Ann Arbor Project Grow

The Comploo: A Gardener's Dream Come True

2010-06-18T00:52:00.001-04:00

Gardeners adore compost. It's a cure-all for whatever ails in the garden. The bucket on the counter turns into all that plants need to grow well to feed a household. Vegetable and fruit castoffs return to the bucket to return to the bin and then to the garden again. Tea bags, yard waste, garden leavings, and kitchen scraps all go in and come out as plant-scrumptious hummus. (The kind eaten indirectly rather than the other garlic-laden delight, of course.)

Bakoko's little creation - the Comploo - is something near to a dream come true. Taking advantage of the heat produced during the composting process, the Comploo is a sweet little building that it's easy to imagine tucked somewhere near the garden as a perfect spot to take a bit of a break between chores. Or a cozy place on a rainy afternoon for viewing the garden, plotting new plantings, or just basking in the glow of all those adorable vegetables. Heated by food, garden and yard scraps merrily composting away in bins that round the edges, when the plotting and planning is done just open a bin to scoop some of that wonderful stuff out.

Designed with public spaces like community gardens or parks (or even a cafe growing the majority of its food just out the back door) the Comploo creates a space for gathering that takes advantage of plant materials in place. Talk about a great way to warm people up to the idea of their own composting after touring the vegetable patch to see what's in season!

All images courtesy of Bakoko.

Decorating Tips from Bees

2010-05-17T00:04:00.000-04:00

Busy, buzzing pollinators bees are a gardeners best friend. Favorite fruits and vegetables would not grace our plates if it weren't for these flying friends. Well, now these little critters have gone a step further: home decorating. You've heard of The Not So Big House? Well, welcome to the bee's version! Using flower petals to make some of the prettiest little nests a garden fairy could ask for, this particular bee makes a number of these in close proximity and snuggles a single egg inside each one.

Inspired? Well, next to the row planted for the hungry add one specifically for the bees! By planting a row of flowers or setting up a section of native plants not only will pollinators be attracted to your garden, but those tiny immune systems will get a healthy boost in the battle against Colony Collapse Disorder. Get buzzzy!

Local Food Week in Michigan

2010-05-15T19:12:00.003-04:00

Whether your garden sits on a roof, in a series of pots, or at one of our community garden sites you can celebrate Local Foods Week in Michigan! Running from Sunday, May 16th through Saturday, May 22nd, Local Foods Week is an opportunity to find, enjoy, and celebrate some of the best in local foods Michigan has to offer.

Here are a few of our favorite ideas:

Plant a row for the hungry. A great way to celebrate local food is to decide to share it, and planting a row for the hungry is one of the best ways to do that. Whether or not you've signed up for the potato pledge, you can pick up a few extra plants at the Project Grow plant sale and know those little gems will help a neighbor. Now, how cool is that?

Head to the farmer's market. One of the most fun ways out there to celebrate local food is a trip to the farmers market. Meet the growers and producers that are just around the corner or right in your backyard, sample their wares, and take home a few favorites.

Consider growing some of your own. Think of this as the year to finally plant that garden, sneak a few tomato or basil plants in the flowerbed out front to start that edible landscape you've always been thinking of, or do a combo pot of edible flowers, herbs, and greens!

Take a local farm tour and see what's out there. SIMBY (Sustainability in My Back Yard) Agritours is another fun way to meet growers and producers in person, but this time on the farm. Check out their schedule of upcoming tours and hop on along!

Join a CSA. Fresh vegetables grown locally by folks on the ground - literally - of the local food movement. Another one of the best and easiest ways to be part of a local food movement find a comprehensive guide at The Farmer's Marketer.

Volunteer with Project Grow. You can't get much more local than a community garden. Check out ways you can lend a hand and be part of the fun!

Got more ideas? Let us know and we'll be more than glad to share them with our readers!

Flavors of Spring

2010-05-14T19:35:00.004-04:00

A spring garden is full of more than a few bits of bounty. Peas, rhubarb, mint, a few small greens, and the first blush of strawberries fill the rows and come into the kitchen to emerge on plates and in bowls in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Radishes are an early favorite adding a bit of zing to a rainy day sandwich, and the greens can be added to salad or that very same sandwich. Combine peas and mint and savor the fresh taste of spring, too!

Then head on over to the Project Grow Plant Sale to see what great tomatoes, peppers, and basils are on offer to start the summer garden rolling. Check out the full list of plants and start planning and plotting!

Project Grow Plant Sale

Saturday, May 15th and Sunday, May 16th

Saturday, May 22nd

8am - 2pm

People's Food Coop

Planting a Few Ideas

2010-05-12T02:25:00.000-04:00

These rainy days can make it tricky to stay out of the garden, to say the least, so here are a few ideas to put your mind in the garden until your hands and trowel can get there, too.

The Perennial Care Manual: A Plant by Plant Guide: What to Do and When to Do It by Nancy Ondra was recently reviewed over at Cold Climate Gardening. If you're thinking about planting perennials (and who isn't at least giving it a fleeting thought in spring?) this is the book to crack before heading to the nursery. Or right after you get back with that impulse buy, which I'd also like to know who in spring has not fallen prey to?

While thinking about perennials, give some additional thought to incorporating native plants. Beneficials absolutely adore native plants, and since they're well adapted to the region (being native and all) they'll require less water and a little less maintenance over time. Not sure where to start? Check out the local Wild Ones Chapter to talk to professionals and others trying out different ideas, too!

And don't forget to stop by the Project Grow Plant Sale this weekend to match tasty vegetables starts with that assortment of perennials!

Project Grow Plant Sale

Saturday, May 15th and Sunday, May 16th

Saturday, May 22nd

8am - 2pm

People's Food Coop

Plant Sale Coming Up!

2010-05-10T01:19:00.005-04:00

It's time to give serious thought to what will go in this year's garden. We've talked before about seeds, planning tools, and even about experimenting with a virtual garden to see what might happen. Now's the time to put that research into action to start taking home harvests like the one pictured here!

Join us Saturday, May 15th and Sunday, May 16th in front of The People's Coop talking plants, gardening, and all sorts of other fun green stuff! We'll be there once more on Saturday, May 22nd for one more chance at some terrific tomatoes, peppers, basils, and great conversation!

Project Grow Annual Plant Sale

Saturday, May 15th

Sunday, May 16th

Saturday, May 22nd

8am - 2pm

People's Food Coop

Slow Food Huron Valley Ark of Taste Dinner

2010-04-21T22:47:00.005-04:00

We've talked about scrumptious fungus, heirloom potatoes, and classes to help decide what to grow in the garden, but here's a chance to try some of those great local foods for yourself. Think of it as research for the garden or next trip to the Farmer's Market!

The Ark of Taste Dinner is a five course meal (plan for an elastic waistband!) that will knock your socks off. By promoting these foods to your taste buds, the Ark of Taste and Slow Food (check out the Huron Valley chapter, too!) raises the chances of keeping them growing for future generations. Wander over to the Grange Kitchen and Bar to sample some of this amazing fare and see what your taste buds would plant!

Ark of Taste Dinner

Thursday, April 22nd

7pm - 10pm

Grange Kitchen and Bar

118 West Liberty

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

734-995-2107

$65/per person

Reservations required so sign up now!

FDA Wants Your Opinion

2010-04-20T20:36:00.004-04:00

The FDA is looking for feedback on a proposed regulation to reduce food-borne illness on fresh produce. Hoping to forge a new way ahead after the food troubles of 2009, the organization is seeking public comment electronically as well as in public meetings before issuing a rule. The organization hopes to hear from a variety of people - growers, producers, and packagers - about this topic and what concerns them most. (It's recommended reading for consumers, too, to find out what a favorite grower or local grocer might need to do to get those favorite greens to the table.)

The deadline to share with the FDA your concerns and thoughts about this important food safety issue is May 24, 2010. These handy instructions will let you see what others are saying and make your voice heard on this important issue.

Comments may also be mailed to:

Division of Dockets Management,

HFA-305, FDA,

5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061,

Rockville, MD, 20852

Dirt + Seed Dispensing Gumball Machines = Garden

2010-04-15T00:24:00.003-04:00

Everyone knows about the transformative power of seeds, but here's a new twist on the idea - old gumball machines turned into a seed dispenser. Created by Greenaid, these contraptions make gardening easier than ever!

While you're thinking about seeds, check out Dirt! The Movie to see what's under your feet and why it matters so much. Screened at Sundance and Environmental Film Festival in Washington D.C. this year, the film will also air on PBS the week of April 20th. Garden adventures await!

Get ready to get your hands in that dirt, too, with these upcoming classes!

Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers

Saturday, April 17

10am - 11:30am

Leslie House

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor

Instructors: Royer Held and Tom Scheper

Learn how to select, start, and grow tomatoes and hot peppers using organic cultivation methods.

Introduction to Composting

Saturday, April 24

10am - 12pm

Leslie House

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor

Instructor: Geoffrey Kroepel

Explore composting basics perfect for any gardener as well as alternative methods and creative bins.

(Image courtesy of Greenaid.)

Oldies but Goodies - Growing Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers

2010-04-13T21:54:00.009-04:00

Join Royer Held and Tom Scheper for Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers this Saturday, April 17th! These two heirloom vegetable and gardening enthusiasts will be at the ready to impart some of their tried and true methods for growing organic tomatoes and peppers. Experienced trowels at the ready, Royer and Tom will share their favorite cultivars as well as tips for a beautiful and bountiful harvest. Don't miss it!

Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers

Saturday, April 17th

10 - 11:30am

Leslie House,

Leslie Science and Nature Center

Registration required.

Can't make this one? Check out these upcoming classes and get them on the calendar!

Introduction to Composting

Saturday, April 24

10am - 12pm

Leslie House at Leslie Science and Nature Center

Join Geoffrey Kroepel to learn composting methods that suit the needs of every gardener. Basic composting principles will be discussed as well as different methods for making it.

Bees Up Close and Personal!

Saturday, May 1

1pm - 3pm

Dawn Farms

6633 Stoney Creek Drive

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

$7.50/per person

Lora Kadwell will lead a hands-on introductory class and honey extraction. Meet the bees, see the equipment, and give this sweetest of endeavours a try.

*Participants should plan to wear jeans, long-sleeve shirts, and shoes.

** Class size is limited to 15 members, so don't wait to register.

(Photo courtesy of Dharmuti via the Project Grow Photo Pool.)

Royer Held on saving potato seeds and seed potatoes

2010-04-09T06:22:00.000-04:00

Seeds are a gardeners pleasure, and saving seeds from year to year an invaluable skill. Here in the third part of our discussion with Royer Held we talk about saving potato seeds as well as some of his recommended reading about potatoes. Read about how he got started growing his own and a few tricks of the trade in preparation for his class - Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips - this Saturday, April 10th. And then take the Project Grow Potato Pledge!

PG: Do you save your own potato seed or seed potatoes or slips? How do you do that?

RH: Potatoes produce fruit that looks like small green tomatoes. Most people don't realize that this happens because the fruit is well hidden on the plants. If you know to look for it, you will find it. I pick the fruit when it is ripe and extract the seed. The seed is about the size of a pin head and it is in a slimy gel. I spread it on paper to dry and package it up like tomato seed for storage.

I have always ordered sweet potato slips and have never bothered to try to produce my own for planting out. I have had sweet potatoes produce slips, but they have done that in the dead of winter when I can't make use of them. I have not tried all of the sweet potato varieties that will grow in Michigan, so I'm still looking over the catalogs for new ones to try.

PG: What's the most important thing to remember when saving seed potatoes?

RH: Keep an eye on them. Don't let them dry out and don't let them rot. Also, don't allow them to freeze. My solution has been to keep them in my fireplace. The fireplace damper lets in just enough cool air to keep temperatures low but above freezing. This isn't ideal, but it works for me.

PG: How long do seed potatoes keep?

RH: Seed potatoes are only good for the following season unless you do tissue culture, which is something growers are doing but is not something a home grower would typically try.

PG: Are there some varieties that are better for saving than others? Some varieties that are more difficult but worth the effort?

RH: I haven't noticed any difference in shelf life for different potato varieties.

PG: What's different about saving seed potatoes than other kinds of seeds?

RH: When you save seeds the seed will remain viable for many years if it is properly processed and stored. Seed potatoes will only make it to the next planting season. They are perishable.

PG: Any recommended reading or a favorite reference?

RH: Michael Pollan's Botany of Desire goes into great detail about the potato and how it is grown in the US. The book is alot of fun in general. It inspired me to contact the USDA regarding Bolivian potato seed.

There is a wealth of information on the internet. My favorite website is that of PROINPA, an organization located in Cochabamba, Bolivia dedicated to the promotion of Andean crop varieties. The website is in Spanish, but that just makes it more exotic. Their pdf featuring photographs of 100 potato varieties indigenous to Bolivia is a gem.

Irish Eyes is a great website for potatoes, and Sandhill Preservation website can't be beat for sweet potatoes.

PG: Does the class talk mainly about heirloom varieties of potatoes and sweet potatoes or all varieties?

RH: The class deals with growing potatoes and sweet potatoes in general, but I do make the point that there are a considerable range of varieties that can be grown and illustrate the point with photos. I also talk about my experience with Bolivian potatoes, which are perhaps the most venerable of the heirlooms.

PG: Is there anything I haven't asked you that you want to be sure to mention?

RH: Bolivian potatoes have been selected to cook quickly, because they are grown at a high elevation where water boils at a lower temperature. They only need to boil for five minutes at our lower elevation. Whoever would have thought there would be Energy Star potatoes?

Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips

Saturday, April 10th

10am - 11:30am

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road

Ann Arbor

Grow Your Own Scrumptious Fungus

2010-04-08T06:26:00.002-04:00

Matt Demmon over at Little House Farm is once again offering his most-fascinating mushroom class. Learn how to grow and get tips on preserving and cooking up your own delicious fungi, and enter a world of tasty beauty with Matt as your guide.

To whet your appetite, read my interview with Matt from last year and then check out his mouth-watering recipe below!

Backyard Mushrooming

Sunday, April 11th

12pm - 3pm

Little House Farm

$50 for class; $70 to take home your own log

Call Matt at 734-255-2783 or email to register

Hurry! Class size is limited.

Quick and Easy Mushrooms with Cream Sauce ala Little House Farm

8 oz. fresh mushrooms or 2 oz. dried mushrooms (reconstituted in water first)

1/2 of a small onion

3 tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons of flour (can be a combination of millet, amaranth, buckwheat and/or teff for those hankering after gluten-free)

1 cup milk or half and half

Salt and pepper to taste

Pasta of your choice

Saute the mushrooms in the butter for about five minutes, and then add the onion. Continue sauteing until the onion is golden brown. Stir in the flour and continue stirring until the flour smells roasted and changes color. Add the milk or half and half while stirring constantly until it comes to a simmer and begins to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste and serve over a pasta of your choice.

Pondering Potato Varieties with Royer Held

2010-04-06T22:02:00.002-04:00

Gardening can be tremendously satisfying, especially when growing vegetables and herbs for your own table. Recently, Project Grow talked with Royer Held, an heirloom enthusiast, about potatoes and sweet potatoes. In the first part of our conversation, Royer shared what got him started growing tubers and why he's kept on growing them. Here in the second part, he offers advice for the grower on choosing a variety that's right for you and your garden.

PG: Are some varieties better for storing, eating, baking, or eating immediately?

RH: Potato varieties differ in starch content and this is what makes them appropriate for different uses. Baking potatoes have a high starch content while my Bolivians and fingerling potatoes have a lower starch content, which make them better for boiling. There is nothing better to eat than a "new" potato: one freshly dug or one snuck out from under a growing plant before the main harvest.

