22 Jul Grow Great Grub – and a giveaway
Before a certain family member thinks this is a guilt trip, let me state for the record it isn’t. I’m simply stating facts.
Fact: My grandiose plans for a communal family garden got kiboshed in early spring when my sister announced her engagement. With a great big honkin’ white marquis, a dozen tables and a hundred chairs scheduled to sprawl across the planting area mid-July, we had to rethink vegetable patch.
Fact: Weddings trump gardens.
Fact: I’m okay with that. Really.
Why? Because in an attempt to find out how to maximize the small space left uneaten by the tent, I discovered I can grow blueberries. And I love blueberries.
Thanks to Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces by Gayla Trail, I’ve got two lowbush blueberries working hard at producing my breakfast fruit of choice — right under the messy pine no other edible seems to like. Apparently, blueberries love the acid soil the needles create. I realize I won’t see berries for a couple of years but I no longer scowl at the pine.
For all those procrastinators who don’t have a wedding as an excuse, a late-summer crop is still possible. According to Trail, peas, beans, carrots, spinach, lettuce, onions and radish don’t mind waiting. But to be honest, I’m a bit tired for that right now. I just want to kick back and admire the garden from my newly renovated kitchen window. And what grows in my garden? Amongst other things, bergamot (aka bee balm).
And after my disastrous flirtation with homemade Earl Grey tea, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with this clown-haired herb. Apparently, the leaves pair well with heavy meats. Who knew? Gayla.
So, even though it’s late in the season, Grow Great Grub comes in handy. If you’ve already planted, there’s a section on harvesting. If you don’t grow so much as a weed, the section on preserving (short-term and long-term storage) is worth a read. Trail’s fun tone is so persuasive she has me saving toilet paper rolls and used panty hose. Why? Read the book.
Trail can literally dish the dirt on growing food. She gardens without a backyard, using a rooftop instead, so she knows first-hand how to make the most of small spaces. Or big ones. She does community gardening, too. With a lively voice and clear explanations, Trail discusses crop rotation, composting, companion planting, pest control and more. She’s also realistic in managing expectations. You want to grow watermelon? No problem, but the yield will be low. And forget the giant zucchini competition. Pick ’em small if you don’t the entire family to turn up their noses at a tasteless, woody vegetable.
Beyond stellar photos and helpful sidebars, Trail provides useful overviews on how to grow specific fruits, vegetable and herbs and tosses in some simple but tempting recipes. Great, Gayle. Now I want to grow borage just so I can float the tiny purple star-shaped flowers in soup or freeze them into impressive little ice cubes.
Normally I pick a recipe to post along with a review, but this time, I’m leaving the decision up to you. Which of Gayla’s recipe should I make?
- Cold Cucumber, Mint & Yogurt Soup
- Oven-Roasted Tomatoes
- Roasted Zucchini Dip
- Tangy Red Pepper Ketchup
Cast your vote in the comments section. I’ll test the most popular option and post about it next week. As an added bonus, one lucky commenter — selected by random draw — will win a copy of Grow Great Grub courtesy the delight people at Random House. I’ll draw names on July 28th and post on the 30th.
Blueberry photo © pinksherbet. Published under a Creative Commons License.
Susan Hoffman
Posted at 11:17h, 22 JulyThe hummingbird loves the bee balm in our back garden!
I’m voting for the Tangy Red Pepper Ketchup.
Amy P
Posted at 11:44h, 22 JulyEarl Grey has oil of bergamot orange, not monarda, which is good for oswego tea, and tastes more like oregano. Oh dear!
If the book can solve the innumerable problems in our postage stamp sized yard, I’d be in heaven. As it stands, I’m in a scruby pile of acidified silt, where even mint won’t grow. How’s that for bad?
Amy P
Posted at 11:45h, 22 July@Amy P, and I forgot to say, make the yogurt soup. We eat yogurt soup all summer, full of herbs. Yum!
