The Garden of Eden Project

2012-02-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

It feels so close to spring that I can't wait to get out in the garden. I am excited to report that we have chosen and ordered the seeds for the 2012 season of The Garden of Eden.

This year, we will change the planting of the Garden of Eden border. You might recall that for the past two seasons, we planted a "flower fence" of cosmos, sunflowers, zinnias, dill, larkspur, etc. In the spirit of crop rotation, this season we are going to plant "The Three Sisters," which is farming technique employed by Native American consisting of corn, beans and squash. The corn acts as the pole and the beans and squash grow up the corn pole. We tried this technique last season on a small scale at the Rectory. It works!

This season, the Three Sisters will consist of:

1. Indian Corn
2. Three colors of mini pumpkins (orange, white, and a orange/green combo),
and Zucchini seeds donated by Leona H.
3. A variety of pole beans (Violet Podded Seedless, Goldmarie, Red Noodle, Fortex,
Bingo, and Phyllis's Pole Beans). I saved seeds of the Indian Corn as well as the
pumpkins from decorations I bought for my home last fall. We purchased most of the
bean seeds from Territorial Seed Company (www.territorialseed.com). The Phyllis's
Pole Beans were saved from seed that we grew last season. My mom, Phyllis S.,
donated the original seed. We don't know the variety, so we chose to name it after
the donor.

Just because we love flowers, we will also throw in a few Lemon Queen Sunflowers, which also count as food; both for us humans and our Goldfinch friends who have loved eating them the past two seasons. The sunflower stalks are sturdy enough to also act as a pole for the squash and beans.

We hope you enjoy watching The Three Sisters grow. We will start planting the seeds in about mid-May. But first, I forgot to mention, we will enjoy the white alpine strawberries and large red strawberries which are already planted in the same space. The strawberries will fruit in June and won't be bothered by the corn, beans, and squash, which will be just inches tall by then. We try to get the most production out of the least amount of space.

In my next column, stay tuned to hear more about Onions...

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-10-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Just a word about the magnificent St. Mary School students who have faithfully volunteered in The Garden of Eden. Well, maybe several words...The kids really know what they are doing! I've asked if they have prior gardening experience and they claim they don't, but their instincts are great. Such enthusiasm for veggies too!! That part is a bit surprising, I must admit, but I am happy nevertheless that they are eating veggies instead of fast food. I hope they keep volunteering with us for the next couple of weeks before our outdoor gardening season ends.

We will be in The Garden of Eden on Saturday, October 29. There is still much seed collecting and on site composting to do. If the weather doesn't freeze before Saturday, there will still be a lot of tomatoes to pick. Swiss chard too. To be on the safe side, I've picked tomatoes twice this week and will deliver them to the St. Mary School staff. All are welcome to garden with us. We will have an abbreviated schedule, however. Please come from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-09-25T08:34:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

OK. So here's what I've learned so far from this gardening season:

1. Pole beans need stronger supports than bamboo poles. Our Phyllis pole bean vines are so strong that they have pulled the bamboo support sticks right out of the ground.

2. I like the flavor of Ya-Ya orange carrots better than the White Icicle carrots we grew. More Ya-Ya's next season!

3. Swiss chard is a no-brainer to grow. The stuff just keeps growing and growing. Picking it causes it to grow even more tasty, nutritious leaves.

4. I won't make the mistake of purchasing seeds on sale at the end of the season. Case in point: I thought I was getting a bargain by purchasing seeds packed for the 2010 growing season and planting them in the 2011 growing season. I stored them correctly over the 2010-2011 winter in a cool spot in my home, but didn't take into account that they weren't stored properly during the time in 2010 that they spent at Home Depot. We grew three types of radishes from these seeds. Mostly, the results were bitter, strangely shaped radishes. I can't think of anything we did differently this season vs. the spring of 2010 season that would have caused such a difference in quality. So my hunch is that the seeds were compromised. We will purchase German Giant radish seeds packed for the 2012 season next time.

5. Morning glories make a quick and beautiful vine to cover an arbor. Check out the blue and purple morning glories that are growing on the arbors in The Garden of Eden. To me, the flowers look like they are made of velvet. I have heard from other gardeners that they can be a nuisance because they come back the next year, but that's a good problem as far as I'm concerned.

6. Swiss Chard and Beet leaves look so similar that they probably shouldn't be planted in the same bed because it is difficult to know what one is picking. That's not such a bad thing, because both plant leaves are delicious and nutritious. However, the similarity can cause one to pull a Swiss Chard plant thinking that it is a beet. Since Swiss Chard comes back after cutting, but not pulling, this wastes the future growth of the Swiss Chard plant.

7. Next season, we are going to follow the tried and true growing technique of the Native Americans. The "Three Sisters" is a term that means growing corn, squash, and beans in the same planting bed. The beans and the squash vines grow up the sturdy corn stalks. We tried a variation on this theme in a planting bed next to the Rectory garage this season. We grew giant sunflower, corn, amaranth, and mini-white pumpkins as well as Delicata squash seeds that I had saved. Yesterday, Chris F., one of our finest Church staff members, showed me that the squashes had found their own way up the corn stalks. Super cool!! The plants did that on their own with no help from us. Nature sure knows how to take care of itself. Sometimes we humans just have to get out of the way.

Have a great week. I hope to see many adult and student volunteers when we garden again on Saturday, October 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is much harvesting and clean up that is needed in The Garden of Eden. Everyone who volunteers goes home with freshly picked veggies.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-09-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

We are harvesting pole beans, more swiss chard, lots of tomatoes, carrots, and even a lemon cucumber. This is the first time we planted lemon cucumbers so I didn't know that they have a spiny outer skin. Lemon cukes are lemon yellow in color and about the same size as a small lemon. Only one was available last Saturday, which I sent home with one of our student volunteers. The student will report back with a review on the taste and how it compares to regular green cukes. More on that later.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-08-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

The tomatoes are really starting to yield. They are so delicious! So are the pole beans which were grown from seed donated by Phyllis S., (my mom). The beans are meaty and tasty. They didn't even need butter after I steamed them. The swiss chard is still producing. The lemon cucumbers have lots of flowers on the vines. The one ball and eight ball zucchinis are delicious. One is perfect for a single serving. The carrots and beets are yummy too.

Come share in the bounty of our harvest when you volunteer your time on Saturday, August 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Everyone goes home with freshly cut veggies.

Now that St. Mary School is back in session, all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are especially invited to garden with us. Service hours will be awarded. Our Ministry can provide service hours in three categories: School, Church, and Community.

A special note to our readers with home veggie/fruit gardens: Please continue to bring the extra produce from your gardens that you don't need to the Share The Harvest basket which is located at the northeast entrance to St. Mary Church. It is there after all weekend masses. For more information contact Virginia, at vlattner@sbcglobal.net. Your fresh produce will be shared with a food pantry in the western suburbs.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-08-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

We are beginning to harvest the One Ball and Eight Ball Zucchini. They are just so darn cute!! They don't look like the traditional oblong zucchini. They are round, about the size of a tennis ball. Perfect for serving one person. Can anyone e-mail me with your favorite recipe for zucchini? mbboge@aol.com. I am looking for something other than zucchini bread.

The Patty Pan squash are just beginning to bear. They were too small to cut last Saturday, but we will see if they are harvest size on August 13.

The carrots, chard, and beets continue to be delicious.