PG: What do you advise a grower when looking for a variety?

RH: Consider how you like to cook your potatoes. Many of the garden catalogs that sell potatoes make suggestions for types that are suitable for particular types of cooking.

In addition to starch content, I would consider early, mid and late season potato varieties. My Bolivian potatoes are late season. That means they tie up garden space until frost. You could grow early season potatoes and follow that crop with greens, daikon, or a cool growing crop to get more out of your garden. A first time grower should select any variety that is commonly grown in your part of the country.

PG: Why are sweet potatoes often grown using slips?

RH: I suspect that growing sweet potatoes from slips is a matter of convenience and a way to reduce cost. It is truly amazing how quickly a slip without roots gets established in the garden. Sweet potatoes root along their stems quite easily, and most of the time the slips have roots already started. Sweet potatoes seldom flower at this lattitude so we don't see seed. If you were to grow sweet potatoes from seed you would have a new variety just like you do when you grow potatoes from seed. This happens quite often in tropical lattitudes, which helps account for the large number of commercial varieties available.

PG: What's the difference broadly speaking (I don't want to give away your whole class!) between using potato seeds, seed potatoes, and slips?

RH: When you use seed potatoes or slips you are growing exactly the same plant and genetic material that produced the seed potato or slip. This assures that you are growing exactly the same thing you grew the year before, or that you are growing exactly the variety that you want. When you grow any plant from seed, you are getting a brand new genetic combination that may or may not reflect the characteristics of its parents. This is where new varieties come from. To me, growing things from seed is far more exciting than simply accepting someone else's idea about what I should be growing!

PG: Is there a particular trick to successfully growing potatoes and sweet potatoes? Is there something you do to always ensure success?

RH: Both of these plants (the potato and the sweet potato) are quite tough. If they weren't, they wouldn't be as widely cultivated as they are. Like any garden vegetable, the key to success lies in the quality of the soil in which the plants are grown. All gardeners should be paying attention to developing and maintaining a healthy soil. As long as you do that, you can grow anything.

That said, sweet potatoes and potatoes should not be supplied with extra nitrogen. That will cause both types of plants to produce foliage rather than tubers. Potatoes and sweet potatoes also benefit from mulch. They both like even soil moisture and do not like to dry out until the end of the season.

When harvesting both regular and sweet potatoes take care not to injure the potatoes. Sweet potatoes that have been bruised, scraped, or otherwise injured are more likely to rot in storage. The same is true to a lesser degree with potatoes.

Want to find out more? Check back here for the third and final installment about saving potato seeds, and don't forget to read how it all began. Sign up for Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips to talk to Royer in person, and take the Project Grow Potato Pledge!

Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips

Saturday, April 10th

10am - 11:30am

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road

Ann Arbor, MI

734-996-3169

Pondering the Potato

2010-04-04T01:53:00.001-04:00

An unsung hero of the vegetable world is the potato. Often berated as a carb carrying fiend, the potato is really a source of great culinary delights and nutrition. Not to mention, it's got a fascinating history. Project Grow (PG) interviewed Royer Held (RH) about his passion for the potato, and his upcoming class on growing potatoes in the garden. Read this first part of the interview where we talk about the potatoes he grows and the spark that got him to grow his first tuber.

PG: I was aware of your interest in heirloom tomatoes and peppers, but not potatoes and sweet potatoes. What sparked your interest in this group?

RH: I first started growing my own potatoes about twenty years ago. I was eager to try some of the varieties offered by a mail order business that had close to 100 different kinds. I ended up growing a number of fingerlings and some other varieties that sounded interesting.

I grew them off and on, but my interest took off twelve years ago when my daughter went to Bolivia as an exchange student. She came back talking about all the different kinds of potatoes that were available in Bolivia. She said some tasted like bananas, and some were orange. I started looking for a way that I could try some.

About eight years ago I found that the USDA Seed Bank had hundreds of Bolivian potato varieties in their collection. I submitted an application and received ten different varieties that I've been growing ever since.

PG: What appeals to you about potatoes and sweet potatoes? Do you like both crops for the same or for different reasons?

RH: Both potatoes and sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and easily grown in your garden. If you grow them yourself, you have access to hundreds if not thousands of varieties you can't get in the grocery store. Potatoes are easier to grow and better suited to Michigan's cooler summers.

Ever since I received the Bolivian potato seed I have been growing Bolivian potatoes in my garden. I would have to say that I have a fondness for them that is somewhat irrational. Since each potato you grow from seed is unique, each time you raise a potato from seed (as opposed to from a tuber or seed potato) you get a new variety. I have been growing potatoes from seed ever since I got the first batch of seed from the USDA. At this point, I don't know how many different varieties I currently have. Each year I collect seed from plants that produce fruit, so theoretically I could produce 1,000's of new potato varieties if I had enough space to grow them.

I got inspired to try sweet potatoes reading about them in the Sandhill Preservation Catalogproduced by Glen Drowns. Glen grows sweet potatoes in Iowa. I figured if it can be done in Iowa, we should be able to do it here. If you choose early season sweet potatoes you can get a decent crop. It's fun to try an assortment because they have different flavors and textures, just like potatoes.

PG: What's special about heirloom potatoes?

RH: Variety is the spice of life. Commercial growers are not growing heirloom potato varieties in large quantities. Since potato varieties must be grown from tubers each year this makes it hard to keep them going. Will Bonsal who is the curator of the potato collection maintained by Seed Savers Exchange is having a tough time keeping all of the potatoes in his collection from going extinct. Home gardeners should step up and take on this responsibility because they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the preservation of these varieties.

Hungry for more information? Check back for the next installment where we talk with Royer about the varieties he grows, and some specifics about growing potatoes and sweet potatoes. Better yet, register for his class, and take the Project Grow Potato Pledge and get yourself growing!

Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips

Saturday, April 10th

10am - 11:30am

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road

Ann Arbor, MI

734-996-3169

Ann Arbor Eggs

2010-03-31T00:01:00.004-04:00

A reader raised a great question about Ann Arbor eggs. If you don't want (or your neighbors are a bit hesitant to agree to let you have) chickens in your backyard, is it possible to get your hands on some neighborhood eggs?

Here are a couple things that might be helpful resources.

Ann Arbor Chickens are on Facebook. Post the question to the group. Might I also suggest also offering a trade as a bit of a carrot? For example, if you've got a garden offer some veggies or better yet to clean out the coop in the spring and haul off the manure for your garden! (Take a look at the Project Grow Facebook page while you're there, too!)

Ann Arbor City Chickens is a web site dedicated to, well, Ann Arbor City Chickens. Check them out for ideas, some reference materials, and ideas for supplies.

Peruse the Ann Arbor (including the Westside Market!) and Ypsilanti Farmers Markets and look for community eggs. There's an ever-growing list of producers present, so it's worth investigating.

And now I'm hoping for ideas from all of you! Any leads on getting your hands on neighborhood eggs? Got neighborhood eggs you want to share? Give a shout and let us know!

Upcoming Class Reminder!

Potato Seeds, Sweet Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips

Saturday, April 10

10am - 11:30am

Leslie House at Leslie Science Center

Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers

Saturday, April 17

10am - 11:30am

Leslie House at Leslie Science Center

Take Project Grow's Potato Pledge and Plant a Row for the Hungry

2010-03-27T10:29:00.000-04:00

While planning this years garden - whether electronically or using pen and paper - don't forget to plant a row for the hungry. It's not difficult (what's one more row, really?) and can provide fresh food that can make a world of difference for a neighbor in the community.

And Project Grow and Downtown Home and Garden are making it even easier! Take our Potato Pledge and pick up two pounds of seed potatoes from Downtown Home and Garden on April 17th and get growing! Potatoes are easy and satisfying to grow, and are a favorite staple of food banks everywhere.

Potato Pledge

1. Find the Project Grow Potato Pledge Form at Downtown Home and Garden, the Ann Arbor Public Library - Downtown Branch, the People's Food Coop, and Whole Foods. (Take the upcoming class Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips on Saturday, April 10th and pick up the form there, too!)

2. Bring the Pledge to Downtown Home and Garden on Saturday, April 17th to "Potato Alley" behind the store (enter at Liberty Street and exit via Washington Street), and turn that paper into two pounds of beautiful seed potatoes ready for planting.

3. Plant those potatoes! Without a doubt our Project Grow heirloom devotee, Royer Held, will offer some of the best insight on growing potatoes to be found during "Potato Seeds, Seed Potatoes, and Sweet Potatoes" on Saturday, April 10th. (Well-timed for Potato Pledgers so sign-up now!)

4. Harvest in late summer or early fall. Details on collection dates, times, and places can be found at this blog, our newsletter, and via email.

Fall Bulb Planning Now or Any Excuse to Get Outside

2010-03-25T22:54:00.003-04:00

Put those Spring blues at bay for the moment and head out the door. This terrific idea about planning now for fall bulb planting is absolutely the perfect excuse to get out into the yard and to work. No digging or uncovering or planting - all a bit risky for the chilly days still in store for us - but some excellent fun!

Savor Seva: Not Just a Benefit for Your Tastebuds

2010-03-23T22:46:00.005-04:00

Looking for someone to talk over that garden plan with? Hankering for a taste of Spring? Or just looking for a great meal at one of Ann Arbor's great restaurants?

Then come on out and join fellow gardeners and gardening enthusiasts on Monday, March 29th to compare notes over some of Ann Arbor's best vegetarian fare at Seva Restaurant. And remember, twenty-percent of the evening's proceeds will benefit Project Grow Community Gardens!

Savor Seva

Monday, March 29th

5pm - 9pm

Seva Restaurant

314 East Liberty

Ann Arbor

734-662-1111

Map

Fowl Play: Enjoying Backyard Chickens

2010-03-19T20:51:00.002-04:00

It goes without saying that a garden - large or small, potted or free-range - with a few favorite vegetables, herbs, and flowers is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get fresh food. Backyard chickens are another. Fresh eggs from birds that are surprisingly funny, affectionate, and a fantastic source of fertilizer for the garden make them an instant delight!

Getting Started

While the idea of having chickens is appealing, knowing where to begin can feel a bit intimidating. A good overview on chicken basics is helpful as is learning about different chicken breeds that are well-suited to the backyard are great first steps.

Coop designs range from the traditional coop (stationary chicken house) or chicken tractor (a mobile coop that allows for contained free-ranging in safety). Your final choice will depend on the chicken ordinance you live under as well as the available space in your yard.

Chickens don't require a great deal of specialized care (no need to take them for a walk every night, etc.), but they do have a few minimal requirements. A safe enclosed coop that keeps them sheltered from the cold of winter and the heat of summer, fresh water, a little extra food to augment bugs and grass, and at least an annual cleaning of the coop to keep things tidy.

Classes, Books and Blogs

Our upcoming class on chickens led by Peter Thomason of Thomason Family Farm is full, but here are some other good resources to check out in the meantime.

A good basic primer on chicken-rearing is Christine Heinrich's How to Raise Chickens: Everything You Need to Know (2007) while Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, Third Edition (2010) is perhaps the definitive reference for your shelf. (Check out Christine Heinrich's blog, too!) There's also Martin Gurdon's Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance (2005) to inspire the chicken farmer in all of us.

Savor Seva with Project Grow!

2010-03-15T21:34:00.000-04:00

Spring is the time of year when a gardener begins conjuring up images of all the bounty the summer will have to offer. Seed catalogs lie open on the table and check lists abound of what to get and to grow. The path to the garden is already well worn from short visits to see the first rhubarb sprout, the first crocus, and maybe even to do a little measuring for this year's agenda.

Project Grow and Seva invite you to take a break from all that planning to come on out for an evening of fun and food with fellow gardeners (and eaters!) all in support of Project Grow. What better way to spend a Monday?

Event Details

Savoring Seva

Monday, March 29th

5pm - 9pm

Seva Restaurant

314 East Liberty

Check us out on Facebook, too, for more events, articles, and information!

Backyard Chickens 101

2010-03-12T00:20:00.011-05:00

Hankering for fresh eggs? Well, now folks living in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti can now enjoy the company of up to four chickens and all the eggs those lovely ladies will deliver. (Sorry, no roosters.)

Not sure where to start? Well, join us this Saturday, March 20th for A-maizing Chickens! to learn the basics about getting, keeping, supporting, and enjoying hens in an urban environment. Come on out to the Thomason Family Farm where Peter Thomason will share his knowledge and experience in fowl play.

A-maizing Chickens!

Saturday, March 20th

10am - 12pm

211 Woodward, Ypsilanti

Registration Required

$15 class fee

(Sorry! This one is full, but check out our other upcoming classes, too!)

Potato Seeds, Sweet Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Slips

Saturday, April 10

10am - 11:30am

Leslie House at Leslie Science Center

Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers

Saturday, April 17

10am - 11:30am

Leslie House at Leslie Science Center

Seeds for Cold Weather Places

2010-02-12T00:29:00.000-05:00

This post about seeds for a cold climate on Cold Climate Gardening is just terrific. The subsequent discussion in the comments section is also well worth a read. Some great seed sources are listed, as well as things to keep in mind while shopping for seeds.

Keep in mind that heirloom seeds have been chosen and saved for generations in an area or region not just for their fantastic flavors, but because they are well-adapted to that particular climate. Local heirlooms from Project Grow are available at the 2010 Annual Seed Swap on Saturday, February 13th, and can also be found at People's Food Coop, too.

Seed Savers Exchange specializes in heirlooms, and offers lots of good information about where they come from, how they grow, and the flavors they produce.

Garden Faerie also does a fun little seed swap, but you'll have to plan on participating next year. Check out her book - Fun with Winter Seed Sowing - to get a jump start on things, too!

2010 Annual Seed Swap

Saturday, February 13th

10am - 11:30am

Leslie Science and Nature Center

Garden Tally

2010-02-10T04:53:00.000-05:00

We all garden for a number of different reasons, but most likely one of the really big ones is having that favorite vegetable fresh for the dinner plate. Or for canning up a tasty tomato sauce recipe. Or just the satisfaction of growing the food that graces the table for some portion of the year. Or maybe this is the year you're looking for a few good reasons to start gardening!

Ever wonder just how much food is produced from that little plot? Well, Emily over at Eat Close to Home shared her formula for figuring out how much food comes pouring out of her gardens each year.

The bounty one space can produce is really impressive, and while calculating the savings reaped might be tedious it's well worth the effort, too. So, consider turning that lawn into a garden like Fritz Haeg suggests and be part of a burgeoning green economy!

Seed Swap Coming Up!

2010-02-07T17:33:00.000-05:00

One of the beautiful things about these early Spring days is the fact that the mailbox starts to fill with seed catalogs. One of the challenging things about all those seed catalogs is making choices. There are always the old favorites, and then there are those enticing new plants that are difficult to resist.

Add to the list of enticing things for this month Project Grow's Annual Seed Swap. Going for nearly ten years, the Seed Swap is offers a real-life seed catalog for perusing. The added bonus is that the grower and collector is on hand to answer any questions and talk about the pros and cons of a particular variety. There will also be a nice selection of Project Grow heirloom seeds available, too, and experienced gardeners to talk them over with, too.

Come on out to find a new favorite, talk with other gardening enthusiasts ranging from the newbie to the super-experienced, and get your garden off to a great start!

P.S. They make a great Valentine's Day gift, too!

