
Download Good Enough Gardening Fall Part 2 Electric Boogaloo
10/04/2009
09/25/2009
09/20/2009
09/08/2009
08/20/2009
08/17/2009
08/05/2009
07/27/2009
07/21/2009
07/19/2009
Co-Host Good Enough Gardening and Win Growing Food!
Amanda and I want to have you as a guest on our podcast! Here's how it
will go down: (NOTE: ALL RESPONSES MUST BE THROUGH THE FACEBOOK GOOD ENOUGH GARDENING GROUP not the blog or fan page)
1) tell us about your biggest garden fiasco
2) if you have any supporting multi-media documentation, upload it to this group, and let us know that you have added it. Be creative here...this could be audio, photos, videos of dioramas, paper maiche, mix tapes, interpretive dance, singing...it doesn't have to be footage of the actual fiasco, this is about symbolism, people.
3)there is no three...it's super easy and totally chill, dude
We will select the winner by August 2. You will appear as our special co-host and receive an ecopy of my book Growing Food.
1) tell us about your biggest garden fiasco
2) if you have any supporting multi-media documentation, upload it to this group, and let us know that you have added it. Be creative here...this could be audio, photos, videos of dioramas, paper maiche, mix tapes, interpretive dance, singing...it doesn't have to be footage of the actual fiasco, this is about symbolism, people.
3)there is no three...it's super easy and totally chill, dude
We will select the winner by August 2. You will appear as our special co-host and receive an ecopy of my book Growing Food.
Go forth and create, my peoples!
07/15/2009
07/14/2009
Begging your pardon...
We usually have the new podcasts up on Mondays but I was way under the weather with a really bad headache. Sorry, peeps. Will have up soooooon!
07/06/2009
06/29/2009
06/28/2009
06/22/2009
06/15/2009
06/09/2009
06/08/2009
06/03/2009
Onion Soup with a Twist
I mentioned this recipe on our All Alliums All the Time podcast and am only now getting it posted. Sigh...well at least I have it up now...
5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
4 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
4 scallions, cleaned and cut on the bias, 1/2 inch long
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
8 cups of excellent quality stock (beef, chicken or vegetable)
1/4 cup sherry
3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 tsp fresh oregano
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Butter
Gruyere cheese
Croutons
Start a large pan on medium heat; add three tablespoons of olive oil. When melted, add onions, leeks, a teaspoon of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover with lid and let cook for 15 minutes, stirring to prevent burning. After 15 minutes, remove lid and reduce heat to low, letting onions caramelize slowly. Cook for an additional 30 minutes or until onions and leeks are a bronze color.
**The caramelization is critical to the wonderful flavor of the soup...don’t just sauté the onions, really let them develop the full flavor.
Next, add garlic, stock, sherry, bay, thyme, and oregano. Increase heat and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, giving flavors time to combine.
While soup is finishing, grate Gruyere cheese and set aside. Turn on broiler in oven to high. Assemble oven-safe soup crocks, scallions and croutons. Place soup crocks on a baking sheet with sides. Ladle finished soup into crocks, top first with scallions, then croutons followed by grated cheese. Place under the broiler until cheese is bubbly and browned. Be careful not to burn cheese with the broiler. Serve.
Teepees
Before
Last summer- that's 4 teepees there...
Maybe I should mow before I snap a pic, eh?
06/02/2009
06/01/2009
05/26/2009
05/18/2009
05/13/2009
Our next podcast? All Allium, All the Time
I should lie and say that we timed our upcoming Allium podcast with when all the Alliums pop- but really? We're just getting lucky with that one. As a matter of fact, I do hope it blooms before the podcast.
In fact, you could listen to this and stare at this photo with intense thoughts of blooming until then... I'd appreciate it.
05/11/2009
05/08/2009
Peas, Kale and BHG's Susan Appleget Hurst
Our upcoming show is my favorite so far...not only do we talk about two fantastic spring veggies,peas and kale, but we have our first guest, Susan Appleget Hurst (or as we like to call her, SusanApplegetHurst), Garden Editor of Better Homes and Gardens. Now, I won't give anything away about the interview with SusanApplegetHurst, with the exception of the fact that we rename her, as is our tradition. Plants and people alike, you will find no discrimination on Good Enough Gardening!
I will however talk just a bit about peas and kale...peas are one of those vegetables that are easy to grow if you live in cooler climates and a huge pain in the rear if you live in warmer ones. Growing up and learning to garden in Oklahoma, I can tell you that peas can have horrible etiquette when it comes to plant behavior in the south. Wrote a post on Gardener to Farmer about my frustrations, it is aptly titled "Peas and Thank You: Proper Legume Etiquette"...and, it comes with a recipe!