And check out the flower fence!!! The sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias and dill are outdoing themselves. We will pick the first bouquet for one of our gracious parishioners who "bought" a $15.00 bouquet earlier this year. If anyone else would like a bouquet picked fresh, please send your donation to the St. Mary Garden Club Ministry and deliver it to St. Mary Churck, 126 Herrick Rd, Riverside, IL 60546. I will call you so that you can schedule a pick up on a Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. I regret that we cannot deliver due to the fact that we don't have enough adult volunteers to help us. But it's just an opportunity for you to see our beautiful Parish gardens.

We will be gardening again together on Saturday, August 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There are still wood chips to shovel and much weeding to do. Please join us.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-08-03T15:08:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

I would like to send a very special thank you to the Watering Crew of The Garden of Eden. Three St. Mary Parish Confirmation Candidates (whose identities I cannot reveal due to our policy of internet privacy for minors), and Jean Z., an adult St. Mary Garden Ministry member, have been watering religiously, to coin a phrase, as needed. I especially appreciate their efforts since my work schedule probibits me from watering during the week as I did last year. So....three cheers for the Watering Crew!!! Hip, hip, hurray!

Gratefully,
Sallie

2011-07-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

A quick word on organic vs. conventional (chemical) farming/gardening. In my perfect world, all food we eat would be grown without pesticides or synthetic chemical fertilizers. At this time, that's not reality. Often (unless you are a really smart shopper or grow your own produce) organically grown food costs more. Many of us would love to eat organic foods, but just cannot afford it in these harsh economic times. So if we have to choose between organic and synthetic, when does it "pay" to buy organic?

Here's a list of produce where, if you can afford it, organic is preferable. In other words the list below contains produce that is heavily, synthetically chemically sprayed:

The Dirty Dozen:
Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Imported nectarines
Imported grapes
Sweet bell peppers
Potatoes
Domestic blueberries
Lettuce
Kale/collard greens

Here is a list of produce which is less heavily sprayed or has a heavier rind/peel so that you can literally peel off many of the chemicals:

The Clean 15:
Onions
Sweet corn
Pineapple
Avocado
Asparagus
Sweet peas
Mangoes
Egglpant
Domestic cantaloupe
Kiwi
Cabbage
Watermelon
Sweet potatoes
Grapefruit
Mushrooms

I hope this list helps you make rational nutritional and economic choices.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-07-18T18:29:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

I almost couldn't believe it because we planted the tomato plants a bit late in the season, but we picked our first cherry tomatoes. I will wait to hear back from the students (I sent the first fruits home with them) to tell you how delicious they are. But they look gorgeous. Many more tomatoes to come!

Speaking of the St. Mary Parish students who are keeping this garden growing, I am deeply impressed with their positive attitude and excellent work ethic. We have quite a few soon-to-be-8th graders who have chosen our Ministry as their long-term Confirmation service project. I wish I could give a shout-out to them by name, but we don't publish names of anyone under 21 in this newsletter. However, I hope they are reading this so they know how much their efforts and considerable gardening skills are appreciated.

The Swiss Chard just keeps multiplying, sort of like the gold in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringott's Bank (a reference to the last Harry Potter film that just was released). I keep cutting it and sharing it, and it keeps coming back. I'm almost tired of it already, but it's just so darn tasty and nutritious.

We picked some beets this week too. They are at the baby stage which means that if they were sold at a grocery store, they would be more expensive. For those volunteers who went home with beets this past Saturday, don't forget that the greens are edible. I am going to sautee my share in a little bit of olive oil, lemon, and garlic.

We also picked some carrots this week. We planted both white and orange varieties. I am curious if anyone knows the answer to this question: Would white carrots have the same or a different level of nutrients and vitamins (such as vitamin A or beta carotene) as orange carrots?

Volunteers also went home with freshly-cut herbs. They smell soooooo good.

Before I forget to mention it, we made our first donation to Share The Harvest this week. Viginia L. is now accepting your home-grown fruits, veggies, and herbs in the Share The Harvest basket which will be at the northeast entrance to the Church after all masses. Virginia will then deliver the produce to a food bank in the western suburbs.

We still have plenty of room for more adult and student volunteers on Saturday, July 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please join us as we garden together and enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of our harvest.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-07-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Wondering what to do with all that Swiss Chard that just keeps coming back even after you cut it? Then try this recipe from www.epicurious.com.

Tuscan Bean Salad

Ingredients:

•1 1/2 cups dried navy beans, rinsed and picked over (I cheated and used canned Butter Beans, Navy Beans and Canalini Beans. This eliminates the first step. Just make sure to rinse the beans thoroughly).
•1/4 cup olive oil (I used the the olive oil from the jar of julienned sun dried tomatoes. I think it gave the salad more flavor than regular olive oil).
•1 yellow onion, finely chopped
•4 cups firmly packed spinach, washed, drained, and stems removed. (I used Swiss Chard instead
•1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
•1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
•1/2 cup pitted black olives, such as kalamata or niçoise
•Italian Vinaigrette
•Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:
1. To quick-soak the beans: Place the beans in a large pot with water to cover by 3 inches and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain, and rinse.

2. To cook the beans: Place the beans in a large pot and add enough water to cover by 3 to 4 inches. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until beans are tender but still firm. Drain and rinse the beans thoroughly. Set aside to cool.

3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook and stir until slightly brown, about 5 minutes.

4. Toss the beans, onion, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and olives in a large bowl with the vinaigrette until just combined. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use or up to 1 day. If refrigerating, add the spinach (or chard) just before serving.

Vinagrette:

Ingredients:

•1/4 cup red wine vinegar
•3 garlic cloves, minced
•1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
•2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
•3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
•Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:

Combine the vinegar, garlic, mustard, and oregano in a small bowl. Add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly until all the oil is incorporated. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use or up to 1 week.

Enjoy!

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-06-28T19:34:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

I almost forgot to mention this important item which I just read on the Riverside e-newsflash:

The Riverside Farmers' Market kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday, June 29 at 2:30 p.m. in a new, larger location next to the Riverside Library.

This year's market features the widest variety of vendors we've ever had, including produce, meat, chicken, baked goods and even make-your-own pizza to take home for dinner. Our first week will feature some great vendors such as returning favorite Lyons Fruit Farm, and local "Farmer of the Year" Cindy Gustafson's Wild Sands Farm. As the season brings warmer weather, even more vendors will be joining us including The Farm, famous for their sweet corn.

In addition to being able to buy great, locally-produced food, most weeks, the market will feature:

* Programming such as "What Happens to your Garbage and Recyclables when they leave your house?" by Allied Waste and "Recycled Art" by the Riverside Arts Center. This week, the market will feature acous tic guitar and vocals by Mike Rovner.
* A table dedicated to a different Riverside business each week . This week's business table will be hosted by Sheila Gentile.
* A Riverside community group table where you can learn more about the many service organizations in our community and the good things they do. This week's community table will be hosted by Friends of the Fourth.

Additionally, the Riverside Farmers' Market Committee has partnered with Pro Se Services to collect produce donations from visitors to our Farmers' Market. Pro Se is a local organization that provides services and resources that increase access to nutritious food to underserved persons residing in Riverside and some neighboring ZIP codes.

This year's Farmers' Market will feature something new or different each week, and it's a great place to shop and see your friends and nei ghbors. Join us each Wednesday from 2:30 -- 7:00 p.m., next to the library!