Project Grow Annual Seed Swap

Saturday, February 13th

Leslie Science and Nature Center

10am - 11:30am

A Few Ideas for Implementing Food Rules

2010-02-04T20:59:00.000-05:00

Michael Pollan's new book is hitting the shelves offering simple advice for those looking for a better way to eat and think about their food. But you confess that while edible landscaping is appealing you really do like your lawn. And you don't know the first thing about starting seeds, and aren't so fond of getting dirty. A Project Grow garden plot sounds good (accepting applications now!), but that goes back to that dirty thing again. Yet, garden-fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs are a favorite.

What to do?

The Michigan Availability Guide quite nicely lists what is in season when in our fair state. Vegetables and fruits are both listed on this handy (and attractive!) guide that could easily be tacked up on the refrigerator.

Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and get fresh vegetables each week. Most farms also offer tasty recipes to go with the vegetables, as well as fun events at the farm. Fresh food plus a fun weekend outing a few times a year - is that perfect or what?

Visit the farmer's market and choose a variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, breads, meats, and so much more from a cornucopia of vendors. The added bonus of this (like the CSA) is that you get to talk to the grower/producer and you know exactly where your money is going. (The Farmer's Marketer also offers a weekly list of what's available at the market to help with planning.)

Attend a local food event and see what's happening including the upcoming Local Food Summit. Meet other folks interested in exploring food and gardening, have a little and who knows? Maybe getting dirty won't seem so bad after all...

Consider volunteering at Project Grow to continue a strong tradition of community gardening, and learn loads. Plus, getting to know gardeners means they share the summer's bounty!

This One's on the Garden

2010-01-19T01:01:00.000-05:00

There's another benefit to the empty pot of coffee on the counter other than that little jolt of energy to get the day started. A good source of nitrogen, the grounds also help create that hummousy soil plants (and gardeners) so dearly love. Mixing them right in with potting soil or just adding a spoonful or two judiciously to already settled pots encourages blooms and good growth.

Grounds can be often be found in bulk from local coffee shops (check near the entrance of Sweetwaters on the corner of Washington and Ashley, for sure) or from the office coffee-maker making it a simple and easy to get staple for the garden. Some creative uses (along with their subsequent benefits) of grounds, beans, and roasting leftovers include mulching paths and repelling pests. Add some eggshells and you've got a great garden breakfast!

Certifiably Dirty - Organic Gardening Courses

2010-01-16T01:33:00.000-05:00

Registration is now open for the Organic Gardening Certificate Program! Novices and experienced gardeners alike will find plenty of great information to dig through each week in courses ranging from Organic Gardening: An Introduction to Organic Fruit Growing,Landscaping with Native Plants, and Organic Lawn Care.

Instructors - Erica Kempter and Mike Levine of Nature and Nurture and Greg Vaclavek ofThe Native Plant Nursery - bring their knowledge and tricks of the trade from years of experience to each class to make for a fun and informative atmosphere.

Classes start Tuesday, February 23rd and can be taken individually, but we feel sure you'll quickly find one just isn't enough. Top off the classes with 20 hours of volunteer service sharing what you've learned (and getting good and dirty in the process!) and the certificate is yours!

And don't forget to check out our list of other great classes and events to see how else to get a gardening fix in these winter months!

Winter Gardening Seminar

2010-01-12T17:25:00.002-05:00

This time of year the post begins bringing that bevy of seed catalogs from far and near. And this time of year also brings those dreams of a garden that is often a wee bit bigger than it is in reality with plenty of room to spare for that new variety of pepper, cosmos, or basil.

Well, it's time to make this garden a reality! Join Project Grow's Marcella Trautman at Whole Foods to find out how to bring that fantasy garden to life this coming growing season.

Winter Gardening: Digging Through Seed Catalogs and Planning Your Perfect Garden

Wednesday, January 27th

6pm

Whole Foods Cranbrook

990 West Eisenhower Parkway

734-997-7500

Can't make this one? Never fear! Check out our Events and Classes to see what's happening and come on out!

Never fear! Garden gifts if the garden is all closed up

2009-12-18T01:25:00.000-05:00

Now, before you say to yourself, "I've already done the end-of-the-year chores, AND it's snowing!" there are some options if you can't get gifts from your own garden this year.

Head over to the Farmer's Market to check out the selection of herbs still on hand. These may already be dried and prettily packaged to boot! Without a doubt, lots of other terrific gift items will be available for perusal, too.

According to the Farmer's Marketer (check out What's at the Market This Week on the left), it looks like apples galore can still be found. Why not whip up a batch or two of applesauce, can or freeze it and give it away? Talk about a refreshing taste of sunshine when the temperatures drop!

Create a tea blend from the great selection of herbs at a bulk grocery store section like the one at the People's Food Coop or Arbor Farms.

Make a super top secret hot cocoa mix for friends and family. Just think of how much fun you'll have "testing" the different recipes! (This could also be done while catching up on garden reading...and ok, you can't grow cocoa ingredients in your garden, but it's still homemade and still yummy.)

Amaryllis make a great gift for everyone from the non-gardener to the novice gardener to the botanist on your list. The thrill of watching the leaves emerge and the final trumpets of color move even the most curmudgeonly.

Give a selection of herbs for the windowsill. Fresh herbs are even better than dried ones, and the cheerful green leaves will be a welcome sight in anyone's home. Tailor the herb selection (seeds or seedlings) to the person in question, along with a cute pot or two. How much fun is that?

Review of New Gardening Books

2009-12-14T03:21:00.000-05:00

Just in time as a follow-up to a recent post on gardening books comes this review from the New York Times. Reviewed are a total of 10 new books covering a range of topics - landscape gardening in Japan, historic gardens in England and America, parks and urban landscaping, bulbs, and good old fashioned garden reference - to match the whims and interests of any gardener.

And for those wanting a list of more recent vegetable-focused books, check out this terrific compilation/review from Spring. Reviewing and summarizing 12 books in total, this list would make a wonderful check list for building a gardening library.

And finally, for the whipper-snapper's on your list who might be shy (or even those who are not!) about gardening, The Curious Garden by Peter Brown, is sure to inspire everyone.

Gifts from the garden

2009-12-09T00:22:00.001-05:00

As gift-giving season fast approaches, the stress of remembering who's on the list, what they like or don't like, not to mention the cost of many items can make the season more stressful than might be ideal. Here are a few ideas for this year (or to keep in mind for next year!) to ease the situation.

Dried herbs.

Dried herbs make fantastic presents! Whether it's a sprig of rosemary, a sweet little jar of oregano, dried mint and lemon balm for tea, or lavender sachets for a drawer or for a plunge in the bath, these are sure to delight. Drying herbs is easy as hanging them up to dry in the house or popping them in a low, low oven spread out on a cookie sheet.

Garden preserves.

If you've got a nice bundle of goodies canned, dried, or frozen consider dolling up the packaging a bit and giving them as gifts. Dried tomatoes (or tomato chips!) make a fantastic present that could probably be given multiple years in a row without any complaints, not too mention some of that pesto in the freezer!

Garden crafts.

How about a wreath from the wild grapevine growing along the back fence? Or a bouquet of dried flowers? How about some seeds saved from a garden favorite? Here's a good list of ideas and how to do them, or check out this upcoming movie about handmade gifts and crafts to release that crafty gene just lurking in your veins!

More Ideas?

Send along some of your favorite garden gift ideas. We'd love to hear how you share the bounty of the garden during the holidays.

A garden reading list

2009-12-04T20:16:00.008-05:00

A great joy of northern gardening is the off-season. While the cold winds blow and the last of the leftover turkey simmers in the soup on the stove it's a great time to do a little reading. The following list of a few good new, old, and revised gardening classics should be a great start.

Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers by Ron L. Engeland.

Filaree Productions, 1995.

Considered a classic and must-have for anyone growing garlic, Engeland offers detailed information on more than 200 varieties of garlic along with instructions on how to go about growing a terrific harvest.

The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower's Guide to Pumpkins, Squashes, and Gourds by Amy Goldman.

Artisan, 2004.

The second of Goldman's three books on gardening and heirloom varieties, The Compleat Squash is a must-read for anyone wanting to meet other members of the Cucurbita family. Recipes, growing information, and other fascinating tidbits about these New World vegetables abound in this beautiful and informative book.

The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener (Revised Edition) by Eliot Coleman.

Chelsea Green, 1995.

Another definitive work from the author who brought us the Four Season Harvest and The Winter Harvest Handbook, Coleman in this revised edition of offers even more detailed instruction and advice for those growing organically in smaller spaces.

The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals edited by Barbara Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley.

Rodale Press, 1996.

Pests and disease can visit any garden and wreak a bit of havoc. This book, edited by two extremely experienced, knowledgeable, and engaging gardeners and garden writers, offers time-tested solutions for maintaining an organic garden while identifying and managing a few troublemakers.

Tucking away the garden

2009-11-14T04:47:00.004-05:00

Fall is, at least in Michigan, when the garden gets tucked away for the season. Unless a hoophouse or other structure for a little winter gardening is underway here's a small list of things to do at the end of the season.

Jot it down.

Before doing a single one of the following things head out to the garden with pen and paper in hand (or camera!) and make some quick notes on what was where, how it worked, how it tasted, what to remember to do again, and what to remember to never do again. The ideal is a garden journal, but even a quick map is great to avoid planting members of the same family in the same space next year or to help remember where that new rhubarb plant went.

Plant garlic.

Ok, so it's time to tuck the garden away, but it is such a pleasure to plant bulbs for that dash of spring color so why not plant some garlic for a dash of flavor? It's not too late to tuck some in, and add the site of those little tasty green shoots to your winter daydreams. Some good, basic information on growing garlic is helpful whether this is the first time you've planted them or the hundreth as is a list of varieties available. Never done it before? Never fear! With garlic, there is nothing to lose. The scapes (flowerheads that need to be snipped) are tasty, and the bulbs...is there really a question?

Compost everything.

A bittersweet but satisfying task for the fall is cleaning up the beds. Frost bitten basil, tomatoes, and other plants need to be moved out, cages brought in, and plant tags found. Unless your garden was struck with tomato blight or some other disease plan to pop everything in the compost bin. Add a those last grass clippings and leaves, and savor the thought of the fantastic growing material that will soon be created.

Feeling really motivated about composting? Check out this great little article on deep composting. Reminiscent of lasagna gardening deep composting makes use of the woody debris that can accumulate in fall while creating a new growing space that can be put to use almost immediately.

Build up soil.

Fall is a great time to give the garden soil a boost of healthy snacks for recharging the soil as well as continuing to build a solid soil foundation for future growing. Mix in shredded leaves (just run them over with the lawnmower), although it is important to consider what kind of leaves get thrown on the garden or into the compost bin. Walnut leaves are less than ideal, and maple leaves need to be well-shredded. Maple leaves tend to be nitrogen-fixing (holding onto the nitrogen while they break down rather than giving it out to the plants growing in the garden) although eventually they contribute.

A nice recipe for building up soil (literally and figuratively) can be found here (again reminiscent of lasagna gardening) is feasible for old and new beds alike.

Gardening in a pot

2009-10-27T07:39:00.000-04:00

The weather is chilly and the gardens are finishing up for the season. Feeling forlorn about fresh vegetables without room for a hoophouse?

Well, despair no more! While the title of the article sounds a wee bit unfortunate - Grow Food Scraps Indoors - the article does offer some good ideas for growing food in pots, including green onions. A good list of vegetables and some nice details about how to manage the indoor container garden can also be found here.

And just as a little extra, this blog post focuses mostly on growing in containers outdoors, but it offers sound advice on selecting containers and the unique needs of such plants. Enjoy!

Gardening in Flint: Tasty Greens and a Whole Lot More

2009-10-24T06:57:00.001-04:00

Any gardener will attest to the hope and joy one finds working the soil for food or for flowers. The miracle of seeds turning to tiny plants turning to a full grown plant is a joy in itself. The vegetables served to a gathering of family and friends or the bouquet on the table at the end of the day offer a satisfaction that fills the heart and soul.

A recent article in The New York Times about gardens in Flint that serve up plates of food along with healthy doses of community pride and innovation offers a reminder of what is best in gardens and all of us.

If Life Hands You Apples...

2009-10-21T06:42:00.004-04:00

...make applesauce! At least that's our philosophy at Project Grow, and the upcoming class will show folks just how to do that.

Join us Saturday, November 7th at the Leslie Science Center and learn how to make a batch of two of this tasty treat to savor through the winter months. Good for you, and satisfying to whip together, applesauce is one of those simple pleasures that is about as simple to make. Come join the fun and your taste buds will thank you for the sweet, fruity treat come January!

Need more inspiration? Check out this terrific article linking apples and taste of place AND that includes a delicious sounding recipe for (you guessed it!) applesauce!

Let's Make Applesauce!

Saturday, November 7th

10am - 11:30am

Leslie Science Center

If You Want to be Happy Forever, Make a Garden

2009-10-06T05:18:00.000-04:00

Written by a friend of Project Grow, the following piece tells the story of some of the gardens and gardeners to be found at our Clague site. Transplants themselves, the gardeners have found a taste and feeling of their former homes and histories in their new country.

They aren't called "community gardens" for nothing. Large shared plots are little communities, enclaves where friendship and social harmony flourish as surely as fresh, nutritious food. And Project Grow's Clague Community Garden is one of the best: a mini-Eden of health and happiness, though non-Asians might not recognize most of the produce.

"This is a luffa gourd," said Xianfang Xu, 77, gently reaching into a six-foot tangle of gargantuan vines and leaves to cradle a shiny baby fruit. "It looks like a zucchini, but it's spongy inside," Xianfang said. "We use it for soup. We like Chinese food because it's good for health." (Mature luffa - or luffah - fruit can be dried to make kitchen and bath sponges.)

Like many communities, the Clague gardening community has changed over the years as old “residents” have left and newcomers have taken their places. Located at Clague Middle School, on the city’s northeast side, the garden was first planted in 2005 by three families. Then two years later, Quansheng Xu, a resident of the nearby Parkway Meadows Senior Apartments, was out walking and spotted his dream garden.

“I saw this beautiful garden at the entrance to Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church,” said Quansheng, 74, a retired engineering leader at a textile factory. “The plots were much larger than the plots at Parkway Meadows, where I had planted a small garden for four years. So I entered the church and asked about it and they told me about Project Grow.”

He defected to Clague and by the 2008 growing season had recruited a small contingent of other Chinese seniors, including his wife, Bing Xian Zhang, 72.

“In 2007, there was one Chinese man -- me,” said Quansheng, smiling. “Now, there are seven Chinese families and four American families here.” The garden has become a “cultural exchange between America and China,” Xianfang added.

“The families share vegetables and gardening knowledge. We enjoy each other. We see each other and we see what we’re each growing.”

What the American families see is a parallel universe of exotic produce: Chinese celery, which is leafier and has skinner stalks than the more familiar European variety; Chinese long beans, the freaks of the bean world, which make “normal” green beans look like haricot verts; Chinese lettuce, which grows high instead of low to the ground and is topped with seeds; Chinese amaranth, a purple-and-green plant so pretty it could be a houseplant, whose tender leaves are sautéed in oil, like spinach. There are Chinese varieties of chives and garlic as well as Chinese eggplant, Chinese cabbage and Chinese “hollow vegetable,” a lushly tall, dense grass with hollow stems whose long, narrow leaves are eaten raw, in salad, or steamed and wilted.

Everything is organic, which is a big hit with the Chinese gardeners children, who emigrated earlier than their parents, most of whom left China or Taiwan after they retired and speak very little English.

“My children like to eat the fresh, organic vegetables,” said Bing Xian, speaking through an interpreter, Helen Bucklin, the daughter of fellow gardener Hsien-Wen Fang, 81.

But their parents have embraced organic produce, too, reading up on the nutritive content of various vegetables and fruits and treating the garden with near reverence, as if it were growing traditional Chinese medicines.

