Monday, February 7, 2011

Change is good!

Spring is very near and I believe it is going to be a great one. I know it doesn't feel like it when temperatures are in the 20's and everything is frozen, but it's all a part of the rejuvenation process. My garden is all tucked in and resting under a layer of hay. A couple of months ago I started prepping my beds as they became available, pulling up any weeds and removing plant material after harvesting whatever I had planted there. I lightly turned the top three inches of soil, added a little organic fertilizer and cotton seed meal then covered them with hay.

At home I started some tomato seeds and lettuce seeds. Some of my tomato seeds took almost three weeks to germinate while others were up in about ten days. I have had some of these seeds for several years and was not sure if they were still viable. I will definitely have to purchase new seed for next year. I guess I could save some seed from this year as well.

We have had some extremely cold weather and many plants have not survived. My lettuce and mesclun mix finally froze after several days of lows in the twenties. Cabbage, broccoli, fennel, rue, onions, leeks and strawberries have survived. I used some cabbage in chicken and vegetable soup and it was delicious. This cabbage has to be the best cabbage I have ever had and I wish I could remember what variety it was. I will look for it again where I found it last year.

There are other great things happening in our community that are worth mentioning. On Texas Avenue things are really changing. The street is ripped out in a one block section to make improvements to the utilities and then resurface the street, add decorative pavers and wider sidewalks. I think it is going to look great, can't wait to see the finished product. Other exciting news are the plans for a new community garden. A non profit organization has been formed to start what will hopefully be the first of many gardens in the community. Grow Baytown is the name of the organization and will begin construction of this garden in early spring. I believe Baytown is ready for some change and I'm glad to be a part of it. This new garden will bring people together and may lead to other good things. Perhaps a farmers market could finally be established. At the very least all this work may spark other beautification projects in the community around Texas Avenue.

Great things are happening but they will not succeed without our support. Visit local businesses, there are several restaurants, shops and entertainment venues that need our help. Or maybe you would like to get involved by gardening in the new Grow Baytown garden. Many other opportunities exist for your support, Grow Baytown, Wetlands Center, Nature Center, Off Texas Ave. Garden and the Library are just a few. I hope to see many more people around town and as always, you are welcome in my garden anytime. So stop by and visit.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Local, seasonal, organic (part 3)

What does "organic" mean?

Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rule s necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

I believe organic is also a way of living. For many of our parents and grandparents, growing your own food was a way of life. Many times food used to feed the animals was grown right on the farm. The farmer used very few inputs from outside the farm and a cash crop could be grown to pay for those items not produced on the farm. At meal time you knew exactly where your food came from. You knew how it was raised, fed, processed and prepared.

I am not suggesting that everyone move to the country and live on a farm but we can all be more selective about what we eat. Choosing to eat food that has not been fed antibiotics or growth hormones is just part of the process. I believe we are our own worst enemies by over medicating and always searching for that magic pill. Diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart disease and others could be reduced by changing our lifestyle. Instead we take medication and continue eating the same food and living a sedentary life.

My vision is that everyone eat as much fresh food as possible. A small backyard garden can supply a lot of food for anyone willing to put in a little work. Gardening provides healthy food, exercise and sunshine for the body and soul. An hour working in the garden provides many more benefits like a good sweat. I believe a good sweat is essential to healthy living. After a good workout in the garden a cleansing hot shower or bath may help with depression. Feeling good about yourself will change the way you look at life but most importantly how you view your own life. This is what Off Texas Avenue Garden is all about.

I know that not everyone may be able to garden but everyone deserves to eat good food. I believe it is my duty to provide good food for my family but to also help my community. I can educate my neighbors about growing good food and I can share this food with those not able to grow their own. A simple gesture of caring like a bouquet of flowers as a gift can make someone smile just like a puppy or kitten makes a child smile.

I hope your garden is growing well and if you don't have one I hope you start one. Together we can change our community and make it a better place to live in.