Follow us on Twitter @RiversdeFarmMkt and like Riverside Farmers' Market on Facebook in order to stay up to date on the latest happenings and Farmers' Market offerings and e-mail us at riverside-farmers-market@googlegroups.com. We want to hear from you!

Recipe of the Week:

Napa Cabbage Salad with Peanut Dressing

Crisp, mild, napa or Chinese cabbage is a great salad green. Feel free to add your favorite veggies to this toss as well.

Ingredient List (Serves 4)

Dressing
3 Tbs. smooth peanut butter
3 Tbs. rice wine vinegar
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbs. brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1 Tbs. roasted sesame oil
2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes Salad

4 cups shredded napa cabbage
1 small red bell pepper, sl iced (about 1/2 cup)
1 large carrot, coarsely grated
3 green onions, sliced (about 1/4 cup)

Directions
To make Dressing: Whisk together all ingredients in bowl.
To make Salad: Toss all ingredients with dressing in serving bowl.

Nutritional Information
Per SERVING: Calories: 160, Protein: 5g, Total fat: 10g, Saturated fat: 2g, Carbs: 15g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 214mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugars: 9g

2011-06-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

It sounds like the Riverside Garden Club Walk was a smashing success. Joan W. and Jane B. were stationed at The Garden of Eden (the public garden on the Garden Walk). They reported to me that the walkers really enjoyed looking at The Garden of Eden. I hope it was inspiring to those home gardeners who would like to try their hand at fruit and veggie gardening.

I may have forgotten to mention earlier, but at Art In The Garden, 2011, we held a free raffle for one season's share in The Garden of Eden. The Renzo A. family won. They picked up their first installment of the season last Saturday. We hope the Renzo A. family enjoyed the fresh lettuce and chard. More of the same and more varieties of veggies to come as the season progresses.

Just a reminder that our volunteers also go home with a share of produce each time they volunteer.

Some of the "flower fence" is now in bloom. Please look for Larkspur and yellow cosmos.

The Robins seem to like to perch on top of the grape arbors. It's a delightful sight to see. Speaking of grapes... I spotted the first cluster on one of the vines. Wow, I didn't think the vines would bear in their first season. However, I forgot to take into account that the ground was blessed by Fr. M. so I suppose grapes in the first season should come as no surprise if one has enough faith.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-06-22T05:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Somehow I thought we had more time to get The Garden of Eden ready for the June 26 Riverside Garden Club 90th Anniversary Garden Walk. But we don't. So we need to spend some quality time on Saturday, June 25 to make sure the Garden of Eden is beautiful for the walkers. Please join us. Be sure to support the Riverside Garden Club. All proceeds are returned to the Village of Riverside in the form of public landscaping projects. Tickets are available at various downtown Riverside businesses as well as at each home that is on the walk. Just look for the birthday cake signs. There will be a celebration cake at The Garden of Eden as well as tables and chairs so that you can take some time to sit, relax, and chat.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-06-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

The flower "fence" around The Garden of Eden is starting to bloom. I saw the first cosmos flowers of the season. Always a welcome sight.

We are still harvesting lettuce. Any past or current donors or volunteers are welcome to visit The Garden of Eden on Saturday, June 18. I will send you home with a bag of freshly cut lettuce. Three hard working St. Mary School teachers and one St. Mary Parish Rectory staff member, plus a past donor received lettuce this past week.

The Morning Glories and Red Runner beans are sprouting around the grape arbors. The grapes are doing just fine, but I wasn't sure how high they would grow this first year, so we boosted the vertical potential with these fast growing annual vines.

We still have a few tomato plants to put in this Saturday, June 18. I bought as many different heirloom plants as I could from Home Depot in Broadview. They had a good variety and I was happy with the overall health and vigor of the plants. Plus, I bought the plants that come in a peat container. There is much less plastic waste because the peat decomposes instead of being tossed into a landfill.

All student and adult volunteers are welcome to garden with us on June 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We garden in most weather. If it is a light rain, we probably will still be in the garden. However, if it is lightning, we will not be outside.

Sincerely,
Sallie Boge

2011-06-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

We harvested lettuces, radishes, and chard this week. The radishes are unusually spicy if you ask me. The lettuces are beautiful. The chard is looking good.

We have not done well with spinach. Some bolted almost as fast as it sprouted. Also, we have not had good germination rates with our snow and snap peas. Oh well, it happens.

We planted a lot of different varieties of tomatoes and still need about 8 more plants. If anyone has any extra tomato plants, please consider donating them. Contact me at mbboge@aol.com if you are able.

We planted lemon cucumbers, yellow wax and green contender green bush beans as well as an unknown variety of pole beans. I am calling them "Phyllis" pole beans because I saved them from my mom's pole beans from last season.

Thanks to Jean Z. who is helping to water the garden during the week. Thanks to Jim B., our newest member, who worked incredibly hard Saturday, to edge the berm planting next to the parking lot. Thanks to Bernie N. who bought the healthiest looking Reliance grape vine to replace the one grape vine that never started growing.

Join us for more gardening Saturday, June 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is much to do to get the garden ready for the Riverside Garden Club Garden Walk.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-05-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Did spring come late this year? We only just started harvesting lettuces, spinach, and radishes on May 30. We shared with Fr. M., and the families of the two St. Mary School students who will be using The Garden of Eden for their 8th grade science project. They will be studying birds, bees, and butterflies to see if they have a preference for eating from organically-raised flowers vs. chemically-raised flowers. The students will simultaneously participate in at lease two national, "citizen science projects" while completing their St. Mary School requirements. They will also receive service hours for Confirmation since their work will benefit many. I hope our young scientists will blog from time to time about the progress of their experiement. So far they have dug and weeded the flower beds. They also planted numerous types of flowers, corn, dill, etc. Their science project will not only advance our knowledge of earth science, but will create some local beauty at the same time. I anticipate that their project will easily make it to the state level in spring, 2012. The only question is how many special awards they will receive.

Speaking of of awards, "Lavender" is too modest to report about how her 2010/2011science fair project did, but I'm not. Lavender's project: The Farmers' Dilemma: Chemical vs. Organic, which produces better yields? won two special awards at the Regional level and then went on to win "Best Project" in the Jr. Botany division at the state level. Congratulations, Lavender!!

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-05-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

We ran into a little bump in the road with the herb plants I ordered from Territorial Seed Company. I received the shipment and was disappointed in the size of the plants (about 1/3 the size of what is available at Home Depot), the quality (The Pineaple Sage plant had two spindly stalks with a few leaves at the top. It should have been bushier throughout the entire plant. The chive plants were yellow too.), and the fact that although the order seemed to have been packed securely, one oregano plant came completely out of its pot and had dried up. I tried replanting it and watering it, but it appears to be dead. I planted it anyway in the hope of a resurrection). I called Territorial Seed Company, which is refunding the cost of two of our plants. I will give the chives one week to see if they revive. If not, I will request a refund for these plants too. Next time I will buy locally. It's too bad because Territorial Seed Company had more unusual types of herb plants that cannot be purchased locally. Next time we will just have to use the more common varieties. Oh well, live and learn.