“This cauliflower started as only a tiny seed!” said Hsien-Wen, whose scientist’s curiosity serves him well in the garden. Born in China, Hsien-Wen moved to Taiwan in 1949, when he was 21, after the Chinese Civil War. In 1963, he moved to Ann Arbor and earned a PhD in biochemistry, returned to Taiwan to teach, then moved back to Ann Arbor in 1982 to become a UM researcher.

“Now, the cauliflower is huge!” he said in early August, when the compact plants were still weeks away from being ready to harvest. “I started them in my home garden, and transplanted them one by one here. Now, I eat the leaves. I found in the literature that the leaves have even more nutrients than the cauliflower, different kinds of nutrients. Previously, I steamed them, but the literature said you lose many nutrients that way. So I’m eating the leaves raw now. I put them in salad with vinegar, sometimes even yogurt, and salt and olive oil.”

All the Chinese seniors are thin and seem extremely fit and limber for their age, bending over to care for their plants and crawling around on their hands and knees to pull weeds.

“This is physical labor!” said Xianfang. “We all use a lot of mental energy, so this helps us balance (the body and mind). For example, I have high blood pressure. If I work in the garden, my blood pressure goes down. I come here to relax.”

As if she were at a party, Fang offered a visitor a container of homemade Chinese canapés: fried slices of Chinese eggplant; chunks of a Chinese chive omelet; Chinese zucchini pancakes; Chinese bean noodle buns and tomato-and-cucumber salad. They were delicious, balancing an American visitor’s physical and mental energies by transporting her back to China and her own memorable stay there in 1985.

The Clague garden is so devotedly tended and explosively green that it’s hard to imagine any failed experiments. But there have been a few.

“In Southeast China, we have a longer growing season because it’s warmer there,” said Zhikun Zhou, 75, a retired elementary school and piano teacher.

Zhikun is the group’s master gardener, credited with knowing the most about how to water plants, dig ditches and ventilate soil. Like several of the other gardeners, he’s from Wuxi, near Shanghai. Like all of them, he learned to garden as a child out of necessity.

“The first year here, I failed -- I planted seeds in March and April, and they all died of frost!”

At Clague, an old Chinese proverb seems to hold true: “If you want to be happy forever, make a garden.” The Chinese gardeners can’t seem to spend enough time there, walking over daily from their apartments just a short block way.

“I come here every day, at least twice, sometimes three times,” said Guishan Wang, 76, a retired medical school professor. His wife, Guiqin Jiang, 79, wears pearls with her gardening clothes!

“I like the soil and the land,” she said.

Guiqin and the others have reaped so much more from the garden than just produce: deepened feelings of independence and belonging in their adopted country; pride, improved health, peace.

“I like to garden because first, I have nothing else to enjoy,” said Zhixian Jiang, 70, who moved to Ann Arbor because her son had settled there. “Second because watching the vegetables grow every day makes me happy, gives me a sense of accomplishment.

"From the end of June to the end of November, we don’t need to go to the store to buy vegetables,” added Quansheng.

Perhaps Xianfang expressed the group’s attachment to the garden best: “We think of these vegetables like our kids and grandkids. We watch them grow up.”

Seed Saver Extraordinaire

2009-10-02T04:22:00.002-04:00

Check out this great piece on Royer Held, Project Grow's Heirloom Guy, that appeared recently in the Ann Arbor Chronicle.

Inspired? Keep an eye out for upcoming classes led by Royer Held and other local seed savers who share plenty of tips for saving seeds and choosing heirloom varieties.

Tomato Blight Update

2009-09-23T06:37:00.005-04:00

Tomato blight, as mentioned previously here, is troublesome to say the least, and devastating for farmers and home gardeners, to say the most. Royer Held, a.k.a. Project Grow's Heirloom Enthusiast, sent along the following helpful links about tomato blight and how to contend with it.

NPR's Science Friday recently aired an interview with Chad Nusbaum, a scientist who mapped the genome. Along with some genetic science, Nusbaum offers insight into how the disease spreads and what gardeners should do if they discover it. (The transcript of the interview is also quite helpful.)

Additionally, Science Friday's Flora Lichtbaum visited a farm afflicted with late blight, and created a video vividly portraying the plight caused by the disease as well as illustrating its effect on the plant.

What to do with infected plants?

If a plant is suspect, remove it immediately including any fallen leaves. DO NOT COMPOST IT. Bag it up and put it our with the trash. Other options are detailed in this document, along with more links to properly identify late blight and how to monitor for it.

Winter Gardening

2009-09-21T02:06:00.004-04:00

With the Equinox upon us, it is surely time to be thinking of winter gardening. Not just packing up the garden for a nice winter's rest (although that's not a bad thing), but giving some thought to what can be grown in the cooler part of the year.

Whether or not a hoophouse is on the horizon, there are a fair number of vegetables and smaller structures that could make for a lovely harvest nearly into winter. Some favorites of the cool weather gardener are kale, cabbage, broccoli, and lettuce, but surely beets, leeks, and an assortment of other tasty treats could be added here and there. This article is a good primer for planning and planting. This article from Mother Earth News is also quite comprehensive with nice associated links.

If a hoophouse is a bit of a scary proposition, Coldframes are usually short, small, and often easy to build and maintain. They are a nice way to gently break into the realm of winter gardening without breaking your back or your bank account. That said, Elliott Coleman pops a few into his hoophouses to grow an even greater variety of vegetables throughout the winter months.

Local garden centers may also have cool weather crop seedlings for sale, too, along with the usual offerings of garlic and spring bulbs. Treat yourself to a tour and come home with a mini feast!

Tomato Tasting at HomeGrown Festival

2009-09-08T19:15:00.004-04:00

Don't forget to come on out to the HomeGrown Festival this Saturday, September 12th. Not only will there be a myriad of tasty local foods there (including Project Grow's brilliant tomato tasting table!), including Michigan wines and beers, but a wide variety of other activities. A chef's demonstration, a Made-in-Michigan store, and a bundle of farmer and fiber producer's will also be on hand.

Stop by our table and sample a fantastic variety of organically grown heirloom varieites of tomatoes to begin planning next year's garden as well as give your tastebuds something to celebrate!

Ann Arbor's HomeGrown Festival

Kerrytown Farmer's Market

5pm - 10pm

Ticket's $4

Hoophouse Planning and Construction

2009-08-26T04:01:00.001-04:00

Ok, it's August and your thinking as you look at this headline, "Hoophouse? Good grief. Who needs a hoophouse?" Well, you just might, and now while the weather is less formiddable than it is in late October or November, might just be a good time to start planning and plotting for one.

Last year's class, Growing in a Hoophouse, brought in a standing room only crowd, and this year it seems like it will be no less a popular topic. Lessons learned from that first experiment inspired many, and with good cause. Fresh garden vegetables not trucked long distances can be hard to come by in the winter months (although there are some new farms offering tasty green treats throughout the season), and growing your own is a good solution. As most gardeners know, a little bit of growing room can give a whole lot of harvest. (Imagine how delighted folks will be with a big bunch of homegrown kale for a present come December!)

Quite possibly more information than a homegrower might want, this MSU page detailing hoophouse construction offers invaluable information in text, video, and photos. The associated blog also offers notes from a gardener experimenting with her own hoophouse construction and harvesting. And another associated blog offers notes from the farmer working in the hoophouse! Both are great reading.

And don't forget Elliott Coleman's classics - Four Season Harvest and The Winter Harvest Handbook - for hoophouse plans, diagrams, plant lists, and planting schedules.

Reveling in the Season's Bounty

2009-08-21T03:11:00.001-04:00

As tomato season approaches, we thought this article from Grist about what to do with the season's bounty worth checking out.

And if you'd like to taste more than a few different varieties of heirloom tomatoes join us for our Eighth (can you believe it's EIGHT?) Annual Tomato Tasting. Bring your tastebuds out for an morning of exercise and fun!

Eighth Annual Tomato Tasting Extravaganza

Saturday, August 22nd

9am - 12pm

Ann Arbor Farmer's Market

For more information on the event or to find out how to get your tomatoes in the mix just drop us a note or call 734-996-3169.

Tomato Tasting Extravaganza: Adventures in Flavor

2009-08-19T19:26:00.002-04:00

Heirloom tomatoes are, thankfully, one of the great (and delicious) rediscoveries of our time. Writers like Barbara Kingsolver and Michael Pollan along with local growers like Frog Holler and Wilson's Farm have helped bring these beauties back to our plates and tummies. And local seedsavers like Royer Held have shown us how to preserve them for the future, and shared their enthusiasm for growing these storied varieties. As Wendell Berry says, "Food with a story tastes better."

In celebration of these great folks near and far (and the tomato itself!) we'd like to remind you that this Saturday - August 22nd - is the Eighth Annual Tomato Tasting Extravaganza at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market. Sample a wide variety of tomatoes - large, small, red, yellow, and green - to find a new favorite and make notes about which one to grow for next year. We'll have folks on hand to talk you through the tasting, and share information about the tomatoes present.

Tomato Tasting Extravaganza

Saturday, August 22nd

Ann Arbor's Famer's Market

8am - 1pm

Interested in volunteering? Drop Leigh Ann a note or give her a ring at 734-996-3169 to come on along!

Interested in volunteering tomatoes? Bring 'em on down to the market labeled and washed (but not cut up, please!) after 8:30am, and we'll add them to the mix.

Tomato Blight Watch

2009-08-15T03:32:00.001-04:00

Tomato growers in the Northeast are deeply concerned, and rightly so, about late blight. An airborne disease that can quickly ravage tomatoes and potatoes, gardeners also need to be on the lookout for signs of this deadly disease. (No cases have been reported so far in Michigan.)

MSU Extension Diagnostic Services offers some great information on plant troubles, and is the place to contact if a plant looks a bit dodgy.

Work the Counter with Project Grow!

2009-08-12T01:43:00.002-04:00

Learn the Secrets of the Market and volunteer with Project Grow at these two fantastic upcoming events! (Ok, we won't make you get up at 4:30am, but you'll still have a terrific time.)

Project Grow's Heirloom Tomato Tasting Extravaganza
Saturday, August 22nd, 8am to 1pm
Ann Arbor Farmer's Market
Join us at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market to share the joy's of organic heirloom tomatoes. Volunteers will help tasters find the tomato of their dreams, share their enthusiasm for these tasty jewels, and probably find a new favorite to grow for next year.

HomeGrown Festival
Saturday, September 12, 5pm - 10pm
Ann Arbor Farmer's Market
The Second Annual HomeGrown Festival promises to be even more fun than the last, and volunteers are needed to help work the Project Grow table, help with fun food-focused activities for kids, and assist in a second tomato tasting. Come on down and be part of some good old-fashioned local action!

Interested? Drop Leigh Ann a line or give her a call at 734-996-3169, and she'll get you squared away.

Preserving Garden Bounty

2009-08-08T19:27:00.002-04:00

Rightly so, the Organic Gardening e-newsletter recently ran a great series of articles on harvesting and preserving foods from the garden. Covering everything from when to harvest, to canning, to freezing, this issue offers some great ideas that should not be missed.

Local food preservation resources include:

Preserving Traditions - A local group that gets together to can, make pies (that alone should get you out the door, for heaven's sake!), and figure out ways to keep the harvest while having fun.

Eat Close to Home - Emily has a great series of posts about preserving food that offer practical solutions and ideas that are also fun and innovative. Here's a list of the posts tagged with food preservation, but her whole blog is worth a gander. (BTW, she also heads up Preserving Traditions, mentioned above.)

Ann Arbor Home Canning Group - A group, existing both electronically and literally, in Ann Arbor to learn and talk about home canning and food preservation. The page also includes a good list of resources along with interesting conversation.

Good reads include:

The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carol W. Costenbader

Storey Publishing, 1997.

Recipes for drying, freezing, and canning with simple diagrams and easy to follow instructions.

Preserving Summer's Bounty: A Quick and Easy Guide to Freezing, Canning, Drying and Preserving What You Grow edited by Susan McClure, 1998. Rodale Press.

Step-by-step instructions for preserving fruits, herbs, and vegetables in a variety of ways. Another great book for beginners.

Old Dodge, New Tricks or a Different Take on Container Gardening

2009-08-03T00:47:00.006-04:00

This new short film about a slightly different take on a truck garden is brilliant and brings a smile to the face of any gardener. The farm travels about Brooklyn visiting CSA customers who can literally pick and choose straight from the soil. Visit Wicked Delicate to follow the farm's progress through the summer, and prepare to be delighted and inspired.

While we hope folks on our wait lists don't necessarily have to resort to this, we still love it!

(Image courtesy of Curt and Ian - the same folks who brought us King Corn, by the way - over at Wicked Delicate.)

Part Two on Pests

2009-07-29T11:26:00.001-04:00

As mentioned earlier, pests are inevitable in any garden. For organic gardeners, there are a few good tricks of the trade.

Get to know the bugs in the garden, too. While some bugs see the garden as a buffet created for their enjoyment and nutrition others are helpful and considerably less destructive. (Check out this nifty page of photos from a UK gardener. Some are different, some the same, but it's well done.)

Other simple ideas to ward off pests or just stop them are listed below, and this list of recipesalso looked handy.

Cutoworm Collars

This absolutely classic remedy for cutworm is perhaps the simplest one yet. Simply fold newspaper or a sturdy piece of thin cardboard (from a cereal box, etc.) into a strip about four inches wide and perhaps six inches long. Fashion it into a circle or collar around the stem of the seedling, and push it into the ground about an inch. The cutworm operates below the surface of the soil usually, and this will simply detour it around your plants. This page offers some good additional information on cutworms, too.

Slug Beer and Boards

Another classic solution to pesky slugs that snack on cabbage plants is a shallow pan of beer in the garden. Just set it out the night before and in the morning the slugs are swimming. Chickens love this now marinated appetizer when they first run out of the coop, too! A board placed in the garden near the affected plants can also do the trick. Set it out at night, and turn it over in the morning to pluck off the little guys. Check out this list for even more ideas!

Plotting for Pests

2009-07-27T06:54:00.000-04:00

Pests, like weeds, are one of the things every gardener knows is lurking somewhere out there. Organic gardeners tend to think of the soil first, which means plants are that much more resilient and healthy in the face of assorted troubles. For those pests and critters that do attempt to make a move on the garden, this article from Fine Gardening offers a wide variety of home remedies for many of the most common troubles.

Recipes, photos, (she is NOT blending up the Japanese beetles, by the way, but rather a REMEDY for them), step by step instructions and helpful commentary make this one worth hanging onto for future seasons.

Salve for the Soul

2009-07-24T00:24:00.000-04:00

A favorite edible flower for summer salads is without a doubt calendula. Those blazing petals sprinkled on the verdant green of lettuce, chard, and kale is one of the prettiest sights going this time of year. Yet, like basil, there can be a wee bit too much as the season kicks into high gear. Caryn Simon, local doula, will be teaching a class on how to make a handy salve out of that excess.

Caryn took the time to talk a bit with Project Grow about the class, the importance of learning about herbs, and the value of working with herbs.

How long have you been making salves?

Since 2001. I had just moved back from New Mexico, and was working as a postpartum doula for Dr. Beth Barclay. She supported my brainstorms to come up with an all-purpose salve and hand out samples at Liberty Pediatrics where I worked.

Why did you start?

I wanted to make money doing something I loved. I think it is very important that we as consumers can identify all the ingredients in the products we use on our bodies and our babies bodies, too.

Did someone teach you how to work with herbs or did you also take a class?

I've mostly apprenticed with various elder women, and read lots of books and experimented slowly on my own.