Kale is one of the least understood, most versatile veggies I know. People often have the misconception that it is strong or bitter in flavor, but I have found it to be very mild. In fact, I like to use it as a nutrition booster in many of the meals I make. It's flavor is an easy add to sauces, egg dishes, pasta, soups, shepherd's pie, meatloaf, the list goes on...It is also very easy to store. Just harvest, rinse and remove leaves from the stem. Chop into serving size pieces and blanch for two minutes in boiling water, then drain. Dunk in ice water to stop the cooking process, drain. Add to a vacuum sealed bag or freezer bag and into the freezer it goes. Add it directly to dishes from the freezer.
For more tips on growing, harvesting, and preparing peas and kale, plus some great recipes...check out Growing Food: A Guide for Beginners.
Oh and one last you are so cool, thanks for loving our podcast so much, mad props back atcha kind of thing...Pamela Price has always been one of my faves to follow on Twitter (@redwhiteandgrew) and on her blog, Red White and Grew. Yesterday, though, she transcended into Good Enough Gardening Hall of Fame with the spectacular review she wrote about our podcast for the San Antonio Express-News online. Go on over there and leave her a nice comment...she looooves to chat with people who read her column!
Alrighty people, the next 'cast will be up on Monday, or sooner if it rains...cause after all, this is Good Enough Gardening.
05/04/2009
05/01/2009
Hellebores, Alstroemeria and Lilacs, Oh My!
This is the time of year when plants start growing and blooming at supernatural rates...and I absolutely love it! Each day brings a new surprise...and I spend my time in a perpetual state of excitement and anticipation. Which is funny when you think about it...I mean, I am the one who planted all of these plants...so theoretically, I know they will be popping up. But, just like a dog that is excited every time her owner returns, I stand at the beds, panting and drooling, as my beloveds return.
Spring always brings the most amazing scents. Right now, the lilacs in my neighbor's yard are blooming. They have a giant hedge of them, beautiful colors, right along the property line. And, if you listened to our first Good Enough Gardening podcast, you know that I am happy to enjoy those that cross over to my side. Because although I absolutely love them when in bloom...lilacs just don't do much when bloom time is over.
Portland is the city of Rhodendendrons and mine are just getting started. I inherited a stand of them. This is another shrub that is completely unremarkable when not in bloom...but hey, they came with the property, so I will leave them be for now. I think the flowers are absolutely gorgeous, but am always disappointed that they have no scent.
Last year, I bought Alstroemeria...actually, I bought it in the fall, my favorite time to buy and plant perennials. And though I think they are overused in floral arrangements in general, I bought a different variety than the standard one seen in grocery stores everywhere. I couldn't believe how it had suddenly sprung into action! Take a look...and take a listen to this week's podcast to hear my opinions about the name of this plant...
Finally, my beautiful hellebores are in bloom...why so late? Who knows...and I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth. These beauties are green with fuschia flecks and are blooming right in front of a fuschia azelia...spring perfection!
Our next podcast will be out in the next couple of days...load it up on your iPod and take it out to the garden...let us keep you company while you dig in the dirt! In the mean time, come on over to our our Good Enough Gardening Facebook page and see what's happenin'...
04/27/2009
04/20/2009
Gardening While Exposed
I'm not much of a front yard gardener. I mean, I do it, natch but- I prefer the more private setting of the back yard. Everyone walking by has something dumb to say when I'm working in my front yard-
Them: "Hey, want to come over to my house next?"
Me "Absolutely, I'm $75 an hour. What's your address"
Them: running away
So we're getting geared up for this podcast this week, are you getting geared up to listen?
04/17/2009
Whatcha Plantin' This Weekend?
We would love to know! As we prepare to roll out our podcast, Amanda Thomsen of Horticulture's Kiss My Aster and I want to be sure you know that we are very interested in learning all about what's happening in your gardens. We are working on adding a social component to our site that will let you do just that, so please be patient with our efforts. Remember, this is good enough gardening, not perfect gardening...or blog design for that matter!
You may have been reading over at Gardener to Farmer that my neighbor Liz and I are yardsharing and we will be planting out some of the goodies we have grown in the greenhouse, as well as direct sowing some veggies this weekend. Though it is past the frost free date in Portland, we have a long cool spring so heat loving veggies like tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, and beans won't go out for a while yet. But, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, lettuce, carrots, kale, mustard and chard are looking lovely! So are the tiny leeks we transplanted.
Sadly, I still haven't gotten around to planting potatoes. Though I noticed a few in the cupboard that had sprouted, so I think I will plant those. Well, we do the best we can, don't we?
Amanda and I will have our first podcast up by the end of the week and are looking forward to hearing from you! Stay tuned for more information!
04/15/2009
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