On a more positive note, the lettuces that we planted are growing as are the peas, radishes and even a few signs of life from the chard. One St. Mary School student and I continued working on edging and weeding the flower beds that surround the Garden of Eden. We made good progress despite the cool and misty weather yesterday. I believe we are on schedule so that the Garden of Eden looks neat and lush for the June 26th Riverside Garden Club Garden Walk.

Join us for more gardening on Saturday, May 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-05-04T19:52:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

The Garden of Eden is fully planted: When you visit, look for peas, radishes, spinach, and lettuces that are already pushing their way out of the ground. In the next week, we should see carrots and chard too.

I saw a recipe for roasted radishes in Martha Stewart Living: Toss radishes with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast on a baking sheet at 450 degrees, stirring once, until slightly tender and charred, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with salt. Drizzle with lemon juice.

Enjoy.

Sallie

2011-04-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I hope you all had a blessed and happy Easter. You might have noticed after mass as you walked back to your car, that their are four new arbors in The Garden of Eden. Special thanks to Mark B. for assembling them. Special thanks to Bernie N., Kevin C., and Charlie N. for helping to plant the grape vines that will twine themselves around the new arbors.

Also, thanks to one terrific St. Ignatius College Prep student for helping me weed the the beds and plant radish seeds on Saturday. Three varieties of fresh radishes in 21 days, guarranteed!! Mark your calendars and be sure to volunteer on May 14. We will pick and share with whomever has volunteered so far this season and whomever volunteers on May 14.

If you would like to be a published author, please send an essay, poem, photos, etc. about radishes, lettuce, or spinach. I will post your musings on this web site. An appropriate amount of service hours will be awarded to student authors.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-04-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

This week's newsletter is written by Virginia L., St. Mary Church's SHARE THE HARVEST Coordinator:

As we celebrate Jesus's resurrection, let us explore ways we can more faithfully share the love of Christ with our neighbors. Participation in SHARE THE HARVEST is one way to live Christ's message.

Please plan to be part of SHARE THE HARVEST'S growing ministry this year – as we raise vegetables and fruits to be donated to local food pantries. Gifts given by our congregation will be joined with those given by other SHARE THE HARVEST partners. Together, we’ll provide boxes and boxes of fresh, healthy produce to hundreds of families and individuals who are hungry. Fresh fruits and vegetables, often more expensive than processed food, are frequently the first items to get cut from grocery lists when money is tight. Your gifts will make a tremendous difference!

Please consider signing up to receive and grow a free tomato, pepper, or cucumber plant. The only requirement: we ask that all the vegetables grown on the plant be donated to Share the Harvest. We’ll have sign-ups sheets available at church on three consecutive Sundays – April 24, May 1 and May 8.. Plants will be distributed on Sunday, May 15 during Art in the Garden. Just bring in your veggies and place them in the Share the Harvest basket when they’re ready to harvest!

Have questions about Share the Harvest? Please contact Virginia L., SHARE THE HARVEST Coordinator at (708)447-3349 or email at vlattner@sbcglobal.net.

Thank you for planning to SHARE THE HARVEST in 2011!

Sincerely,
Sallie
P.S. The St. Mary Garden Ministry will also be "sharing the harvest" of The Garden of Eden with SHARE THE HARVEST. If you can't grow a free veggie plant at your own home, please volunteer with the St. Mary Garden Ministry in The Garden of Eden on a Saturday morning. You can also arrange with Sallie to volunteer at the day or time that best suits your schedule.

2011-04-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks to St. Mary School Mom, Sandra C., who wrote this week's column. Sandra, in addition to volunteering her time last Saturday to help prepare The Garden of Eden, is also a science teacher. Lucky the children who have Sandra as their science teacher. They must be learning a lot! Since we planted peas on April 9, Sandra writes about peas:

"The typical garden pea, Pisum sativum, is a cool season crop. It does well when planted in early spring and can be planted again in fall after the heat of summer is gone. This weekend two varieties of garden peas were planted in the garden. Peas provide us with a good source of protein as well as vitamins A, B, and C. Many people enjoy steaming fresh peas straight from the garden. They are also often dried and cooked in soup.

Peas along with several other plants including beans, peanuts, alfalfa and clover are considered a legume. Legumes form a symbiotic relationship with a type of bacterium belonging to the group Rhizobium. The garden pea usually forms its relationship with Rhizobium leguminosarum. The symbiotic relationship between the pea and its tiny friend is called a mutualistic relationship because both will benefit from the relationship. The bacteria attach and infect the root hairs, which causes the plant to produce a nodule on the root. This will become the bacteria’s new home. The plant will share sugars that it has produced by photosynthesis with the bacteria while the bacteria supply the plant with a nitrogen source. The bacteria are able to convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonia, which is then converted into organic nitrogen compounds such as the amino acid glutamine. The The typical garden pea, Pisum sativum, is a cool season crop. It does well when planted in early spring and can be planted again in fall after the heat of summer is gone. This weekend two varieties of garden peas were planted in the garden. Peas provide us with a good source of protein as well as vitamins A, B, and C. Many people enjoy steaming fresh peas straight from the garden. They are also often dried and cooked in soup.

Peas along with several other plants including beans, peanuts, alfalfa and clover are considered a legume. Legumes form a symbiotic relationship with a type of bacterium belonging to the group Rhizobium. The garden pea usually forms its relationship with Rhizobium leguminosarum. The symbiotic relationship between the pea and its tiny friend is called a mutualistic relationship because both will benefit from the relationship. The bacteria attach and infect the root hairs, which causes the plant to produce a nodule on the root. This will become the bacteria’s new home. The plant will share sugars that it has produced by photosynthesis with the bacteria while the bacteria supply the plant with a nitrogen source. The bacteria are able to convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonia, which is then converted into organic nitrogen compounds such as the amino acid glutamine. The reaction the bacteria carry out is called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation by the bacteria living in the roots of legumes accounts for a fourth of all of the nitrogen fixed on the Earth each year. Legumes such as clover and alfalfa are often planted as cover crops to help restore the nitrogen content of the soil. Basically the bacteria become the plants little fertilizer factory.

Another interesting fact about the garden pea is that is was the organism that helped the Austrian Monk, Gregor Mendel deduce several important principles of genetics. The design of the pea plant’s flower is why Mendel chose it. The flower has separate male and female parts known as the stamen and carpel respectively. The petals of the pea plant surround the reproductive structures in such a way as to block another flower’s pollen from reaching the carpel. This allowed pea plants to be able to self-fertilize. When Mendel needed to cross two different pea plants together he could remove the stamen of one flower and add the pollen from another plant to the carpel. By growing and breeding many pea plants Mendel was able to determine how certain genetic traits are passed on from parents to offspring. Mendel’s genetic principles are not only specific to pea plants they apply to us as well! His research was an amazing discovery and was done long before it was known that the genetic material was made of DNA. His research was carried out in the mid-1800’s."

Sallie's note: Thanks too, to Mark B., two St. Mary School's students, and one of Nazareth High School's finest students for volunteering on April 9. Thanks to them, the Garden of Eden vegetable beds are fully prepared for planting. Besides peas, we also planted three kinds of spinach and dozens of different types of lettuces.

I hear the weather might not be great on Saturday, April 16, but we will still most likely be in the garden. If it rains, please check the Rectory garage. We might be inside assembling the grape arbors. If the weather is clear, we will be in The Garden of Eden.