If someone is a first-timer at something like this, what would you recommend as a starting point?

Making your own herbal tea is very simple, and a great way to connect with plants in our area and get to know them. My first was a tea made out of lemon balm. I was studying with anayurvedic herbalist in Cazadero, California, and she taught me how to make tea in a mason jar. Lemon balm was the herb I connected with first because it was growing in abundance on her land. A few herbs that grow around Ann Arbor that would be great are raspberry leaf, nettle, red clover and such.

Clearly, your class is a good start, but if someone is looking at, say, an abundance of lavender, what might you suggest?

Making herbal baths with lavender would a great use. Adding the lavender to some nice sea salt and taking a dip - this kind of bath would be great as a stress reliever before bed-time or for headaches or cranky babies.

Do you need alot of special equipment or ingredients?

Not at all. A double boiler is essential, some beeswax, a cutting board and knife, a Pyrex pitcher helps, little jars...a May Erlwine CD...

If I was interested in doing this sort of thing, what kinds of plants would you recommend growing?

For salve, I'd recommend calendula, comfrey, nettle, plantain, yarrow, and lavender. Many of these grow on their own in ABUNDANCE.

Are there any books or other resources you might recommend for folks interested in learning more about making their own salves or lotions?

Yes! There is an excellent book by Dina Falconi called Earthly Bodies, Heavenly Hair: Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Every Body. I would also highly recommend any of Rosemary Gladstars books. She is a living goddess.

What other products do you make out of natural ingredients?

Where to begin? Shampoo, breath freshener, mosquito spray, herbal tea, tinctures, bit and sting paste, powder....the list goes on!

What's your favorite thing to make and why?

I love developing new products and playing with recipe ideas. Right now, I'm working on a product that is going to have mica in it! Fun, fun for little fairy girls!!

What do you find the most satisfying about creating these products?

The packaging. I almost studied graphic design at Madison. No really, it slows me down. It helps me feel grounded and womanly.

Why do you think it's important to teach others about how to make this kind of thing?

There are so many reasons. To connect with the earth and slow down, consume less, protect and honor the plants, empower our abilities to heal ourselves gently, gather communally.

Do you think making these products is a good match with being a doula? Why?

Oh yes, indeed. My line of products is expanding, but it was originally focused on mothers and babies. Because I am around new families so much, I get ideas about what they might need and come up with natural, simple, herbal ways to fill that need. I feel my two passions fit really well together. Both are very grounded paths - being around birth and playing with herbal medicine - and both are really calming to me. I feel my herbal knowledge benefits the families I work with, and my love for babies and children in turn inspires alot of my herbal ideas. Maybe soon I will teach a class with little ones!

Is there anything I haven't asked you that you want to make sure people know or find out?

My last salve-making class this year will meet August 8th and 22nd. If someone is interested in attending they should call me up (734-646-1341) or send me an email. As of today (Sunday, July 20th) I have three spaces left. I also host a bi-monthly tea gathering at Little House Farm, too! Come make tea with other women and their pregnant bellies!

(Still hankering for more about herbs? You can also read another interview with Caryn over at the Ann Arbor Chronicle.)

Big Community Harvest Tour

2009-07-22T11:02:00.002-04:00

What better way to spend a Wednesday evening than wandering from one great garden to another?

Well, as luck would have it the first round of the Big Community Harvest Tour starts rolling this Wednesday. Download a map, tour the sites - including the Edible Avalon gardens - and learn what great work is happening right here in town!

Big Community Harvest Tour

Wednesday, July 22nd 6pm - 9pm

Saturday, August 1st 10am - 1pm

The Big "But" about Basil

2009-07-17T00:11:00.000-04:00

Basil is really coming on now, and most gardeners find they have more than enough to go around, especially if it is planted in companionship with tomatoes and eggplants. It effectively repels the bad guys, and gives the gardener something good to eat.

But, like zucchini, it can be a bit overwhelming to harvest, eat, process, and store. Organic Gardening offers some good tips on preserving basil - from drying to freezing - and this pesto recipe is an easy one. (The pesto can also be frozen in ice cube trays, popped out and bagged for single shots later in the year.) And remember, pesto and dried basil make great gifts!!

Grab Your Trowel and Tighten Your Laces!

2009-07-13T02:57:00.000-04:00

Running Fit, a local running store extraordinaire, is hosting the Third Annual Big House Big Heart Run on Sunday, October 4th. This fun and friendly event is a great way to get outside after a busy morning in the garden, and run around (literally) in support of Project Grow.

Interested in running and organizing support for community gardens? Then grab a trowel and sign up!

From the Front Yard to the Farm

2009-07-11T01:14:00.000-04:00

Edible landscaping is all over the news (and this blog), and this article about Will Allen and Milwaukee's Growing Power Farm should offer even more motivation. Allen and Growing PowerFarm have won awards and garnered national attention for growing good food locally and intensively, and making it - the food along with the knowledge of how to grow it - available to local people.

Want to see what kind of farming is happening locally? You're in luck! Come along to the Big Community Harvest Tour and see what good stuff is growing here in Ann Arbor, including Project Grow's work with Avalon Housing at Edible Avalon. Download the map and take these self-guided tours, and we also recommend bringing a notebook to plot your own little farm once you get back home!

Big Community Harvest Garden Tour

Wednesday, July 22nd, 6pm - 9pm

Saturday, August 1st, 10am - 1pm

Calendula - Not Just for Salad!

2009-07-09T01:54:00.002-04:00

The bright petals of calendula often grace the garden, and subsequently make a summer salad tempting even to the most vegetable wary nibbler. The stickiness of calendula also makes it a great ingredient for salves and lotions.

Caryn Simon, local doula, is offering two classes on turning those bright blossoms into soothing salves for garden weary hands.

Fresh Calendula Salve Making Class

Saturday, July 11th and Saturday, July 25th

Saturday, August 8th and Saturday, August 22nd

Bountiful Garden Volunteer Opportunities

2009-07-07T02:14:00.000-04:00

The growing season is in full swing at Project Grow, and opportunities (like weeds but better!) absolutely abound at this busy time. A sampling of possibilities are listed below, and we can tell you even more at our upcoming Volunteer Orientation. Leigh Ann Phillips-Knope, Assistant Director for Project Grow offers a short, sweet, and action-packed hour to let you know how you can get involved and be part of the fun this season!

Project Grow Volunteer Orientation

Tuesday, July 14th 6pm - 7pm

The Nature House,

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road

RSVP Leigh Ann by email or call 734-996-3169. See you there!

Food Bank Coordinators

Help gather and share the abundant harvest from Project Grow! Volunteers are needed to collect vegetables from our 15 scattered sites throughout Washtenaw County for Food Gatherers to then distribute.

Garden Site Coordinators for Edible Avalon

A partnership between Project Grow and Avalon Housing, Edible Avalon offers a unique opportunity for low-income tenants to learn gardening skills, build community, and gain greater access to nutritious food. Site coordinators offer hands-on gardening assistance, cooking/food preservation ideas, and support at a garden site 1-2 hours a week. (Extensive gardening background not required.)

Go! Gardening Program

Enrich the lives of elementary school students through a dynamic experiential gardening program at Mitchell Elementary! Gardeners are needed to help maintain the gardens throughout the season. (No experience necessary.) Camp counselors are also needed to assist the Program Coordinator in facilitating lessons on Wednesdays from 9am until 12pm. (Read about this great program and come on out!)

Discovery Gardens

Are you community minded and enjoy working with seniors, children, and gardeners with disabilities? Volunteers are always welcome in our gardens serving these special populations. Join this inspiring gardening community and help raise some good food and have some fun, too!

Gathering Stories/Testimonials

Visit our community gardens and unearth (pun intended!) some of the awed-inspiring stories integral to any good garden. Use your creativity - write a short story or blog post, make a video, create a photo album - to share them with the community.

Design and Technology Support

Are you a computer, website, or design expert looking for ways to put some green in your work? Project Grow is always looking for technological and creative design support to showcase our programs!

Herb Garden in a Pot!

2009-06-20T09:01:00.004-04:00

This time of year finds most gardeners out tending rows of vegetables, flowers, and herbs that are adjusting to a new life outdoors. Not every gardener, though, works a plot of land. Some work a series of pots and containers containing favorite herbs and vegetables, and beginning gardeners often begin greening their thumbs with a pot of basil on the porch. This great little Q&A in the New York Times offering tips on growing herbs in pots is invaluable. Covering annual and perennial herbs for a variety of uses and suggesting new ones for experimentation, the novice and the experienced gardener alike will find useful information to explore a whole new realm of gardening.

Garden Maintenance Tips

2009-05-29T01:52:00.003-04:00

Gardeners are perhaps the most enthusiastic (or pleasantly nervous!) in the spring. Seed packets and plant tags litter nearly every surface, and it is nearly impossible to pass any display of seedlings without stopping "just to look." As the season carries on though, the gardener may find themselves wilting in the heat and humidity, and interest waning.

It may be in the best interests of those seeds and seedlings to think about some simple tactics for reducing maintenance in the garden. Suggestions range from switching to shrubs from perennials (although caution should be used when choosing non-native species) to using mulch.

Mulch is maybe the easiest way to take care of two garden maintenance issues - watering and weeds - while simultaneously building soil health for years to come. A nice layer of mulch (three inches or so) in the garden can see even young plants through an unexpected drought. And if water is a particular challenge for the garden, this book (suggested by one of the gardeners over at the Hunt Park site) offers insightful ideas for gardening where water is in short supply.

So clear a little space among the seed packets or just have a seat out on the edge of the garden (you know you want to!), and start plotting a little more how to do a little less.

More Ideas for Bringing in the Beneficials

2009-05-27T01:09:00.004-04:00

National Gardening Association ran this nice article on attracting beneficials in a recent e-newsletter, and it is well worth sharing. The only thing to keep in mind while perusing the list is that some ornamental grasses, flowers, and herbs can be quite invasive. (Think of the mint or Bishop's Mantle marching undaunted through garden beds and yards and stopping only short of the living room door, and you'll get the idea.)

One thought for those that could be invasive - either because of seeds literally being thrown to the wind or burrowing rhizomes or both - is to perhaps look for a native species that is similar or put that mint in a pot. Things like garlic mustard wreak havoc everywhere, and there are some good local efforts to eradicate it. If perennial plants are not an option, a good annual can do quite a bit to help out. (Alyssum is mentioned in the article, and it is well worth it as an attractor, a dense ground cover or living mulch, and a darn pretty plant, too.)

(And you're right if you seem to recall that we've mentioned this before. Like a good pile of compost, attracting and supporting beneficials - like bees - is pivotal to the success of any garden and especially to an organic one.)

Affordable Organic Eats

2009-05-25T02:12:00.000-04:00

The organic food movement is sweeping the nation, but sometimes it feels like it might be sweeping out wallets, too. Some good advice on how to eat organic and inexpensively came from Seattle chef Maria Hines, this year's winner of the James Beard Award.

"I would definitely say cook food from scratch, using whole, organic foods; that will be cheaper than going out and purchasing it. And grow an organic garden," said Hines in an interview with Grist.

Couldn't have said it better ourselves! We've got some great ideas about starting an organic garden, and you can find some of our seeds over at People's Food Coop, too. (It's not too late to start seeds of some of your favorites. Check out these seed starting tips and start the adventure.) We still have a few garden spaces available this year, so we'd be glad to hear from you and help as we can!

Thanks for the Good Words

2009-05-21T01:53:00.004-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to put in a good word for Project Grow with the City Council. We can't thank you enough for the efforts you made. We've got seeds for a few ideas (pun completely intended), and we will keep you posted on their progress.

Meanwhile, we look forward to seeing you around the gardens around town! Thanks for helping Project Grow!

Weeds are on the Way

2009-05-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

Not the most uplifting title for a post, but with the dawning of spring in the garden come both the plants we love and those we feel, well, less positive about - weeds. Of course, one gardener's weed is another's favorite flower, but that's another story. Despite this relative status, weeds need to be dealt with sooner rather than later.

This little video from Fine Gardening offers some good commonsense tips that will help control weeds in the garden. Two of the five main points - mulching and spacing plants close together - also help with water conservation!

Need plants to fill in those gaps that a weed could grow in? Don't forget our second plant sale date!

Saturday, May 16th

People's Food Coop

8am - 2pm

Spend time perusing the seedlings, talking with some of our experienced gardeners and growers, and start making your way to a garden full of things you love!

Think Outside the Box

2009-05-09T10:47:00.000-04:00

Gardening isn't just for squares...or rectanagles or any other specific shape, for that matter. The shape the garden takes is really limited only by the space available and the gardener's imagination. As you plan for where to put all those lovely seeds and seedlings this spring, try thinking beyond the usual rows and rectangles. Incorporate perennials as well as annuals - edible and flowering both - to attract pollinators and encourage visitors to stay for a moment. A beautiful nasturtium blossom in the cool of the evening while snacking on a just-picked cherry raspberry sounds like a perfect dessert!

Looking for some plants to put in that new bed? Don't forget about the upcoming Project Grow plant sales!

Friday, May 8th through Sunday, May 10th

Mattheai Botanical Gardens

Join us for three days of fun, learning, and great plants!

Saturday, May 16th

People's Food Cooop

Grab a cup of coffee, talk to us about your garden, and see what great heirlooms we have to tempt you!

Thanks for the Good Word

2009-05-06T22:26:00.007-04:00

We'd like to thank everyone who attended the City Council meeting on Monday evening or put in a good word to their representative before the meeting. While we still await a final decision, we encourage anyone who would still like to offer their two-cents to contact their Council person. This funding is pivotal and allows us to continue the work we do with you to keep the community in the garden!

Looking for other ways to show support, too?

Don't forget our upcoming plant sales!

Join us Friday, May 8th through Sunday, May 19th at Mattheai Botanical Gardens for a three day extravaganza of events, plants, and fun!

We'll also be out on Saturday, May 16th in front of the People's Food Coop with some of your favorite heirloom varieties. Stop by to say hello and talk about your garden plans!

Check out the list of plant varieties here, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Spruce Ale a Hit! Thanks to You...

2009-05-02T08:05:00.000-04:00

We checked in with Arbor Brewing to see how their Spruce Ale went over, and it was a hit! Thanks to all of you they sold nearly 200 pints of the tasty brew on Earth Day, and word around the garden has it that it was good to the last drop. (Unconfirmed rumour has it that some folks plan to head back to sample again, too!)

If you were able to make it out for a taste, we'd love to hear your impressions of the ale, the evening, and see any photos you took, too! You can email us directly or send along comments to this post.

Thanks to all of you for coming out and especially to Arbor Brewing for concocting such a tasty way to support Project Grow and celebrate Earth Day!

Shout Out for Project Grow

2009-04-29T02:39:00.000-04:00

Dear Gardening Friends,

We are writing to request your support on an urgent issue. As you may have heard, the City of Ann Arbor is proposing to make drastic cuts to its 2010 and 2011 budgets. Many local programs, including Project Grow, are slated to lose funding. While we receive a modest amount of money from our local government - $7000 annually - this financial contribution comprises 15% of our annual budget. The loss of this support will have a major impact on our ability to deliver the accessible and inclusive organic gardening activities that Project Grow is known to offer.

