Date: January 26th 2009

January 26, 2009

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

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Dear Folks,

Sorry that I have to keep this newsletter short, I have a break in assisting
my cousin who is going to have heart surgery, so I posted a long blog
today.

I wrote about gardening, cooking and also how to shop better for
prepared foods, what's in season now and what to plant now.

http://www.edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com

Subscribe to receive my blog each time I post something (usually about
1-3 times every two weeks) by clicking on the link below:

http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2176965&a
mp;loc=en_US

Or there is a "subscribe" box on the blog.

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WEATHER

Our unseasonably warm temperatures are going away for a while now so
have your frost protection covers ready. We are probably going to roller-
coaster into spring the way we did into winter. Be prepared for frost if
the overnight forecast is 40 or lower.

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Dear Folks,

I've been talking to many folks, and writing about it too, on the subject
of more gardening in these often challenging days. Here is an
opportunity to have your own community garden -- with your neighbors -
- in your own gardens. If you have postage-stamp lots in your
neighborhood, you can still get together with neighbors, divvy up the
types of veggies, herbs and fruits you would like to grow -- Mary does
tomatoes, George does cilantro and basil, Jill does strawberries, etc. --
and when harvest time comes, you have a harvest festival and share the
bounty.

Get some jiffy peat pots (the kind with a mesh around a flattened disc of
peat), if you have clear egg cartons, clear plastic boxes from grocery
store items and seeds you have mini-green houses to get you started.

Have ready a quart of warm water (warm water expands the pots faster).

Determine with the dry peat pots how many will fit in the box - the egg
carton wells will each hold one.

If sowing very small seeds, place 2-3 seeds in the open center of the
peat pot, while dry, and place in the box or egg carton well, gently add
warm water AROUND the pot, not on it to prevent the seeds from
dislodging -- as the pot swells up, keep adding water AROUND the pot
until it is fully expanded, and appears dark, the seeds will stay in place.

If sowing large seeds you can soak the pots first, then push 2-3 seeds (1
only if sowing sunflowers or nasturtium type seeds) in the center. Cover
with the clear tops of the containers and if need be add more water to
keep moist. Seeds will germinate on your windowsill in 5-15 days
depending on variety. Once they have germinated you can remove the
lid -- keep the pots uniformly moist but not soaking wet.

Pre-soak large seeds overnight before planting to speed up germination.
Nasturtium seeds should have a bit of any soil or medium laid on top of
them -- they need completely darkness to germinate.

Voila - seedlings, ready for transplanting after February 15th, or sooner IF
YOU use something like cleaned out milk, water or soda containers, with
the bottoms cut off -- use the jugs like cloches to cover the transplants
each night until all frost danger is gone -- anywhere from end of February
to the beginning of March.

CLASS


My class scheduled at the Desert Botanical Garden beginning in February
is coming up beginning February 22nd -- class size is limited and filling up
-- check the site:

http://www.dbg.org

Or call:

480/481-8164
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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

Superstition Farm 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


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

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CLASSES/EVENTS:

"Good Looks, Good Scents, Good Eats" -- grow your own dinner!

My 3-part Class series is coming up at the Desert Botanical Garden,
beginning February 22, 2009. www.dbg.org for more information on
registration, or call 480/481-8164.


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