Sincerely,
Sallie
P.S. If anyone would like to write an essay about spinach and/or lettuces, please submit it to me at mbboge@aol.com. Service hours will be provided to students for their essays.

2011-04-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, Even though many were on spring break last week, two wonderful students volunteered their time to help us ready The Garden of Eden for planting. One St. Mary School student joined a St. Ignatius student to make quick work of our preparations. Thanks, guys. You are fantastic! There is still more prep work to do this Saturday, April 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We have to do some light carpentry work due to some damage that the wooden raised beds sustained over the winter. We need to dig two more in-ground beds for the beets and chard. We also need to assemble the four steel grape arbors. Also on Saturday we will be planting lettuces, peas, and spinach. All are welcome to join us for whatever amount of time you can spare. I will sign service hours forms on the spot. Please bring your own copy. Sincerely, Sallie

2011-03-21T19:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

I'd like to send a shout out to the girls from St. Mary Girls Scout Troop 128 as well as their Troop Leader, Jane B. They shared their beautiful flower/nature-inspired art work as well as their appreciation to our Ministry for the beautiful flowers we grew at St. Mary Church last season. I will bring the letters to our next Saturday work session so that the rest of our volunteers can enjoy them too. They are precious beyond belief. Thank you to Troop 128. You brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart.

I hope all the members of Troop 128 feel free to visit The Garden of Eden often to watch its progress this season. If any Troop 128 members can stop by on any Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. I will gladly cut a flower for each of them to take home and enjoy.

Also, if any other Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Daisy Girl Scouts, etc. Troop Leaders are reading this: please feel free to contact me if you want to hold a meeting at The Garden of Eden or the Monarch Way Station garden or if your Troop members need a nature-related badge. We can work out a garden project for your Troops. E-mail me at mbboge@aol.com.

Sincerely,
Sallie
P.S. Did I mention earlier that I will be offering service hours for any St. Mary School student or Confirmation Candidate who helps write this column?

2011-02-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Those of you who have visited The Garden of Eden will remember the name of the little man whose statue is guarding our garden. It is none other than St. Fiacre, the patron saint of gardeners and hemorrhoid sufferers. Bernie N. was kind enough to send along a "before" and "after" photo of St. Fiacre. The "before" photo is the one where you can see the entire statue. The "after" photo shows our intrepid saint braving the aftermath of our February 2/3 , 2011 "thundersnowstorm." Bernie calls her photo essay, "St. Fiacre's Winter Adventure." Thanks, Bernie. And remember, it's only 20 days until Spring arrives!

Sincerely,

Sallie

P.S. I'm still looking for St. Mary Parish students to contribute to this website.

2011-02-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends (It's Sallie writing),

Imagine my surprise early last December, when my daughter said, "Mom, there's a lady from Texas on the phone. She said she reads our blogs and wants to make a donation!" "I have a reader? From Texas?!!" And I thought my mom was the only person who reads our newsletters.

It turns out that "MIL" (She prefers to remain anonymous. MIL stands for Mother-in-Law) has a daughter whose family are active and supportive members of St. Mary Parish. MIL likes to keep up with our Parish news, and indeed, reads our Garden Ministry newsletters. MIL informed me that she and her family exchange "alternative Christmas gifts." Instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other, they make donations to worthy charities to honor a family member. MIL decided that The St. Mary Garden Ministry's Garden of Eden was worthy and that the gift would be given in her son-in-law's name.

"How wonderful," I told MIL. "I will try to think up a special idea that will honor your son-in-law." But what?

I saw Msgr. S. just a few days later. Probably due to divine intervention, he happened to mention that he knows a parishioner who makes wine and gifts it to St. Mary Parish so that it can be served during the Eucharistic celebration. The wine maker was none other than MIL's son-in-law. "I know his mother-in-law!", I told the Msgr. The light bulb in my mind started shining brightly. I knew right then that MIL's gift would purchase the grape vines... that MIL's son-in-law would turn into wine... that would be served at the Eucharistic celebration. I get goose bumps just thinking of how MIL's act of generosity will benefit so many people. So thank you to MIL and her son-in-law for this selfless gift.

Now, about the grapes...After visiting and studying many internet websites, here's what we chose:

"Marquette" is a cousin of Frontenac and grandson of Pinot noir. It originated from a cross of MN 1094, a complex hybrid of V. riparia, V. vinifera, and other Vitis species, with Ravat 262. Viticulturally, Marquette is outstanding. Resistance to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and black rot has been very good. Its open, orderly growth habit makes vine canopy management efficient. Marquette’s high sugar and moderate acidity make it very manageable in the winery. Finished wines are complex, with attractive ruby color, pronounced tannins, and desirable notes of cherry, berry, black pepper, and spice on both nose and palate. As a red wine, Marquette represents a new standard in cold hardy viticulture enology. Tolerates temps to -35F.

Introduced in 1995, "Frontenac" is the first in a series of new wine grape varieties developed by the University of Minnesota for Upper Midwest conditions. A cross of V. riparia 89 with the French hybrid Landot 4511, Frontenac combines many of the best characteristics of each parent. Frontenac is a very cold hardy vine and has borne a full crop after temperatures as low as -35 F. It is also a very disease resistant variety with good resistance to powdery mildew and near-immunity to downy. Initially acids are high, but often drop dramatically if allowed to hang on the trellis late in the season. Fortunately, the pH does not often rise to dangerous levels. When grown in colder area the berries must be left on the vine long enough to mature fully. It produces only a moderate number of tendrils, which facilitates vine management. Has distinctive cherry nose and with deep garnet coloring. Late ripening.

"Edelweiss" is a white seeded table, wine and juice grape. Hardy to -30 F. Excellent disease resistance and adaptability. Has a pleasing labrusca flavor, which becomes more pronounced the longer it hangs on the vine. While mostly a table and juice grape, some very popular sweet wines have also been made. Ripens early season. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

"Kay Gray" was bred by Elmer Swenson of Wisconsin and was found almost by accident. One year, due to ill health, Elmer didn't spray his vines. Kay Gray survived without downy mildew. Flavor ranges from labrusca to pleasant fruity flavor depending on where it is grown. The best part of the variety is the vine. In addition to the good resistance to disease, the vine has withstood -42F without damage. The vines have moderate vigor, needing more fertility than other varieties to develop good size. Vines can be trained to cordons with three bud spurs, or to canes to insure more crop. Largely used as a cold hardy white wine grape it is liked by organic growers, and the little clusters are pleasant to eat, as well.

You can read more about these varieties on one of the websites I visited: http://www.grapes.umn.edu/frontenac/viticulture.html

We our purchasing our vines from Woodstock Nursery in Neillsville, WI. The vines are 2 years old, and are #1 grade. Suppliers consider #1 to be the best grade. Neillsville is near Eau Claire, which is a garden sub zone of 3. So our zone 5 should be like a tropical vacation to these hardy vines. All of the varieties we chose grow in zones 4-8. I also liked the fact that Woodstock Nursery is a small business, which I like to support. When I called to place the order, Tony, who also makes wine, was very helpful and friendly. Woodstock Nurseries takes checks or money orders; no credit cards. Tony mentioned that we shouldn't expect too many grapes the first season after planting, but we are planting on blessed ground. I have higher hopes for a decent crop.

