CONTACT US: 505.466.0393 | 505.490.1849
Community Farms. If you don't have one in your community, why
don't you try to start one? Its a wonderful way to come together and produce healthy food for everyone, whether they participate or not. Check out:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1384247339/santa-fe-community-college-sustainable-garden-docu?ref=live
This is the way to find out about HOW to start a sustainable gardening project in your community, or at your educational institutions. 11 days to go to make this a reality. Surely SOMEBODY you know would like to back a film like this, and spread the wealth around all schools and colleges in the country? Email everyone, and in the meantime, start thinking how you can communally grow food!
Carrots! Went out to one of our beds this weekend and picked a bunch of carrots. Came in, cleaned them, and juiced them right up. Wow! Sweet and so full of life force! Rich in beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the liver, carrots have many healthy effects on the body. To name a few qualities...
Improves vision, skin, teeth and gums
Antioxidant
Lowers risk of heart disease
Cancer preventative
Plus, you can just leave them in the ground through the Winter, and pick them when you need 'em. They just get sweeter!
February Seasonal Foods. No matter where you are in the US, SOMETHING is growing seasonally that is less expensive, fresher, and more nutritious. You'll also be reducing the carbon footprint, creating less pollution, and sparing the energy it takes to transport these foods thousands of miles. Here in Santa Fe, we can pick arugula, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, lettuces, carrots, onions, shallots, leeks, beets, parsnips, cilantro and most herbs besides basil, celery, brussels sprouts, kales, chards, and bok choi. So buy and grow local, and put the brakes on things that can wait till Summer!
Yes, I know, its a wicked emotional gardening rollercoaster! First freezing temps for a month, then a break with beautiful warm weather, and now a snowstorm again. Well, the good thing is that the freezing temps are a thing of the past, and its just going to get warmer! You can still get a jump on planting by taking advantage of the NEXT warm break in weather! We're getting lots of orders, and just need a bit of warmth, and melted snow, to get in there and get you set up. Call today to set up a free site visit and chat! As for today, stay inside and eat that delicious fresh soup that you made,
and daydream about filling your next one with veggies out of your own garden bed!
The Santa Fe Community College Culinary Arts Department project is racing to an exciting close, and planting day is 3 days from now on Wednesday. The 800 or so starts, which we transplanted into cedar flats from plastic 4 packs, are flourishing and ready to go in. A documentary film has been in the works since we broke ground, and the crew will be on hand Wednesday to capture the excitement with students from the Visual Arts, Culinary Arts, Sustainable Ag departments, as well as faculty members and administration individuals. All in all, a wonderful opportunity to showcase Grow Y'own and how it can help folks grow year round, and a grand collaboration with the college and the creative group which has put this project together.
Its September 24th, the nights are dipping into the low 40's, the days are still warming up into the 80's, they are getting shortere, and darker, and time to plant for the Fall and Winter is NOW!
When the nights are going to be in the low 40's and 30's, its time to get out and start putting on your Winter covers, over your Summer covers, at least for the nights. This will give your plants and young starts a chance to acclimate to the changing conditions, and have a better time of it when the sun rises later in the mornings.
Tomatoes, peppers, and basil are going to be the first things to start showing the stress of the cold temps. If freezing is in the forecast, I would harvest these three plants, and be joyous in the bounty. Its been a long, hot growing season, and although tomatoes and peppers came on late, there's no sense in losing what you've got.
Its time to cut back the kales and chards, and give the younger sprouts a chance to develop. If there are no younger sprouts showing, then let the mature plants keep going, and plant some new fresh starts that have gotten through the first 2-3 weeks of propagation, and are ready to take off with the Fall season. Agua Fria Nursery in Santa Fe has most of the starts that you will need and want, and LOTS of them! If you can't find what you need at AFN, then Juaquin Lawrence also has loads of organic starts that he can supply you with. His # is 505 699-5444.
You can also start to cut back on watering, as the plants need less due to lower, sustained highs, and lesser periods of daytime heat. Every other day for the time being is normal, and your plants will enjoy the chance to dry out a little bit.
I just put in more arugula and lettuces, chards and kales, kohlrabis and dwarf Chinese cabbages, as well as replanting radishes. All my herbs- oregano, marjoram, parslies, sage, tarragon, chives, lemon balm, and thyme are going strong, and will once again be full going into and through the Winter.
So Grow On! Grow Healthy! Grow Local! And Continue to Grow Y'own!!
Ken
Grow Y'own has begun an exciting project for the Santa Fe Community College's Culinary Arts Department. We've built 16- 4x12 units, that will be put up on block- satisfying ADA requirements, and installed in a courtyard area for all to enjoy. In the process, we'll be making a documentary, showing the steps for setting up a sustainability project, so that other colleges, universities, and elementary schools can use it as a primer, and also for obtaining grant funding. Please contact Grow Y'own if you'd like your institution to be part of a similar project, or if you need more information.
Change has come to Northern New Mexico in the forms of long rains and cooler temps. Its time to 'weed' out your Grow Y'own beds and plant for Fall and Winter. Some of the things I'm putting in are laccinato, red bor, and white Russian kales, rhubarb and bright lights chards, Marshall, freckles, sassy salad mix, Cherokee Summer crisp, 4 seasons marvel, and Italianischer lettuces, spinach, arugula, and cilantro. I just boxed and bagged lots of lovage, celery, sorrel, mint, sage, oregano, basil, and red apples from my trees, and took them to Kitchen Angels Food Depot and St. Elizabeth's shelter in Santa Fe. Please do the same in your areas, and give healthy, 'live' food to those that need it the most!
Dark leafy greens- swiss chard, kale, and spinach, are great sources of Vitamins A and C, which the body needs to produce Sebum. Sebum is a natural conditioner for your hair. Beans and legumes are also good sources of protein which help promote hair growth. They also contain iron, zinc, and biotin. Brittle hair is partially a result of biotin deficiencies. Include these vegies with some salmon- which is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, and you have a wonderful answer for a healthy scalp! With the heat of summer upon us, our hair takes the abuse, being on top. So wear some type of hat or covering, eat those dark leafy greens, and revive those locks!
Grow-Y'own will warranty their Summer, Winter, and ALL Screen covers for a period 1 year from the day of initial delivery. This does not cover misuse by the owners, extreme, naturally-caused weather conditions, or animal invasions and destruction.
