Wednesday, 7 March 2018

We learn when we teach


Yet another quick week passes and we lose an hour this weekend, which can never be replaced but maybe the cats won’t wake up so early and the rooster will be more content to stay in the coop until daylight shows itself an hour later.  When the weather turns warmer (keep your eyes off the snow falling out there) I’ll be happy for an early sunrise so I can get outside with it at the earliest hour. 

I decided to name our new and any future chickens after living items.  Our beautiful rooster will be Sweet William (we call him Bill), the brown hen with the green legs will be Olive (Kate tells me she’ll lay green eggs), the other brown hen will be Mahogany and the frizzle will be Zany Zinnia (Zini for short).  We’re not sure if Zini is a hen or a rooster.  He/she is pretty bold and stands up to the rooster even though he is five times the size of the frizzle.  Time will tell.  We already have a Daisy, a Shelly (because her spots look like sea shells which were living at one time) and a BlueBell – who all fall into the living items category.  Then we have Elsa, Beauty, Bess (BS-short for Black Spots) and Sophia who are all holding their own and have no idea what on earth I am rambling on about.   

We up-potted 250 hot pepper plants yesterday with several hundred waiting in line for the same step forward tomorrow.  We’ll sow more seeds of herbs, flowers, microgreens and lettuces for future transplants into the greenhouse raised beds.

hot peppers up-potted and under
lights 24/7 for the next five weeks
waiting to join their older brothers
and sisters






















The trays of sunnys and other micros will be ready next week.  We have loads of pea shoots and the microgreen mix this week will consist of more varieties, just because it’s fun to mix it up. 


pea shoots wanting to meet you



sunnys to be ready next week



















This is a copy/paste from the description of the broccoli sprout seeds I purchased:

“Broccoli sprouts contains glucoraphanin, a chemical that when eaten is converted by the body into sulforaphane-the strongest natural inducer of the body’s own enzymes against carcinogens. The broccoli sprouts contains concentrations of the glucoraphanin that is up to 50 times greater than the mature broccoli. . . . (Specialty Seed) Vitamins A,B,C,E and K Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Zinc Carotene, Chlorophyll, Amino Acids and Protein:35%.

Well, that’s a big “Wow”.  This explains why they are so popular. 

You should also know that all sprout and microgreen seeds I purchase are certified organic and from Canadian companies. 

little green onions and parsley

Let me tell you about the Holy Cross Learning Garden.  I was with the Kindergarten classes this week and each girl and boy is bright eyed when it comes to gardening.  It’s hard to believe they are so young and know so much, thanks to the teachers and parents providing this very valuable life lesson.  Here’s a feel-good story from one of our teachers:

“The children are truly enjoying ALL the different experiences and being able to reap the benefits of their labour.  They really enjoy all the different tasting experiences.  It is incredible to see how keen they are to try the food they have grown. No fussy eaters...they truly just jump right into the experience (even the radishes!).

You can never underestimate how much the little ones absorb. After tasting the microgreens you left us, one of the children went over to the playdoh table to work with the green playdoh. He brought me a plate of greens. I thanked him for the delicious sprouts. He responded "they are my microgreens". Talk about one of those proud teacher moments!”

Ah yes, future food creators in the making. 

Foods created here for your plates this week are follows:
GRANOLA:
 with fruit  $8 /500mL jar  
 with nuts and fruit  $10 /500mL jar  
HUMMUS   chickpeas*, tahini*, olive oil*, lemon juice*, roasted garlic*, a teeny bit of hot pepper flakes* and cumin  (*organic)  $5  250/mL jar   
MICROGREENS:  $2 / bag
  Pea Shoots
  Red Cabbage
MICROGREEN MIX:  (basils, carrot, chard, mesclun mix, red cabbage, spring salad)  $3 / bag
SPROUTS  $3 / bag
  Broccoli (just broccoli)
  Broccoli Brassica Blend (broccoli, broccoli raab, radish, mustard & arugula)
  Sandwich Booster (clover, alfalfa, radish & mustard)
  Spring Salad Mix  (broccoli, radish, red clover & alfalfa) 
Tomato Sauce  $6 /500mL jar  sealed
Tomatoes, frozen   $4 /4Cup package  great for sauces and soups
Tomatoes, Gardeners’ Delight (ping pong ball size) frozen whole  $3 pound

I look forward to receiving Your Special Order.  Call or email me with amounts you’d like and any questions.  

Thanks.

Until next post, have a great every day.
Jo

joanne.daybrighteners@gmail.com



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