Grapes need a support structure on which to grow. In the wild, grapes grow up trees. In more controlled environments, fences, pergolas, and arbors are used. We will use four pre-made, easy-to-assemble, black powder coated steel arbors, which we purchased from Kinsman Co., located in Pipersville, PA and owned by Graham and Michelle Kinsman. Click on www.kinsmangarden.com. In the key word section, type in Lattice Arch. Ours is item # AM604.

I hope you enjoyed reading about our new grapes and the heart-warming story of a very generous St. Mary Parish family. If this story has inspired you to make your own donation or to volunteer your time to garden with us, or to help me write this blog, please write to me at mbboge@aol.com. I will look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Sallie

2011-02-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

(It's Sallie writing. "Lavender," the St. Mary Parish student who wrote this blog last season is stepping down from her Blogmaster post and may only write occasionally. I am looking for new St. Mary Parish students to help keep our readers informed.)

I'm excited to tell you that over the winter, to reduce the severity of my cabin fever, I've been planning the layout for The Garden of Eden. The 2011 season will offer more types of vegetables, grains, fruits, an herb garden, and new growing space. I can't wait. Here's a list of what we will be growing:

Herbs: Basil "Mammoth Sweet:, "Red Lettuce Leaf", "Christmas" (get the gardener's religious pun?), "Purple Ruffles", Purple Chives, Oregano "Jim Best", Oregano "Italian", Rosemary "ARP", Rosemary "Gold Dust", Sage "Grower's Friend", Sage "Pineapple", Thyme "Golden Lemon", Thyme "Orange Balsam", Mammoth Dill.

Vegetables: Swiss Chard "Magenta Sunset", "Bright Lights", "Fordhook Giant", "Golden"; Spinach "Regal", "Bordeaux", "Galilee" (another gardener's religious pun); Carrots "White Satin", "Yaya", "Purple Haze"; Beets "Touchstone Gold", "Chioggia"; Patty Pan Squash "Benning's Green Tint", "Sunburst"; Zucchini "8-Ball", "1-Ball"; Mesclun Mix Lettuces "Wild Garden Mix", Garden Heirloom Blend", "London Springs"; "Super Gourmet Blend"; Tomatoes (mixed varieties supplied by Share The Harvest); Peas "Oregon Sugar Pod II" "Organic Progress", "Tricolor Blend", Maxibel Haricotvert; Runner Beans "Scarlet"; Cucumber "Lemon"; Radishes "Crimson Giant", "Champion", "Cherry Belle", Bush Beans " Yellow Wax", "Green Contender"; Peppers "Tangerine Dream"; Pole Beans "Phyllis" (I named this variety after my mom. She supplied the seeds, but disposed of the nursery tag that identified the type. I think that's a lame excuse. My guess is that she really just wants the beans named after her.)

Fruits: Strawberry "White Frais de Bois", Red (I can't remember the name of the variety. We planted it last year and I disposed of the tag. The first person who donates $10.00 to our Ministry can name it what they like. Make your check payable to St. Mary Garden Club Ministry. Deliver to 126 Herrick Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Write "Strawberry Contest" in the subject line on the check.); Grapes (I haven't ordered yet so I can't report the varieties. More on the wonderful and heartwarming story of the grapes in a future blog).

Grains: Amaranth "Autumn Touch".
Flowers: Sunflowers "Lemon Queen", mixed varieties of Cosmos, mixed varieties of Zinnias, Larkspur (mixed colors).

All of the seeds and plants that we purchased for the 2011 season come from Territorial Seed Company (www.territorialseed.com). Here are the reasons we ordered: the seeds that they grow themselves are grown organically, they don't knowingly sell genetically modified seeds, they are an American-owned company employing Americans who love to garden...even their after-hours call center is staffed by Americans, they focus on supplying unusual and heirloom seeds that are no longer supplied by the big names in the seed company business, and they have a seemingly endless variety of offerings so that I could order all of what we needed from one source (that made it easier on me and reduced the shipping costs we incurred). Plus, if you read the information in their catalogue, you will instantly become an expert in growing food. It is very informative.

All the flowers we will grow are from seeds we saved from last season. The strawberries were planted last season so we don't have to purchase anew. Other seeds are from www.gardensalive.com. I saved what we didn't plant from last season. I like Garden's Alive too because they only sell organically raised seeds and other gardening products. Synthetically manufactured chemicals...don't need 'em!

Sincerely,
Sallie

2010-12-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

Guess who's back? Who missed me...? Anybody.........? That hurts. But hey, if you missed me, shoot me an email.

I haven't been posting in a while because I'm trying to deal with the grief of the end of the Garden of Eden. It was gut-wrenchingly sad to see the Garden of Eden taken down, however, my grief will be short lived since IT'S GOING UP AGAIN NEXT YEAR! *Que the applause* I could list again everything we accomplished next year, but I kind of already did... So go back and read my earlier posts. (Yes, this is me trying to get you to read my earlier posts if you're just tuning in now).

I have some sad news. Brace yourselves. Ready? I will not be writing this blog next year. However, it will go on! I'm now looking for someone to take over for me. Perhaps a couple of people? I will be appearing from time to time for a guest article, but not as often as this last Spring/Summer/Fall and now Winter (Some blizzard today, eh?). Regrettably, my schedule next year will be so unpredictable that I don't want to commit to anything I may not be able to follow through on.

How did everyone take the news.

I'm going to miss all of you, I really am. I enjoyed this year so much and I hope that all of you enjoyed it too.... However, like Bonnie and Clyde, Fred and Ginger, Ricky and Lucy, the end must come. So. Bye bye.

Lots of love, peas, and tomatoes, signing off for the last time (maybe),

Lavender

2010-10-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

My Beloved Readers,

This past Wednesday, after school, our own Daisies (the human kind) in Kindergarten came to the Garden of Eden to do, what else ? To learn about nature! As always our volunteers left with a tomato each (cute, right?). They will also be helping us to recycle by saving seeds.

Love,

Lavender

2010-09-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Just a couple of points I want to talk about in this post:

We took down the spent sunflowers and indian corn, but we saved whatever seeds and corn cobs we could for planting next year.

We are now composting in place (chopping off stalks and leaving them in the garden where they will eventually decompose, fertilizing the garden).

Our student volunteers planted more radishes this past Saturday and also harvested the previously planted radishes.

This coming Saturday, October 2, we will be planting more lettuce (swiss chard and spinach).

Lots of Love,

Lavender

2010-09-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Sometimes I feel like I'm writing to no one, but you are there? Aren't you?

Well, on another note, we donated bean seeds to an 8th grade science project.

Mrs. Johnson used the garden for a sketching project last Wednesday.

As always, feel free to write in at thegardenofedenproject@gmail.com

Lots of Love,
Lavender

2010-09-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I hope you all went to the Jubilee on Sunday! If you did then you probably saw the flowers on the table- from the Garden of Eden.

We're still sharing with St. Mary teachers and staff, Share the Harvest, and all our volunteers.

Does anyone want to help water the garden during the week? If so, please contact Sallie Boge at mbboge@aol.com. With such little rainfall, it's a big job to water every other day.

The new crop of radishes are starting to mature; the second crop of sunflowers are also matured.

Hoping You Are Well,

Lavender

2010-09-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers,

Currently I'm suffering from a case of writers block, so I'll keep this brief.

The first wave of sunflowers are done, but the second crop is flowering this week.

The Indian corn is ready to be picked; however, it's extremely small.

This week, we'll be sharing with Share the Harvest and the Jubilee picnic.

