Date: September 9th 2008

September 8, 2008

Dear Folks,

These are random notes, either responding to questions or related to any
of the usual and unusual cooking herbs or edible flowers and other
edibles, many found at Farmers Markets.* References to growing
conditions are for Sunset Zone 13, USDA 9b. All other information on
use is applicable anywhere you wish to enjoy herbs!

*Please support your local farmers at these markets (locally owned,
locally grown, locally produced). To locate farmers markets in your area
the USDA maintains a site - click on the state and a pdf file comes up
with markets listed by city.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm

For Arizona only Farmers Markets here is a special link:

http://www.foodconnect.org/farmers_markets/locator.asp

. . .

Locavore -- see near the end for locally owned shopping.

An On-Line Class -- see below - Enrollment now open!

AND Catch my blog - see below.

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Dear Folks,

WEATHER

I am going to try one of my prognostications again :-) sometimes I'm
accurate! We seem to be going into a normal temperature pattern for
September into fall. Last year we had an unusually hot fall - the week
before Thanksgiving we were still in the 80s. This year we seem to be
moving into a more normal transition as we coast towards the mid-90s
with the occasional 100. See the gardening notes below.

Normal temp range for September: Low 69 to 107

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"FALL" INTO PLANTING THYME...

...and rosemary and lavender and oregano!


If you are new to the desert gardening scene this is our "spring" when
we do most of our perennial gardening along with the seasonal favorites
from the cabbage and root vegetable families. All the cool weather herbs
too, like cilantro and dill.

If, as I am forecasting, we have a 'normal' fall, the day time temps will
soon be consistently in the mid to low 90s, the night time temps will be
in the high 60s to low 70s.

Tomatoes will start setting fruit again. The cooling soil will begin the
germination of the seeds you sowed in the August, and the fall planting
season will be in full swing.

Check out my blog for the specific seeds and plants for September and
October

http://www.edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com

A reminder that the aphids love this time of year too! -- be diligent and
use the soap/oil sprays in the evening so the plant will not burn.
Remember to spray 5 days apart for a total of 3 times. Bad infestations
may require you to continue the soap spraying longer. You can also take
some dishwater and pour it directly down in the growing crown of the
squash plants to further discourage the little demons. I have done this
once a week on my cabbage and kale plant types (dill too) and
completely controlled the critters.

Garlic goes in beginning October 1st and then in the spring you harvest
your own head garlic. Fun stuff. Separate cloves (leave the skin on),
plant clove height deep, flat end down, 6 inches apart. In the spring,
when the flower stalk comes up, cut the flower stem off to the base,
wait a week or two and harvest, gently, and allow to air dry.

When the garlic begins to grow you will initially see one stem coming up,
but then the garlic starts forming the cloves in a circular pattern below
ground and each clove sprouts its one 'leaf' stem. By counting the
'leaves' you will know how many cloves are attached to the head. The
original clove dies back to form the final emerging flower stalk.

Time to start choosing fruit trees too. They transplant best beginning
October.

Citrus is easy as it has no chill hour requirement.

The stone fruit deciduous trees are another story. Adapted varieties for
the desert climate are rated on how many chill-hours they need to set
fruit. Without an understanding of the CH need for a specific peach,
apricot or what-have-you, you may get flowers but the trees will not set
fruit.

You can purchase and download my guide to chill-hours at this link:

http://www.lulu.com/content/2185385

Basically the valley has a range of approximately 270 to 900 chill hours.
A tree rated at 450 hours will not set fruit in an area which only has
300. Nurseries can help you with that information and all deciduous
trees sold in the valley should be rated with their CH requirement. You
then need to know what your neighborhood average chill hours are.
They can different even a couple miles apart due to elevation and
pockets.

Get the beginners guide to growing in the desert:

"Edible Landscaping in the Desert Southwest: Wheelbarrow to Plate"

http://books.google.com/books?id=uDio8-sC2wMC

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RECIPES:

Desserts are fun to use as platforms for herbs. For a while I have had a
pound of chocolate pasta in the frig waiting for something to inspire me
to create a fun and unusual dessert. Well after picking and preserving
some wild blackberries in August I finally had the inspiration because
berries go great with basil! Can be served warm or chilled.

CHOCOLATE BASIL/BLACKBERRY DESSERT

1/4 cup loose pack shredded sweet or opal basil
1 cup of blackberry preserves (or fresh black berries tossed with 2-3
tablespoons of sugar or honey and set aside to 'macerate')
Whipped Cream
1 pound of chocolate pasta
Butter or olive oil

Cook up the pasta according to directions. After draining, toss with a
little butter or olive oil to keep separated. If serving warm, proceed
immediately, or chill the pasta first.

