I harvested about 50 garlic bulbs right around the 4th of July and I've been using them to cook with ever since. I sold a few bulbs, but I'm hoarding the rest because I am getting nervous that I won't have enough garlic to last me the year. Home grown garlic is superior to what is available in the grocery store. The cloves are large and moist and loaded with flavor.
Garlic lore is pretty interesting. Slaves forced to build the great Egyptian pyramids refused to work without a daily garlic ration. Wreaths of garlic were believed to ward off witches and vampires. Jockeys may rub their horses' bits with garlic or tie a clove to the bridle to prevent other horses from passing. Bullfighters may wear garlic around their necks to protect them from the bulls' horns. Garlic is also gaining recognition for its health and healing benefits. Some of garlic's believed therapeutic benefits include fighting infections, cancer prevention, stimulating the immune system, relief of chronic bronchitis, use as an expectorant and decongestant, reduction of blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. By the way, to ensure the most medical benefits it is best to use the garlic raw. Exerpted from Asparagus to zucchini, a guide to cooking farm fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Who cares about a little garlic breath when you can pretty much cure whatever ails you while you are keeping those pesky the vampires away! Bring it on!
Hey Aunt Jenna!
ReplyDeleteYou say that you want the garlic to "last you the year" how do you store it? and how long will it last for?
Also, if my mom and I want to start a small vegetable garden at home, what do you think would be the best way for us to do it, since I am sure my parents have been spraying our grass with pesticides for years. A raised bed?
Hope all is well!
Also...
ReplyDeletecheck out this website:
thedailygreen.com
It has great tips!
Hey Julia,
ReplyDeleteOnce the garlic has dried, I store it in a basket in my kitchen where it can get air. Last year's garlic lasted a year. Planting a garden at home is a great idea! Your Mom should probably stop spraying. I haven't sprayed my lawn in years and it still looks pretty green most of the time. Raised beds are definitely an option, but not the only one. If you dig out a garden, you can have compost delivered as you will need to bring up the level of the soil where the sod was removed. And you will need the organic matter. It takes about 3 years to reach optimum soil fertility and by that time, the pesticides will be gone. Another option is to plant a cover crop which will help to clean up the soil and add organic matter at the same time. You probanly won't believe this, but the best advice I ever got was to start small! I'd love to help you plan it. I'll definitely check out thedailygreen.com.
Thanks Aunt Jenna!
ReplyDeleteI really think you should write a column or do a question answer type column for a magazine, either a gardening magazine or a home-type magazine like Good Housekeeping or Martha Stewart. If I ever have a magazine you will definitely get your own page!
I am trying to think how you could best start this process...
I will be brainstorming!
Well actually,
ReplyDeleteGood Housekeeping posts a mom's blog on the last page of every magazine now that I think about it. And I just talked to a friend here and they are always looking for new people and blogs. If I made a sample page on word and included one of your favorite blog posts and I will include your bio, I will hand it to the woman who is in charge of this!
I can't promise anything because they are always a bit finicky about everything, but just let me know which post or posts you would like me to include!!
O.K.! I'll have to get my blog up to date! Just choose one of your favorites, include the bio and hand it to her. She'll contact me if she's interested. This is exciting! Thanks Jules!
ReplyDelete