Have a great weekend,

Lavender

2010-09-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

The Garden of Eden is now officially an outdoor classroom! St. Mary School 7th grade used it during their science class.

Mini-pumpkins are now starting to grow, and the Gold Finches are eating up the Lemon Queen sunflower seeds.

Question: Does anyone know how to harvest indian corn?

Peas on Earth,

Lavender

2010-08-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Summer Tomato Tart

Tart Pastry

1.5 cups pastry or all-purpose flour

.5 tsp. salt

8 Tbsp. butter

4 Tbsp. ice water

Combine flour and salt. Cut the butter and work with a pastry cutter or your finders until the flour and butter mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water to the mixture. Mix lightly. Form into a ball. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead a couple of times to ensure the water is evenly incorporated. Roll the dough into a tight ball and press into a flat square. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 12-inch circle or large enough for your baking pan. Gently peel up the crust and fit it into a tart pan or pie pan, crimping the edges. Chill the pastry shell while preparing the filling.

Tart Filling

1 Tbsp. (or more) dijon mustard

3 cups Gruyere cheese, grated

3 cups tomatoes, seeded and sliced

1/3 cup olive oil

1/2 cup combination of chopped basil, thyme, or parsley

Salt and fresh-ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Remove the pastry shell from the refrigerator. Spread the dijon mustard on the bottom of the pastry shell. Add the Gruyere and top with the tomatoes in a visually pleasing arrangement. Whisk the olive oil with the herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the dressing over the tomatoes. Bake until the crust is golden brown. Let the tart sit 10 to 15 minutes before slicing or it will fall apart.

This recipe can be found in Grocery Gardening by Jean Ann Van Krevelen.

Hoping you had a happy summer,

Lavender

P.S. It's not over yet!

2010-08-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Greetings, everyone! This is Lavender again, reporting on the status of the Garden of Eden.

I don't know if anyone has had a chance to look at our "sunflowers on steroids", but they're HUGE! This particular kind of sunflower, Lemon Queen, was only supposed to be 4-5 feet tall, but ours are all around 7ft. They must have received extra blessings.

The zinnias and cosmos around the garden (near sunflowers) are now blooming.

The corn is starting to grow "tassels"

And FINALLY, the sod excavation is DONE! A big shout out to all the kids who helped, we could never have done it without you!

With Love,

Lavender.

2010-07-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

CONTEST ALERT!!!!!!!!

So you've all seen our potato bags over at the entrance to the Garden of Eden, right? Here's your chance to win them. If you can guess how many potatoes we will harvest out of the bags, then they're all yours! Send in your answers via thegardenofedenproject@gmail.com

On your marks, get set, GET GUESSING!!!

Lots of Love,

Lavender

2010-07-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

Well, the Garden of Eden is coming along swimmingly despite the endlessly hot weather. In particular the beans and dill are doing well. Here's a simple recipe which includes them. If you have any recipes of your own, feel free to send them in to thegardenofedenproject@gmail.com.

Ingredients
2 pounds green beans, trimmed and halved
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons dill seeds
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill

Preparation
In a steamer set over boiling water steam the beans, covered, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until they are just tender. While the beans are steaming, in a blender blend together the vinegar, the oil, the dill seeds, the chopped dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the beans to a serving bowl and toss them with the dressing.

Also, anyone who comes to volunteer on Saturday will receive fresh produce as always.

Lots of Love,
Lavender

2010-07-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

A couple of things to report in this post:

1. On Saturday, we shared our Ya-Ya Carrots with Share the Harvest.

2. The Yellow Wax Beans and the Green Contender Beans are starting to produce.

I must ask you once again to come help us dig up the sod around the Garden of Eden. We still have lettuce for any volunteers.

Thank you to our loyal St. Mary Parish Students who loyally volunteer week after week.

Hope everyone's staying cool in this warm summer weather.

Lavender

2010-06-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the peas had a good life, but it was time for them to be pulled due to the warm weather. Peas are a cool weather crop.

On another note, for my science project, I planted Anaheim peppers. Now, what's going on with these beans? I have good news. The organic plot is doing MUCH better than the chemical plot. We think it may be due to kelp. Kelp, kelp, the magical... fertilizer?

All the tomatoes from Share the Harvest are now planted, and the Lemon Queen sunflowers and Indian corn are now coming up.

Yes, we are STILL harvesting lettuce, but it may soon come to an end due to high temperatures.

The carrots are still a bit short so we'll keep checking their progress every week.

ATTENTION ALL ADULTS!: We need YOU to help on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Garden of Eden to excavate more sod.

This is Lavender, over and out.

2010-06-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Roma and Arana's Noire and Beefsteak, oh my!

Roma, Arana's Noire, and Beefsteak are only a few of the many tomatoes planted in the Garden of Eden. Other varieties include Negro Azteca, and Early Girl.

Tomatoes aren't the only vegetables growing here, we also have Red Bell Peppers, California Wonder, Golden Bell, and Sweet Banana.

Do you know what the best part about these plants are? Not only can they be shared with all of our volunteers, they also were donated from our friends at Share the Harvest!

Supporting these tomatoes are two types of supports. One type is the circular cone shaped supports in wacky colors, purchased at Home Depot for 5.95 each. The other type is the tomato tower supports. purchased at www.gardeners.com (Gardener's Supply), 29.95 for three.

Sowing the Seeds of Love,

Lavender

2010-06-15T18:37:00.001-07:00

Dear Readers,

Just a few things I want to touch on in this post:

1. Update on Science Project: In the process of picking peas. Alas, chemical is doing much better. But don't let that sway your devotion to eating organically! Organic is still better for you.

2. The lettuces are on their second round. If any non-volunteers are interested, this weekend the squares of lettuce will be one for $7. (A much better deal than you would get at your local supermarket).

3. The strawberry plants have been bearing fruits.

This is Lavender, signing out. Have a great week, readers.

2010-06-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Well, another week, come and gone. The beans are now well on their way to becoming full grown plants, and the peas have flowered.

On another note, we've now shared with.... Da da da daaaaa! 33 families and individuals!

Sowing the Seeds of Love,

Lavender

2010-05-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! (or rather, enjoy the pictures!)

We have new pictures, fresh from the Garden of Eden, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Lavender

Picture 1: Kelp

Picture 2: Strawberry Plant

Picture 3: Other plots in Garden of Eden (Mesclun Mix Lettuce)

Picture 4: Kelp (organic fertilizer) and MiracleGro Fertilizer (this is what I am using for my science project)

2010-05-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, Lavender again! Thank you to our anonymous donor of $20 for the Garden of Eden. Whoever you are, everyone over at the St. Mary Garden Club Ministry extends their thanks.

Sowing the Seeds of Love,

Lavender

2010-05-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hello again. Lavender here reporting on the current status of the Garden of Eden. Thanks to our volunteers, we now have two strips of grass cut out from the front of the garden. Confused? I'd be surprised if you weren't. Soon, those ugly strips of dirt will be teeming with sunflowers. Hey 7th Graders? Looking for a science fair topic? Well look no further. Citizen Science Projects are the way to go. Google 'em.

On another note, thanks to Trisha S. for her donation of watermelon and cantaloupe plants. Your plants will be put to good use!

New Contest!

