The Promise Of Blue Jade Corn

Every year we try new plants or techniques in the garden, sometimes with great success other times not so much. Part of the joy in growing ones own food is in the experimentation aspect of the whole venture. We rarely have absolute failures, only because we take food production very seriously and usually limit speculative undertakings to a small percentage of what we grow or create in the garden.

This year we are trying a variety of new crops and will also be experimenting with various water retention methods amongst other endeavors. I must say that I am really chomping at the bit to get going, more so then in previous years. Perhaps the long winter has finally taken it's toll upon my patience, but more likely it is all the newfangled food gardening ideas I have been formulating deep within the recesses of my mind over the preceding cold months.


All was OK until I noticed Blue Jade Corn in the Seed Savers Exchange catalogue. I had found my nemesis...everyone seems to have one crop that they struggle with and mine is corn. I grow it every year and it is always a battle to bring the crop to fruition, this past year was certainly no exception. At first battered with wind and hail then washed away by torrents of rain, replanted, my Golden Bantam went on to grow into beautiful 8' tall maize that towered far above me. A mere gaze would cause my heart to leap with pretentious joy...I haughtily cursed the weather, for certainly I had at last triumphed in this inexorable pursuit. Never again would I fail to master the fine art of corn production. But in the midst of my celebration, upon seeing my contemptuous pride, the gods sent the wind to promptly flatten my corn back into the earth from wenst it came and a second recovery was not to be had. My fabulous corn was but silage for the chickens.

"Surely this year will be different" I thought, casting an uneasy glance into the heavens, for I had been introduced to Blue Jade Corn. Even I, a perennial underachiever in the cultivation of corn, might have a chance with this variety.

Blue Jade Corn or Baby Blue (botanical name - Zea mays 'Blue Jade') are miniature open pollinated plants that bear 3-6 (some say up to 7) ears of sweet, steel-blue cobs that turn jade-blue when boiled. Plants grow 2-3' tall. One of the only sweet corns that can grow in containers. The cobs are supposedly sweet and tasty for an older variety of sweet corn and are said to make fabulous creamed corn which freezes very well. Although I did read a review somewhere that stated If you are used to modern sweet corn, you may not like the taste of this old heirloom.

The blue color comes from anthocyanins which are concentrated pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue and are found in fruits, berries, purple cabbage, beets, and even corn. These powerful antioxidants have been linked to a wide array of health benefits. Possibly preventing the onset of major degenerative diseases of aging including cancer, heart disease, stroke, cataracts, and mental irregularities just to name a few. Anthocyanins are currently being researched for a large number of potential health benefits.

In conclusion, I am sure to prevail with my corn this year. Even I may prove victorious at growing a hardy short season corn (70-80 days) that should be wind resistant due to it's short stature. So what if it does not hold up to our less then stringent taste tests, most will be frozen or dried for flour anyway. Wish me luck...

Listen To The Whispers

A Pennies Worth Of Thoughts

I recently purchased one of the most revolutionary books on gardening I have ever read... for only one cent. A new and exciting book all about growing ones own fruits and vegetables. It consists of almost 1,000 pages that contain some of the most up-to-date information on organic growing that I've come across.

Some of the radical topics covered in the pages of this book include:

1. Growing food not lawns in these unprecedented economic times is much more feasible then having to pay for it at the local grocer and a better use of our precious resources.

2. Explores the many benefits of organically grown food, and suggests people have to make a conscious decision to stop buying food that has been drenched in poisonous pesticides and opt for organic produce in the grocery stores, farmers markets, and especially your own back yard.

3. Exciting information that shows a diet high in fruits, vegetables and leafy greens can greatly increase ones health and help to prevent many life-threatening diseases that afflict us in today's modern world. In the forward Dr. John Duge states:

"My 4 children, I think, are just about the healthiest and smartest in Southern California. Practically never ill, rarely a cold and, " concludes the busy doctor, "mostly the result of eating fruits and vegetables from our organic garden."

4. New and exciting ways of gardening such as the no dig method, intensive planting techniques, soil fertility, gardening in harsh climates, furrow irrigation, creating super compost, and season extenders such as green houses and cold frames are all discussed at length.

This book truly is ahead of it's time, written by a visionary in the organic movement, J.I. Rodale.















Unfortunately, although new to me, it is far from being a new garden book as it was first published over fifty years ago in 1958. I purchased it for 1 penny not including $3.99 shipping as a used book on Amazon.com.

Apparently not many people read it back then - I know I did not as I had yet to be born. From my perspective, it seems the only difference between now and then is that everything has gotten much worse...Where are all the home gardens? Why is organic produce the newest thing to hit many "stupermarket" shelves?

