Garden of Eating

The Kitchen Garden

One of my goals is to plant a kitchen garden, not only because food from the garden just tastes better, but also because I want my children to experience the process of planting, nurturing and getting to eat the fruits of their labor.  In my mind, there is no better way to give them a true appreciation for the food they consume and the environment where they live.  If you struggle to get your kids to eat fruits and veggies, I would encourage you to get them down in the dirt too.  You will be surprised at the foods they are willing to try if they helped grow it.  Eating strawberries and tomatoes straight off the vine is of course delicious, but also very exciting, not like your Mom or Dad telling you to eat your fruits and veggies.  Get the kids to help you pick what you will grow too, they are more likely to eat it if they are part of the entire process.  In this economy, growing your own food is good for the wallet - not to mention great for your body, soul and taste buds.  This artcle from "USA Weekend" by Natalie Ermann Russel is a great way to get started.

"For me, a kitchen garden is indespensable - for cooking easily and economically," says Alice Waters, founder of the Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley, California, and chef-owner of Chez Panisse -- a woman widely regarded as the "founding mother" of the local food movement.  "You can plant things that are simple to grow and at practically no cost."  In fact, the paradox of the home garden is that growing organically often costs the same, if not less, than growing conventional (unlike produce in the grocery store).

On her own 15- by 15-foot organic kitchen garden, Waters tends to 40 varieties of plants.  If it's delicious, she probably grows it.  But seasoned chefs in California are not the only ones who can enjoy such luxury.  An organic garden is attainable for anyone who loves fresh fruits and vegetables.  Here's how:

Choose Plants Wisely
When figuring out what to grow, think about what you eat.  If cucumbers sit in the crisper for weeks, don't grow 'em.  Also factor in level of difficulty.  "Begin with the things that grow easily, like lettuce," Waters says.

You can best stretch your dollar by choosing produce that would otherwise be expensive in the store.  Cabbage might cost 39 cents a pound, for example.  But heirloom tomatoes (which can cost more than $5 a pound) can really inflate your grocery bill.  Of course, you also want to choose plants based on your climate and soil.  "In warm winter areas of the South, Southwest and far West, you may be able to grow cool-season crops all winter, but it may be too hot in midsummer for many plants," says Susan Littlefield, horticultural editor for the National Gardening Association.  "In cooler areas in the North or at higher elevations, you may need to choose varieties that mature quickly, such as short-season tomatoes."  To find varieties that work in your area, contact your local cooperative extension service. (Find one at csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html)

To plant a garden properly, create a schedule.  "Start a calendar, marking down when you planted, say, lettuce, and on what date it will be ready for harvest (usually 35 to 45 days later)," says Mike Weeks of Fifth Season Gardening in Asheville, N.C.  "Two weeks before harvest date, put more seeds in the ground."  Repeat for the next batch and the next batch, so you can have a steady supply of produce all season.

A Place For Every Plant.
Determining the ideal spot is as important as what variety you choose.  To avoid unwanted shade, position tall plants like corn on the north side of the garden.  Also, put fast-growers like lettuce in and around just-planted crops that take longer, like tomatoes.  Once the tomatoes fill in, the lettuce will have been eaten.

And then there's "companion planting," or strategically placing certain crops next to each other because they rely on (and deplete) different nutrients.  "Broccoli requires a lot of calcium to grow healthy," Weeks says.  "Beets don't need much - so these two plants work well together."  A great resource for determining which plants make good companions is Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte.

Feed Soil To Feed Plants.
To make sure your soil has all the necessary nutrients first have it tested, especially if you're starting a new garden.  This will tell you the pH of the soil as well as the levels of such important nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.  Some gardening and farm stores offer this type of testing, as do cooperative extensions, often for less than $20.  Then you can determine what you need:  more nitrogen, less calcium, more phosphorous and so forth.

Regardless of your test results, any garden will appreciate a good dose of compost.  Experts recommend spreading about an inch at the start of the growing season.  Compost contains organic material that helps sandy soil hold water and nutrients and helps clay soil drain and aerate.  Good compost also is host to an infinite number of beneficial soil microorganisms.  You can buy bags of it at any garden or home store.

Rein in Weeds and Pests.
In a home garden, there are plenty of natural alternatives to pesticides and herbicides.  "Beneficials" are flowers that attract good insects.  "Varieties with umbrella-shaped clusters of small flowers, such as dill, caraway, coriander, yarrow and Queen Ann's lace, and daisy-like flowers such as golden marguerite, sunflower and aster, will attract beneficial insects that will in turn help control pest insects," Littlefield says.

After planting your seeds or seedlings, you can also control pests by covering crops with a lightweight fabric (they're available at garden stores).  "It's a good way to keep cabbage worms out of broccoli and cabbage or flea beetles off seedlings," Littlefield says.  To control weeds, apply mulch over the soil after your garden has already sprouted.  The mulch blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds and helps retain moisture for the plants you do want.

What would Alice Grow?
Alice Waters shares some of her favorites - for their ease and flavor.

Herbs.

Most varieties of herbs are practically fool-proof and can even be grown in pots.  "Herbs change the way a dish tastes," Waters says.  A favorite is mint, with which she makes a flavorful tea.

Radishes.
Waters fancies herself a "radish person," because they're beautiful and grow in no time at all.

Strawberries.
"My daughters would treat picking them like a treasure hunt," Waters says.  They're fun for children to watch grow, develop fruit... and then eat!

Beans.

Another good choice for kids, beans climb a three-legged trellis that can double as a "tee-pee" - allowing children to crawl inside and eat them raw.

Ok, hopefully your are now fully motivated to get out and play in the dirt.  I certainly am, in fact I am going to do more research today on what will grow best in this area and for an amature like me.  If you have a kitchen garden or know a great deal about this subject, I would love to hear your thoughts and advise.

Here's to fresh, fast, and fabulous food!