December Issue of GROW FOOD Network Magazine is Now Ready to Order

What's In This Month's Issue:

• Ever Thought of Becoming a Farmer?  Join Jen and Craig at Growing Opportunities
• Ask Bill Herring, Clover in a Orchard
• Grow Food Indoors Instead - "The JOY of Sprouting Seeds"
• Peeing on The Compost Pile
• What is Permaculture with Javan
• Recipe of the Month
• Classifies and Resources
• $3.00 an issue or $25.00 year subscription

go to:

www.growfoodnetwork.com

GROW FOOD indoors instead

The JOY of Growing Sprouts

By Joy Story

Sprouting seeds at this time of year is a great way of including live living food into our diets without a lot of work or expense.  Sprouting seeds actually strengthens our immune systems by providing valuable vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes.  The health benefits of eating sprouted seeds is phenomenal.  It’s also easy, inexpensive, tasty and fun to watch sprouts grow,  I encourage you to give it a try.

You can buy organic seed from your local health food store in the bulk section or in packages blended with various seeds.  You can also sprout the seeds you’ve collected from your own garden.  Almost any whole natural seed, bean or grain will sprout.

Sprouts are tasty on sandwiches, salads, served with eggs, on top of soups, stir fries or rice and grain bowls.

KINDS OF SPROUTS:

Mild                                                                                                   

Alfalfa                                                                                                                        

Red Clover                                                                                                     

Quinoa                                               

Cress                                                                                                              

Broccoli

                                                                                                                                   

Spicy

Fenugreek

Mustards

Radish

Onion

Crunchy and Sweet

Mung beans

Garbanzo beans

Green lentils

Adzuki beans

Soy beans (should be cooked)

Seeds to Grow on Soil

Black Sunflower (with hulls)

Buckwheat

Wheat

Peas

WHAT YOU NEED:

Mason jars, seeds, screen or mesh (available at hardware stores), jar bands or elastics, water.

HOW MUCH SEED?

Small seeds use 1 tablespoon, medium sized seeds, 2 tablespoons, large seeds or mixes, 1/2 cup.

WHAT TO DO:

· Soak seeds for 8 hours or overnight

· Place screen over jar and secure with band or elastics

· Turn upside down and drain

· Grow Sprouts at 30 degree angle.  This allows water to drain.  This can be done in a bowl or on a dish drainer.

· Rinse seeds 2 times a day

· Most seeds will sprout in 4—5 days (Dill, Garlic and chives take 10 days or longer)

· Can store sprouts in fridge in covered container for 2 weeks, but it’s better to just eat them.

· Stackable trays can be purchased and work great.

· Soak more seeds

To read about sprouting seeds on soil, go to our blog at http://growfoodwithjoy.blogspot.com

To watch a video on sprouting seeds, go to:

www.sprouting.com

SPROUTING SEEDS ON SOIL

Some seeds are best sprouted on soil.  They include; buckwheat, peas, sunflower seeds (unhulled) wheat, barley.

·       Soak wheat, peas, barley for 8 hours,   Buckwheat, sunflower for 12 hours.

·       Fill seedling tray 2/3rds with sterile potting mix

·       Spread soaked seeds over soil

·       Place tray in bright light for 5 – 8 days

·       When seeds are 4” tall, they are ready for harvest.  Cut with scissors.

Note:  Fertilize with liquid Kelp increases nutrient value

ATTENTION FOODIES....November Issue of GROW FOOD Magazine

Is Here.....

Inside this issue:
- Growing More than Food
- What to do in the Edible Garden
- Wire Worms in the Garden
- Recipe of the Month
- Collecting Leaves for Mulch and Compost
- "Grow Food with JOY" Organic Gardening Class
- Results of the Potato Project
- Time to Build Lasagan Beds
- Classifieds and Resources and more

Go to http://www.growfoodnetwork.com/
Cost $3.00 ea
 $25.00 for a monthly subscription

Makes a Great Gift Idea for those Foodies on your List

The JOY of Seed Saving

(Continued from October's Issue of Grow Food Network Magazine)

Dan Jason from Salt Spring Seeds says,
 "Saving Seeds is easy and very rewarding.  Don't be intimidated by any rules you might read or hear about.  You can learn as go!"

These are the basics to Saving Seeds:

• How to Harvest Seeds
• Where to Store Seeds
• When to Save Seeds
• What Seeds to Save

How To Harvest Seeds:
Allow the plant to go through it's full cycle producing seeds on the plant and if possible drying on the plant, as well.  However, often in wet climates it may be necessary to allow seeds to be dried indoors on screens or newspaper.  The seeds should have a hard coating that a fingernail can not dent.  Seeds can be collected in paper bags, labelled and stored indoors until they can be cleaned and stored in glass jars, vitamin bottles, plastic bags etc.  Laying down cloth or cardboard under plants can be helpful when harvesting seeds.

