The Garden Shedde

One of the things we don’t often think about this time of year is what gardens we have available in our communities.  One of the best places to go and check to see what community gardens are available in your community is to go to the ACGA (American Community Garden Association) website.

You will be able to read about what a community garden is and, if you don’t have one, how to start one.  Once you see how community gardens work you will be won over at how wonderful they can be.  Please check out the ACGA and make plans to contact and visit the community garden in your area and if you can, please donate to this fantastic cause.

It is said that the Romans invented greenhouses in order to serve the freshest vegetables possible to Caesar.  Whether that is true or not, who knows?  What we do know for sure is that a greenhouse is the best way to get fresh food to your families table on a year round basis and right now, you’re family is far more important than Caesar’s is.

The best news is you won’t have to dig a pit and keep the rocks stocked throughout the winter to keep your greenhouse warm.  This can be done with the help of a greenhouse heater.  You also have advantage of some great greenhouse accessories to help you with your year round greenhouse gardening.

You also have the advantage of some great do-it-yourself greenhouse kits that allow you to easily build your own greenhouse in the backyard.  If you purchase these kits at the right time you can get some very handy accessories to go along with them that will give you a head start when it comes to gardening with a greenhouse.

Whether you are visiting relatives during this Thanksgiving Holiday or staying at home, think about doing something that you don’t normally do this time of year; visit a public garden.  There are some very interesting gardens that are open year round and many of them are FREE!

Of course you will need to check either the internet or by phone to find out if they are open year round and check their schedule, but this is a great way to get outside or stay indoors as many gardens feature growing houses or large greenhouses during the fall and winter months.  Who knows, you may just have a lot of fun.

Every once in a while I find something very worthwhile that is a little bit off the garden theme but still very much energy efficient and green.  Today’s topic of magnetic induction cooktops is one of those subjects.  These types of cooktops are twice as energy efficient as gas and electric types.  They have the same instant control as gas and cook food faster and more evenly and as one of my friends who have one of these babies says, “They’re just cool!”

As with everything that is new, they do have a hefty price in comparison to gas or electric and have a few special needs that have to be met.  One is it uses a 220 plug and most kitchens are not wired for 220 and you have to use steel, cast iron or other metal pots and pans for it to work.  You can test it with a magnet and if it sticks, it’s the right kind of pot or pan.  This truly is the wave of the future and if you are redoing a kitchen of any kind (We hope it’s an outdoor kitchen) these magnetic induction cooktops are worth researching.

My wife and I were just watching the news when a piece came on about urban farming.  Of course I was glued to the tube at that point. 

Will Allen, a former NBA star, is CEO of Growing Power, a company that has developed an urban farm right in the middle of Milwaukee, WI on 2 acres of urban land.  What really caught my eye was his method of farming fish along with growing vegetables.  The water from the fish tanks is routed to the plants that filter the water and then the fresh run off goes back into the fish tank.  The ultimate in going green! 

I am incredibly impressed with Mr. Allen’s entire process of farming in an urban neighborhood.  He is able to sell an entire weeks worth of vegetables to the inner city neighborhood for a family of four at the price of $16.00!  Talk about taking care of people who need it the most. 

It was also heartening to see that other land owners of inner city land are coming to Growing Power to emulate the process in their neighborhoods.  This is going green at its very best!

I have recently been introduced to the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act that was enacted during the Clinton administration.  This act protects any donor, food bank, soup kitchen, food pantry or other group helping feed those in need, from liability.  This includes any food that is donated or distributed in “good faith” by anyone.

The reason you should be excited about knowing about this act is it enables you to give your garden overflow to those in need.  In fact, fresh produce is the most difficult and most needed items for food pantries and food banks to get their hands on and to stock.

If you have ever thought you wanted to be a part of the solution and didn’t know how, here is your chance.  Contact your local food bank and find out when and where they are collecting and take and donate your surplus produce.  If you don’t have a local food bank contact Second Harvest Food Bank as it is one of the largest food banks in the US.  Happy donating!