2010-05-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hello all Readers! Exciting news for everyone. The Garden of Eden is having a contest to see who can come up with the best recipe using either snow peas, carrots, lettuce, or radishes. You can also combine them or use them all in your recipe if you like. The winning prize will be a bouquet of flowers from our garden! We hope to see lots of reciepes! Thank you!

2010-04-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

IT'S ALL OVER, FOLKS! IT'S ALL OVER!

And the winner of the "guess the strange little man" contest is... Nella U. !!! Nella writes in with:

"Dear Lavender and Rosemary:

Well, at last, the statue's name has surfaced.

His name is St. Abbot Fiacre (pronounced Fee-ah-cray). His name in Italian is pronounced St. Fiacrio (Fee-ah-cree-o). He was born in Ireland, was ordained a priest, and formed a monastery, which excluded women on the basis of "on pain of severe bodily infirmity." He lived a life of great mortification, in prayer, fast, vigil, and manual labor of the garden in the monastery he formed.

Three significant facts for this saint are as follows:

1) He built an oratory in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary;

2) He is known as the Patron of Gardeners;

3) He was famous for miracles he performed, most of which were curing people of diseases, using herbs, et cetera. Some of the diseases he cured were blindness, fevers, tumors, fistulas.

For a bit of humor, he is also known as the patron of hemorrhoid sufferers (ouch!!!)."

Nella wins a weekend's share in the bounty of the Garden of Eden. Keep your eye out for future contests and special offers. But if you order in the next 5 minutes, you'll receive ...

Just kidding.

Thanks again to all of our readers. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

As always...

Peas on earth,

Lavender

P.S. The Garden Ministry would like to thank Nella and Jim U., as well as Julia and Bob M. for their generous financial donations to support the Garden of Eden.

2010-04-13T13:08:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, its Rosemary! Our garden is now up and running! In our garden we have 6 plots. Of the 6, there are two that are being used for Lavender's and my science project. Our hypothosis for our science project is to see whether plants grow better using organic methods or chemically inhanced fertilizers and pesticides. All the other plots are organic. In our organic plot for our science project, we have Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Peas, and German Giant Radishes. In our conventionally grown plot, we also have Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Peas and German Giant Radishes. In ther other organic plots in the garden, there are Yaya Carrots, Green Salad Bowl Leaf Lettuce, Red Salad Bowl Leaf Lettuce, and Tri Colored Romaine Blend. In the other plots, we are growing a salad blend of arugala, chicory, endive, spinach, chard, corn salad, and chervil. To support all of our pea plants, we are using sticks that have been found while walking in Riverside that have been blown off the trees due to the wind. We are also using pussy willows that were used in Easter of 2009 for decarations. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! This is what we always try to do while in our garden!

~ Rosemary

2010-03-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Who is this strange little man?

Who is this strange little man? We're offering a prize of one weekend's share in the bounty of the Garden of Eden to anyone who can tell us who this man's name is, and three reasons why he's important. He's located in the center of the Garden of Eden.

Peas on Earth,

Lavender

2010-03-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Phase 1: Complete (Almost)

Lavender here, hoping you all had a very merry Christmas last Saturday. Ok, so maybe it wasn't Christmas, but it sure felt like it! But, being the devoted gardeners that we are, we were outside in Millie's Lot setting up the raised beds. It was hard, but rewarding work.

On another note, I'd like to personally thank all of the people who donated to the Garden of Eden. We collected another $38.50 from the St. Mary School "jeans day" money that was turned in late. Kids and your families, thank you so much. This, plus the $309.11 the kids donated, bought all our compost and wood! The St. Mary Parishioners have donated $64, which bought all the seeds we need to complete the Garden of Eden. We're still gratefully accepting donations to go towards a picked fence, fruit bushes, and other plants.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sowing the Seeds of Love,

Lavender

Sustainable

2010-03-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

Sustainable gardening means puting back what you took from the earth. Examples of this could be composting or recycling. For example, if I took two cups of soil from the ground, I would have to replace those two cups I used by puting another two cups back into the ground. This keeps the earth in balance.

~Rosemary

GMO

2010-03-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

GMO is short for genetically modified organisms. This is when
scientists take the DNA from one organism and inject it into another.
The four main genetically modified crops are corn, soy, cotton,
and canola. 81 to 86 percent of corn is genetically modified, 91
percent of soy is genetically modified, 81 to 93 percent of
cotton is genetically modified, and 95 to 98 percent of canola is
genetically modified. As I said, these are the four main genetically
modified crops, but there are also many others. Some people who consume
something genetically modified can get sick and harm their body.

~Rosemary

Locavore

2010-03-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

A locavore is a person who attempts to only eat food that is grown locally, in their own state, or within a designated radius of where they live. For example, if a locavore, who lived in Illinois, was in a grocery store wanting to buy oranges, but the only ones they had were made in Florida, they would not buy them. Unfortunately, a downside to being a locovore would not be always getting the foods you need or want, but you would know what you are getting is fresh, and you would support your local area.

~Rosemary

2010-03-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

CALLING ALL READERS!

We need garden cloches! Now, what is a garden cloche you ask? A garden cloche is the alternate name for a bell jar. It is put over young plants to protect them from harsh weather or insects. "But I don't have any of those!" Oh, but you probably do! A 2 liter and single serving, plastic, CLEAR beverage bottle can be used if you cut the bottom off and remove the lid. When you put it over the young plants, it acts as a "mini greenhouse", and warms up the soil. So we need you, dear readers, to help us with that. If you can, please start collecting these. We will probably be using them on March 27th, depending on the weather. Also, please remove all labels from the bottle. Thanks in advance. Your support and help is greatly appreciated!

Please write in with any gardening or general questions. We will be happy to answer them for you.

Peas on Earth,

Lavender

2010-02-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

Organic- Noting or pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals, but now that includes all other compounds of carbon.

In plain English, it means anything natural or coming from a living organism. Now, we know what you're thinking. Organic = expensive. Well, technically that's true, but only in stores. It's not expensive if you grow it yourself! What we strive to do at the Garden of Eden is to grow all organically and naturally with no pesticides*, herbicides* or fertilizers*.

Thank you to the people who e-mailed us with their comments, and we hope to hear from many more of you soon!

Sowing the seeds of love,

Lavender

*Pesticides-chemicals used to destroy "pests"

*Herbicides-chemicals used to destroy unwanted plants, such as weeds.

*Fertilizers-chemical and synthetic material used to to increase the soil's capacity to support plant growth

2010-02-01T19:13:00.000-08:00

"The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there"-George Bernard Shaw.

Hello and welcome to The Garden of Eden Project. Now, you're probably wondering what exactly is the Garden of Eden? The Garden of Eden is an entirely organically grown vegetable and fruit garden, which will be located on Millie's lot. The intent of the garden is to share the bounty of our harvest with each other and with people less fortunate than ourselves who are suffering the effects of the depressed economy. We want as many people as possible to get involved with creating, building, and planting this garden. This will make it more fun, and will provide a center for our parish community to come and work together towards a common goal. It's all good clean fun even if we literally get dirty! This space, besides providing fruits and vegetables to the less fortunate (through Share the Harvest), will also provide a place for the 8th grade St. Mary School Science Fair Projects. Hey, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders- this is also a great place to get service hours. Thanks again everybody, for your support, and we hope to see you gardening with us, starting the first day of Spring, March 20th, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

Sowing the seeds of love,

Rosemary and Lavender