Monica
Posted at 12:48h, 22 JulyOh man, choices, choices.. I love them all. But, I’m in a huge tomato craving mode… so I will have to choose the Oven-Roasted Tomato.. but the Roasted Zucchini Dip sounds yummy too…
Niveditha
Posted at 12:51h, 22 JulyI would choose cold cucumber, mint and yogurt soup…what better way to cherish this summer:)) Thanks for this giveaway!!!
ramvinayak_81@rediffmail.com
Stephanie
Posted at 12:58h, 22 JulyOoooo….Minty cuc and gurt soup sounds sooooo refreshing right now, as we are all wilting in a heat wave running up through Pennsylvania (and the whole East coast). I wonder how that one tastes? The book sounds like just my thing, too….Cheers, Stephanie, stephig13@yahoo.com
Lisa MacColl
Posted at 14:23h, 22 JulyOven roasted tomatoes or red pepper ketchup have my votes.
Our Morning Glories have buried our cucumbers. They’re in there somewhere. My husband put a tomato cage around them. Now we just have to dig them out…
Judith Rutty Godfrey
Posted at 14:59h, 22 JulyOh man, tough choices but I need to, and I mean NEED to vote for the roasted zucchini dip. There are oodles of zuchers in my garden from a plant that doesn’t take up a huge space. And since my hors d’oeuvres/dip talents are few this recipe sounds perfect!
Kimberly
Posted at 16:03h, 22 JulyI vote for the oven-roasted tomatoes…. yum!
Robin Smart
Posted at 23:39h, 22 JulyI’m with cousin Jude. Zucchini dip please. I’ll come taste test.
Could I do blueberries under cedar??
Love.
Robin
Libby
Posted at 11:07h, 23 JulyI like the sound of the Roasted Zucchini Dip, so I vote for that. This book would certainly be handy…I’m attempting to grow eggplant and tomatoes in large planters on my balcony! Thanks for the chance to win!
Lora
Posted at 12:10h, 23 JulyHoping for zucchini dip too. I have children who detest zucchini but love dips — could this appetizer convince them that zucchini is delicious?
christopher h
Posted at 20:20h, 23 Julytangy red pepper ketchup
Amber G
Posted at 20:41h, 23 JulyI hope you make the Oven-roasted tomatoes!
Debbie S.
Posted at 10:52h, 24 JulyTangy red pepper ketchup. Sounds yummy!
James Cabaj
Posted at 18:36h, 26 JulyOven-Roasted Tomatoes always complements a nice meal.
Christina S
Posted at 22:05h, 26 JulyTangy red pepper ketchup
Kelly G.
Posted at 23:20h, 26 JulyI am going to vote for the Tangy Red Pepper Ketchup. Sounds great!
Louis
Posted at 14:06h, 27 JulyI really like the Cold Cucumber, Mint & Yogurt Soup
Ed Nemmers
Posted at 16:18h, 27 JulyOven-Roasted Tomatoes would be my choice!
Kaki
Posted at 18:23h, 27 JulyPlease make Roasted Zucchini Dip. It’s that time of year when they pile up on my counter and I really need new ways to use them up. I’d love of a review of one more!
Benita
Posted at 19:09h, 27 JulyI vote for the Oven-Rosted Tomatoes. They sound yummy as a side dish, or an appetizer.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Rachel Higgs
Posted at 21:01h, 27 JulyRoasted Zucchini Dip
Rachel S
Posted at 22:34h, 27 JulyMy vote is for the Oven-Roasted Tomatoes, although the yogurt sounds right up my alley too.
Deanna Church
Posted at 22:53h, 27 JulyRoasted Zucchini Dip
dawn
Posted at 04:23h, 28 JulyRoasted Zucchini Dip sounds good.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
Nikki Davis
Posted at 08:12h, 28 JulyI am voting for the Roasted Zucchini Dip, it sounds yummy!
Thank you for the entry,
Nikki
kathy pease
Posted at 10:59h, 28 JulyOven-Roasted Tomatoes
Daniel M
Posted at 14:14h, 28 JulyOven-Roasted Tomatoes sounds good
Gloria M.
Posted at 14:40h, 28 JulyThe Oven Roasted Tomatoes would be my choice! I love tomatoes!
Chrystal
Posted at 14:46h, 28 JulyYou should make the Roasted Zucchini Dip.
susan smoaks
Posted at 16:05h, 28 Julyi vote for the Roasted Zucchini Dip
Charmian Christie
Posted at 17:00h, 28 JulyThanks to everyone who voted! I’m officially closing the polls now. I’ll be posting the winner and recipe decision shortly.
Veronica Garrett
Posted at 22:29h, 28 JulyI vote for Oven-Roasted Tomatoes.