2009 Gardening

[sdes]

Hello all celiacs who love to garden. For many of you, you are probably already starting and even harvesting some of your early producers. Here in the high desert, we cannot trust the weather until late May or early June but my soil is ready for planting. I'm hoping that, as in the past, some of you will share experiences as well as photos and recipes. With the state of the economy and the surge for a greener planet, gardening only makes sense. Plus home grown just taste better and as we all know, a gluten free diet can always use that. Happy growing!!!

[Valerie]

Yep, I'm already harvesting. I've got lots of seeds started in the basement (tomatoes, greens, marigolds, herbs, and more) and in the garden have hardy greens (kale, etc.) and my other seedlings are coming up. Peas, sugar snap peas, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, onions, greens, amaranth (new one for me), and will plant more this week.

Today I had lamb's quarters from the garden. Some say it is a weed, but if it is it is an awfully nutritious one. I think of it as more of a gift. The first garden gifts of the season, wild arugula, has gone to seed so I pulled them. Don't need more of something I don't like in the first place.

My strawberries are in bloom, as are the apple trees.

I took the lamb's quarters and chopped finely with basil, parsley, garlic and tomatoes, tossed with some salt, threw in a few black beans and served in romaine "boats." It was yummy.

[sdes]

Hi Valerie, How lucky you are to live where gardening can start early. We have a very short season here. I am wondering if what you call lamb's quarters is what in this area of the country is referred to as lamb's ears. They grow wild in our area and have the shape of a large flappy ear of a sheep or maybe rabbit and are fuzzy. I have always heard that it is eatable but have never tried it. Your recipe sounds good.

[Valerie]

Lamb's Ears are different. We have those too.

Lamb's Ear Plants | Stachys Byzantina | Lamb's Ears

Ontario Weeds: Lamb's quarters

[sdes]

Valerie,
Thanks again for the quick reply... The sites and info where very interesting. Thanks again and happy gardening

[vegannie]

Hi - Yes, I am so excited that gardening time is here! It comes late and goes soon so I enjoy it to the fullest while I can! We have to wait til June 1st to put any warm weather crops in, but I have peas, spinach, parsnips, beets, carrots, lettuce, onions, and mustard greens in, and the potatoes are "chitting" in the laundry room. Lots of baby plants in the basement under lights! And I grew garlic for the first time -planted it last October. Yeah - thanks for sharing in the joy of growing food. It only makes sense and is one of the most satisfying activities of all!

[wombat]

Yeah finally brought a house and so i now have my own patch of dirt. Started a no dig garden, because my soil is heavy clay and either sodden or bone dry.
My no dig garden layers from bottom to top
cardboard
Autumn leaves
vegie scraps from fruit shop
Autumn leaves
Green clippings
Sheep and chicken manure
Hay
Compost

Now I have to wait 3 weeks and then plant my Strawberries. Yippie.