Garden Grub

I haven't even posted about my garden yet this year!

It's massive. The 36 foot long raised bed is full of swiss chard, spinach, a variety of looseleaf and head lettuces, a variety of radishes, beets, parsnips, endives, beans, peas, garlic, carrots, cabbage, aichi, kohlrabi, broccoli, brussels sprouts, baby corn, basil, onions, parsley, and cauliflower.

I expanded the bed on the side of the house and planted spaghetti squash, cinderella pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, cucumbers, basil, ground cherries, sorrel, feverfew, lamb's ear, and sage.

The bed along the fence has been planted with okra, artichokes, marigolds, and amaranth. The perennial herbs have doubled in size - oregano, thyme, sage, lavender, and tarragon. The fennel has quintupled in size. Marigolds from last year self-sowed and sprouted up everywhere, as did strawberries.

The numbers of pots on the deck has increased (how? oh, I have no idea...guess idle pots multiply by themselves...yeah, that's it...). Tomatoes of beefsteak, cherry, plum, and paste varieties are all out there. Plenty of peppers, both hot and sweet, and seven large pots of potatoes. Mints of chocolate and orange and lemon and spearmint reside in pots. Lemongrass is out there, too.

Inside I have sprouted sunflowers and morning glories. Outside, I have started new flower beds and have mulched and tidied the older flower beds. I've also started a trumpeter vine to trail up the signpost for the side street.

Most of my plants are grown from seed. My mother gave me a couple tomato plants and I bought a couple pepper plants. I also bought a stevia plant, and two sweet potato plants. I can't help myself when faced with cheap, organic options. Liz and I went to the Comstock Heirloom Plants Festival, and it was amazing we kept the plants we bought to one tray. Congratulate us for our self-restraint.

Oh, and Liz and I went in on a plot at a local community garden. There, we are growing corn, spaghetti squash, pole beans, cinderella pumpkins, small gourds, and sugar pumpkins. We're kind of nuts. I know.

But watching the beauty grow and eating fresh, organic veggies just can't be beat.

Against Monsanto

I'm going to put this link right here. Link.

CT NOFA, or the Connecticut Northeast Organic Farming Association, is one of my favorite nonprofits in the state. The link is to their latest blog post regarding Monsanto's stance on GMO testing. There's also a further link provided in their blog that will lead you to studies that have been done on GMO testing.

Largely, my issue with GMOs is that buying GMO-laden foods supports companies like Monsanto who clearly do not have the public health in mind considering their long history as a chemical company, their cyclical abuse of power in their contracts with the farmers who have become dependent on their products, and their patenting of foods which are necessary for human survival. Monsanto is a corporation with only the almighty dollar in mind, and I use my dollar to vote against them by buying mostly organic, often locally produced, and non-GMO foods.

Understandably, not everyone can afford organic, and many people live in "food deserts." As an AmeriCorps volunteer earning a monthly stipend, I can sympathize - most of my money goes to rent and food, and I have little left over for other things. That's the choice I've made. I do, however, have access to multiple grocery stores and farmer's markets, so I take advantage of these things.

Plus, I'll be taking part in a CSA for the first time this year. CSAs, or Community Supported Agriculture, are a great way to support small farms with diversified crops, and to bring healthy, whole foods to your table. Consider finding one in your area, or checking out any farmer's markets.

 Some quick tips on avoiding GMOs:

• Buy organic
• Purchase a CSA share from a farmer who doesn't grow GM produce
• Read labels - anything derived from soybeans or corn is most likely genetically modified
• Avoid processed foods - a large percentage of them contain GM soy or corn
• Read the PLU labels or produce labels - any five digit number starting with "8" is a GM piece of produce
• Grow your own produce - even if it's just a small amount, you can purchase heirloom seeds online
• Purchase grass-fed beef
• Buy wild caught fish

Here's a link that goes further in depth, including listing foods that most likely contain GMOs.

It's with our dollars and with our voices that we can temper the strength of powerhouses like Monsanto.

Happy Foraging!