Newsletter: May 2012 Gardening Tips

May 2012 Edition

“I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature’s rebirth?”
~Edward Giobbi

Hello Subscriber!

Welcome to the May edition of Terroir Seeds Gardening Tips! The longer days of May make it hard to be inside before dark. We love this time of year and wish it were longer!

This issue has some exciting information to tempt you in your garden. Remember there is still plenty of time to order and plant corn, beans, squash, pumpkins and any other seeds you might have forgotten.

If you have questions or concerns about any of your seeds, germination or other gardening challenges we are here to help. One of the reasons we write so many articles on gardening is that we want to give you information that will help you grow a great garden. Call or email us with your questions, and we will help you out. We want you to be successful in your gardening endeavors but if you are having challenges we need to know sooner rather than later.

Tip for May. Remember spacing can be very important with some crops, a simple wooden ruler can be your friend in the garden. A yard stick might even be better.

Happy planting!

Hortopita
Spring Greens & Feta Pie

Just in time for all of the spring greens that will be showing up very soon is this duo of recipes for Hortopita or Spring Greens Quiche. Horta is a Greek word that directly translates as “grass”, but refers to about 80 different greens that grow all over the countryside. Pita is Greek for “pie”.

We have one recipe that is directly from Athens, Greece and is in constant use. It is a modern adaptation of a simple, traditional family recipe that has been enjoyed for many, many years. It still reflects the direct approach with the amazing flavors of freshly harvested spring greens. Our second recipe is a sophisticated take from FarmPlate, “a revolutionary online community that connects farmers, fishermen, foragers, food artisans, restaurants, markets, distributors and foodies everywhere. Our searchable directory of 40,000+ business listings across the country, networking tools and reviews make it fun and easy to find and enjoy real foods near you.” We have a bit more about FarmPlate later in the Newsletter.

Enjoy these incredibly flavoful tastes of Spring on your plate, and let us know what you think!

We Now Take PayPal!

After many customer requests, we now are able to accept PayPal. This makes it easy if you have a debit card, bank card or wish to use American Express.

Many people have PayPal accounts, and this allows use of the existing account without having to set up anything new.

FarmPlate

There are more and more online tools that help people find local and sustainably grown food. One of the pioneers in this area, and one we’ve been part of and supported for several years is Local Harvest. Another new one that is growing fast and has fabulous information, recipes and connections is FarmPlate.

The focus of FarmPlate is to create “a revolutionary online community that connects farmers, fishermen, foragers, food artisans, restaurants, markets, distributors and foodies everywhere. Our searchable directory of 40,000+ business listings across the country, networking tools and reviews make it fun and easy to find and enjoy real foods near you.”

It is easy to use FarmPlate. For a broad listing of what is close to you, just enter your ZIP code and hit “enter”. You get to see everything that is within a specified distance and can tailor your search from there. Another method is to name what you are looking for, either by specific name or by catagory, followed by your ZIP. I like the general search which gives me listings that I might not have seen otherwise, as I wouldn’t have thought about them.

This is really handy when travelling, as it gives you another way to find what is local, seasonal and sustainable wherever you happen to be! Give it a try and let us know what you think. If you know of producers that aren’t listed, offer a suggested listing to FarmPlate.

Heirloom Corn History

For those of us that love the unforgettable flavor of sweet corn and eagerly await each late spring or early summer’s fresh crop, our time is almost upon us! May and early June are prime times to plant the heirloom sweet corn that will provide so much joyful crunching and munching at dinner tables and picnics later this summer. If we are blessed with obliging weather patterns and few insects, we might be able to freeze or can an abundant crop to be treasured and savored late into the winter, remembering the bright, sweet taste of summer on a blustery cold day.

We dug out some of our old books again, this time from 1884 and shared some heirloom sweet corn history and knowledge with you. Heirloom Corn History not only shares some older planting knowledge, but gives a glimpse into the financial standing sweet corn had in the 19th century, as well as timing tips that still hold true today.

Our customers are friends that we have not yet met, as you share our interest and passion for growing incredibly delicious foods, preserving heirloom seed traditions and biological diversity for the future through our own home gardens. Sharing this is possibly the most important work, as it helps all of us make a definite, positive impact in our lives and in those that we share.

Thanks for your time this edition, we hope you have enjoyed it. Please let us know your thoughts and suggestions, as we are always working to improve.

Stephen and Cindy Scott
Terroir Seeds | Underwood Gardens