May 20, 2012 • 6 notes
A few things about radishes: 1) Aren’t they lovely? 2) GROW THEM. Because from the time you plant the seeds to the time you can harvest them is only, like, a month. The quickest thing you’ll get to “instant gratification” in the world of gardening. 3) Maybe this is solely a matter of preference, but I don’t find raw radishes satisfying at all. However, I’ve found that roasting radishes with olive oil + salt at 400 degrees for, lets say, 15 minutes, transforms these bland, watery roots into a completely different vegetable. Rich, earthy, slightly sweet deliciousness.

A few things about radishes:

1) Aren’t they lovely?

2) GROW THEM. Because from the time you plant the seeds to the time you can harvest them is only, like, a month. The quickest thing you’ll get to “instant gratification” in the world of gardening.

3) Maybe this is solely a matter of preference, but I don’t find raw radishes satisfying at all. However, I’ve found that roasting radishes with olive oil + salt at 400 degrees for, lets say, 15 minutes, transforms these bland, watery roots into a completely different vegetable. Rich, earthy, slightly sweet deliciousness.

May 18, 2012
sugar snap peas.

sugar snap peas.

May 15, 2012

They’ve come, and they’ve almost gone. The best kept secret of UNCA is no longer under wraps. It seems to me that half of Asheville has found out about the garden’s lush strawberry patch. But hey, community enjoyment is what the garden is there for, right? Right.

Lemon balm is my problem child: a relative to mint, it will spread to just about anywhere it pleases. It’s popped up all throughout the strawberry patch, creating what I might dare to call a delightful marriage of plants. It’s as if the herbal lemony rebel is just asking to be eaten with a sweet bowl of strawberries!

April 24, 2012

ATTN: GARDENERS

We’ll be having a WEEDING PARTY this Thursday afternoon in the garden behind the cafeteria. What might a weeding party entail? Good question! 

  • Music by D.J. Iris Gottlieb. Her preferred gardening soundtrack? A hint: “all up in the kitchen in my heels, dinner time“ 
  • A punch bowl full of lemon balm tea (get crazy, y’all!)
  • PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES
  • Dance moves that mimic garden tasks, or alternatively, garden tasks that mimic dance moves (i.e. “harvesting kale”, “pulling a giant weed”, “spreading mulch”, and my personal favorite, “the wheelbarrow”)
  • A weeding competition: who can create the biggest pile of weeds? (A weeding champion will be crowned.)
Intrigued? You should be.
See you Thursday, from 12:00 - 4:00! Invite your friends!

April 15, 2012

This week we’ll be out on Thursday 4/19 from 1-4 p.m. and Sunday 4/22 from 11-12 a.m. As a reminder, the UNCA garden is located behind the cafeteria.

If these times don’t work for you and you’d like to garden on your own (because I’m sure your schedule is just abundant with free time in the penultimate week of the semester), the Jesus chalkboard will kindly tell you what needs to be planted, watered, and weeded.

April 12, 2012
These broccoli seedlings have recently been transplanted into the ground. Their spot in the makeshift cold frame was replaced today with flats of some essential summer veggies, like tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, and okra. (Thanks to April, Daniel and Ari for your help!)

These broccoli seedlings have recently been transplanted into the ground. Their spot in the makeshift cold frame was replaced today with flats of some essential summer veggies, like tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, and okra.

(Thanks to April, Daniel and Ari for your help!)

April 12, 2012
A few weeks ago, Ari and I harvested these enormous, gorgeous, and somewhat otherworldly turnips. See: turnip fries

A few weeks ago, Ari and I harvested these enormous, gorgeous, and somewhat otherworldly turnips.

See: turnip fries

March 20, 2012

Hello there squashers!
 

The first day of spring seems more like the first day of summer here in Asheville. Life in the garden is growing like crazy - seedlings germinating in the cold frame, weeds sprouting up all over the place. 

Our next workday is this Thursday, March 22nd from 1 - 3 p.m. Come out to help plant the arugula and chard seedlings. As a reminder, we’re almost always out in the garden (behind the cafeteria) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from at least 1 - 3 p.m. Those who help in the spring are more than welcome to take home some summer bounty!


P.S. The aforementioned Tim Mountz is guest blogging for the Huffington post. Read his post on starting seeds here.

February 21, 2012 • 4 notes
The time has come! We can take a weeding hiatus and focus on making little plant babies! First on the seed starting list? Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, lettuce, and peas. My garden idol Gayla Trail (yes, that is a half-sleeve tattoo of a tomato vine and yes, I am envious) has some great seed starting resources and how-to’s that have helped me enter the growing season with confidence. The seed starting process requires quite a bit of foresight and planning. While purchasing seeds may be intimidating at first, there are far too many really cool seed companies and varieties to settle with the Burpee section of Walmart. Here’s two we’ll be using in our garden this year: -Sow True Seed is based out of Asheville, NC and prides itself on selling “open-pollinated, non-hybrid and untreated seeds featuring heirloom, organic, & traditional varieties.” In the past, Sow True has allowed UNCA students to volunteer in return for seeds for the campus garden. Nothing like a good old fashioned work exchange to build community!-Happy Cat Organics is a farm/seed company based out of south eastern Pennsylvania and owned by my friends Tim and Amy. They view seed saving as a way to preserve a region’s unique cultural history. “We touch seeds everyday in our practice of seed to table farming. They teach us patience and bring ritual to our lives, things that modern life is so void of.” Their seeds will produce the most delicious and gorgeous tomatoes you’ll ever eat. See: Tim’s Black Ruffles.  If you would like to help us start some seeds, come to the campus garden (behind the cafeteria) on Thursday (2/23) from 1:30 to 3:00 !

The time has come! We can take a weeding hiatus and focus on making little plant babies! First on the seed starting list? Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, lettuce, and peas. My garden idol Gayla Trail (yes, that is a half-sleeve tattoo of a tomato vine and yes, I am envious) has some great seed starting resources and how-to’s that have helped me enter the growing season with confidence.

The seed starting process requires quite a bit of foresight and planning. While purchasing seeds may be intimidating at first, there are far too many really cool seed companies and varieties to settle with the Burpee section of Walmart. Here’s two we’ll be using in our garden this year:

-Sow True Seed is based out of Asheville, NC and prides itself on selling “open-pollinated, non-hybrid and untreated seeds featuring heirloom, organic, & traditional varieties.” In the past, Sow True has allowed UNCA students to volunteer in return for seeds for the campus garden. Nothing like a good old fashioned work exchange to build community!

-Happy Cat Organics is a farm/seed company based out of south eastern Pennsylvania and owned by my friends Tim and Amy. They view seed saving as a way to preserve a region’s unique cultural history. “We touch seeds everyday in our practice of seed to table farming. They teach us patience and bring ritual to our lives, things that modern life is so void of.” Their seeds will produce the most delicious and gorgeous tomatoes you’ll ever eat. See: Tim’s Black Ruffles. 

If you would like to help us start some seeds, come to the campus garden (behind the cafeteria) on Thursday (2/23) from 1:30 to 3:00 !

February 12, 2012

The weather forecast looks grim on our normal workdays this week, so we will have a workday on Friday, 2/17 from 1 - 3  (@ the garden behind the cafeteria.) We’ll be starting some seeds to put under grow lights.