You can help make a difference! If you believe in building community, living sustainably, and growing organic vegetables here in Ann Arbor, then we urge you to contact your city councilperson and the mayor, and ask them to continue supporting Project Grow. Below, please follow the link to locate your councilperson's and the mayor's contact information. Please be sure to share with them a personal story and request that they continue to support Project Grow. Also, please feel free to share this information with your family and friends.

http://www.a2gov.org/government/citycouncil/Pages/Home.aspx

The Project Grow Board of Directors has identified the following important issues to address with City Council, so feel free to use them in your communication:

::currently, sustainability and local food are in the limelight

::locally and throughout the country more people are gardening in this poor economy

::the demand for Project Grow garden plots is so high that we have had to turn away over

forty applicants this year

::Project Grow's garden activities provide opportunities for all, regardless of income or

disability

::Project Grow is reaching out and fostering new relationships with other area nonprofits,

including Food Gathers and Avalon Housing, to ensure all members from our

community have the opportunity to eat fresh, organic foods

We thank you in advance for your continued support. Together, we can make an impact on our community!

Sincerely,
The Project Grow Board

Feeling Feverish

2009-04-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

Marianne Rzpecka, long-time columnist for the Ann Arbor News and Detroit Free Press, wrote a wonderful piece in the Ann Arbor Chronicle on gardening fever and how to channel all that energy wisely. Plant some cold weather tolerant vegetables, and search for those first spring flowers - crocuses and bloodroot - sending their shoots determinedly upward. We thought it was good advice!

A Pint-Sized Opportunity!

2009-04-21T10:50:00.000-04:00

Just a quick reminder that Arbor Brewing is brewing up a special something for Earth Day this Wednesday, April 22nd. Their super scrumptious Spruce Ale will be on tap for the first time ever, and for each pint purchased they'll donate $1.00 to Project Grow.

Just imagine as you settle at your table with a bundle of your friends and family for a pint or two and a mouthwatering seasonal, local, organic-whenever-possible meal that you'll be continuing our nearly 40-year-old tradition of offering the space for gardeners from all across our community the literal and figurative space to grow in.

So this Earth Day, join us in a toast to organic gardening and our community!

Earth Day at Arbor Brewing

Wednesday, April 22nd

11am - Close

Raised Bed Materials Raise Questions

2009-04-20T07:06:00.000-04:00

Building a raised bed or rebuilding a raised bed? This little post from Umbra over at Grist offers insight into which materials to consider.

Natural materials are the best bet, although they might be a little more expensive and perhaps a little harder to find. Reusing has obvious benefits as well, but is not without some cons. Be sure you know which materials are safe and what the reused materials are made from. Pressure treated lumber for vegetables may be a bit controversial.

A good basic plan for building the raised bed can also make all the difference, too. This video offers some interesting ideas and techniques, plus his dogs are pretty entertaining. Garden Girl offers a good video on building a raised bed and a ton of information on urban sustainable living. Inspiring stuff!

Brewing Up Some Fun!

2009-04-18T00:46:00.000-04:00

This Earth Day Arbor Brewing is offerng a little special something - a brand new Spruce Ale - to celebrate! According to brewer Logan Shaedig, the ale (coming along nicely but still in process) is "Like a breath of fresh woodland bounty with an underlying spiced fruit character (from the rye) and a well-rounded hopped character."

Made with 20 pounds (seriously!) of real spruce tips, centennial and hallatau hops, rye malt, and then infused with spruce tea, this ale is Shaedig's creation. "We've never made a beer with spruce before, or with trees or bark for that matter. We felt like it was the perfect beer to tie together Earth Day and Arbor Day. We are splitting the batch in half to serve on each day," according to Elizabeth Cain-Toth, Event Manager for Arbor Brewing. (Check out the photo at left, courtesy of Arbor Brewing, to see the spruce tips getting stirred in!)

On Earth Day - Wednesday, April 22nd - $1.00 from each pint of the celebratory Spruce Ale will go to Project Grow. This is the first year Arbor Brewing plans to host an in-house event. According to Cain-Toth, it felt like the right time.

"We strive to use natural (often organic) ingredients, which are locally or sustainably sourced whenever possible. Partnering with Project Grow and helping to educate our customers on their available resources seemed a natural fit."

The move to a more local foods based menu means partnering with local growers and producers whenever possible, and also jump-started the switch to ecologically sound containers. To-go containers made from sugarcane replaced their styrofoam predecessors about a year ago, and souffle cups are now made from cornstarch rather than plastic. Reusable shopping bags may also be on the horizon to phase out the paper bags currently in use.

"This was purely a necessary switch. It is more expensive, and it took some time for us to find a viable supplier, but it was a change we feel is important to the environment, our staff and customers," said Cain-Toth.

Grow Your Own Mushrooms!

2009-04-15T23:27:00.000-04:00

There's a great little class coming up this Saturday, April 18th, that should be good fun and really interesting. Matt Demmon of Little House Farm will be sharing some of the fun he's had growing his own mushrooms - shiitakes and winecaps to name a few - and show folks how to do it, too! Following is an interview with Matt (MD) about mushrooming and his experience. Read on and then register for the class!

Backyard Mushrooming
Saturday, April 18th
1pm - 4pm
Little House Farm
$40 for the class; $60 to take a log home
Limited to the first 8 people
Call Matt at 734-255-2783 or email at mdemmon(at)gmail.com to register
(Herbal tea and a tasty, healthy snack included!)

PG: How long have you been growing your own mushrooms?
MD: Six years.

PG: How did you get started? Did someone teach you or you just forged ahead on your own?
MD: I worked for a local landscaping company owned by Mike Levine and Erica Kempter that also has a shiitake growing operating in Mike's backyard. I helped them inoculate logs for two years, and then I read a bunch of books and started off on my own.

PG: Why did you get started?
MD: Once I had eaten homegrown shiitakes, I was hooked. I also think fungi are really fascinating, understudied and underutilized by humans. I'd like to know more about them, and I think they can help us alot - with healthy food, medicine, creating great soil, and helping other plants we grow through mycorrhizal associations.

PG: Do you have a favorite mushroom to grow?
MD: Well, I thought it was shiitakes, which is probably still my favorite, but I soon realized that it is growing them in your own backyard and on logs that makes mushrooms so good. Oyster mushrooms that are grown on logs are firmer, more flavorful, and have less water content than what you'd buy in the store. Mass-cultivated mushrooms are generally grown on sawdust or straw or some sort of bullk substrate, which is easier to handle in large operations and faster, but with less tasty results.

PG: How long have you been teaching other people (formally and informally) about growing mushrooms?
MD: I taught one class last spring, and I've been explaining it to my friends for several years. I have 3 classes and a free demonstration lined up this year. There's alot of interest in it, and not many people who know much about it and are willing to teach a class!

PG: What do you like about growing your own mushrooms?
MD: Just like gardening, you get delicious healthy food which is often less expensive than what you can buy. I also love using under-utilized wood species which might get chipped or just left because they're not good for firewood or lumber. I'm also just fascinated by fungi in general, and really excited about growing them in situations like a vegetable garden, where you might be able to get a crop of mushrooms in the same space without decreasing your vegetable harvest and possibly even increasing it.

PG: What are some techniques and methods you will be discussing during the class?
MD: The main technique is growing mushrooms on logs. There are several ways you can inoculate the logs, but the one I concentrate on is drilling holes in the logs and inserting dowel spawn, which are are impregnated with mushroom mycelium. We'll also be creating a bed using sawdust spawn mixed with wood chips and a little earth for another species of mushroom that prefers to grow in the ground. I'll also talk about totem inoculation, and growing mushrooms on strawbales and compost or manure.

PG: Do different mushrooms require different techniques and methods? Can you give me a couple examples?
MD: Yes! In a natural setting or an outdoor growing method, shiitakes only grow on logs, and it is best to use dowel spawn. Oyster mushrooms are very cosmopolitan and can grow on logs, wood chips, straw, and even coffee grounds inoculated with a variety of methods. Wine Caps prefer to grow in a shady moist bed on the ground and need fresh wood chips mixed into the soil. Inky caps grow best in compost or manure beds on the ground.

PG: How long does it take before you have mushrooms you can eat?
MD: The shortest time I've gotten mushrooms was 4 months for oysters and wine caps started in the spring. Shiitakes usually take 12-18 months. A log can last anywhere from 3-10 years, depending on the type of wood and species of mushroom. A bed of wine caps can last probably forever, as long as you feed it fresh wood chips every year. So it is a long-term investment, but you can results pretty quickly.

PG: Do you have to protect mushrooms from any kind of predator. Rabbits eat lettuce, but does anyone come along to forage your mushrooms?
MD: I haven't had too many problems. Squirrels seem to like some mushrooms, but if you keep an eye on them and harvest at the right point, it's fine. They seem to prefer mature or over-mature mushrooms. Insects are the main problem, just like if you don't harvest your tomatoes at the proper time, you'll find a big soggy insect laden monster!

PG: Is it a special kind of log for inserting the dowels? What's a dowel, by the way?
MD: Not a special log, but some mushrooms will only grow on certain types of trees. The only requirements are that the log is more than 3 inches in diameter, is freshly cut from a living tree, and is a manageable size for you. Holes are drilled into the log in a pattern, and the dowels (little wooden pegs) are pounded in.

PG: Can you grow mushrooms only during a certain time of year? Is Spring best or are there fall mushrooms to be started, too?
MD: Outdoors, in a northern climate like ours, spring and fall are the best time to start most mushrooms, although you can start some in the summer. It's too cold in winter for most of them to grow at all. Indoors, you can start and fruit mushrooms year round. And outdoors, most mushrooms fruit in the fall in our climate, but there are species that fruit from spring to late fall, as long as the weather is right. Humidity and temperature are the key!

PG: What sort of atmosphere do mushrooms require? Should you have a shady spot in your backyard or is a musty basement good?

MD: I've never tried growing mushrooms in a basement, but it would probably be a good environment for mushrooms. Most of them require humidity and moderate temperatures to fruit. Some need some light to form as well, or may be oddly deformed if in the dark, so you may need to supplement your basement with light. Each species has it's own needs for temperature, humidity, light, and some may need cold resting periods simulating winter.

PG: Do the mushrooms you'll be teaching folks to grow exist in the wild in Michigan?

MD: Oyster mushrooms and wine caps do grow wild in Michigan; however, these are cultivated strains. I would like to grow more 'local genotype' mushrooms, but the spawning process requires technical knowledge and special equipment. there are some local Michigan companies starting to grow their own spawn, and I would like to work with some of them to get some more local genotypes and species that are not commonly available. There's alot of different kinds of mushrooms out there, and growing mushrooms for food is really in it's infancy.

PG: I could ask a million more questions, but I should probably stop. Anything I haven't asked that you want to tell me?

MD: Growing your own mushrooms is really fun and different! And shiitakes are really SOOOOO good and good for you.

Garden Games

2009-04-14T06:19:00.000-04:00

A new video game called Gardening Mama brings the garden to electronic life. Unlike the electronic garden planners, this one lets you just putter away attempting to grow a variety of flowers, vegetables, and fruits.

If you decide you eventually want to really get outside to try your hand at 3D gardening, consider coming along to our upcoming plant sales:

Friday, May 8th through Sunday, May 10th at Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Saturday, May 16th in front of the People's Food Coop

Slow Food Talks Tomatoes with Royer Held!

2009-04-12T11:01:00.000-04:00

The most recent edition of the Slow Food Huron Valley newsletter features Royer Held, a wonderful and knowledgeable gardener, who also just happens to be a Project Grow volunteer! Royer leads a number of classes for Project Grow, and helps make our heirloom gardening and seed collection possible. (You can see some of Royer's and our other volunteers handywork at our upcoming plant sales - Friday, May 8th through Sunday, May 10th at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Saturday, May 16th in front of the People's Food Coop.)

Heirlooms: A Journey in Taste

by KT Tomey

According to Royer Held, the ideal tomato texture should be creamy to slightly succulent. A creamy tomato, in his opinion, is one that you don’t have to bite into. You can just press it against the top of your mouth and it squishes. Succulent, on the other hand, is more firm than creamy, with more substance. The worst possible texture scenario is crunchy, a dire situation Held refers to as “a grocery store tomato in winter.” Software developer by day, Held has become something of an heirloom plant authority in Ann Arbor, and he absolutely loves tomatoes. Especially heirlooms. So what exactly are heirloom fruits and vegetables? The term “heirloom” refers to plants that are "open-pollinated," i.e., by insects, birds, wind, or other natural mechanisms (sometimes heirlooms are hand-pollinated to preserve the purity of the variety). While the definition can get a bit complex when it comes to fruit trees because they are reproduced by grafting (instead of through pollination), basically, heirlooms exclude hybrids and genetically modified organisms.

Take two tomato varieties: Olga’s Yellow Round Chicken, a Russian heirloom variety, vs. the Celebrity Supreme hybrid tomato. Whereas a bucket of the “Chickens” will each have a slightly unique shape, size, texture and color, the “Celebrities” are bred to look like a Hollywood tomato—uniformly shaped, smooth and red. But aesthetics are not the defining feature of a Hollywood tomato. Hybrids are specifically bred to withstand mechanical picking, the anticipated long journey from industrial farm to fork, as well as drought, frost, and pesticides.

One thing the “grocery store in winter” hybrids are not known for: taste. Mark Wilson of Wilson’s Farm has been specializing in heirlooms since 2001, and his preference for these varieties can be summed up in two words: “better flavor.” Wilson, who got into farming about ten years ago when he discovered it was easier to sell his extra garden produce rather than give it away, hangs a shingle at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market all summer. He sells melons, tomatoes, peppers, onions, summer squashes, grapes, and beans, but is most known for delicious tomatoes. His most popular are pink, yellow and red Brandywines. He also recommends trying the Charentais French melon, celebrated for its heady, perfumey aroma and deep, sweet flavor. (The French traditionally serve Charentais with prosciutto, but also feature them as an hors d'oeuvre by cutting them in half, scooping out the seeds and filling them with a sweet wine such as Barsac, Marsala, Port or Madiera.)

Wilson’s Farm’s heirlooms are considered a specialty item today, but 100 years ago there was no such thing as commercially bred hybrid plants. The plots of farmers and gardeners across the country each had their own personality. Saving and replanting seeds from each generation of plants allowed varieties like the Cherokee Moon and Stars Watermelon and the Elephant Heart Plum to adapt to their climate, and the selection of crop varieties reflected a farmer’s unique tastes. The transition to the less interesting and flavorful hybrids started around 1900 and today, many traditional heirlooms are at risk of falling off the nation’s radar—and plates.

Erica Kempter, co-owner of Nature and Nurture LLC and organic gardening teacher, worries that the disappearance of heritage foods will create a loss of genetic and cultural diversity. According to Kempter, who is particularly fond of a purple carrot named the “Dragon,” “we’re losing genetic diversity because farmers are not growing open pollinated varieties.” This concern, shared by farmers, gardeners, environmentalists, foodies, and chefs across the country and, in fact world, was the inspiration for The Ark of Taste. Launched by Slow Food just over ten years ago, it aims to preserve and celebrate traditional foods at risk of being forever forgotten—and never tasted. The Ark is essentially a catalog of endangered foods, and includes foods with names as unique as their personalities. Heirlooms such as Aunt Ruby’s German Green tomato can be found on the Ark, along with other traditional foods of all kinds.

Preserving these varieties, according to Kempter, is also important in keeping seeds and crops in the hands of the people, not corporations (we are facing a conglomeration of seed companies since Monsanto has been buying up seed companies of late).

Thinking you might give heirlooms a try this season? A good place to start is the Seed Savers Exchange catalog, “in person” seed savers exchanges, or by contacting Project Grow for information about seed and seedling sales. Look for seeds that originate from the Detroit area’s latitude and climate (e.g., Rome). Once you start growing them, you can save your own seeds, an act Royer Held refers to as “getting in touch with your inner peasant.” Of course, you can also have a great time tasting these varieties, many of which show up at events like the September Ann Arbor tomato tasting and competition in which the medal is awarded to the tomato rather than person who grew it. Bon appetit!