Mix half of the basil with the blackberries. Separate the pasta between
2-4 serving bowls, top with blackberries, add whipped cream and
sprinkle remainder of the basil on the whipped cream. Unusual but very
tasty dessert.

MORE RECIPES at:

http://www.azalmanac.com

And, my recipe book "101+ Recipes from The Herb Lady"

http://books.google.com/books?id=27dG_KCwjBAC

And my blog where you can also subscribe to receive the blog posts via
email:

http://www.edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com

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FARMERS MARKET
I am at the Friday market on Center in Mesa.

AND for you folks in the far East Valley - my spices are now at the
Superstition Farm store on Hawes between Guadalupe and Elliott -- the
Superstition Farm Dairy has its own farm store. Call (480) 986-7781 for
store hours and other events at the farm.

http://www.superstitionfarmtours.com

***************************************
My newly re-packaged herb blends are available through the website.

Have fun in the garden and kitchen,

Catherine

http://www.herbs2u.net

Books available at:

http://www.lulu.com/herbs2u

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LOCAVORE
Are you a locavore? Simply put a locavore is someone who makes
the conscious decision to purchase goods and produce grown, made or
produced within 100 miles of their home.

More Information:

Edible Phoenix is a print magazine, produced quarterly and is part of the
edible communities organization.

Find the current issue at your local farmers market or go on line to:

http://www.ediblephoenix.com

. . .

BUY LOCAL

http://www.localfirstaz.com

Here is the place to start when looking for locally owned businesses.
Begun as "Arizona Chain Reaction" to focus on locally owned
businesses, this non-profit group encourages support of your neighbors
and friends who own businesses in Arizona. Check out their site.

. . .

Queen Creek Olive Mill is the only olive mill in Arizona, producing
traditional and flavored extra virgin olive oils -- the blood orange olive oil
mentioned above is created in a single cold press where they put the
oranges right in with olives for pressing (they also have a lemon EVOO
which is also excellent).

Super offerings and now they have a lovely little patio area with nice
snack/lunch options.

http://www.queencreekolivemill.com

. .

Personalized branding iron for grilling. 480-330-3619

http://www.tbonebrands.com

. .

San Dominique Winery, Arizona's oldest continuously operated family
winery, is also home to garlic paradise. 602/549-9787.

http://www.garlicparadise.com/

. . .

Another great locally owned Arizona farmer is Kathy Marshall and her
goats' milk lotions and soaps made with the milk of her dairy goat herd.
Fresh eggs too!

NEW: For those of you in the East Valley, Kathy has taken her skills as a
dog groomer and is now offering grooming at her home in Apache
Junction. Her fees are more than reasonable and she has a real
understanding of dogs and their fears.

http://www.dbgoatsmilk.com

. . .

A source for finding other local sources of food is Local Harvest. They
have teamed up with the Slow Foods folks.

http://www.localharvest.org

Home schoolers and other parents of young children...

Jodi Freeman is the author of children books. Her activity coloring book
on the some of native peoples of Arizona is a great learning and teaching
tool as well as a fun coloring book for your children. "My Coloring Book
on The Old Ones" is available as print or download, see more information
at this link:

http://www.lulu.com/content/2201352

***************************************
CLASSES/EVENTS:

Enrollment is now open for my on-line class and closes September 15th:

"Good Looks, Good Scents, Good Eats"

To see the information update on signing up for the class go to:

http://www.herbs2u.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=97


The classroom version of the online class is being offered at two
locations this fall and registration is only open for a short while longer:

Desert Botanical Garden
www.dbg.org
Direct Link for info and registration is:

http://www.dbg.org/index.php/shop/gardenshop/adultworkshops/gardeni
ngforhealth/goodlooksscentseats

Chandler-Gilbert Community College
For more information call 480.732.7080 ext. 8001 or visit

www.cgc.maricopa.edu

. . .
Boyce Thompson Arborteum and Globe:

http://ag.arizona.edu/bta

TBA will be my 'offerings' at the BTA during the fall plant sale in
October.

GOOGLE BOOK SEARCH:
Copy whole link into your browser (or click on it) and then you can
search for words or phrases in box provided.

"101+ Recipes from The Herb Lady"

http://books.google.com/books?id=27dG_KCwjBAC

"Edible Landscaping in the Desert Southwest: Wheelbarrow to Plate"

http://books.google.com/books?id=uDio8-sC2wMC

My short booklet on choosing fruit trees like peach and apricot is now
available -- choose print or download:

"What a Chill Hour"?

http://www.lulu.com/content/2185385

View the last newsletter and see prior ones at:

http://www.herbs2u.net/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/herbs%32unl/newe
st