Where To Store Seeds:
Seeds should be stored in dark, air tight containers, in unheated areas where minimum fluctuations occur.  One of GROW FOOD subscribers stores her seed in the freezer labelled by the month they are planted in. 

When To Save Seeds:
Seeds are ready to be picked when they have changed colour and texture.  Pods should be light brown before harvesting.  Save the best seed for the best results.

What Seeds To Save:
Start small.  Save a few varieties each year and increase as you go.  Save the seeds from the foods you eat most often.

SAVING SEED CONSIDERATIONS

• Consider the nutrition value of the foods you grow.  eg: Fava Beans and Grains
• Consider foods that can be eatten year round. eg. Dried Beans and Grains, chickpeas, lentils, and tomatoes for paste
• Buy open-pollinated seeds to make it easier for knowing which seeds you can collect.
• With climate conditions constantly changing, it's crucial to keep growing out your seed so they can continue to adapt to the changes.

SAVING TOMATO SEEDS

Soak tomato seeds in water for 3 days to ferment.  Viable seeds will go to the bottom.  The floating pulp and seeds can be poured off and seeds can be poured onto a screen to dry.


SELF POLLINATORS
(means you don't have to worry about crossing because the flowers are self pollinating and seeds will come true)
They include: beans, grains, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce

CROSSERS
(means the plants will cross pollinate by wind or bees, even a neighbour growing the same variety can cross with yours)
They include: corn, carrots, beets, squash, leeks, brassicas.
Perennial crossers include: potatoes, garlic, jerusalem artichokes

Hope this helps!

October Issue of GROW FOOD Magazine is Available

This Issue Includes:

Garden Feature with …

Richard Dwyer "Clay Soil No More!"

What To Do in the Edible

Garden in October

Ask Bill Herring…

How To Grow Great Garlic

Recipe of the Month

The Joy of Saving Seeds

Urban Gardening in Duncan, BC

Farmers Markets

Classified Ads

& Resources

$3.00 an issue or $25.00 a year (published monthly)

To order: http://www.growfoodnetwork.com/

Food Growing Heros - Cliff and Mary Ellen Stainsby

Article from Grow Food Magazine - August/Sept. 2011 Issue....continued..

Growing food is not new to this couple.  Cliff and Mary Ellen grew tomatoes commercially for 5 years selling at the local Farmer's Market in Duncan and to the chefs at Fairburn Farms.  They are like so many gardeners I meet, humbled by gardening and feeling like beginners as they try new techniques and observing the results. 

When abundance reins their gardens, they share with friends and the local food bank.

Every gardener teaches me something new and this garden tour was no different.  Cliff showed me how he plants his carrots each year using a cold frame covered with remay cloth.  The cold frame is bottomless and placed over the new garden bed where the seeds are planted and the frame keeps the cloth from resting on the carrot tops and is easy to remove to water.  Brilliant idea!

A green roof was installed on this new addition

Kiwi Fruit

Apples

To read the complete article, order August/Sept Issue of Grow Food Magazine at http://www.growfoodnetwork.com/

NEW Farmer's Market in South Cowichan

THURSDAYS IN COBBLE HILL

Having troubles growing a certain crop?

Was the timing not right for this year's weather?

Or would you like to sell your excess?

"Have your garden and eat it, too... and eat from other growers, too"

Try the Thursday Farmers Market for fresh vegetables and fruit grown on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. On occasion there will be the customary fruit shipments from the Okanagan. (Please note: At the THURSDAY FARMERS MARKET, all produce is to be free of exposure to, or application of any toxic substances from seed to the consumer taking possession. If fertilizer or treated seed is used, that food item is to have a card placed beside it when offered for sale.) Busy gardeners can also find baked goods, island-grown meat, and prepared foods like pesto and jam. And shoppers could be treated to your harvest that you might bring to market! Please call Islanders Trading 250 510 8343 for more information and note that 3-4 gardening friends are permitted to share one Full Space for vending. For larger growers that are short on time or do not like to sell, it is permitted to authorize someone else who is knowledgeable and informed to sell your produce for you. 

You are invited every Thursday, 2:00-7:00 pm. outdoors at the Cobble Hill Hall..."to market, to market, to buy some fresh food, home again home again in a satisfied mood!"