Celebrate Earth Day with Project Grow!

2009-04-07T21:38:00.006-04:00

What better way to celebrate Spring and our community than by coming out on Earth Day to toast Project Grow?

The good folks over at Arbor Brewing are even now puting the finishing touches on a fine concoction - Spruce Ale - in honor of Earth Day and their namesake. Join us at Arbor Brewing on Wednesday, April 22nd to enjoy tasty treats made from locally grown and seasonal products, and raise a pint for Project Grow. Arbor Brewing will generously donate $1.00 from each pint of Spruce Ale sold to Project Grow, so bring along your friends, family, and friends for lunch, dinner or just snacks!

Contact Elizabeth Cain-Toth, Arbor Brewing's Event Manager with any questions, and we'll see you there!

Earth Day Celebration for Project Grow
Wednesday, April 22nd
Arbor Brewing
11:30am - Close
114 East Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI

Edible Landscaping Ideas

2009-04-06T09:22:00.000-04:00

We've talked before about edible landscaping, and with Spring fast-aproaching we thought we'd throw out a few more ideas to turn your yard into a veritable Garden of Eatin'.

This nice little article from Gardener's Supply offers some excellent ideas and tips for adding edible perennials like asparagus, blueberries, and raspberries to your yard. Strawberries, both the native cultivar and the straight-up eating kind, make a tasty ground cover for you and your wildlife friends. Organic Gardening offers a nice little list of other fruits that could be incorporated quite easily into your yard - apples to kiwis to grapes - for an edible landscape.

Perhaps the key thing to remember when choosing plants, trees, or shrubs to increase the "edibility" of your landscape is local. Look around at the Farmer's Market to see what's on offer to get ideas, and don't forget native varieties - Serviceberry and American Plum - offer tasty treats, too.

Food Through the Roof

2009-04-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

Uncommon Ground, an innovative restaurant in Chicago, took their innovation with food to a new level - the roof. The nation's first organically certified rooftop farm it offers vegetables, beehives, and solar panels. Throw in an educational outreach component to a local school and the community at large, and you want to climb up on your own roof to see what the possibilities might be.

For more information on how they did it - from materials to contractors - check out the Uncommon Ground Green Fact Sheet. You can also follow the progress of things at the farm at their blog - Eat This, Grow That - and get loads of other tips and ideas for your own urban farm or garden.

Rooftop gardens, whether for growing vegetables or simply having a green roof, offer numerous benefits. Lower temperatures, better air quality, and sometimes the roof is the best place to grow those sun-loving varieties that otherwise might not be an option. It is also a great place to create green space when surrounded by city.

Seed Starting Thoughts

2009-04-02T07:47:00.001-04:00

Spring is when those seed packets are the most irresistible. Even if one of those last snow showers obscures the view outside the window, the picture on the packet is enough to draw me in and on to summer's warmer shores. If you've got a bundle of seed packets and need to get them started on their way to the garden, here are some useful resources to help you both get there.

Seed to Shining Seed
How could we not start this list with a class led by our very own Royer Held and Tom Sheper? Two experienced gardeners will take you from start to finish sharing how they achieve success growing tomatoes and peppers from seed as well as harvesting. Join us Saturday, April 4th for this treasure trove of fun and information.

Seedstarting Made Easy
This comprehensive article from Gardener's Supply covers containers, different kinds of potting mixes along with what they are made of, good seeds for beginners, troubleshooting tips, and so much more.

Starting Seeds Indoors
Another good article from GardenGuides.com covers many of the same basics, but also has two handy charts covering seeds that need special attention like soaking or scarification. It also offers a handy list of those that prefer to germinate with or without light.

Ten Seed Starting Tips
Fine Gardening offers a nicely detailed article for starting seeds as well as saving them, too. An extra feature offered here are a series of videos as well as a reading list.

Jump-Start Your Garden Today
This blog post from Get Rich Slowly about seed starting is, again, comprehensive, but also offers lots of good photos illustrating different techniques. Check out their list of other useful posts for more gardening tips, too.

Local and Not Electronic Resources, Too!
Downtown Home and Garden offers a wide variety of seeds and seed starting materials, not to mention a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The Ann Arbor Farmer's Market is simply chock full of folks who together comprise a veritable encyclopedia of gardening information. Plus, if your seeds don't quite pan out you could probably find a lovely seedling of your favorite tomato at one of their stalls along with sympathy and empathy for your plight!

Got other ideas? Send them along!

Urban Gardening Can Be Done!

2009-04-01T08:48:00.000-04:00

This recent article on new urban gardeners in Chicago offers some excellent insight and advice on starting that first garden.

Don't hesitate to contact us about a garden plot, either! We do have a few plots left and a waiting list underway, so don't give up hope.

Kitchen Garden Tips

2009-03-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Starting a garden can feel like quite a daunting task - where to put it, how to build it, what to grow, and how much work it might be - that even the thought of all those great vegetables can pale in comparison. To help alleviate some of that concern, we've put together a list of helpful tools and resources that will get you through the process and on the way to those great fresh vegetables and herbs for your summer table.

Start with this nice little article from Regional Gardening News about planning a kitchen garden. The piece helps define kitchen gardens, and offers some good tips to organize your thoughts about the garden - everything from locating it to what to grow - in preparation for the upcoming season.

Give some serious thought to lasagne gardening. Lasagne gardening uses layers of organic materials that let you take advantage of the soil structure already in your yard. It's also an excellent way to build raised beds without having to do lots of digging. It is ideal to install your lasagne garden in the fall so the materials break down over the course of the winter to some of the most beautiful soil ever come Spring; however, you can plant seedlings directly if you decide to go for it now.

Make a list of things you like to eat - tomatoes, greens, radishes, beets, sweet peppers, hot peppers, basil, cilantro, potatoes, sweet corn, popcorn, peas, beans - and see what of that is feasible to grow in your space. You can use some handy electronic garden mapping tools to see how the garden might shape up and be organized, or you also consider succession planting. This allows you to put something else in the space recently vacated by the radishes you just pulled, washed, and ate for lunch. Or for the peas that died back once the weather got too warm.

Remember the garden can (and probably should) contain some flowers. Flowers, like cosmos and zinnias, make not only terrific bouquets all summer long, but also attract pollinators and house predators that will help control unwanted critters. And flowers like violas (a.k.a. Johnny-Jump-Ups), nasturtiums, and calendula are edible, too. Toss them in with your assortment of homegrown lettuces and arugula, and you've got one of the prettiest dishes going.

Companion planting can be part of your kitchen garden, too. Many flowers and herbs, as mentioned above, attract pollinators as well as house predators, but they also can repel some bad guys. Marigolds help defer some unwanted vistors by their strong smell, as do onions and garlic. A great book to help you start thinking about this concept is Great Garden Companions by Sally Jean Cunningham.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember as you begin thinking about your garden is to enjoy it. Grow things you like to eat in a space you feel is manageable for a first time and for your schedule. Then, at the end of the season, you can join the legions of gardeners plotting ever larger and larger spaces with a greater variety of plants for the next season! You'll love it.

Organic Fruit Growing Made Easy

2009-03-28T11:14:00.000-04:00

A recent Slow Food gathering in Wisconsin focused on antique apple breeds and how to bring the variety back to America's tables and, perhaps most importantly, our pie plates. This gathering of apple enthusiasts was,

" the Forgotten Fruits Summit organized by the Renewing America’s Food Traditions alliance became the first full gathering of America’s most accomplished back-country fruit explorers, veteran orchard-keepers, horticultural historians, pomological propagators, natural-born nurserymen and hard cider-makers concerned with the destiny of Malus X domestica, the single fruit most imbedded in the American identity. Their task was to determine the best means of restoring apple diversity to our farms, roadhouses, backyards and kitchens, and to revive “apple culture” in all its dimensions on this continent."

For a summary of the event, check out this SlowFood USA blog post. And then come check out the class on Organic Fruit Growing where instructor Mike Levine will help you find ways to fill your own pie plate with tasty treats for years to come.

Organic Fruit Growing Made Easy

Monday, March 30th

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Washtenaw Community College

(An elective in the Organic Certification Course.)

The Flavor of the Garden

2009-03-27T02:13:00.000-04:00

The seed catalog is well-thumbed and a diagram is done of what will be growing this season in the garden patch. The next question is how will it taste? Everyone from Michelle Obama to Slow Food says that organically grown and heirloom varieties are the tastiest things going, and super good for you, too. But what does that really mean? What if it's a rainy summer? What if a friend shares a bumper load of composted sheep manure with you? Does it matter if you do lasagne gardening and your neighbor doesn't? What happens if those fruits and veggies get canned or frozen? Does that postively or negatively impact their flavor?

To answer all of these questions (and possibly more!) comes Mark Baerwolf, manager of Cornman Farms. Over at Cornman, Mark raises some of the vegetables (many from the Ark of Taste) used at Zingerman's Roadhouse by Chef Alex and crew to create some superb local dishes. The first seedlings went into the ground in the Spring of 2007, and the farm has been going strong ever since.

Join us this Saturday to glean from Mark's experience to enhance the flavor of your own garden!

Cultivating Flavor

Saturday, March 28th

10am - 11am

Leslie Science and Nature Center

1831 Traver Road

734-996-3169

Not Just a Rose Garden Any More

2009-03-26T22:24:00.000-04:00

The White House is preparing to put in an organic garden to supply vegetables, herbs, and berries for use in their meals. According to the New York Times article, Michelle Obama decided to move forward with the garden when her pediatrician expressed concern over her daughter's eating habits.

“A real delicious heirloom tomato is one of the sweetest things that you’ll ever eat,” she said. “And my children know the difference, and that’s how I’ve been able to get them to try different things.

“I wanted to be able to bring what I learned to a broader base of people. And what better way to do it than to plant a vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House?”

For urban dwellers who have no backyards, the country’s one million community gardens can also play an important role, Mrs. Obama said.

Feel inspired to transform your own house lawn into a garden? Check out some of our upcoming classes and don't forget you can find a selection of amazing seeds from our heirloom collection for sale at People's Food Coop.

Electronic Garden Planning Tools

2009-03-20T00:14:00.000-04:00

As spring wends its way the time to start garden planning is upon us! (Especially with that seed swap coming up on Saturday!)

Two sites offer some good electronic tools for planning a garden that let you play around with the arrangement of your flowers and vegetables and figure out when to start seeds, and when you should be able to harvest.

The first is a tool offered at Eat Close to Home - a good blog offering information on gardening, cooking, and other fun stuff. There you can drag and drop an assortment of vegetables into place. While the selection of things to grow is a bit limited, perhaps the best feature of this tool is the ability to click on a month and see how things will look at that time. This allows you to see how things expand or disappear (assuming you've harvested it to eat yourself versus a rabbit coming in to harvest for you) over the course of a season.

The second tool is a Kitchen Garden Planner offered by Gardener's Supply. This planner has options for pre-planned gardens with titles like Cook's Choice and Salsa and Tomato Sauce as well as a design your own feature. You choose the plants from a limited list and plunk them in place. A nice feature here is that the plants are listed below with seed-starting information and instructions for general care. You can also email it to yourself to keep track of different ideas.

Eat Green for Grow Event a Hit!

2009-03-18T21:30:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to join us this past Sunday at Seva for our Eat Green for Grow event! A bundle of folks came out to eat tasty fare, bid on some most amazing Silent Auction items, and enjoy themselves all in the name of Project Grow. We can't thank you enough for taking the time to join us on Sunday and throughout the year!

Special thanks go out to Seva Vegetarian Restaurant for hosting us, and helping to make this event a fantastic culinary reality! (We think our favorite dish of the day was ....) We recommend them anytime!

And thanks, too, to our Silent Auction donors from around the community. A delightful array of items made this year's auction one of the best ever!

Acme Mercantile

Colin O'Brien

Dogma Catmantoo

Downtown Home and Garden

Falling Water

Frog Holler Organic Farm

Good Scents Gardens

Mattheai Botanical Gardens

Nature and Nuture

Pictures Plus

Shakolad Chocolate Factory

More Tantalizing Auction Items!

2009-03-11T14:52:00.003-04:00

Our Eat Green for Grow event on Sunday, March 15th promises to be an absolute delight. Good fun to support community gardens seems like the perfect way to kick start your spring! Here are a few more generously donated auction items to whet your appetite!

One hour of design consultation from Nature and Nuture

Garden design can be a bit daunting at times, and the professionals at Nature and Nurture can help bring your vision to life. Focusing on organic, sustainable landscapes Erica Kempter and Mike Levine will bring their more than twenty years of combined experience right to your doorstep!

A gift certificate from Schakolad

Small packages hold great things, and this little envelope with a gift certificate from Schakolad is no different. Schakolad is home to an amazing array of chocolates that come in a variety of mouth-watering flavors, shapes, and sizes.

Jewelry from Falling Water

Any trip to downtown Ann Arbor can hardly be had without stopping into this great little store that has a little bit of everything, including a terrific selection of jewelry. Come see for yourself on Sunday which piece is up on the block!

Dogma Catmantoo Gift Basket

Any gardener knows that the canine or feline of the house is a garden friend. Whether they watch contentedly from the window or roam the paths, they are indispensable aids. This gift basket is a great way to reward that furry little helper whether large or small!

Eat Green for Grow Auction Items Preview!

2009-03-10T11:59:00.003-04:00

We thought we'd tantalize you with a few items that will be part of our Silent Auction at Eat Green for Grow. Thanks to our good friends in the community, we've got a little bit of everything to tempt everyone!

Family Pass to Matthaei Botanical Gardens and a Goody Basket

Enjoy one of the loveliest places in Ann Arbor any time of the year! Roam the paths to enjoy spring blossoms, herb gardens, or any of the special displays or demonstration gardens on site. Check out the bloom calendar and start planning your visit!

Garden Buddha Statue from Downtown Home and Garden

A good fit for any corner of the yard or garden, this little fellow is a reminder of all the joy the garden brings and gives.

Four weeks of fresh cut flowers from Good Scents

A touch of color brought directly to your door in this four week subscription is an exciting thought as we sit on the cusp of Spring. To see what might be in store for you, visit their gallery of bouquets and feel inspired!

Be sure to check back here to see other items in our Silent Auction, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, March 15th!

Eat Green for Grow

Sunday, March 15th

3pm - 9pm

Seva Vegetarian Restaurant

314 East Liberty

Ann Arbor

Seed Starting for a Head Start

2009-02-28T07:56:00.000-05:00

Organic Gardening published this great little seed starting chart that should help you figure out how to get a head start on this year's garden. They also have some useful tips on seed starting basics, and lots of information to help you get through the season.

For real life versus virtual help and advice, don't forget about these great Project Grow classes and events, too!

2009 Heirloom Seed Swap

Saturday, March 21st

10am - 12pm

Leslie Science Center

Enjoying and Preserving Heirloom Vegetable Varieties in Your Garden

Saturday, March 7th

10am

Leslie Science Center

Potato Seeds and Sweet Potato Slips

Saturday, March 21st

10am - 11am

Leslie Science Center

Tomatoes and Pepper from Seed to Shinging Seed

Saturday, April 4th

10am - 11am

Leslie Science Center

Michelle Obama on Community Gardens

2009-02-26T09:03:00.001-05:00

Check out this great quote from Michelle Obama about community gardens from Grist.org

Inspired? We are! Come join us in the garden or check out a class!

"I'm a big believer in community gardens ... both because of their beauty and for providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables to so many communities across the nation and the world."

