Tuesday, 24th May, 2022
The Day’s hand-picked ideas, tips to better grow Vegs, and meet people you should know.
Share this Edition Tweet | Facebook
1
The Dirty Dozen, and the Clean 15
"Wash Vegetables and Fruits to Remove Pesticides: Almost everyone should be eating more fruits and vegetables. You know that. But do you know why it’s important to wash your produce before eating it? In our modern world, almost no food is 100% free of pesticides. Surprisingly, even organic produce may contain some pesticide residues." — I know you won’t grow ALL your own food; so that’s a useful skill to learn. And it will affect your and your family’s health.
2
Best Fungi Friend
"The plant relationship with mycorrhizal fungi is driven by the plant. The plant does not benefit from this relationship unless there is something that the mycorrhizal fungi can provide that the plant cannot get without this association. Improved nutrient availability, efficiency, and uptake is the most documented benefit, which results in increased phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, sulfur, and micronutrients content in the plant" — this is really important to understand if you want to save money on mycorrhizal fungi: it’s not friend with all plants and it takes time to see the results.
3
The low-maintenance edible garden for lazy gardeners
"The end goal is the same: a ready supply of fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables in the kitchen. However, an allotment or veg patch often involves cultivating the land to suit the plants, and growing annuals that must be replaced each year. The space is kept clear of other plants (weeds) and plants tend to be ordered in tidy rows. Edible forest gardens are less hands-on. You establish what your space is suited for (see below for how to do this) and plant perennials, which will keep growing year after year. Then just let nature take its course. I think what’s so accessible about this style, is that with a traditional fruit and veg garden, you have a crop rotation and you keep it all very clean... it makes you feel you need to know a lot. There’s a lot of digging and a lot of effort. With this, you plant it and you steward it - you're an editor more than a gardener.” — that’s definitely more my gardening style: more perennials and forest gardening, “edited” with natural, organic fertilisers.
4
People you should know
"make gardening more accessible to the often excluded - the less able, the hard-up or beginners. An advocate of gardening for better mental and physical health.make gardening more accessible to the often excluded - the less able, the hard-up or beginners. An advocate of gardening for better mental and physical health." Mandy Can U Dig It — Tons of practical help to grow Vegs, Plants, Perennials, learn techniques. Check it out!
5
Never a dill moment
Three Microgreens You Can Use For Teas: "Microgreens are an extremely healthy food choice that creates a new twist to different recipes and concoctions. Not only are microgreens the go-to superfood for proud health nuts everywhere, but it is also surprisingly tasty. Not to mention it’s versatile and can be eaten raw or cooked. Their size, delicate flavors, and nutrition level also make them interesting as fusion teas! Let’s explore the three best microgreens you can use for teas." — (that’s Broccoli, Kale and sunflower!). Learn how to grow Microgreens at home, all year around.
+ 4 major environmental benefits of a vegan diet: "In 2018, an Oxford University study declared that eating a plant-based diet is the “single biggest way” an individual can reduce their environmental footprint. Researchers have continued to support this claim with evidence upon evidence that demonstrate the planetary harms of animal agriculture from extreme water and land usage to sweeping pollution of water, air, and soil" — so Thank you for sharing our efforts to make the planet a better place for our children to live in. And take the time to acquire the skills you need to grow more of your own Vegs.
+ It’s a crime to sell, display, or possess baby artichokes: "On December 21, 1931, New York City mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, in an attempt to break the mafia’s stranglehold on the industry, made it a crime to sell, display, or possess baby artichokes. Marilyn Monroe, an unknown actress at the time, was crowned California’s “Artichoke Queen” in 1948. The 17th-century Italian painter Caravaggio pulled his sword on a waiter who refused to tell him if the artichokes on his plate had been cooked in oil or butter. In the 16th century, Catherine de Medici scandalized the court of her husband, the French king Henry II, by eating artichokes, since they were considered powerful aphrodisiacs and were forbidden to women." — wow - any Vegs that has that kind of reputation should be in your garden! It has the looks, the attitude and it tastes amazing!
6
Bottom of the compost pile
Compost Storage: “Many gardeners use a variety of compost storage tips to keep excess material from going bad in the winter months. Spring, however, is the time of year that gardeners will likely use compost leftover from previous summers. — that’s where it can go wrong.
+ Make free liquid fertiliser from almost anything: "Could you feed your plants without buying any fertilizer? This is how we feed a garden for free with fermented plant juice, AKA Dave’s Fetid Swamp Water. I thought I was clever, but the Koreans were hundreds of years ahead of me." — Learn how to do this (and more about natural, organic fertilisers in my free guide) and you won’t have to panic along with everyone else as chemical fertiliser prices keep going up….
Thank you as always for tuning in. If you're enjoying Veg Geek's newsletter, would you mind forwarding this issue to a friend?
Keep Growing-
Anthony - Veg Geek