I've recently read a couple of other older books on health and nutrition. One written in the early 1900's by a dentist and naturalist Weston A. Price. called "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration." He found that the health issues of modern civilization were not present in those cultures sustained by homegrown diets. However, within a single generation these same cultures experienced all modern ailments with the inclusion of Western foods in their diet; refined sugars, refined flours, canned goods, etc... Another, "Centenarians of the Andes" written in 1975 studied the effects of diet in relation to longevity. From the books introduction:

It seems that those people who have the best chance of a healthy and active old age are those who use their minds and bodies much, even toward the end of their span. This is certainly true of the centenarians in southern Ecuador.
-the greatest ages were found in the areas where people lived on a subsistence diet, and one very low in calories.

The conclusion reached was that diet and exercise as nature intended not only greatly increased life expectancy but also prevented disease.















Had the information that was available to us then been followed early on we would certainly not be in the sorry shape we are today as a nation - health wise anyway. We truly are blind to the obvious. How sick does society have to become before they realize the simple solution to health?

So, not only is every one's health suffering but my wallet is really aching due to the high cost of medical insurance. Insurance that although I am forced to pay an exorbitant amount of money for, I really do not use, and am seriously considering doing away with altogether. What happened to the days when you could barter eggs, produce, or whatever with a local doctor?

So many questions but, alas, I am fully aware of the answers.. I just don't like them very much.

A Walk In The Forest

We finally found our way into the mountains for a hike yesterday. Normally we try to make time for this every week but have been otherwise engaged of late. We decided to take our time and really enjoy the beautiful day.

Lichen

and fungi

in the trees.

Ice water

flowing from a beaver pond.

A day of reflection in the world as it was meant to be always helps to keep us grounded.

Our Winter Garden

We live in the northern part of Idaho in zone 5-6. The last few years we have had milder winter temperatures ranging anywhere from -15° up to 40° in December and January, but we have had -40° wind chills in prior years. The garden being pretty much dormant from December through April makes for a rough time if you want to eat anything green.

About four years ago I started experimenting with growing winter greens under row covers, and it has worked very well for us. The hardest part, other then snow removal, was figuring out just what we could and could not get to grow or at least survive in the winter months.

I have compiled a list of plants that do well for us in the winter - all have made it through the winter one way or another and returned to life at the first sign of spring. Some of these plants do well into December, wither away after a few harsh frosts only to make a dramatic comeback as soon as the temperature stays above freezing for a week or two. Other plants hold steady throughout the winter months.

Arugula - It usually makes it into January, but if mulched a little bit will come back in the spring..wild arugula seems to do best.

Boc Choy - Always makes it through the winter in good shape, the biggest problem is the voles seem to like this plant in particular. Bolts quickly in the spring.

Beet - Bulls Blood beet greens, or should I say 'reds', do well all winter and as long as I keep them cut back they are slow to bolt in the spring.

Cabbage - Does well as long as they are small going into the winter and are mulched.

Chard - Mature plants don't usually survive the first couple frosts but come back in the early spring. Small young chard often provide for us all winter.

Chives - Chives die out in the cold but come back in the spring.

Cress - Belle Isle Cress can do well all winter.

Collard Greens - Ours usually have severe slug problems in the fall but by spring are a whole new plant.

Chicory/Endive - Belgium endive and wild garden chicory do well into December and then suffer much the same as chard only to come back strong as soon as the weather warms. I grow some Wild Garden chicory that has re-seeded itself for the last 4 years.

French Sorrel - My favorite sorrel, next to wild sorrel, likes heat and withstands a couple frosts, much like chicory comes back every year as long as it is left alone and allowed to re-seed.

Kale - One of my all time favorite plants, and the most hardy of all the winter greens. Dwarf Blue Curled Vates (make sure and use the dwarf type) and Red Russian seem to do especially well.

Kohlrabi - If mulched well it will survive well into the winter under row covers.

Leeks - We mulch the leeks and if the voles don't get to them first they come back in the spring.

Mache - A very hardy plant that we sow in the fall for spring greens, it is not a cut and come again plant like all these others so we usually save it for early spring salads.

Mustard - Another plant that can be harvested all winter long.

Onions - If left in the ground most will produce green onions in the very early spring.

Oregano - A garden perennial that can be harvested for soups, pizza, or salads all winter.

Parsley - If kept a little dry it easily survives the winter.

Purple Broccoli - Early Purple Sprouting is an heirloom bred for overwintering and if mulched a bit they do just that, providing spring florets.