Linda (Islanders Trading) 250 510 8343
Coordinator, THURSDAY FARMERS MARKET

 thursdayfarmersmarket@yahoo.ca                  

islanderstrading@yahoo.ca

Win a Year's Subscription to GROW FOOD Magazine

THE BURLAP SACK CHALLENGE



In the August Issue of Valley Voice Magazine, we wrote an article on "Growing More Food on No Land" using burlap sacks to grow food in.  We challenged readers to think of other ways to use Burlap Sacks and the Most Interesting and Useful Idea will receive a Year's Subscription to GROW FOOD Network Magazine. 

Send ideas to growfood@shaw.ca
Deadline for entry: August 31st.

Elaine's Scott's Garden Tour

Elaine Scott infront of her Bird Protected Blueberry Patch

Elaine's everybearing strawberry deer protected patch





Elaine's Yearly Garden Plan



Kiwi Flowers



Tomaotoes grow outside in Elaine's garden successfully each year

Elaine Scott's Garden Tour

More Great Gardening Tips from Elaine:

-      Carrots and broccoli are covered with remay cloth to prevent insect infection.

-      asparagus should not be picked after the end of June.  Allow the spears to turn to fronds and build roots.

-      when beets need to be thinned, (approx 2” high) you can transplant them.

-      always allow some flowers to be blooming in your garden for the bees.

-      Elaine leaves some blackberries on the property as a food source

-      Ever-bearing strawberries produce bigger berries if you cut off the first set of flowers and the runners.  Replace the plants every 3 years.

-      Fall raspberries need a barrier to prevent the underground runners from taking over the   garden.  They also get pruned right to the ground after each season, unlike summer raspberries.

-      The Fig fruit points downward when it’s ready to be picked.

-      Beans can be planted on a continuous basis until the second week of July

-      Elaine plants her winter vegetables, cabbage, leeks,  mid July.
-      Direct seed beets in mid May
-      Direct seed Swiss Chard in March
-      Plant carrots in early May

-      Garlic scapes can be chopped and kept in the freezer

-      When garlic has 4 leaves that turn brown, it’s time to harvest.

GROW FOOD Magazine

To receive your FREE copy of Grow Food Network Magazine, go to http://www.growfoodnetwork.com/ and download your copy.  June's Issue is available for only $3.00 or you can sign up to recieve a years subscription for only $25.00.  InJOY.....

GROW FOOD Wins Blue Ribbon and People's Choice Ribbon

Joy Story wins "Most Unusual Container" with her "Salad to Go...." in a suitcase at the Mill Bay Garden Club's Annual Flower and Garden Show in June 2011. 

Bill Herring's Garden Tour in May 2011

Despite the rain, 30 or so of us ‘wantabe better’ food growers stood in Bill Herring’s edible garden in awe at the growth in his produce for this cold wet spring.  Bill is a year round food grower and is planting seeds constantly to keep food on his table.  It was impressive to see such giant perfect lettuces and peas that were flowering and potatoes that would be soon harvested for new potatoes. 

. 

 

Bill has 2 composts areas.  One is made from pallets held together with hay bale twine for easy access, while the other is cinder blocks holding in the composting material. 

 Cloches are made from plastic juice jugs with bottoms and lids removed.  They protect young seedlings from frost and get a jump on the season.

Peas



Besides growing food and flowers, another passion of Bill’s is lawn bowling.  Infact, Bill has a his very own bowling green in his garden.

 Inside the fenced in area are strawberries and a thornless blackberry that are protected from birds eating them

 The garden also includes several varieties of fruit trees including the nectarine protected behind the clear panels beside the house and under the roof overhangs.  These protection panels will be removed for summer. 

 Buckets with holes drilled in the bottom, line a white picket fence that provide heat and protection for the several varieties of tomatoes growing in them.  

   Sheep lounge under the protected shed, another valuable source of nutrients for the garden. 

 Mason Bee Houses

The Entrance into Bill's Vegetable Garden

Growing Winter Vegetables with Bill Herring

Bill Herring gave two talks on Growing Winter Veggies at The Sunflower Cafe in Duncan, BC.  Bill has been growing vegetables and fruit on his property in Cobble Hill since 1989.  He had his first garden when he was age 7 and he is still growing food 67 years later.

Bill says, "Winter gardening takes a long time, even 12 months for some crops, so be selective if garden space is a consideration."

Bill grows 38 different vegetable crops throughout the year, here are a few of his favorite Winter Crops.

Parsnip:

When you see the greens starting to grow on last years parsnip crop, it's time to plant for next year.  The seeds need stratification for good germination and by planting parsnips in Feb/March that can happen. Plant large seeds staggered for ease and less thinning.  Collecting seeds is not recommended by Bill because of a severe irritant in the flower head.  Bill's favourite variety is a hybrid called 'gladiator' and it's canker resistant.