-- Michelle Obama, speaking at USDA headquarters

USDA Imitates Project Grow

2009-02-24T09:08:00.000-05:00

Thankfully, the USDA, like Project Grow, is creating garden space where none existed before. On the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture "broke pavement" on the first of many community gardens at USDA sites around the country.

The People's Garden honors Lincoln and his creation of the Department of Agriculture, which he called The People's Department in his last address to Congress.

"The garden will showcase conservation practices that all Americans can implement in their own backyards and green spaces. As a component of the garden, pollinator-friendly plantings will not only provide important habitat for bees and butterflies, but can serve as an educational opportunity to help people understand the vital role pollinators play in our food, forage and all agriculture."

To find a garden space near you, check out the assortment of Project Grow Gardens around town and put your own signature on a pollinator friendly space!

And we've got some great upcoming classes to keep the momentum going!

Introduction to Organic Gardening

Thursday, February 26th

6:30pm

Washtenaw Community College

(Part of the Organic Gardening Certification Course. You can take classes singly, if you like.)

Container Gardening and Raised Beds - From Vegetables to Flowers

Saturday, February 28th

10 am

Leslie Science Center

(Just in case you don't have quite as much room as the USDA does.)

New Community Garden Site Available in Ann Arbor

2009-02-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

Hunt Park is home to a new Project Grow Community Garden site available this summer to gardeners. Strong support of the neighbors and the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department helped make this new site possible.

Julie Roth, the Hunt Park Steward who had already worked with Natural Area Preservation (NAP) and neighbors on work days to plant some new trees and perennials helped bring the issue to neighbors who responded enthusiastically. According to Roth, “I think the gardens will bring a stronger sense of community, more neighborhood sense of investment in and ownership of the park, and of course even more visual interest. They are being placed in a very underutilized, flat and open area behind the tennis courts.”

“We have worked long and hard with the Parks Department to get gardens open in park areas, especially where the neighbors have approached us about opening a garden like they did at Hunt Park,” said Melissa Kesterson, Executive Director of Project Grow. Other parks where community garden sites exist include Buhr Park, Greenview Park, and County Farm Park.

The addition of this site brings the total number of community garden locations up to thirteen throughout Ann Arbor. Gardeners come in all shapes and sizes, but space can be at a premium. Project Grow through its sliding-scale fees, classes, and supportive network of experienced gardeners – staff and volunteers – makes it possible for families and individuals to foster their green thumbs.

Plots vary in size while water, tools, and a notice board are available at each site. A site coordinator manages each garden site and answers questions and offers help when needed. To see the garden sites, maps, and download an application visit our website and click on Community Gardens. Hard copy applications are available in the Project Grow newsletter or by contacting the office directly at 734-996-3169.

Eat Green for Grow!

2009-02-20T08:25:00.002-05:00

Whether you garden or not our bet is that you like food, and good food at that.

Project Grow and Seva Vegetarian Restaurant are teaming up again this year to offer the most spectacular St. Patrick's Day Celebration you may yet encounter! Munch on Seva's most delicious and tantalizing fare while perusing silent auction items and chatting with other Project Grow supporters. A generous 20% of the afternoon's sales will be donated to Project Grow, so come join us with as many of your friends and family you can muster, and put some community in community gardening.

Event Details

Eat Green for Grow!

Sunday, March 15th

3pm - 7pm

(Silent Auction 4pm - 6pm - stay tuned for details of items!)

Seva Vegetarian Restaurant

314 East Liberty

A Few Seeds and a Little Good Dirt

2009-02-19T19:51:00.000-05:00

A recent editorial by Verlyn Klinkenborg in the NewYork Times asks readers to consider that we might be on the verge of a new gardening movement. Like the Victory Gardens that filled available space during World War II, Klinkenborg suggests that while this new garden movement may not solve every problem they could offer a much needed salve.

The empowerment one can find in growing the food that later graces your table and is given to friends and family is priceless. The satisfaction of preserving it for the winter months could perhaps be calculated, but only in part.

And perhaps best of all, is the community that gardening can create. The shared produce and the shared experience - new gardeners seeking out the wisdom of the experienced as they green their thumbs or simply bumble their way to bushels of zuchini - could, as Klinkenborg posits, alleviate the alienation that plagues so many.

Just a few seeds, a little good dirt, sprinkled regularly with good advice throughout the season yields more than a good potluck dish. A feeling of accomplishment and connectedness come with the frozen pesto stored up for chilly evening pasta. Come on out, and we'll help get you started.

Upcoming classes to get you started:

Introduction to Organic Gardening

Saturday, February 21

10am

Leslie Science Center

Enjoying and Preserving Heirloom Vegetable Varieties in Your Garden

Saturday, March 7th

10am

Leslie Science Center

Seeds and More Seeds!

2009-02-17T10:37:00.000-05:00

You know Spring is just around the corner when you start hearing news about Seed Swaps! Join Project Grow on Saturday, March 21st for our Annual Heirloom Seed Swap.

Gathered from our Heirloom Garden, these seeds will inspire you from the moment you read their names to the last harvest. Find your favorite variety of tomato, and try a new variety of melon. Bring some of your own seeds and take away some a fellow gardener simply raves about, and have more fun than you thought could ever be possible in two hours.

2009 Heirloom Seed Swap

Saturday, March 21st

10am - 12pm

Leslie Science Center

1800 Traver Road

Ann Arbor, MI

Some Buzz About Urban Beekeeping

2009-02-16T08:50:00.000-05:00

A handful of cities are allowing their citizens to keep bees to ensure that the little pollinators are around to help with the fruits and vegetables we love to eat. An exciting prospect for those who might not be interested in chickens - sweet versus savory perhaps - or for those who have chickens and want to add to their urban ranch or homestead.

And then you can attend this upcoming Project Grow class to get started with your own bees!

Introduction to Beekeeping
Saturday, March 14th
1pm - 2pm
Leslie Science Center

Five Ways to Say I Love You (and that Garden!)

2009-02-13T09:27:00.002-05:00

Here are five nifty gardening ways to tell someone how much you care about them, or to give yourself a little hit of love!

1. Purchase seed packets of flowers you'd like to give that person.
Bouquets are beautiful, there is not a speck of doubt about that, but a packet of seeds ensures a full season of showing your affection. Everything from sunflower seeds to cosmos to daisies will make a bright spot in the garden for months to come. How about Grandpa Ott's Morning Glories or some edible flowers?

2. Offer a pot of forced spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses or hyacinths.
While February is a beautiful month, it's also nice to see that spot of color on the desk or table to greet each day. Lots of local stores, like Downtown Home and Garden or Chelsea Flower Shop, have a terrific selection. And the bulbs can be planted outside to bloom again and again for years to come!

3. Take a gardening class together!
Project Grow offers a bundle of great classes covering everything from keeping your own bees in the backyard to the basics of organic gardening to landscaping with native plants. Local experts share their knowledge to get you and your garden off to a solid start.

4. Nothing says love like an heirloom tomato.
Ok, maybe that's just us, but those heirloom veggies are brilliant in color and taste. Imagine a Green Zebra or Hungarian Heart Valentine - unique coloring and so tasty you won't believe it! (Email us to find out about the Project Grow seed collection or take a class on heirloom vegetables!)

5. Garden together.
Imagine spending beautiful summer evenings working together in your Project Grow garden. Birds sing their final songs of the day while snacking on mosquitoes before they get to you, and the sky is a brilliant show of orange and purple as you pull the last weeds and load up on the harvest for dinner. Now, that sounds romantic...

Go! Garden

2009-02-12T13:18:00.001-05:00

Editors Note: Jacqueline Venner Senske is the coordinator for Project Grow’s Go! Gardening program. Jacqueline has a B.S. in Horticulture from Iowa State University and a M.S. in Public Horticulture through the Longwood Graduate Program at the University of Delaware. Her experience with Project Grow is diverse, having served in the Newsletter Committee, assisting Executive Director Melissa Kesterson as the Community Garden Supervisor, and working with Go! Gardening for the last two years. Born and raised on an Iowa farm, Jacqueline is passionate about providing opportunities for everyone to learn about growing food and connecting with the planet, as well as each other, through gardening.)

For the past few years, Project Grow has worked with Mitchell Elementary, part of the Ann Arbor Public Schools system, to create Go! Gardening. Go! operates at the Project Grow community garden at Mitchell Elementary in conjunction with a Title One summer school program. During the six-week long session, students spend 30 to 60 minutes in the garden each week, participating in activities like planting seeds, pulling weeds, pruning and staking tomato plants, fertilizing the soil, and best of all, harvesting and tasting the produce.

Integrating gardening into the classroom provided new opportunities for learning and having fun. To connect the garden to other summer school activities, the Mitchell teachers did a great job of integrating garden themes with their lesson plans. The garden contributed much to the classroom, not only for science and math, but also reading, writing, history, and other areas of study. Last summer, one class combined their reading, writing, and drawing skills with what they learned in the garden to write a book about gardening. Garden activities, like writing plant labels and measuring sunflower height, reinforced classroom lessons. The garden became an engaging learning environment with the added benefit of physical activity through caring for the space-- a great outlet for kids restless after several hours at their seats. To balance the “work,” the kids also sang songs and made craft projects.

Perhaps best of all, spending time in Project Grow’s Go! Garden exposes students to a side of food that is often new to them: its source. When they first come into the garden, many kids don’t know that many ingredients for their favorite foods –everything from salad to pizza and tacos-- grow in a garden. Sometimes foods from the garden are new or unfamiliar, which might otherwise scare off the kids. However, after planting, growing, and caring for the plants, the new little gardeners are eager to taste the food and often want to take it home to their families.

The program’s growth over the last year has made for better garden experiences for both students and teachers. Now, we’re ready to take it a step further.

I am already meeting with teachers from Mitchell Elementary to plan this year’s program. We are laying the foundation for a garden that will eventually integrate into every classroom at the school, engaging even more students and teachers, plus parents, other school staffers, neighbors in the community, and other community gardeners.

We would love to engage even more Project Grow supporters. If you want to join the team, or just want to chat about our Go! Garden vision over a cup of coffee sometime, contact me through go.gardening@yahoo.com or by calling the Project Grow office.

Hoophouse Growing

2009-02-09T07:51:00.010-05:00

Editor's Note: Richard and Joan Bailey presented Growing in a Hoophouse at Project Grow on Saturday, February 7th. Avid amateur gardeners, Joan and Richard shared their first experience with a hooophouse growing vegetables.

We are working on getting the documents up from Saturday's class, Growing in a Hoophouse. (We're experiencing some technical difficulties, but they will hopefully be remedied shortly.) D rop us a note at Project Grow and we'll find a way to get you the information you want.

The Resource List offers links to various websites, recommended reading, and a short list of blogs. Suggested additions to this Resource List would be more than welcome. One great idea from an attendee on Saturday for those who don't wish to fool around with creating their own was, I believe, Greenhouse Mega Store.

The actual presentation offers mostly pointers, guidelines, and some lessons learned. Questions on Saturday centered mostly around ventilating - how long and at what temperature; building materials - pvc or no pvc; site selection and ordinances on building such a structure.

Ventilation
Ventilating the hoophouse is pivotal. Built to help retain heat and protect plants inside from cold weather, temperatures inside can easily and quickly run high. Left unattended a little too long in the early days of having one, our temperatures reached into the low hundreds. The transition from hot to cold could prove a bit much for plants - cooking then freezing which would wilt me, I must confess - and needs to be mediated a bit. A good rule to follow would be that if interior temperatures run above 90 degrees it's time to ventilate. To keep some of that great heat it's best to close it up again an hour or so before sunset.

Some suggestions about heat included having barrels of water inside painted black. These would act as a heat sink during the day and slowly release their accumulated warmth through the night. They could also be used as a water source for plants. Others suggested building the hoophouse against another structure with a south-facing wall such as a garage, shed, or fence.

Building Materials
We used PVC pipes and translucent plastic, but not without some trepidation. As we learn more about how such plastic is not the best for us, some attendees asked about alternative materials such as electric conduit. Our neighbors at Frog Holler made theirs out of cedar milled from their land to create one of the prettiest hoophouses one could imagine. (Theirs also succumbed, unfortunately, to the snows this winter.) No structure is infallible, but it pays to research the design as well as the design materials to see what you think will work best for what you want.

Our criteria were that it be relatively easy (we're not handy people), inexpensive (the whole point of building this was to keep eating our own food as much as possible), and temporary (we wanted to switch it to other beds or take it completely out as desired.)

Site Selection and Ornery Ordinances
We built ours on existing garden beds with relatively established crops we wanted to keep growing and that were cold tolerant, i.e. kale, broccoli, parsley, beets, swiss chard, etc. The spot already received a fair amount of sun and would continue to do so over the coming chilly months. Remember the sun swings lower in the sky, so trees or buildings that might not cause a shade issue in the summer may as winter approaches.

We also live in the country so we have relative freedom to do what we like despite the opinions of our neighbors. Folks in the city may not have this luxury, and it might be a good idea to chat with your neighbor who shares the view of your backyard. (An offer of vegetables, soup or other meals might prove the winning ticket in this instance. Maybe even space to grow something!) You may also run up again rules of neighborhood associations or the city itself. As someone at the recent Local Food Summit suggested, a touch of green civil disobedience may be interesting and generate interesting conversation for these long winter months.

Bees Help Foil the Caterpillar Buffet

2009-02-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

A recent study shows that honeybees not only pollinate but also help protect plants from hungry caterpillars. Caterpillars detect the bees, stop munching or simply panic and drop from the plant, which also means they stop munching on your tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, etc.

Good plants to attract pollinators abound and range from the annual alyssum to perennial natives like Bee Balm. If space in the garden is tight, try containers for natives and annuals, or create a specific bed for them.

For other ideas and to learn more about attracting pollinators and other beneficials here are a few handy resources to get you going:

Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants - An MSU study outlining a recent study using native plants for more sustainable agriculture. It includes a great list of plants and their ratings in terms of pollinator attractiveness.

Great Garden Companions by Sally Jean Cunningham, Rodale Press, 2000 - An absolutely terrific book for learning and thinking about organizing your garden to attract beneficial insects. Includes lists of plants, design ideas, and terrific diagrams.

Introduction to Beekeeping - An upcoming Project Grow class on Saturday, March 14th that offers the full scoop on housing those little fuzzy buzzers yourself.

Landscaping with Native Plants - Learn how to incorporate native plants into your current landscape and garden in this Project Grow class that is also part of the Organic Gardening Certification course.

Edible Flowers

2009-01-30T10:29:00.000-05:00

Flowers should be an integral part of any garden. They attract pollinators and pest predators and can also be a feast for the tummy as well as the eye. Edible flowers can add color and flavor to summer salads.

Nasturtiums are easy to grow and the entire plant - leaves, stems, and blossoms - is edible. They offer a nice hint of spice, and are a favorite of bees and hummingbirds, alike.

Calendula is another bright face in the garden that is easy to grow. Just pick the flowers, pluck off the petals, and sprinkle them about the salad.

Violas, a.k.a.Johnny-Jump-Ups are another favorite. These tiny flower "faces" offer a welcome dash of cool purple to a salad and make an utterly charming cake decoration, too. A self-seeding bienniel, this flower "jumps up" the next season where you least expect it.
Annual and perennial edible flowers abound and can be grown in containers as well as right amongst your vegetables. For hints on growing them, check out the following classes at Project Grow as well as the Organic Gardening Certification courses.

Introduction to Organic Gardening
Saturday, February 21st
10am, Leslie Science Center

Container Gardening and Raised Beds - From Vegetables to Flowers
Saturday, February 28th
11am, Leslie Science Center