Purple Peacock Broccoli Kale - A cross between Green Goliath broccoli and two varieties of kale is new to our winter garden this year but seems to be holding up so far...fingers crossed.

Radicchio - Young radicchio will hold throughout the winter, we plant Radicchio di Treviso.

Radish - Greens do well in cold weather but it really attracts mice and voles.

Red Sorrel - Under cover it is very cold hardy, not very flavorful but a welcome addition to a mid winter peasant salad.

Rutabaga - Greens come right up through the snow in a mild winter.

Salad Burnett - New to our winter garden but we have high hopes for it. Adds a very interesting flavor to salads.

Spearmint - Holds up fairly well much like oregano as the leaves are very desiccant.

Spinach - Spinach does well throughout the winter and really comes to life in the early spring.

Turnip - The root bulb and greens normally hold up well all winter if the voles and mice share them with us.

Short of moving to a warmer climate for fresh greens all year long, this is how we have to make do through the way too long winter months!

Let's Salsa

Every year we grow enough tomatillo plants to provide us with 10-12 gallons of fruit. This year we grew both purple and green tomatillos, they love sun and once started are a surprisingly hearty plant, at least for us. They are grown in cages made of field fencing, some of ours grow over 6' tall and almost as wide...in a good year.

The tomatillo fruit is enclosed in a paper-like husk that is filled in as the fruit develops. We usually pick them just before they split open the husk as at that point they tend to crack.Once cooked they have a sweet tart flavor that is very unique. We use them mainly for salsa, and have come to enjoy the taste of tomatillo salsa so much that it is now one of our favorites.

Here is our simple but tasty recipe;

Thaw 1 1/2 quarts frozen tomatillos in a saucepan over low heat, draining water a couple times. Once thawed, break them up with a potato masher and add the following.

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
A few cloves of chopped garlic
A couple small chopped onions
1/2 cup lightly diced cilantro
1 tsp. whole cumin seeds slightly crushed
Salt & pepper to taste

Serves 4


In our house it is served with quesadillas, eggs, over baked or raw grated squash, and is especially good served over a bowl of rice.

Saponaria Officionalis...What?

"Did you know we can grow plants to use for laundry soap" he said one day? "OK, sure, whatever" I said rolling my eyes. He showed me the articles proclaiming it's cleaning powers, it's saponins, it's sudsing action, "and they still use it in museums to clean fine fabrics" he said. Should have guessed he was serious, you would think I'd have learned by now. The soapwort was planted. It was quite lovely and grew quite well. And just before the first frost I found myself in the garden with my old kitchen shears cutting down the plants and stuffing the greens into big garbage bags and bringing them inside to make soap.

"We will try your soap experiment" I said, and so the soap making began. Those shears were used to chop the leaves and stems into smaller and smaller pieces. Huge pots of water were put upon the stove to simmer and the greens were dropped inside to extract the soap. I smashed them and mashed them and then did it some more. It was entertaining and lunatic at the same time and by days end we had 12 large detergent bottles of homemade laundry soap. At this point, I was fully engaged and decided to add a cup of vinegar to each bottle to avoid possible mold problems also knowing that vinegar was reputed to clean clothes.

And yes, we are using the laundry soap exclusively now and saving money in the process. Cold water, no bleach. Before the snow fell the clothes were hung on the line to dry. Now they are draped over drying racks in front of the fire. There is something interesting I have noticed regarding soapwort - the clothes are really soft even though not dried in the clothes dryer. Noticeably soft. I do like that. Our jeans, shirts, and sweaters are clean and fresh. Does it remove harsh stains from light colored towels and rags? No, not perfectly but I've decided in the future I will buy dark colored towels and I won't notice the difference. Does it work like Tide with bleach? No, but I know that what's being absorbed into my clothing and going down the drain is a perfectly natural ingredient. I like that too.

Endive for coffee, stevia for sugar, nicotina for organic pesticide, soapwort for the laundry, and I believe I hear rumblings about a plant that acts as a numbing agent for sore throats and toothaches. Mr. H. has repeatedly told me he can grow anything we think we need to buy. Perhaps I shouldn't second guess him anymore...

The articles below contain more in depth information regarding soapwort.

http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/soapwort.htm

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=280

http://herbfest.net/blog/soapwort-or-bouncing-betty/

Mrs. H

Another Fine Day

It's cold this morning, but the sun will shine today and the birds outside my window are having a great time in the feeder.

January has passed and a new and shorter month lies ahead. If I really try I can almost conceptualize warmth and green and growth...well almost anyway!