Potatoes:

Potatoes also get planted early for an early harvest, therefore Bill plants his potatoes in Feb/March too.  The frost will set the tops back, but not damage the potato.  Start by digging a 8"  trench and line with compost, add potatoes and cover 4" - 5" with soil.  When tops emerge, cover with soil again.  Cover the tops completely 2 – 3 times eventually creating a mound. 
In this climate it is best to use the whole potato and in Jan/Feb move your stock potatoes to light to allow “chitting” to occur.  This is when the eyes of the potato form.

Cabbage/Kale/Cauliflower/Broccoli/Brussel Sprouts:

For winter cabbage, cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli, plant seeds in early July and plant into the garden in August/Sept.  There are varieties specific for winter crops so be sure to buy the correct seed. 
In Bill’s garden he has club root which affects the brassica family by creating a nasty root system eventually killing the plant.  Bill has found some club root resistant varieties that he has had good luck with.  The seed is more expensive, but well worth it.  The varieties are called, “Kilton, Crisp and Clapton. 
Kale is easy to grow and can be direct seeded in summer for a winter harvest.  Two of Bill’s favorite varieties include ‘Thousand Headed’ and ‘Hungry Gap.’ 
Brussel Sprouts seeds need to be started in March and take almost a year to produce.  They like to be planted into firm ground and will form rosettes instead of round sprouts if the soil is too soft.    Stake plants to reduce winter damage.

Leeks:

There are two types of Leeks.  One is grown and harvested before Christmas and the other is grown for winter harvest.  Bill sows leek seeds three times a year.  He starts in early Feb. inside using pots covered with plastic bags to create mini green houses.  He pricks them out into cell packs and puts them in the unheated greenhouse to grow on until planting in the garden in May.  Leeks produce a long root system that makes it near impossible to separate later on. 

The second batch is started end of April in pots and then he direct seeds into the garden in May.  When planting leeks into the garden, use a crow bar and make a 6” – 8” hole and drop leek into it.  Water and allow the soil to fall into the hole on it’s own.  The leek will eventually fill in the hole and blanch the leek leaving lots of white leek to use.  Bill’s favorite variety is ‘Jolant’

Lettuces:

Bill has been collecting and using the same lettuce seed for over 60 years, it’s called, ‘Little Gem.’  Lettuce is sown every three weeks to guarantee a continual harvest.  In the winter, Bill uses the large clear plastic juice jugs Cranberry juice comes in.  Remove the lid and cut off the bottom to use as cloches over the lettuce to protect from weather.  ‘Winter Marvel is a good variety to use for winter.

Swedes/ Rutabagas:

Swedes or Rutabagas are planted in July and harvested in Oct/Nov and later.  Plant seed in a double row in a zig-zag pattern to eliminate thinning.  To eat Swedes, peel, slice, steam or boil until soft, mash add cream and pepper. 

Spinach:

Bill tends to plant ‘Perpetual Spinach’ instead of regular spinach because it doesn’t bolt like other spinach.  Perpetual spinach is easy to grow, direct seed in spring and it will lasts all winter, may need thinning to 6” apart

Swiss Chard:

Swiss Chard is another easy green to grow, simply direct seed into garden in spring and it will produce all winter, setting seed in spring.

Bill's knowledge of the vegetable growing world is vast.  Be sure to look for Bill's next article on "The 6 Easiest Vegetables to Grow"  Thanks Bill for giving us this talk

Dan Jason's from Salt Spring Seeds, Talks about Saving Seeds, Cobble Hill, BC March 12, 2011

"Saving seeds is totally easy, Go For It!" is Dan's advice to all of us gardeners who are wondering about saving our own seeds.  Many of us feel intimidated, but Dan assures us that we will learn as we go along.  Start with one kind and go from there.  Humans have been saving seeds for 10,000 years.  It's important that we save seeds on so many levels, it's a wide spread movement through the Transition Network that now has over 700 communities on board. 

With world situations the way the are, the #1 priority is Food Self Reliance but what is being missed is, "We need Seed!" says Dan.  "Good Seed, not Hybrid and not GMO seed.  We need community seed banks.  Seedy Saturdays are seed banks, but it's not enough."

Communities need to come together on this issue and make decisions for the whole.  They need to ask questions and figure out how they are going to work together, where will the food be grown, can we convince land owners to use the land for growing food instead of a few sheep.  We are getting no leadership from our governments, we need to become self-reliant communities and maybe even buy land for the community to grow it's food.

The First thing we need to keep in mind the kinds of seeds we grow.  For example, we need Tomatoes but not just for fresh eating but also paste tomatoes for sauces with beans and grains for year round eating.  Another consideration is nutritional value that plants offer.  For example, when looking at eggplants and peppers, eggplants have nearly zero nutritional value whereas peppers are more valuable in minerals and vitamins.  Looking at beans, most people plant fresh green or yellow beans, but don't consider planting dry beans for protein and carbs for year round eating.  Quinoa, amaranth and flax are good crops for protein as well.

The second consideration is How Much seed do you save?  How many are in your community and how much do we need to grow?  Bulking up on seeds now is worth consideration.  The question most asked is "HOW do we do it?"  Answer, utilize experienced seed savers as Mentors.

Begin with crop categories, break it down by category and have a mentor for each seed category.  Cross pollination is the biggest concern, but many of the plants don't cross pollinate.  Tomatoes don't cross pollinate, nor do peppers, lettuces, beans, or grains.  Their flowers are self-pollinated and seeds come true. 

Crops that do cross pollinate are corn, squash, leeks, and brassicas where bugs and wind play a role, but if you only grow one variety and if you don't have a neighbour growing a variety in the same family, you don't have to worry either. 

Some crops like beets and carrots are bi-annuals and need to be over-wintered to produce seed. In our climate, heavy mulching will allow seeds to produce in the second season.

When collecting beans or peas or brassicas, anything with a pod, (including lentils, favas, chickpeas,soy beans) allow them to dry until brittle -  the inside bean will be dry enough not to allow your finger nail to penetrate.  With brassicas, which include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, wait till the pod is brittle, crack it open, and when the seeds will have turned black they are ready to harvest.  Take branches of seed pods and stomp with your feet on a tarp to release the thousands of seeds.  Remove the shaft using screens with different size screens.  Screens are a seeds savers most practical tool and can be found in garage sales, or the hardware store, with different size holes. 

You can eat your crop and still save seeds.  For instance with lettuce, if you pick off the outer leaves and leave the center, and let it go to seed.  Lettuce will look completely different when it goes to seed.  It will form a candle bra of yellow flowers similar to dandelion fluff.  When the seeds form, shake them into a bucket.  One word of caution, seed heads are the action centers for bugs because it's the perfect place to lay eggs into.  Letting seeds sit on screens will prevent eggs and bugs from developing in your seeds. 

Hybrid seeds will not come true, therefore grow open pollinated varieties.  All small seed companies have good seeds, use them.

Film Review: Food Security, It's In Your Hands by Joy Story

On Saturday Feb. 12/2011, the film, Food Security, It's in your Hands by Nick Versteeg was shown in Duncan at the Christian Reform Church and here are some of the highlights incase you couldn't make it.

- Talking to a chef in Victoria recently, Nick learned that peppers were expected to increase in price 198%.  That should get our attention.  All food prices will increase as  the cost of fuel increases.
- 15 % of the world population is starving
- There are only 4% of the Canadian people who are farmers, the rest are urbanites
- 33% of Canadian Children have never been to a farm
- Bees are the MOST important insect we have and they are presently in danger due to climate change, hive parasites and the increase in pesticide use in agriculture and bee keeping.
- If bees disappear, all the tasty foods we enjoy, fruit, citrus, will become increasingly rare
- Start using mason bees in your gardens, orchards and farms for pollination.

From the Discussion After the Film.....
- 2/3 rds of every dollar spent here on Vancouver Island stays here on Vancouver Island
- Many farmers must turn towards value added products
- We need to solve farming challenges at local grassroots level
- To keep agriculture land for agriculture use, it was proposed that different levels of taxation be used for land owners who were not growing food.  As high as 5 - 6 times.  There would be less buyers, and less competition, keeping the price of farms more affordable for new farmers.  It has not passed yet, and it would only apply to new developments.
- Discussion around whether farm land should be broken into 5 and 10 acre lots raised many issues around whether it was sufficient area for growing food on a commercial basis, when you consider some land may be marshy, forrest, rocky, hillside and unsuitable for vegetable growing.  Maintaining and increasing soil fertility is the main concern for farmers
- Agriculture Land is falling into the hands of people who are not farming it.
- In the future, we are going to have to consider new ways of farming.  Eg. Human Urine pelletized
- We all need to grow food, just like in World War II
- It is illegal to grow food on your front lawn in Toronto
- Leasing land to farm is still a popular way to farm at approx. $150.00 an acre.
- This film can be purchased at the Cowichan Green Community Store

Nick is giving a course on Hobby Farming at UVIC on March 26 and at his farm on March 27